NOTES ON FISHES FROM "WESTERN AUSTRALIA — "WAITE. 187 



Length of specimen described 285 mm. Two examples taken 

 at Houtmann's Abrolhos in 1894. The type specimen was from 

 Swan River. 



It is very probable that the fish figured by McCoy (loc. cit.) 

 under the name Lahrichthys bleekeri, Cast., is referable to this 

 species. 



We cannot well compai e the descriptions of these two species 

 of Castelnau, for while that of P. bleekeri is fairly comprehensive, 

 that of P. ruber is little more than a colour description ; the 

 following points are however dealt with in both. In P. bleekeri 

 the lateral line is formed of twenty-five long carinated lines which 

 expand into rather numerous but short arbuscules ; in P. ruber 

 the scales of the lateral line are covered by very large arbuscules 

 formed of a fan like series of concentric lines. In the colour 

 pattern of the former species there is no trace of spots or bands 

 on the body, in the latter four or five indistinct transverse bands 

 sometimes occur. 



On comparing the foregoing description with that of P. bleekeri 

 by Castelnau, further diS'erences are found which indicate that 

 the two species are distinct. If, as I have surmised, McCoy's 

 figure really represents P. ruber, Victoria must be added to the 

 habitat of the species. 



Thalassoma lunare, Linnceus. 

 Though unknown on the mainland of Australia, this species 

 has been taken both at Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands off the 

 east coast. It is now recorded from a similar situation on the 

 west, the collection including two examples obtained at the 

 Abrolhos Islands in 1894. 



Thalassoma aneitense, Gilnther. 

 (Plate xxix.) 



In a previous paper" I stated, on the authority of Giinther, that 

 this species has been recognised from North-eastern Australia. 

 The locality for this habitat appears to be Cato Island in the 

 Coral Sea, though the author quoted writes "north-east coast of 

 Australia."^ 



On the east, the species is known from Cato Island, the New 

 Hebrides (Aneiteum), Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. We now 

 have it from the west, the specimens being from the Abrolhos. 

 The species is now figured for the first time. 



D. viii. 13; A. iii. 10-11; V. i. 5; P. 15; C. 13-f4; L. lat. 28; 

 L. tr. 3-1-9. 

 Length of head (exclusive of opercular membrane) 3 4, height 

 of body 2-9, caudal 4-0, in the length of the body. The eye is 



1 Waite— Eec. Aust. Mus., iii., 1900, p. 202. 



8 Gunther— Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish., iv., 1862, p. 183. 



