NOTES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME RARE PORT 

 JACKSON FISHES. 



By J, Douglas-Ogilby, 

 Assistant Zoologist, Australian Museum. 



I offer no apology for placing before you the following original 

 descriptions of fishes taken within the limits of Port Jackson during 

 the last two months, because in many cases — as for instance in 

 that of Plectropoma nigro-ruhrum — the published descriptions 

 available for the ordinary student are so meagre as to make the 

 determination of the species a matter of difficulty, if not of 

 impossibility ; and because when immistakable descriptions are 

 given in an accessible publication, the danger of redescription 

 under a new name is greatly reduced, and thus we may reasonably 

 hope to keep the synonymy of our Australian fishes within proper 

 limits. 



The following descriptions have also the advantage of having 

 been taken from newly caught examples, and are therefore mox'e 

 likely to be correct, both as regards the comparative measurements, 

 and more especially the coloration, which in every case, where 

 pi-acticable, has been jotted dovvn immediately on the removal of 

 the fish from the water. 



Plectropoma nigro-rubrum. Cuv. and Val. 



D. 10/18. A. 3/8. V. 1/5. P.. 13. L. lat. G5. L. trans. 

 4/21. Ccec. Pyl. 8. 



Length of head 2|, of caudal fin 5§, height of body Zl in the 

 total length. Diameter of eye ^ of the length of head ; inter- 

 orbital space 5 of diameter of eye. Hinder limb of prseoper- 

 culum emarginate, serrated, the denticulations in the notch 



