ON A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF LABROID FISH 

 FROM PORT JACKSON. 



By E. Pierson Ramsay, F.R.S.E., &c., and J. Douglas-Ogilby. 



(Notes from the Aitstralian Museum.) 



EuPETRiCHTHYS, gen. nov. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchise present. , Body elongate 

 and compressed. Gill-membranes attached to the isthmus. Pre- 

 opercle entire. Jaws with a pair of curved canines anteriorly, 

 and a lateral row of conical teeth : posterior canine present. 

 Dorsal fin with nine spines and twelve rays : anal with three spines 

 and eleven rays; ventral tins with an elongated ray. Scales 

 cycloid, large : opercle and cheek scaly. Lateral line continuous. 



From the above diagnosis it is evident that the true position of 

 this fish belongs to that group of Lahridce to which Dr. Gunther 

 (Brit. Mus. Cat. iv. p. 66) has given the name Jididina, and a 

 glance along the different sections of that group shews that its 

 place is among those having " nine dorsal spines, the lateral line 

 not interrupted, and the cheeks and opercles scaly." Its close 

 aflinity to Labrichthys — that most numerously represented genus 

 of Labroids on our shores — is at once apparent, but in such a 

 genus where the fin formula remains constant throughout the 

 whole series of about thirty * species, any departure from the 

 normal number must necessarily carry with it a greater weight 

 than among fishes which enjoy a greater latitude in this respect. 

 This difierence therefore coupled with the elongate ventrals and 

 general form have induced us to raise this new species to generic 

 rank under the above name, placing it in the system between the 

 genera Labrichthys and Lahroides. 



* The examination of a more extended series of specimens will probably 

 reduce this number somewhat. 



