322 TWO NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF FISHES. 



tion of the posterior third of the opercle and the greater part of 

 the subopercle, the scales on the latter being arranged in a 

 narrow basal band on its upper half, from the extremities of 

 which short, broad bands are produced backwards; below this 

 there is a free angular band; scales of body similar to those of 

 the head, but strongly ctenoid; eighteen enlarged tubular scales on 

 the lateral line, with from six to eight normal scales in the space 

 between each pair; between each tubular scale and the base of 

 the dorsal there is a naked band about two normal scales in width, 

 which is continued across the lateral line to the depth of two 

 scales; sides of abdomen and base of the anal fin with more or 

 less corresponding naked fasci*. Upper surface of head and body 

 olive-green, lower surface pale yellowish- white, the two colours 

 being abruptly divided; a series of seven olive-green spots along 

 the middle of the sides, the last encircling an enlarged tubular 

 scale at the base of the caudal; fins immaculate. 



The unique specimen from which the above diagnosis has been 

 drawn up was washed ashore, in a perfect though dying condition, 

 at Maroul^ra Bay, near Sydney, and was shortly afterwards lent 

 to me by its discoverer, Mr. Thomas Whitelegge, for identification 

 and, if necessary, description. In length the type specimen 

 measures 78 millimetres, and it has since been added to the 

 collection of the Australian Museum, Sydney, its register number 

 being I. 3396. 



A T H E R I N I D .E. 



Tropidostethus, gen.nov. 



Branchiostegals six; pseudobranchiai present. Body strongly 

 compressed, rhombo-fusiform, the tail attenuated; dorsal profile 

 straight, ventral convex and acute. Cleft of mouth oblique, 

 extending to beneath the front margin of the eyes; jaws not 

 protractile. A single series of teeth in the jaws and a short 

 curved row on the palatine bones; no vomerine or lingual teeth. 

 Spinous dorsal small; anal moderate; ventrals minute, situated 

 far behind the pectorals. Scales of moderate size, thin, cycloid, 

 deciduous. 



