7. PSAMMOPERCA. 69 



7. PSAMMOPERCA. 



Labrax, sp., Cuv. i^ Val. ii. p. 83. 



Psammoperca, Richardson, Voy. Erebus Sf Terror, Fishes, p. 116, and 

 Ichthyology, p. 275. 



Seven branchiostegals. Teeth on the vomer and palatine bones 

 crowded, granular ; no canine teeth ; tongue smooth. Two dorsals, 

 slightly continuous, moving in a scaly sheath ; the first with eight, 

 the anal with three spines. Operculum with a small, proeoperculum 

 with a strong spine, the latter with an entire lower limb. Scales 

 rather large. 



East Indian and Australian seas. 



1. Psammoperca waigiensis. 



Labrax waigiensis, Cuv. ^ Val. ii. p. 83 ; Blceker, Natunrk. Tydschr. 



Netlerl. hid. ii. p. 479; Lesson, Voy. Coq. Zool. 237. 

 Psammoperca datnioides, Richardson, Voy. Erebus ^ Terror, Fishes, 



p. 116. ^I. 57. f. 1, 2. 

 waigiensis, Bleeker, I. c. v. p. 177. 



D. 8 1 y^^. A. |. L. lat. 50-55. 



Height of body one-fourth of total length. Hinder edge of prae- 

 operculum denticulated, a long spine at the angle. 

 Australia ; Waigiou. 



a. Adult: stuffed. Australia. 



6. Half-grown : stuffed. Victoria, Australia. Voyage of H.M.S. 



Herald. 

 c. Adult :' skin. China. From Mr. Warwick's Collection. 



2. Psammoperca macroptera. 



D-8|f3- A.f3. 



Height of the body one-tliird of the total length ; praeorbital and 

 suborbital arch strongly serrated ; hinder edge of prseoperculum ser- 

 rated, a triangular spine at the angle. 



a. Dried. Victoria. Australia. Voyage of H.M.S. Herald. 



The specimen upon which I found this new species shows very 

 well the characters of the genus, and the peculiarities by which it 

 is distinguished from the only other species hitherto known ; but" the 

 scales are partly detached, or spoiled by fat. It is distinguished by 

 the great elevation of the body, by the high third dorsal spine, and 

 the long anal fin. 



The length of the Jiead is 4f in the total ; it is compressed, the 

 interspace between the eyes being one-sixth only of the length of 

 the head, or rather more than one-half the diameter of eye. The 

 snout equals in length that diameter, and is latei'aUy coveied by the 



