_A. pallide fuscescens, fasciis quatuor obscurioribus,
longitudinalibus, indistinctis; pinnis pallide aurantiis: corpore
oblongo-ovali elongato; cute delicate hispidâ, scabrâ: rostro
producto, apice obtuso: spinâ dorsali aculeis lateralibus deflexis,
uniseriatis: pinnis dorsali secundâ et anali multum ante caudalem
desinentibus._
D. 2—33; A. 31; C. 12; P. 13 vol 14.
LONG. unc. 8.
FORM.—Elongated, approaching to oblong-oval, the tail rather slender.
Greatest depth exactly one-fourth of the entire length, and
equalling the length of the head, this last being measured to the
upper angle of the oblique branchial orifice. Back slightly arched,
the curvature rather exceeding that of the belly. Profile in front
of the dorsal spine falling very gradually, and not much out of the
rectilineal. Snout considerably produced, but blunt at the
extremity. Mouth small; jaws equal; teeth strong, and very sharp.
Eyes round, placed exactly above the branchial orifice. The grains
on the skin are coarser than in the _A. maculosus_, and the bristles
springing from them longer and more developed, especially on the
posterior part of the body, communicating a harsher feel to the
touch: these bristles are slightly hooked at their extremities, the
tips being turned towards the tail.
Dorsal spine strong, situate above the posterior part of the orbit,
with only two principal rows of prickles, one on each of the two
lateral edges; anteriorly granulated at bottom, with a few
rudimentary prickles towards the apex, but posteriorly almost quite
smooth. Second spine very minute. The distance from the first spine
to the commencement of the second dorsal fin equals twice the length
of that spine. The anal commences under the fifth dorsal ray, and
ends nearly in a line with the termination of that fin, but extends
a trifle further. Both fins fall short of the caudal by a
considerable space. Pectorals rather small. The caudal is worn at
the end, but appears to have been either square or slightly rounded.
COLOUR.—“Very pale brown: fins pale orange.”—D.
A _second specimen_ is smaller than the above, measuring six inches
and three quarters in length. It is exactly similar in respect to
form, and general colour; but the sides are marked with four
tolerably distinct longitudinal bands, extending from the branchial
orifice to the caudal, rather darker than the ground on which they
are traced. There is very little indication of these bands in the
first specimen.
Habitat, King George’s Sound.
This species was taken by Mr. Darwin in King George’s Sound, and appears
to be new. It has some points of resemblance with the _Balistes Ayraud_
of Quoy and Gaimard, but in that the dorsal fin is said to extend to the
caudal,[49] which is far from being the case here. I have named it
_velutinus_, in respect of the minute bristles which cover the skin,
somewhat resembling the pile of velvet.