the Ichthyology of Australia. 27 



snout to appear to project more than it actually does. The curve of 

 the back springs boldly from the middle of the orbit. The large eye 

 just touches without altering the profile, and is the breadth of itself 

 from the end of the snout. The preoperculum is strongly serrated 

 on its vertical edge and rounded corner, but scarce perceptibly so on 

 its horizontal limb. The operculum, as is usual with the Chsetodons, 

 is cut away in a wide shallow arc. The lateral line, formed by a se- 

 ries of short tubes, is nearly parallel to the back till it arrives oppo- 

 site to the ends of the dorsal and anal, when the curve changes to a 

 straight course through the tail. The scales have rectangular bases 

 and sides, with a ciliated semicircular external edge. The uncovered 

 surface is strongly marked by acute furrows corresponding in number 

 with the marginal teeth. 



Rays.— D. 10)20, last one divided ; A. 3|16 or 17 ; C. 17f ; P. 17 ; 

 V. 1|5. 



The caudal is lunate on the margin : the pectorals are rounded. 

 The dried specimen shows the following markings, but we have no 

 knowledge of the colours of the recent fish. The ocular band occu- 

 pies the upper surface of the head, from the lips to midway between 

 the end of the snout and the beginning of the dorsal, and curving 

 downwards embraces the whole orbit, becomes narrower on the cheek, 

 yet takes in the angle and most of the upper limb of the preopercu- 

 lum, and cuts the junction of the suboperculum and interoperculum 

 in its course to the base of the ventrals ; its posterior edge makes a 

 curve nearly similar to that formed by the margins of the dorsal and 

 anal fins, but in the opposite direction, and the portion of the head 

 lying before that curve projects out of the orbicular profile above men- 

 tioned. The second band, which is also broader above, commences im- 

 mediately before the dorsal, and touching in its course the margin of 

 the gill- cover and base of the pectoral, descends with a slight curve 

 to the middle of the ventral, which is itself black. The third band en- 

 croaches a little on the scaly base of the dorsal, taking in the third and 

 sixth spines, and becoming narrower in its direct course downwards, 

 terminates before and in contact with the first anal spine. The fourth 

 band, commencing near the tips of the first five jointed rays of the 

 dorsal, descends to the first jointed anal rays. It is curved in an op- 

 posite direction to the anterior bands, and is broadest at the lateral 

 line. The parts of the dorsal and anal fins behind the fourth band 

 are black, and the fifth band is a narrow curved stripe which crosses 

 the tail, and appears to be a continuation of the black curve formed 

 by the margins of the fins. The sixth band is the narrowest, though 

 blackest of all, and crosses the tail at the base of the caudal. The 

 white spaces between the bands are narrower than the bands them- 

 selves. The extreme edges of the dorsal and anal are pale or whitish, 

 and there is a yellowish tint on the caudal, its crescentic margin 

 being very pale. 



Dimensions. inches, lines. 



Length from tip of snout to extremity of caudal fin 6 9 



base of caudal 5 6 



anal '3 6 



