70 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MCSEIJM. 



OJisthc.roj-is ryanomeJns, Giintlier, Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish., iv., 1862, p. 243. 

 Id., Castleiiau, Proc. Liun. 8oc. N.S.Wales, iii., 187J), p. 354.. iJ., 

 Macleay, Proc. Linn. See. N.S.Wales, vi., 1882, p. 110. 1,1., Ogilbv, 

 Cat. Fish. N.S.Wales, 1886, p. 47. Id., Lucas, Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. 

 (2), ii., 1890, p. 33. Id., Ogilby, Ed. Pish. N.S.Wales, 1893, p. 145. 



nitstherop-<! hriiinieit!<, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, iii.. 1878, p. 36, 

 pi. v., fig. 1, and vi., 1882, p. 110. 



Olisthernp!! bron-)rii, Johnston, Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasni., 1883 (1884), p. 193, 

 and 1890 (1891), p. 35. /,/., Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, 

 ix., 1884, p. 443. 



D. xviii/0; A. iii/9 ; P. 11; V. 5; C. 12. L. lat. 52; 1. fr. 7/15. 

 Depth befoi'e the ventrals about 4*7 in the length to the hypuial joint ; 

 head including the opercnlar lobe, 39 in the same. Fye 1*6 in the snout, 

 and 5-8 in the head. Intororbital space equal to the length of the snout, 

 and 3"5 in the head. Caudal peduncle almost half as deep as long. Second 

 dorsal spine 2'5, penultimate dorsal ray 2, and [)ectoial L6 in the head. 



Body rather elongate, compressed, almost evenly arched above and 

 below. Head almost naked, t)ul3' a few small scales foiming a patch above 

 the operculum. Lines of poi-es extend around the eye, on the snout, 

 around the preopercular maigin, and across the nape. Eye of modei'ate 

 size, rounded ; intororbital space slightly convex. Nostrils separated by 

 a short space, minute, the anterior in a short tube, the posterior a simple 

 opening near the eye. Uppei- jaw overhanging the lower ; mouth liori- 

 zontal, the opening extending a little fai-ther back than tlie vei-tical of the 

 anterior nosti-il. Teeth coalesced into two laminic in each jaw, which have 

 crenulnte edges and aie [)eaked at their symphyses. Preopercuhij- mai'gin 

 laigel}' hidden in the membrane, only the I'ounded discal margin being 

 fi-ee. Operculum produced into an angular lobe, nnainied. 



Body covered with cycloid scales which commence abruptly on the na[>e, 

 and increase in size as they extend backward to the tail. They covei- 

 the extreme bases of the dor.sal and anal rays, and enlarged scales extend 

 ovei- the basal third of the caudal tin, but the pectcnal base is naked. 

 Lateral line formed of simple tubes, a little arched anterioi-ly, and then 

 extending downward till it reaches the middle line of the body. 



Second dorsal spine highest, the others decreasing in height till the 

 sixteenth, which is much shorter than the eye ; the seventeenth and 

 eigliteenth are longer, and are scai'cely distinguishable from the rays. 

 The lays increase in length to the eighth or nitith, and the last is divided 

 to its base. Anal similar in form to the soft dorsal, but both its origin 

 and termination are behind those of that fin. Pectoral inserted in advance 

 of the dorsal origin, its second ray longest. Ventral inserted below the 

 anterior half of the pectoral and reaching almost half its distance fi-om 

 the vent ; the spine is slender, and tliei-e are only four rays, of which the 

 first is longest. Caudal margin lunate, the outer rays prolonged. 



Colour. — Head and body olive brown above, changing to rich oiange 

 on the sides and light salmon-colour on the belly, when in a fi-esli 

 condition. Head with anastomosing dark blue lines and spots, which 

 become pale green and less nuniei-ous on thi' iipjier surface. Each scale 



