116 ENDEAVOUR SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



hundreds of specimens from several widely separated localities 

 and am convinced that several of the forms are either true 

 species or distinct sub-species ; the others are not so clearly 

 defined. 



Radcliffe has drawn up a key in which structural differences 

 between the several forms are noted, but I find these unre- 

 liable and variable with growth. The following is a key to 

 the subspecies in the Australian Museum collection : 



a. Body usually with three distinct longitudinal bands ; 

 another may be present on the back, and one along 

 the belly. 



b. The three principal bands extend onto the caudal fin, 

 where the upper and lower converge abruptly ; no 

 secondary bands between the others ; the median 

 band generally thickened and darker below the 

 second dorsal, not or scarcely expanded at the 



caudal base novemfasciata. 



bb. The bands not or scarcely extending beyond the 



caudal base. 



c. The three principal bands very broad, ending 

 abruptly at the caudal base ; no secondary, inter- 

 mediate bands aroubiensis. 



cc. Bands narrower, terminating less abruptly ; a 



secondary band present or absent anteriorly. 

 d. A distinct secondary band anteriorly between the 

 median and dorso-lateral ones, which curves 

 upwards and joins the latter ; some irregular 



spots at the caudal base compressa. 



dd. Secondary band, if present, not joining the one 



above it. 

 e. Median band forming a round black spot at 



the caudal base fasciata. 



ee. Median band not or but slightly expanded at 

 the caudal base stevensi. 



AMIA FASCIATA, Shaw. 

 subsp. FASCIATA, Shaw. 



Mullus fasciatus, Shaw, in White, Voy. N.S.Wales, 1790, 

 p. 268 and plate. 



Apogon fasciatus, Giinther, Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish., i., 1859, 

 p. 241 (Australian specimens). Id., Steindachner, 

 Sitzb. Akad. Wiss. Wien, liii. i., 1866, p. 427. Id., 

 Alleyne & Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, i., 

 1877, p. 267. Id., Castelnau, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. 

 Wales, iii., 1879, p. 370. Id., Macleay, Proc. Linn. 

 Soc. N.S.Wales, v., 1881, p. 343. 



