792 ON SOME AUSTRALIAN ELEOTRINAi, 



D. vi, 18. A. i 8. Sc. 62-68/17. 



Depth of body 4| to 5, length of head 2| to 3Jg- in the total 

 length; width of head 1^ to 1 J, of interorbital region 3 J to 3 J, 

 diameter of eye 44 to 5§ in the length of the head; snout short and 

 very obtuse, its width between the posterior nostrils subequal to its 

 length, which is | to -^ longer than the eye. Maxillary extending 

 to or not quite to the vertical from the middle of the eye, its 

 length from the tip of the snout 2|- to 2| in that of the head. 9 

 gill-rakers on the lower branch of the anterior arch. The space 

 between the origin of the first dorsal and the base of the last soft 

 ray is 1^ to 1^ in its distance from the extremity of the snout, 

 that between the origin of the second dorsal and the base of the 

 caudal 1| to 1§ in the remaining length; soft dorsal higher than 

 the spinous, its longest ray 14 to If in the head: ventral obtusely 

 pointed, not quite extending to the vent, H to 14 in the head: 

 pectoral with 17 to 19 rays, much longer than the ventral, 14 to 

 \^ in the head: caudal large, 3| to 3| in the total length; depth 

 of peduncle If to 1^^ in its length, which is \\ to 1^ in that of 

 the head. Vertebrse 11-1-14. 



Back and sides dark oli^'aceous-brown or bluish-black, each of 

 the scales sometimes with a darker central spot, forming together 

 narrow bands; lower surfaces pale brown or bluish-white dotted 

 with brown, the lighter colour sometimes extending in patches 

 on the sides: fins hyaline, the dorsal and anal usually prettily 

 marbled with black or brown, or with more or less regular series 

 of blackish or brown spots; caudal with the basal third similar 

 to the sides, which is sometimes preceded by a lighter band, the 

 remainder pale brown or violet, with indistinct transverse bands; 

 pectorals and ventrals with or without dusky spots or bands. 



Etymology : — fuscus, brown. 



Distribution : — From Madagascar throusfh the seas of 

 India and Australia to the Islands of the South Pacific (Solomon 

 Islands; New Hebrides; New Caledonia; Sandwich, Fiji, Society, 

 and Navigators Islands, Oualan). 



I have never seen an Australian example, but a fine series 

 collected by Hedley in New Caledonia has enabled me to draw 

 up the above description. 



I 



