SOME AUSTRALIAN BLKNNIOm FISHES McCULLfX'H ANH McNKII.L. 11 



Dorsal fin noi iiotclied, tliougli the last spine does not reach its niar- 

 ofiu ; the lengtli of the spinous portion is less than that of the soft, and its 

 margin is a little rounded. Median doisal rajs highest, the last united 

 with the basal portion of the caudal by membrane. Anal commencing 

 below the jiosterior doi'sal spines ; its anterior rays are a little produced, 

 and the succeeding ones are subequal in length ; the last is united by 

 membrane to the caudal peduncle. Pectoral rounded, the sixth lowest 

 ray longest, reaching the vertical of the tenth or eleventh dorsal s[)ine. 

 Ventrals inserted well before the first dorsal spine, the inner ray longest, 

 and reaching half its distance fi'om the vent. Caudal slightly rounded or 

 subtruncate. 



Colour ntarkiiiij. — Light brown in alcohol, with eight broad darker 

 cross-bands, which are distinct in the young and indefinite in larger 

 specimens; thej' may enclose lighter spots towards the ventral surface. 

 Anteriorly the body is ornamented with many dark brown dots towards 

 the back, which give place to thin undulating lines on the sides ; posteri- 

 orly there are about two rows of rounded blue spots on the upper half of 

 the side, and some larger brown spots on the caudal peduncle. Head with 

 brown dots above, and a dark mark from the eye to the mouth, and others 

 across the preopercular and opercular borders ; a broad bluish brown 

 cross-band covers the throat and is separated from another before the 

 ventrals by a nai-row, light interspace ; these may be indistinct, particu- 

 larly in older specimens. Dorsal fin with dark blotches basally, which 

 are continuations of the cross-bands of the body ; each of these divides 

 into two broad, darker bands, which curve upwards and forwards; narrow 

 dark lines cross the fin in the opposite direction and end in dark spots 

 near the margin ; on the spinous dorsal the broader bands are formed of 

 anastomosing darker lines, which enclose light, rounded spots, and 

 form a characteristic chequered pattein on the fin. Anal fin dusky, with 

 some dark blotches basallj-, caudal plain. Pectorals and ventrals light 

 coloured, with well defined brown spots on the rays ; broad brown mark- 

 ings enclosing lighter spots are present on the base of the pectoral. 



Described from two specimens 81 and 125 mm. long. The younger 

 differs from the older specimen only in having its markings much better 

 defined, which is characteristic of smaller specimens of tliis species. 



Variation. — A good series of specimens exhibits considerable variation 

 in the details of the colour marking, and in the relative lengths of the 

 fin rays and spines. The anal may be very light in colour, or dark grey, 

 with lighter and darker spots. The caudal is either plain or closely 

 speckled with grey dots, or with larger darker spots. In very small 

 examples the darker spots and lines on the anterioi' portion of the body 

 are wanting. The junction of the spinous and soft portions of the dorsal 

 is indicated by a very slight emargination in some specimens, and the 

 anterior anal rays may be either greatly produced or of equal length to 

 the others. Finally, the tentacles of very young specimens are less 

 branched than in older examples. 



Synonymy. — The identity of S. h')ienhttns, Alleyue and Macleay, with 

 S. fascial us, has already been noted by Ogilbj^, and aii examination of the 

 holotype proves his conclusion to be correct. The holotypes of S. pauper, 

 de Vis, and >S. suhUneatus, de Vis, are completely bleached, but are 



