FrSHES. — MCCULLOCH. 107 



low scaly sheaths in which they can he partly hidden. The 

 scales cover the basal portion of the pectoral, and a considerable 

 part of the caudal. Ventral with an enlarged axillai'y scale. 



Third, fourth, and fifth dorsal spines longest, subequal ; the 

 following ones decrease a little in length, but the rays increase in 

 height to the seventh. Third anal spine longest, but much 

 shorter than the rays which are highest anteriorly. Ventrals 

 inserted behind the pectorals, the spine rather long and slender 

 and the first ray produced. The fourth upper ray of the pectoral 

 is the longest and the margin of the fin is ronnded. 



Colour. — A broad dark band extends from the eye to the 

 operculum, and sloping upwards, reaches the lateral line below 

 the soft dorsal and runs along it to the tail. The scales at the 

 base of the dorsal are blackish, and there is a longitudinal series 

 of dark spots between these and the lateral line, A narrow, 

 dark stripe commences below the soft dorsal and runs backwards 

 to the caudal above the broad lateral band ; a similar stripe below 

 the band joins the upper one on the tail. A narrow bar crosses 

 the anterior portion of the snout, and there is a trace of another 

 from the postero-superior angle of the eye. 



Described from two specimens, 190-194 mm. long. They 

 differ from the descriptions and figure of P. vitta in having only 

 49 scales along the lateral line. Quoy & Gaimard's figure shows 

 about 70, while Cuvier & Valenciennes counted 56, and Giinther 

 60. But Monsieur R. Despax, of the Paris Museum, has very 

 kindly examined the type specimen for me, and finds only 49 

 scales as in mine. I sent him a specimen similar to that figured 

 on Plate xxi, which he compared with the type, and he informs 

 me it does not differ from it in any important details. 



Castelnau noted the close resemblance of Smaris porosus, 

 Richardson, and P. vitta. Richardson's description and figure 

 agree so well with my specimens that I have no doubt of the 

 identity of the two species. 



It is probable that Moenoides auro-frenatus, Richardson, is 

 another synonym of Quoy & Gaimard's species. It was described 

 from a very imperfect drawing which has the general charac- 

 teristics of a Pentapits, and the colour-marking of P. vitta, 

 but the scales are shown much too large, and the dark lateral 

 band is pale yellow. The fish from which the drawing was pre- 

 pared was said to have been taken at Talc Bay, Australia, but I 

 can find no such place, though there is a Talc Head near the 

 entrance to Port Darwin. 



Locs. — P. vitta is recorded from Shark Bay (Quoy & Gairaard, 

 and Cuvier & Valenciennes) ; Victoria, Port Essington and 

 Houtman Abrolhos (Giinther) ; Swan River (Castelnau) ; Man- 



