564 DESCRIPTIONS OP NEW AUSTRALIAN FISHES. 



small cardiform teeth, which are of equal size in the upper jaw^ 

 but in the lower increase in size from without, the inner row 

 being much the strongest and inclined backwards : vomer, palate, 

 and tongue with patches of villiform teeth. Fins — the dorsal 

 commences much nearer to the base of the caudal than to the tip 

 of the snout ; its anterior rays are highest, but little shorter than 

 the head, the last seven rays of about equal length, giving a 

 deeply concave appearance to the outer edge of the fin : the 

 anterior anal rays are half the length of the base of the fin, which 

 commences in front of the origin of the dorsal : ventrals short, 

 reaching half-way to the origin of the anal ; an elongate pointed 

 scale at the outside of the base, and a single similar scale between 

 them ; pectoral rather shorter than the head, reaching to the 

 vertical from the 24th scale of the lateral line ; its posterior 

 margin slightly concave ; caudal deeply emarginate. Scales — 

 rather small, finely ctenoid, and firmly adherent ; entire head, except 

 a small patch on the snout, covered with scales ; dorsal, anal, and 

 pectoral fins scaly to their tips : there are fourteen rows of scales 

 between lateral line and vent. Lateral line — sinuous to above 

 the vent, from whence it runs straight to the middle of the base 

 of the caudal. PseudobrancMce — well developed. Gill-rakers — 

 of moderate length, and slender. Colors — silvery, the back 

 with brilliant blue reflections ; fins dusky. 



The single specimen which we possess, and from which the above 

 description is taken, was obtained during the recent expedition to 

 New Guinea, led by Mr. T. Be van, by jumping into their boat, 

 the locality being about thirty miles up the Aird River from its 

 mouth. Register number, I. 1308. 



Though undoubtedly having a very close resemblance to the 

 previously described Neopemjiheris 7'amsayi, Macleay, from 

 Rockingham Bay, the type of which is also in the Australian 

 Museum, this species differs in many particulars from the older 

 form, and may be distinguished from it at a glance by the absence 

 of the black doi"sal spot so conspicuous in Mr. Macleay's fish ; 

 while the shape of the lateral line and the much larger pectoral 

 tins of our fish also furnish easy distinguishing characters. 



