Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. ^Fishes. 



membrane brownish-purple, minutely dotted with black ; anal, membrane purplish, 

 rays dull orang-e, the hinder portion blackish towards margin. Iris g-o] den-yellow, 

 with an inner pearly-white ring", with reddish and purplish marks outside. 



Measurements of Two Specimens. 



Total length to end of caudal 

 Length of head to end of operculum 



„ from tip of snout to anterior edge of orbit , 

 Diameter of orbit 



Length from tip of snout to end of preoperculum 

 „ „ base of pectoral 



„ „ „ ventral 



„ „ first anal spine 



Greatest depth ... 



„ thickness 

 Length of pectoral 



„ spine of ventral 



„ 1st soft ray 



„ 2nd „ 



„ 1st anal spine ... 



„ 2nd „ 



„ 3rd 



„ 1st branched ray 



„ 1st dorsal spine 



„ 2nd „ 



„ 5th „ 



„ 10th „ 



„ 1st branched ray 



„ caudal fin 

 Number of scales in one inch, about middle 



Reference. — = Datnia (?) amhigiia, Rich., Voy. Ereb. and Ter., t. 19 = 

 Dulcs aurafus, Castlenau, P.Z.S. Vict., vol. 1, p. 55 = Ctenolatcs Macquariensis, 

 Gunth., P.Z.S. 1871, t. 33. 



The largest specimens are deeper in proportion to the length 

 than the smaller, and have a more concave profile ; and the eye, as 

 usual, is smaller in proportion than in the younger ones. 



This beautiful fish is much esteemed for the table, and is com- 

 monly about 31bs. or 41bs. weight. An enormous specimen, of 

 which the dimensions are given in the first column, weighed 8|lbs. 



Dr. Richardson counts only six branchiostegal rays in his dried 

 specimens, but there are seven in the fresh fish ; and I think there 

 can be no doubt of the correctness of the synonyms above quoted. 

 The last anal ray by some may be counted as two, being divided 

 to the base ; and the number of scales counted along the lateral 

 line depends very much on where you cease to count the small 

 posterior ones ; so these differences, which induced Count Castlenau 

 to propose a new specific name, I think unimportant. 



[ IG ] 



