the Ichthyology of Australia. 425 



JULIS ? RUBIGINOSUS. 



Sparus rubiginosus, Parkinson, Banks. Bib. fig. 2. 38. no. 4 ; Solander, 

 Pise. Austr. p. 7. 



This fish was discovered on the coast of New Zealand on 

 Cook's first voyage. Parkinson's figure was done after a spe- 

 cimen taken at Mattaruhow, and Solander has given the fol- 

 lowing account of the colours of one obtained off Kidnapper's 

 Cape : — 



" Sparus rubiginosus. Corpus pallide rubiginosum, macula oblonga 

 transversali in singula squama. Caput rubrum subtus pallidum. 

 Iris rubro-argentea ; pupilla nigra. Pinna dorsalis livido-rubicunda, 

 maculis sub-ocellaribus e viridi lutescentibus. Pinnae ventrales et 

 pectorales rubicundae, immaculatae. Pinna analis similis pinnae dor- 

 sali, sedprope basin serie jam unica ocellorumrubicundorum. Pinna 

 caudalis basi et lateribus e nigricanti-violacea, in medio olivacea. 

 Habitat oceano prope Kidnappers." — (Pise. Austr. p. 7.) 



Solander mentions, without describing, a variety taken at the same 

 place. Parkinson's figure exhibits a fish having the same profile 

 of the head and body with the Julis decussatus (Cuv. et Val. xiii. 

 p. 433) figured in Bennett's ■ Fishes of Ceylon' (No. 14), except that 

 the height of the body is a trifle less, being contained thrice and 

 one-half in the total length, caudal included. The mouth is small 

 with thickish lips, which are represented shut, so that the teeth are 

 not seen. The caudal is lunate on the margin, with the points acute 

 and projecting about a fifth part of the length of the fin beyond the 

 central rays. The spinous part of the dorsal is nearly even, or 

 rather higher anteriorly, and contains nine or ten rays, which occupy 

 somewhat less space than the jointed rays, of which about eleven or 

 twelve are indistinctly indicated. The membrane is notched between 

 the spines, the dorsal and anal terminate rather acutely, and their 

 tips reach the base of the caudal. The pectorals are rounded and 

 longer than the ventrals, which do not reach to the anus. The 

 scales are large, and their uncovered discs have the form of vertical 

 rhombs. There are several rows of small ones on the base of the 

 tail. The lateral line is continuous, and has a sudden descending 

 flexure opposite to the end of the dorsal. Four rows of spots are 

 shown on the fore half of the anal, and three on the spinous portion 

 of the dorsal. 



The colours of the New Zealand Labrus pcecilopleura, as 

 described in the e Histoire des Poissons,' are not very dissi- 

 milar to those ascribed by Solander to the rubiginosus ; but 

 the pcecilopleura is not so high a fish, its caudal fin is square, 

 its dorsal low, and its pectorals rather large. 



Julis? notatus. 



Sparus notatus, Parkinson, Bibl. Banks, fig. 37 ; Solander, Pise. Austr. 

 This is also a New Zealand fish, taken on the same voyage. 

 Parkinson's drawing in outline is from an example captured 

 Ann. 2$ Mag. N. Hist. Vol.xi. 2F 



