138 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



sevenths of the longest (sixth to eighth) rays : the anal commences 

 beneath the eleventh dorsal spine ; its spines are longer and stronger than 

 those of the dorsal, subequal to the longest rays, but not so high 

 as the dorsal rays, and 2-33-2-8S in the length of the head : ventral 

 fins reaching to the vent, or not quite so far, equal in length to the 

 distance between the tip of the snout and the posterior margin of the 

 eye, or from I70-l"90 in the length of the head : pectoral rounded pos- 

 teriorly 1'50-1'80 in the same length : caudal slightly emarginate, without 

 produced lobes, the pedicle deep and strongly compressed, its least height 

 2'50-3'00 in the height of the body. Snout, preorbital, interorbital space 

 and preopercle scaleless ; base of the vertical fins enclosed in a scaly sheath. 

 Lateral line with a gentle curvature as far as the caudal pedicle, on which it 

 is straight; the tubes crooked, but without branches. 



Colors. — Red above, the upper surface of the head brightest, gradually 

 passing into pale saffron below; each series of scales with a narrow, dull, 

 reddish-brown longitudinal streak ; three rows of oblong crimson spots on 

 the back and sides, the upper one just below the base of the dorsal fin ; the 

 median and lower rows commencing close together at the posterior margin 

 of the eye, the former following the curvature of the lateral line, the latter 

 straight : spinous dorsal, pectorals, and ventrals pink ; rayed dorsal, anal, 

 and caudal yellow : irides silvery, with three orange spots round the pupil. 



The Spotted Pigfish is even more rarely seen in the market than is 

 Gossyphus unimaculatus, the same causes operating to produce the same 

 result. 



In habits and mode of life it presents no difference to its congener, but 

 the spawning season appears to commence rather earlier in the year, as we 

 have examined specimens in which the ova were fully developed during the 

 latter half of July. Its flesh is equally nutritious and well flavored as that 

 of the last species. 



Por some time we inclined to tlie opinion that the diff'erences between 

 Gossyphus bellis and C. unimaculatus were merely sexual, but the examination 

 of specimens of both sexes belonging to either form has induced us to so far 

 recede from that position as to present full descriptions of the two fishes to 

 our readers, in the hope of eliciting further information on so interesting a 

 subject ; it must, however, be borne in mind that, notwithstanding the fact 

 that the difference in the coloration is not always concurrent with the 

 difference in the sexes, yet we may have here two distinct varietal races 

 living under similar conditions and inhabiting the same waters, but which, 

 nevertheless, preserve intact their color variations. 



Broken Bay and Shoalhaven are at present the outside limits from which 

 this form has been received. It does not appear to grow so large as the 

 blue-spotted form, the largest examined, a female with ripe ova, measuring 

 less than fifteen inches, while several have been observed which did not 

 measure ten. 



Genus IV.-PSEUDOLABRUS. 



Fseudolahrus, Bleeker, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. -115 ; Gill, Proc. U.S. Nat. 



Mus. 1891, xiv. p. 395. 

 Lahrichthys, Giinther, Catal. Pish. iv. p. 112, 1862 {not BleeJcer.) 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchia> present. Body oblong-ovate, com- 

 pressed. Snout rather pointed. None of the opercular bones serrated : 

 opercle and subopercle without a backward expansion. Jaws with a pair of 

 canine teeth anteriorly, those of the mandible fitting in between the maxillary 



