122 A NEW FAMILY OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



of strong teeth.* Two dorsal fins, well separated; the first formed 

 of one rather long spine and of four much longer filamentary 

 rays; the second dorsal long, composed of one spine and eleven 

 rays : anal fin long, with one spine and seventeen strong, spine- 

 like rays : ventral s inserted far behind the base of the pectorals, 

 and very little in advance of the insertion of the first dorsal, 

 with one spine and sixf elongate rays : pectorals small, with 

 twelve rays : caudal forked. Scales large, ciliated; cheeks and 

 opercles scaly; lateral line indistinct. 



Etymology : — vf'os, new; Atherlna. 



Type : — Neoatlierina australis, Castelnau, 1 c. p. 32. 



Distribution : — Swan River, West Australia. 



In the increased number of the ventral rays (if correct), the 

 ciliation of the scales and the character of the dentition 

 JS^eoatherina diflfers from all the other Melanotaeniids, while it 

 approaches Pseudomugil in the presence of a lateral line; its 

 afhnity, however, to the melanoti^enioid rather than to the atherinoid 

 forms is shown in one character, incidentally alluded to by 

 Castelnau in the following terms : — " The small specimen has a 

 more elongate form; the upper profile being much less convex . . " 

 This character was passed over as of little or no value by that 

 author, probably because he was unaware of the sexual differences 

 in form which are so strongly marked in his Aristeus (= Ukomba- 

 tractus), but, in my opinion, it is significant of the systematic 

 position of the genus, which, from the more backward insertion of 

 the ventral fins, some authors might be inclined to retain among 

 the true Atherinids. 



* It is probable that, either through insufficient knowledge of the lan- 

 guage or carelessness on the part of the author, there is some error in this 

 sentence; either " vomer " should be substituted for "palate," or "longi- 

 tudinal " for " transverse," probably the former. 



t If this character be correct it is unique in the Percesocids. 



