STUDIES IX AUSTRALIAN FISHES— McCULLOCH. 3/ 



Cristiceps, Guv. & Vol. 



Cristiceps, Cuv. & Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss., xi., 1836, p. 402 

 (australis). 



This was erected to receive such species as had the first three 

 rays entirely separated from those following. Beyond this there 

 appears to be no other character to distinguish it from Clinus. 

 It must be noted here, however, of the type. G. australis, that 

 while many specimens have the membrane from the third ray 

 ending a little way in front of the anterior spine of the second 

 dorsal, in others it extends to, or even up its base. 



Petraites, Ogilby, 



Petraites, Ogilby, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, x., 1885, p. 226 

 (heptceolus). 



This is to accommodate the species " which oscillate between 

 the two genera mentioned." 



Apart from the general appearance, there are no definite 

 characters by which any one of these may be separated from 

 the others, for while such species as Cristiceps aurantiacus and 

 Clinus per spicillat us are readily divisible into two genera, they 

 are connected by an unbroken series of intermediate species. The 

 same must be said of several other genera not found in Australia. 



It is obvious that no good purpose can be subserved by unit- 

 ing all these under the oldest name Clinus, and I therefore pro- 

 pose that the above three be provisionally restricted as follows : — 



A. First dorsal spine placed over or in front of the eye. 



First and second dorsal fins entirely separated or con- 

 nected by membrane Cristiceps. 



B. First dorsal spine placed behind the eye. 



C. Third spine connected to the basal portion only of 



the first spine of the second dorsal Petraites. 



D. Third spine connected to the middle or upper half 



of the first spine of the second dorsal Clinus. 



Key to the species examined : — 



Cristiceps. 



A. Anterior spine placed just before the front margin of 



the eye. Two dorsals separate aurantiacus. 



B. Anterior spine over the front half of the eye. Two 



dorsals connected argyropleura. 



C. Anterior spine over the hinder portion of the eye. 



First dorsal either distinct from, or joined to the base 



of the second austri 



