61 
been enveloped in soft skin, which in the dried specimen has left 
traces of a short skinny fringe on the lower jaw and of filamentous 
points elsewhere. There are several open pores on the limbs of the 
mandible. The gill-membrane is smooth and is sustained by five curved 
rays. The gill-openings are closed above the gill-plate, but extend 
from the point of the operculum downwards and forwards to opposite 
the articulation of the mandible, being sufficiently ample. 
The whole skin of the body and the lower parts of all the fins are 
studded with straight acute spines, each enveloped in a skinny sheath. 
The lateral line is nearly straight, having merely a slight rise over the 
pectoral. It is marked by a smooth farrow and a series of ten or 
twelve skinny processes. 
The dorsal extends from between the eyes the whole length of the 
back, but is not actually connected to the caudal fin. It is highest 
anteriorly, lowest over the pectoral, and of medium height and nearly 
even posteriorly, its end being rounded off. The second spine, which 
stands over the middle of the orbit, is the tallest, its height being but 
a little less than that of the head ; the first and third rays are only a 
little shorter, while the fifth and sixth are much lower, producing a 
deep notch in the fin. The eighth and following spines are very 
slightly graduated, and from thence to its rounded extremity the 
outline of the fin is even. The membrane is notched between the 
rays, and the tips of the jointed rays curve backwards. The first 
seven or eight spines are pungent, but the six following ones are 
less so, and are not easily distinguishable in the dried specimen from 
articulated rays in which the joints have become obsolete. The 
fore-part of the dorsal shows some small membranous points on the 
spines. The anal is similar to the soft dorsal, but terminates further 
from the caudal, and if it be furnished with a spine it is concealed at 
the base of the first soft ray, there being no appearance of one ex¬ 
ternally. The caudal when fully spread is almost circular in outline. 
Its rays are simple, with the tips projecting beyond the membrane, 
especially those of the extreme pairs above and below. The pectoral 
has the oblique semi-oval form of that fin in Synanceia, but is less 
adnate to the side. Its rays are simple, with projecting tips. The 
ventrals, formed of one spine and two unbranched rays, stand exactly 
under the base of the lowest pectoral rays, and are small. 
The only vestiges of colour remaining in the dried specimen are 
brown and purple bands and blotches on the dorsal, caudal and pec¬ 
torals, with one or two rows of white spots on the two latter fins. 
Cheilodactylus carponemus, Cuv. et Val. v. p. 362. pi. 128. 
Radii.— Br. 6; D. 17|31; A. 3|19 ; C. 14f; P. 8 et VII.; V. 1|5, 
spec. 
This fish is the “ Chettong,” No. 39, of Neill’s drawings, and the 
“ Jew-fish” of the sealers who frequent King George’s Sound. Mr. 
Neill informs us that it is an inhabitant of rocky shores, and that 
individuals are often taken which weigh more than 16 lbs. It is 
readily captured by the hook. 
The specimen described and figured in the c Histoire des Poissons’ 
