370 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, 



between the second and third dorsal spines ; l'ernaiuder of the 

 fin with indefinite lighter and darker bands and a whitish edge. 

 Anal marked similarly to the dorsal. Caudal with the central 

 portion dusky and two more or less distinct blotches at the base. 

 A black spot or bar at the base of the pectoral. When fresh, 

 the colouration consists largely of scarlet bars on a rich green 

 ground colour. 



Young specimens have the same markings as adults bui the 

 vertical bars on the body are much more pronounced, and there 

 are four to six pairs of dark brown spots between the back and 

 the lateral line, and one on the caudal peduncle. These are 

 sometimes persistent in the full-grown fish. 



Having examined all de Vis' specimens, with the exception of 

 P. /v.*: and P. maculatus, which are lost, I am certain they all 

 belong to one species ; though they have lost all traces of colour, 

 they still retain more or less of their markings which are similar 

 to those described above. The descriptions of P. rex and P. 

 maculatus indicate that they also are identical with the others; 

 this view is strengthened by the fact that they were obtained 

 with his P. cruentatus. 



The only difference between the type specimens of V. dorsal is 

 and P. melanurus is that in the latter the markings on the head 

 ai'e darker than the ground-colour, whereas they are whitish in 

 the former. There is no room for doubt however that this is 

 merely the result of indifferent preservation, P. dorsalis being 

 little more than a skin from which the interior parts have 

 decayed. 



Steindachner described a Port Jackson specimen as 7'. hn-u- 

 lentus, Richardson, but thinking that it might prove distinct 

 from that species, he proposed the alternative name richard&onii 

 lor it. The description agrees well with my specimens of 

 /'. guntheri. 



Huh. — This species is apparently rare in New South Wales 

 but is common in Queensland, The Australian Museum collec- 

 tion includes live adults and twenty-six young specimens ranging 

 From 33-180 mm. in length, from the following localities: — 

 Moreton Bay, and Masthead Island off Port Curtis, Queensland; 

 Lord Howe Island ; Cape Solander, Botany Pay. All the 

 specimens described by de Vis were taken in Moreton 



