srrniKS in acstuai.ian i'ishes — mccullocm. 139 



First dorsal tiu coinnienciiig a little behind the vertical of the pre- 

 operciilar margin, aud formed of flexible rays united by a leathery 

 membrane. Its first three I'ays are short thoiigh increasing in length 

 successively ; the fourtli forms the anterior margin of the fin and is longer 

 tlian the five following it ; thence the rays increase more or less regularly 

 in length to the twenty-second, which is the longest of all ; after this they 

 decrease again, and form a rounded though somewhat uneven margin to 

 the fin; the fifth to the eleventh rays and the fifteenth are bifurcate, but 

 all the others ai-e simple. A short space separates the two dorsals. 

 Second dorsal foi ined of branch rays ; the first is longer than those 

 following it, but shorter than the last which is prolonged and thickened. 

 Second anal similar to and opposite the second dorsal. Third ray of the 

 anterior anal longest and simple, and inserted nearer the base of the tail 

 than that of the pectoral fin ; it is followed by several branched rays, a,fter 

 which the others are simple. Pectoral falcate, the upper ray longest and 

 broader than the others. Ventrals broken ; each is formed of one spine 

 and two flattened rays, all closely in contact. Caudal greatly forked, 

 with a thick muscular base which lai'gely covers the median rays. 



Colonr-iiKirkiiKj. — -The specimen has become greatly stained during 

 preservation but the upper portion appears to have been uniformly dark 

 coloured and the lower lighter. The anterior doisal fin is uniformly black. 



Described and figured from a specimen about 6 feet 8| inches long 

 over all. It has been cut into three sections and the end of the rostrum 

 is broken off, so that its exact length cannot be determined, but it 

 measui-es approximately 1570 mm. from the end of the lower jaw to the 

 tips of the middle caudal rays. 



Localitij. — This specimen has been presented to the Trustees of the 

 Australian Museum by the Fisheries Branch, Chief Secretai'y's Department. 

 It is unfortunately without data, but Mr. Stead informs me that it is the 

 example recorded by him {^Loc. cit.), fi'om Port Stephens. A dorsal 

 fin which was supposed to have been taken in New South Wales waters 

 by Dr. Bennett was identified as belonging to Z. ijh(dliis by Giinther. 



Family GEMPYLLID^. 



Genus Thyksites, Citvier. 



Thyrsites atun, Eiiphraxeih. 



(Plate xxiv., fig. 2). 



Barrac(juta. 



Thijrsifes iitiDi (Euphrasen) Cuvier & Valencienne.s', Hist. Nat. Poiss., 

 viii., 1S31, p. 196, pi. ccxix. LI., Giinther, Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish., ii., 

 1860, pp. 350, 527. 



D. xx/12/5; A. 12/6; P. 14; V. i/5: C. 17. Depth before the 

 ventral fins 76 in the length to the hypural joint ; head •i"02 in the same. 

 Eye 1-2 in the interorbital space, 2*7 in the snout, and 65 in the head ; 

 interorbital width 5-2, and snout 2-3 in the head. Fifth dorsal spine 3-0, 

 third dorsal ray 3'2, and pectoral fin 2-2 in the head ; length of the 

 ventral fins subequal to the interorbital width. 



