BY Vr. MACLEAY, F.L.S. 641 



369. Seriola hippos, Gunth. 



Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1876, 4tk series. Vol. XVII., p. 392. 



** Samson Fish " of Sydney Fishermen. 



D. 7/25. A. 2/17. 



Scales minute, height of body twice and one-third in the length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head thrice and one-third ; 

 snout short and high; upper profile of the head parabolic, 

 (resembling Caranx hippos,). Jaws equal, the maxillary extends 

 to below the middle of the eye ; its extremity dilated, as broad 

 as the prajorbital. Eye far below the upper profile of the head ; 

 angle of prseoperculum rounded ; the fifth dorsal spine longest, 

 as long as the eye ; anterior rays of soft dorsal and anal fins 

 somewhat higher than the others. Caudal deeply forked; pectorals 

 broad, short, shorter than the ventrals. Silvery, back greenish. 

 The uj)per half of the body with five rather broad black cross 

 bands ; one in front, one below the spinous dorsal, and three 

 below the soft dorsal ; (these become indistinct in old specimens) ; 

 a similar but less distinct band above the eye ; spinous dorsal 

 and ventral fins black. 



Port Jackson. 



Genus Neptomentts, Gunth. 



Body oblong, compressed, covered with cycloid scales of 

 moderate size ; the cleft of the mouth of moderate width ; snout 

 obtusely conical. Prceopercular margin obtusely crenulated. 

 The first dorsal fin continuous with seven feeble spines, the second 

 and anal more developed, with a scaly sheath at the base ; finlets 

 none ; anal spines indistinct. Pectoral fins much longer than the 

 ventrals. A series of minute teeth in the jaws ; palate toothless. 

 Six branchiostegals. 



New Zealand and Australian Seas. 



