STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN FISHES -McCULLOCH. 41 



First dorsal spine placed between the eye and the preopercular 

 margin. The membrane from the third spine extends to, rarely 

 up, the base of the first spine of the second dorsal. The dorsal 

 rays are widely spaced, the second and third slightly more so 

 than the others. Caudal peduncle short and broad, the dorsal 

 membrane reaching to the base of the caudal rays. A branched 

 tentacle on the snout and a broad fringed one over the eye. 

 Body deep. Vertebra? 14 + 26. 



All the fresh specimens I have seen were of a deep brown 

 colour, with darker bands and silvery and transparent markings. 

 Specimens long preserved in alcohol become yellowish with 

 bright pink bands. Lives among weeds in pools along the New 

 South Wales coast. 



(a) 4 Port Jackson, New South Wales. 



(b) 2 New South Wales coast. 



(c) 5 Lord Howe Island. 

 ( '1 ) 2 without locality. 



Petraites hept.eolus, Ogilby. 



(Plate xi., fig. 1.) 



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

 p. 225. 



Cristiceps wilsoni, Lucas, Proc. Koy. Soc. Vict., (n.s.), iii., 1891, 

 p. 10, pi. iii., f. 1. 



D. iii., xxv.-xxvii.; 1 + 2. A. ii.; 17-20. V. 3. 



First dorsal spiue placed over the preopercular margin. The 

 membrane from the third spine extends rarely to, generally a 

 little up the base of the anterior one of the second dorsal. The 

 two posterior rays separated by an interspace from the first. 

 Caudal peduncle short and broad, the dorsal membrane reaching 

 to the caudal rays. A branched tentacle on the snout, and a 

 broad fringed one over the eye. Body deep. 



I have taken this species with P, roseus at Long Bay, to which 

 it is nearest allied. It differs, however, by having much lower 

 tins, the dorsal rays less numerous than is usual in that 

 species, and the two last being separated from the first. Those 

 of the anal are also generally distinct. There seems to me to be 

 no doubt that Cristiceps wilsoni, Lucas, must be included under 

 this heading, the only apparent difference lying in a greater 

 range of variation in the number of spines and rays in the dorsal 



