330 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



knob of interoperculum, conspicuous; pfseoperculum finely 

 denticulated above, and more coarsely below tbe notch ; upj)er 

 maxillary bone reaching to below the anterior half of the eye. 

 Caudal fin slightly emarginate ; pectorals not reaching to the 

 anal ; the third, fourth, and fifth dorsal spines longest, the second 

 of the anal stronger, but not longer than the third. Yellowish, 

 with indistinct, oblique streaks above the lateral line, and 

 longitudinal ones beneath ; a large oval black spot on the lateral 

 line beneath the anterior half of the soft dorsal. 

 North Australia. Port Darwin. 



61. Mesoprion annularis, Cuv. & Yal. 



Gunth. Cat. I., p. 204. Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Perc, tab. 23, fig. 1. 



Syn. — cliirtah, Bleek., ruhellus, Cuv. & Yal., metalUcus, Bleek., 

 sanguineus, Bleek., erythrinus, Gunther. 



D. 11/13-15. A. 3/8-9. L. lat. 56-60. 



Height of body twice and three-quarters in the total length, the 

 length of the head thrice and a-half , the diameter of the eye one- 

 fourth of the latter. Notch and knob of the opercles indistinct, 

 except in young specimens. Caudal fin truncate ; pectorals reach 

 to the anal ; fourth, fifth, and sixth dorsal spines longest, the 

 second of the anal fin much stronger than the third. Eed, a 

 blackish streak from the first dorsal spine to the eye ; back of the 

 tail with a black, white-edged spot ; these marks are not visible 

 in some specimens. 



North Australia. 



62. Mesoprion vitta, Quoy& Gaim. 

 Gunth. Cat. I., p. 207. Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Perc, tab 62, fig. 5. 

 Syn. — M. en?ieacanthus, phaiotceniatus, and OpJmsenii of Bleeker. 



D. 10/13-14. A. 3/8. L. lat. 55-62. 



Height of body three times and a-half in the length and equal 

 to the length of the head, diameter of the eye one-fourth of the 



