102 DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 



Cheilodactylus gibbosus, ParhinsorCs Cheilodactylus. — Chatodon gibbosus, Banks. 

 Icon. ined. t. 23. Parkinson. Cheilodactylus gibbosus, Rich., Zool. Proc. 

 Ch. forma Cheilodactyli zonati, (h. e. capite brevi, ore parvulo, dentibus setaceis ; 

 dorso gibbo ; spina dorsali quartd longissimd .) radiis pinna dorsalis articulatis 

 radios spinosos numero plus duplo excedentibus. 

 Radii.— -p. 8 ef VI. ; D. l/jSG ; V. 1|5 ; A. S\8 ; C. ]4J. 



lu the atlas of Krusenstern's Voyage round the World (pi. 63. f. I.), there is a figure 

 of a fish which was captured in the Japanese seas. This species is described in the ' Hi- 

 stoire des Poissons ' under the name of Ch. zonatus, but differs considerably from the 

 other Cheilodactyli in the form of the body, which is highest in the pectoral region, and 

 tapers in a lengthened manner into the slender tail ; the mouth is placed on a low level, 

 and the arc of the nape is sudden and bold. The three first dorsal spines are short, the 

 fourth is very tall, and the succeeding ones decrease so as to impart a steeply arched 

 form to the anterior part of the fin. There is also a blunt, horn-like protuberance on 

 the anterior margin of each orbit, and the heads of the maxillary or labial bones project 

 strongly on the snout. The mouth is small, and the teeth are slender, like those of the 

 Cheetodons, though shorter '. These characters, which are sufficiently prominent to mark 

 a minor or subgeneric group, are all reproduced in a West Australian fish, of which two 

 specimens were brought home by Mr. Gould. This southern species differs from its 

 northern analogue in the disposition of its bands of colour, and in the number of arti- 

 culated dorsal rays, but agrees closely in general form and aspect. There are also 

 evident crenatures on the lower limb of the preoperculum, while the edge of that bone 

 is described as being entire in zonatus. One of Mr. Gould's specimens is deposited in 

 the Museum of Haslar Hospital, and the other in the British Museum ; and I am in- 

 debted to J. E. Gray, Esq. for kindly examining the Banksian collection of drawings, 

 and ascertaining that Parkinson's figure (vol. ii. t. 23.) of a fish taken in Endeavour 

 River, on the east coast of New Holland, is a correct representation of this species, 

 though the projections on the orbits are not depicted. By comparing Mr. Gould's 

 two specimens, this character is found to vary, being perhaps a sexual peculiarity, and 

 there is therefore no reason on that account to doubt that the same species inhabits 

 both coasts of New Holland. The name attached to the drawing is Cheetodon gibbosus, 

 and I have preserved the specific appellation. 



Form. — Much compressed ; the profile highest beneath the fourth and longest dorsal 

 spine, that is, a little before the tip of the gill-flap and base of the pectorals ; from 

 thence it tapers gradually to the slender tail, but so that the belly ascends little in 

 comparison with the descent of the back ; and a straight line drawn through the mouth 

 and pectorals to the centre of the caudal fin, leaves about three-quarters of the entire 

 height of the body above it. The profile from the fourth dorsal spine to the orbits is 



I There is an example of Cheilodactylus zonatus from the China seas, in the British Museum. 



