70 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN PISHES, 



spines are the longest, and of moderate strength. The anterior 

 half of the soft dorsal fin is much higher than the spinous, and 

 the posterior part of its upper margin is vertical. Caudal fin 

 deeply forked, with the lobes somewhat pointed, the upper lobe 

 being as long as the head. The second anal spine is as long as, 

 but stronger than the longest dorsal spine ; the basal half of the 

 dorsal, and nearly the whole of the caudal and anal fins are 

 covered with scales. The ventral extends to the anal. Uniform 

 brownish (in a preserved state), with the fins blackish ; posterior 

 margin of the soft dorsal white. The colour during life appears 

 to have been red with golden reflections. 



Port Jackson. Length six inches. 



679. Parma polylepis, Gfunth. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes IV., p. 59. 



D. 13/18. A. 2/14. L. lat. 40. L. transv. 5/15. 



The height of the body is more than one-half of the length 

 exclusive of the caudal fin ; the profile between the dorsal fin and 

 the snout is arched, forming nearly a-quarter of a circle. Snout 

 elevated, a little longer than the eye ; teeth very narrow, 

 compressed, about fifty in the upper jaw. Prreorbital naked, 

 subquaclrangular, nearly as wide as the eye. The scales on the 

 upper surface of the head do not advance to the front margin of 

 the eye ; praooperculum covered with small scales, a narrow space 

 round the margin, naked. Scales on the operculum of about 

 the same size as those on the body. The dorsal spines are of 

 moderate length and strength, increasing in length posteriorly ; 

 they are nearly entirely enveloped in scales ; the soft dorsal is 

 angular, with the posterior partof its upper margin vertical. The 

 second anal spine is as long as, but stronger than the longest of 

 the dorsal fin. Anal and caudal fins scaly. Caudal fin forked, 

 with the lobes rounded, the upper lobe being as long as the head. 

 Tho ventral fin extends to the anal. Colour apparently greenish, 

 with tho fins and snout blackish, and two broad brown cross-bands, 



