230 DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW FISHES FROM PORT JACKSON. 



behind ; no vomerine or palatine teeth. Tlie fourth to seventh 

 dorsal spines are about equal and longest, J of the length of the 

 head ; the first spine is quite separate from the second, and equal 

 to the 17th, which is much sliorter than the last ; the anterior rays 

 the longest, longer than any of the spines. Anal spines very 

 short, the 3rd much the longest, only g of the length of the 

 anterior rays. Pectoral fins f of the length of head, its eight 

 lower rays are simple, and shorter than the branched rays. 

 Ventrals short, originating beneath the 9th dorsal spine, not 

 nearly reaching to the vent, and I of the length of head. Caudal 

 deeply forked, lobes equal. Scales small, covering the entire head 

 except the mandibulary aud anteorbital regions, and the snout in 

 front of the nostrils ; the bases of the dorsal, anal, and pectoral 

 fins, and the greater part of the caudal are scaly. 



Colours. The upper parts are brown, and shade down into 

 ashy-grey on the sides, both being marked with numerous narrow 

 longitudinal rather indistinct dull yellow bands. A broad light 

 coloured band across the occiput. Lips yellowish-white ; inside 

 of mouth blotched with black and white. Vertical fins brown 

 with indistinct lighter blotches. Caudal margined with black, 

 and with a lighter sub-terminal stripe. 



It may be as well to call attention here to the following 

 differences between this fish aud the genus Latris, as constituted 

 by Dr. Gunther. (Cat., Vol. II., p. 86 ; and Study of Fishes, 

 p. 412.) The left hand column pertains to Gunther's Latris, the 

 right hand to the present fish. 



Spinous dorsal with 17 spines. Spinous dorsal with 18 spines. 

 Teeth villiform in both jaws. No villiform teeth. 

 Preoperculum minutely ciliated. Preoperculum entire. 



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