FISHES. MCCULLOCH. 1(33 



Lateral line marked by simple pores, which extend in a line 

 from the suprascapular to the upper portion of the caudal 

 peduncle. 



Dorsal fin commencing on the nape above the margin of 

 the preoperculum ; the first two spines are more widely 

 separated than the others, and their membrane is deeply 

 notched ; the first is longer than the second and third, the 

 others increase in length backward. Base of soft dorsal a 

 little shorter than that of the spinous portion ; all the rays 

 are simple, the median ones the longest. Anal coterminal 

 with the dorsal and of similar form to the soft portion. 

 Pectoral rays simple, the lower ones somewhat thickened ; 

 the fifth is the longest and reaches to about the middle of 

 the anal ; lower free ray large and thick, reaching the vent 

 or the origin of the anal. Ventral rounded, with a broad 

 li.i^e, reaching the origin of the anal. Caudal rounded, its 

 rays simple. 



Colour. Whitish in formalin, with plum-coloured stripes 

 and oblique bars. Two rather irregular stripes extend along 

 the body, the upper one following the lateral line. Several 

 more or less regular oblique bands cross the dorsal fin, which 

 may or may not join the upper body-stripe ; margin of dorsal 

 fin blackish. Pectoral dark with lighter cross-bars. Ventral 

 and anal dusky, the outer portions blackish. Caudal with 

 two or three cross-bars. 



The above description is largely based on a specimen 103 

 mm. long, which is one of the two used by Ogilby in drawing 

 up his description ; it is the specimen figured. Four others 

 of about the same length are preserved. I have compared 

 them with an Indian example of M . monodactylus, Bl. Schn., 

 from Dr. Day's collection, and four others from Japan which 

 Prof. Jordan identified as M. adamsi, Richardson. They are 

 all very similar, and probably represent only local races of 

 one species : the Indian specimen is rather more elongate 

 than the others, and has a narrower interorbital space ; the 

 cephalic structures, though similarly arranged, differ slightly 

 in the three forms, while the Japanese and Australian speci- 

 mens have more or less characteristic features in their colour- 

 marking. All these details are subject to considerable varia- 

 tion, however, and a large series of specimens from various 

 localities may show that they are not of specific importance. 



Locs. Seven miles N.N.E. of Gloucester Head, Queensland, 

 19-35 fathoms. 



Platypus Bay, Queensland, 7-9 fathoms. 



