17. LABEICHTHYS. 113 



We divide the species of this genus thus : — 



A. Cheeks with several series of scales. 



a. Base of the dorsal fin not scaly, p. 113. 



b. Dorsal scales extending on the base of the fin, p. 116*. 



B. Cheeks with only one or two series of small scales, p. IIG. 



A. Cheeks with several series of scales. 

 a. Base of the dorsal fin not scaly, 



1. Labiichthys celidota. 



Labrus celidotus, Forst. Descr. Anim. cur. Licht. p. 133 ; Bl. Schn. 

 p. 265 ; Richards. Voy. Erch. S,- Terr. Fishes, p. 53. pi. 31. figs, 1-5. 



poecilopleura, Cuv. 8c Val. xiii. p. 95. 



Sparus notatus, Solander, MS. 



Jidis (?) notatus, Richards. Ann. SfMag. Nat. Hist. 1843, xi. p. 425. 



D, :^, A. ^. L, lat. 27. L, transv, 3/9. Vert. 10/13. 



A posterior canine tooth (absent in young specimens). Reddish- 

 olive (in spirits), with some irregular cloudy spots, several forming 

 indistinct cross-bands ; a large round brown patch on the lateral 

 line, below the origin of the soft dorsal fin ; two brown streaks 

 radiate from the orbit to the shoulder and to the operculum, another 

 across the prajorbital. Anal fin with two brown spots near the base. 



Coasts of New Zealand and Australia. 



a. Fine specimen. Australia. Presented by Sii* J. Richardson. 



b. Adult. Port Essington. Presented by the College of Surgeons. 

 c-f. Half- grown. Botany Bay. Presented by the College of Sur- 

 geons. 



</, h. Fine specimens. New Zealand. Presented by Captain Stokes. 

 i, k-u. Adult, half-grown, and young. New Zealand. From the 



Haslar Collection, 

 t'. Adult : skeleton. New Zealand. From the Haslar Collection. 



The intestinal tract is short, shorter than the entire fish ; the 

 stomach is merely a somewhat more dilated portion of the intestine, 

 without a distinct pylorus ; the intestine makes two short bends, an 

 upper and a lower one ; its posterior straight portion is narrower 

 than the anterior, and separated from it by a circular valve. The 

 ovaria are united posteriorly. The au"-bladder is ovate, and has a 

 thick membrane, which is not fixed to any other part of the abdo- 

 minal cavity ; there is no glandular mass in its internal cavity. 



The transverse portion of the lower pharyngeal is provided with 

 obtuse, rounded molars, which become more conical anteriorly ; the 

 teeth are pointed on the longitudinal portion of the bone, where they 

 are arranged in three series, extending to the extremity. 



* We do not tliink it advisable to establish another genus for the species with 

 the base of the dorsal fin naked, as this character is unaccompanied bv any other; 

 L. luculenta and ridnginosa, for instance, are extremely similar to each other. 

 VOL. IV. I 



