456 NEW AUSTRALIAN FISHES IN THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, 



the absence of this generic character could have been overlooked 

 by the describer of multifasciatus, the identify of our fish would 

 still remain extremely questionable. Its fourth dorsal spine is the 

 longest, and is 3 or nearly so in the height of the body against 2^ 

 in the multifasciatus. Its form and markings too are not 

 sufficiently in accord with those of the subject of the figure given 

 in the Zoology of the Erebus and Terror, to allow us to refer it to 

 Dr. Richardson's species. Regarding it therefore as an undescribed 

 species, I propose for it the name 



SCATOPHAGUS ^ETATE-VARIANS. 



D. 12/16. A. 4/15. 

 Height of the body 2 to 2\, and length of the head 4 in the 

 length of the body, s c. Interorbit, 1\ in the length of the head- 

 Fourth dorsal spine the longest, 2§ to 3 in the height of the 

 body. Caudal fin \\ in the same. Length of the median rays of 

 the caudal much greater than the depth of the caudal peduncle. 



Colour, silvery white with markings varying with age. The 

 young fish has on the upper part of the body five vertical bars, 

 and on the post-abominal region large spots irregularly disposed. 

 When about half mature it has two bars across the muzzle, the lower 

 one continued around the lower lip. Between the orbits a curved 

 band within a larger one, which curves backward from orbit to 

 orbit, and is continued backwards on the nape to the first vertical 

 bar on the body. The body has five bars terminating on the flanks 

 and breaking up into dark spots on the abdomen, the anterior bar 

 descending to the upper angle of the operculum, and sometimes 

 faintly over the operculum. There is also a band from the end of 

 the soft dorsal half-way to the anal, and another half across the 

 root of the caudal fin. Between the vei'tical dorsal bands short 

 alternate ones make their appearance. The dorsal spines are 

 silvery, the webs of the vertical fins dark. In the adult state the 

 short alternate bars are lengthened to an equality with the others, 

 either in continuity or as elongated spots. The irregular abdominal 

 spots are arranged in two or three continuous longitudinal bands, 



