DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 79 



show how closely C. salar agrees with truttaceus in the relative proportions of its orbits 

 and other parts. The form of the scales is the same in both ; but salar has rather fewer 

 on the lateral line, which contains only about fifty-three, while they are said to amount 

 to nearly sixty in truttaceus. Centropristes salar seems to form a connecting link be- 

 tween the truttaceus and Georgianus' of the ' Histoire des Poissons.' AU three have 

 feebly armed gill-covers and grooves for the reception of the dorsal and anal fins, which 



give them a msenoid aspect. 



The Banksian Library contains four figures strongly resembUng this species, executed 

 on the coast of New Zealand on Cook's first and second voyages, viz. No. 67, by Par- 

 kinson, entitled ' Sciana mulloides,' with the adjunct ' sapidissimus,' evidently referring 

 to its excellence as an edible fish : the specimen was taken at Opooragi. No. 68, by 

 the same artist, is a similar figure, made in Queen Charlotte's Sound, and has the native 

 name of 'Hetrawai' written on it. These figures represent the back as bluish, with 

 round spots equally distributed above the lateral Une. Solandei's MSS. account of a 

 fish captured in Tegadoo Bay, lat. 38^ S., is evidently considered by him to be the 

 same species, as it has the epithet ' Mulloides sapidissimus' prefixed to it. His description, 

 which is a long one, mentions villiform teeth on the jaws, roof of the mouth, and fauces, 

 and contains the following remark respecting the giU-covers : " Branchiarum opercula arete 

 clausa Lamina anterior, et postica superior squamosa, sed squanus cute gelatinosd tecta, 

 omnes Integra. Radii :-Br. 7 - 7 ; P. 16 ; D. 9116 ; A. 3|10 ; V. l|5 ; C. 20." The 

 first and second dorsal spines are stated to be ' brevissimi,' and it may therefore be con- 

 cluded, that though the figures exhibit only eight spinous rays, that the first was not 

 conspicuous enough in the recent fish to be represented by the artist. In the number 

 of rays the description corresponds exactly with our salar ; but in the want of scales on 

 the under opercular pieces (implied by their not being mentioned) it agrees with trutta, 

 which in this respect difl^-ers from all the other Centropristes described in the ' Histoire 

 des Poissons,' including C. Georgianus. 



Number 210, by G. Forster, inscribed ' Sciana trutta,' and also ' Mulloides sapidissima,' 

 the latter term being possibly intended as a reference to Parkinson's prior figure, has small 

 and rather crowded oblong spots above the lateral Une : the dorsal exhibits only eight spi- 

 nous rays No 21 1 , also by G. Forster, is marked ' Sciana sapidissima' and ' Mulloides^,' 

 and was drawn in Queen Charlotte's Sound. It diifers from 210 in the spots being 

 fewer and larger, and spreading below the lateral line : the scales extend farther over 

 the cheek. It would appear that the Forsters, with the fresh specimens before them, 

 considered this to be at least a well-marked variety, if not a distinct species ; and it is 

 but fair to conclude that Solander observed some differences in the originals of Nos. 6/ 



. Considered <. the type of the genus Arripis by Mr. Jenyns in Part IV. of the ■ Zoolog,- of the Beagle,' and 

 differing from Salar trutta, &c. in the scales wanting the usual fan-like streaks on their basal halves. 



