278 RECORDS OF THE AUSTKALIAN MUSEUM. 



the space sepai-atiug them narrower tlian the eye. Exposed edge of the 

 shoukler-girdle a smooth lidge, and forming an angle at its junction with 

 the lower margin of the gill-opening. 



Body robust, subcylindrical anteriorly, compressed posteriorly. 

 The scales are of moderate size, and everywhere ctenoid except on the 

 breast and base of the pectoral ; they cover the bases of the pectoral rays, 

 and extend up between those of the caudal. Genital papilla large, 

 subquadrate, its hinder margins fimbriate. 



First dorsal rounded, originating above the middle of the pectoral ; 

 the third spine is the longest, but does not reach the second dorsal when 

 adpressed. Dorsal rays increasing in length to the penultimate, which 

 reaches three-fourths of its distance from the hypural joint. Anal opposite, 

 and similar in form to the second dorsal. Pectoral rounded, reaching to 

 below the middle of the interspace between the two dorsal fins. Venti^als 

 widely separated, their fourth rays longest and reaching more than two- 

 thirds of their distance from the vent. Caudal broadly rounded. 



Colour -marlcing. — Dark brown above after long preservation, light 

 below ; the sides bear dark longitudinal stripes between each row of scales, 

 and the central portion of many of the scales is occupied by a light spot. 

 The sides of the head likewise bear a few light spots, but are otherwise 

 uniformly dark in colour. The membrane of the vertical fins is dark 

 between the rays, and the second dorsal and caudal bear numerous 

 pronounced yellowish ocelli in irregular rows ; similar ocelli are indicated 

 on the first dorsal, but they are absent from the anal. The margin of the 

 second dorsal, and the upper and lower borders of the caudal are light 

 coloured, while the anal is broadly margined with yellow. Ventrals 

 dusky with lighter margins. 



Described from a specimen 187 mm. long, which is one of fifteen 

 cotypes preserved in the Macleay Museum. The others, which range 

 from 43-190 mm. in length, exhibit but little variation in their coloui-- 

 marking, though the white spots are scarcely developed in the smallest 

 specimens. 



Colour. — An example 241 mm. long, secured alive by one of us at 

 Cooktown, presented the following colouration. Dorsal surface olive- 

 green, closely vermiculated with dai'k brown ; sides dai'k blue shot with 

 green, most of the scales with a large greenish-white spot ; under surfaces 

 dusky grey, changing to white near the vent. Sides of the head similar 

 to the body, but with fewer and smaller light spots ; throat dusky, witli 

 large light blotches. Fij-st dorsal dusky olive, shot with blue and green. 

 Second dorsal dusky olive below, clearer above, the luys darker ; numerous 

 bluish-white spots between the rays forming very irregular rows, and 

 extending high up between the posterior ra3'8 ; a broad orange margin 

 between the second and seventh raj's. Caudal pale blue, the I'ays dark 

 olive, with numerous greenish-white spots basally ; an imperfect orange 

 margin above and below. Anal rich blue and green, the i-ays darker ; a 

 dark snbmaiginal ill-defined band, and a broad oi-ange border. Ventrals 

 blue, the rays olive, with an imperfect yellow margin. Pectoral base 

 without darker mai-kings but with numei'ous lighter spots ; the luys are 

 dusky olive irregularly spotted with black. 



