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Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IFishes. 



Measurements. 



Length from tip of snout to end of caudal ... 

 „ „ „ anterior edge of eye 



„ „ „ posterior edge of eye 



M „ „ end of operculum 



base of pectoral 



base of caudal ... 



1st dorsal spine 

 „ „ „ last dorsal ray ... 



„ „ „ base of ventrals 



„ „ „ 1st anal spine ... 



„ of pectoral 

 „ of veatral 



Reference. — Proc. Zool. and Ace. Soc. Vict., v. 1, p. 148. 



Like all of the genus, this beautiful Wrasse varies somewhat in 

 color, the anal fin particularly being as often green with red spots, 

 as like our figured specimen— dull red with green spots. The 

 pearly-white mottling of the cheeks is most characteristic, as well 

 as the red edging to the body scales. It is obvious that too much 

 importance has been given to the posterior canine tooth by system- 

 atic writers, as one side of the mouth of the figured specimen has 

 no trace of one, while the other has it well developed. In the 

 upper jaw the inner row of small blunt teeth is of about 17, the 

 longer pointed teeth of outer row 12, with one large solitary one 

 at corner of mouth. There are about 11 pointed conical teeth on 

 each side of lower jaw in a single row. The branching of the 

 tubules of the lateral line is most unusual] v irregular in number 

 of the branches ; they are smooth, and without pores on the 

 surface. 



This species, like the other Parrot-fishes, may be seen occasion- 

 ally in the fish-shops in April, May, and June, as beautiful 

 curiosities rather than for sale for the table, the flesh not being 

 generally esteemed. Small Crustacea are found in the stomach, 

 and obviously constitute the usual food. 



This fish has not been figured before. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 134. — Fig. 1, average specimen, natural size. Fig. la, side of bead in outline, to 

 sbow tbree rows of cheek scales below, the radiating branched ridges, and the granules. Fig. 

 lb, top of head, to show granules. Fig. lc, outer row of teeth, magnified two diameters. 

 Fig. Id, outer row of teeth dotted, showing relative position of smaller, blunt teeth of inner row, 

 magnified four diameters. Fig. le, some of upper cheek scales, magnified, to show tubular 

 posterior margin. Fig. If, outline of under-side of head, showing the relation of the sub- 

 opercula and form of istbmus. Fig. 1<7, scale of back, magnified one and a half diameters. 

 Fig. \h scale from lateral line with greatest number of branches, magnified one and a half 

 diameters. 



Frederick McCoy. 

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