132 A NEW FAMILY OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



certainly have preferred to name the family llhomhatractidce, that 

 genus being the most highly specialized and most widely diffused 

 of all the forms at present known. 



In reference to the position which this family is entitled to 

 hold in the system, I am unable to agree with those authors who 

 would place it between the Afherinidcv and the Mvgilidce, much 

 less with those who would associate it with the Eleotrince or the 

 Apogonidce; but though the position of these fishes near Apogon is 

 untenable, it cannot be denied that there is considerable external 

 resemblance between them and some Ambassids; in Nannoperca,''' 

 for instance, w^e find the same posterior insertion of the ventrals, 

 reduced number of branchiostegal rays (six as in the Ambassids, 

 not seven as in the Apogonids), absence or irregularity of the 

 lateral line, and concavity of the dorso-rostral contour. 



That, however, its affinities are distinctly percesocoid I believe 

 that no one, who is acquainted with one or more of the various 

 forms, and who has more than a superficial knowledge of fishes in 

 general, will deny, and it is only, therefore, with regard to the 

 degi'ee of affinity which exists between it and the other Percesocids 

 that I am at issue with those scientists who would make it a 

 link between the Gray Mullets and the Atherines. 



The forward position of the ventral fins, which is so character- 

 istic of this family, marks a decided advance in the direction of 

 the more typical Acanthopterygians, while the inci-eased strength 

 of the dentition clearly points to relationship with the Sphi/rcenidie, 

 in which family we find, in our Dinolestet-, an example of the 

 tendency towards an enlargement of the anal fin and consequent 

 advancement of the position of the ventral fins. 



It seems to me, therefore, that the most natural sequence in 

 which to place the Percesocids with relation to other fishes would 

 be as follows : — 



* Paradules, Klunzinger (not Bleeker) and Mirroperca, Castehiau (not 

 Putnam) are synonymous, and very closely allied to if not identical with 

 Namioperca; JJicroperca yarrce — Paradules ohscuru><. 



