84 NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



the abdominal region brownish-yellow : an olilong deep blue spot 

 near the distal extremity of the ventral fin. 



Distribution. — Tasmania. 



Length (without caudal fin) 95 millimeters. 



Type in the Tasmanian Museum, Hobart. 



The unique example from which my description is drawn up 

 has been entrusted to me for identification and diagnosis by Mr. 

 Alexander Morton, Curator of the Tasmanian Museum, and is 

 unfortunately in bad condition, several of the i-ays of the dorsal 

 and anal fins and the entire caudal fin having been broken off; it 

 appears to have been w^ashed ashore and partially sun-dried. 



It is easily distinguishable from nearly all the other members 

 of the genus by the great tenuity of the head and body, in which 

 it approaches Sij)ho/io(/?iafJiiis. Of the species included in Dr. 

 Giinther's Catalogue, it approaches most nearly to Quoy and 

 Gaimard's Mai acanthus racliafiis, but it differs from the south- 

 western continental form in the more distinctly attenuated habit, 

 the non-prolongation of the anterior dorsal and the ventral rays, 

 the number of the dorsal and anal rays. 



I would have unhesitatingly identified my fish with Mr. 

 Johnston's OJax heddomei if it were not that some of the 

 characters relied on by that author, if correct, make such a course 

 impracticable. 



As some of my readers may not be able conveniently to refer 

 to Johnston's description and as it will take up but little space, I 

 transcribe it in extenso from the Proceedings of the Royal 

 Society of Tasmania, 1884, p. 231, in order to facilitate comparison. 



Odax heddomei. 



D. 20/12. A. 3/9. P. 12/1 4. L. 1. 40. L. tr. 3/8-9. 

 Body elongate. Preoperculum entire. Snout nmch produced 

 and finely pointed. Eye rather large. Height of body one-tenth 

 of the total length and length of head contained in the latter 

 three and one-third times. Upper posterior margin of operculum 

 produced into a flaccid membrane having a rayed appeai-ance. 

 Colour of body and fins reddish, becoming lighter below lateral 



