i4 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



bluish-black above ; and a little lighter below. There is a 

 bright blue band near the outer margin of each caudal lobe, 

 and a similar one on each side near the upper margins of 

 the pectoral fins. In the female, the body is of a rich brown, 

 being lighter below. All of the body-scales have a narrow 

 orange margin and a dull bluish central spot. The head, 

 above, is blackish, the sides having orange and bluish vermi- 

 culated bands ; below, greyish, with large orange spots. The 

 dorsal and anal fins are reddish-brown, the former with faint 

 olive-green spots, the latter with zig-zag orange bands. The 

 ventral and pectoral fins have the rays blue, the last-men- 

 tioned having three blue cross-bands. The caudal fin is 

 reddish-brown with irregular cross-bands. 



