546 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OP AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



Genus Psettus, Ciiv. & Yal. 



Body mucli compressed and elevated, snout rather short. One 

 dorsal fin entirely covered witli scales, Tvith. seven or eight spines ; 

 anal with, three ; ventrals rudimentary. Teeth villif orm, none on 

 the palate. Scales small. Six branchiostegals ; air-bladder 

 forked behind, pyloric appendages in increased number. 



Indian and Polynesian Seas. 



378. PsETTUS ARGEXTEUS, L. 



Eichards, Yoy. Ereb. and Terror, p. 57, pi. 35. — Gunth., Cat. 



Fishes II., p. 487. 



D. 8/29. A. 3/29. L. lat. 75. Yert. 9/14. 



The height of the body is once and a-half in its length (with- 

 out fins) ; the diameter of the eye is nearly one-third of the length 

 of the head. Silvery ; a blackish ocular band, indistinct in 

 mature specimens. 



Port Jackson. All Australian Coasts. 



Genus Plat.\:x, Cuv. & Yal. 



Body much compressed and elevated ; snout very short. One 

 dorsal fin, with the spinous portion nearly entirely hidden and 

 generally formed of five spines ; anal with three ; ventrals well 

 developed with one spine and five rays. Teeth setiform, with an 

 external series of rather larger ones, notched at the top ; no teeth 

 on the palate. Scales moderate or small. Six branchiostegals ; 

 air-bladder simple. 



Indian and iVustralian Seas. 



379. Platax vespertilio, B1. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes II., p. 489.— Bleek., Atl. Ichth. Chsetod., pi. 

 18, fig. 2-3, and pi. 17, fig. 1. 



P. 5/35-37. A. 3/26-28. L. lat. 64, 



