Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



specimen figured of the natural size on our plate (Fig. 2) is prob- 

 ably the young of the larger and more typical example (Fig. 1), 

 the anterior portion of the dorsal of which latter, I have no doubt, 

 has lost the greater part of the length shown in the young, merely 

 from accidental causes, owing to its fragility. The greater 

 number of rays in the continuous dorsal in the larger than in the 

 smaller specimen, I believe, follows the general rule mentioned as 

 probably holding good for these fishes, although not for those 

 families and genera with fewer rays. 



The first specimen which reached the Museum was presented 

 by Mr. Hy. Dusting, from Portland, caught in April 1879. A 

 second, from my excellent friend, Mr. Henry Butler, of Portland, 

 who has contributed a °;reat number of rare fish and other marine 

 objects to the Museum, somewhat smaller but more perfect than the 

 first, is the example figured, and both specimens agree exactly in 

 coloring and other details. 



The third specimen, also figured, is another of Mr. Butler*s 

 donations, and is much smaller — only 2 ins. 7 lines long, without 

 caudal fin — but more perfect, especially in the long anterior part of 

 the dorsal. In this specimen the depth is contained only 3J times 

 in the total length, excluding caudal fin. This, I believe, like 

 Cuvier's T. Spinolce, to be the young of the proportionately longer, 

 larger specimen ; although, in this case, unlike T. Spinolce, the 

 large, rounded, black spots are wanting. 



The curious silvery glitter of the surface seems slightly granular 

 and disposed in very fine, oblique, transverse lines extending from 

 above downwards and backwards from the dorsal to the ventral 

 edge, and passing over the black blotches, from which it may be 

 peeled off when decomposition sets in. 



The mouth is so protractile that in taking the length of the 

 head, compared with other parts, as a character, it is necessary to 

 state whether it is extended or retracted. 



Explanation of Figuees. 

 Plate 122. — Fig. 1, average specimen, natural size. Fig. la, front view of head, natural 

 size. Fig. \b, mouth showing the teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatine hones, magnified three 

 diameters. Fig. \c, section of hody, to show compression. Fig. Id, three spines from lateral 

 line, magnified three diameters. Fig. le, one spine of lateral line, magnified five diameters, to 

 show radiated base. Fig. 2, young specimen, natural size, probably of same species. 



Frederick McCoy. 



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