34 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



D. 5. 1/9. A. 1/9. L. lat. 80-90. 



The height of the body is about one-ninth of the total length, 

 the length of the head about one-fourth ; the diameter of the eye 

 one-fifth of the length of the head ; the maxillary bone reaches 

 to the anterior edge of the orbit. Operculum with a flexible 

 pnnt. Lower jaw with a conical tubercle in front, and about 

 fifteen to eighteen longer posterior teeth. The length of the 

 pectoral fin is one-tenth or one-eleventh of the total, and more 

 than that of the ventrals. The first dorsal fin commences just 

 above the point of the pectorals, but behind the insertion of the 

 ventrals. Above uniform bluish-green, beneath silvery; dorsal, 

 caudal, and anal fins violet. 



Knob Island, North Australia (Castclnau). 



606. SPHYRiENA OBTUSATA, CllV. & Yal. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes II., p. 339.— Journ. Mus. Godef., Heft. 

 XIIL, p. 212, pi. 119, fig. b. 



D. 5. 1/9. A. 1/9. L. lat. 90. 



The height of the body is contained seven or eight times in 

 the total length, the length of the head three times and a-half ; 

 the diameter of the eye is more than a-fifth of .the length of the 

 head. Operates scaly. Lower jaw without or with a very slight 

 fleshy appendage in front. The first dorsal and the ventral fins 

 commence in the vertical from the extremity of the pectorals. 

 Proeoporculum not rounded, with the angle slightly produced. 

 Above uniform greenish lead-coloured, beneath silvery. Fins 

 yellow. 



Port Jackson. 



This is the " Pike" of the Sydney Fishermen. I have given 

 Dr. Gunther's description, theie but maybe are two species, as it 

 is scarcely in accordance with what I have observed. In all the 

 Sydney specimens I havo seen, the ventral (ins commence opposite 

 fie last fourth of the pectorals, and the first dorsal over the last 



