DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 115 



on a comparison of examples from Van Diemen's Land with others from New Zealand, 

 that the figure is incorrect, and the species the same in the two localities, the appella- 

 tion hecateia must give place to the much older one of lineata. 



The other two figures are also by George Forster, and are both inscribed Sciasna cili- 

 aris. One of them (pi. 204.) is the most finished of the four drawings here referred to, 

 and is the portrait of a fish which inhabits Dusky Bay, where it is named ' Moghee' by 

 the natives. The back, top of the head and fins are bluish black, the sides azure, the 

 belly white, and the temples and cheeks speckled. The preoperculum appears to be 

 serrated. Though the figure is differently coloured from the Trumpeter, and wants the 

 lateral stripes, it represents the general aspect and proportions of this fish better than 

 any of the other three figures, and I have little hesitation in considering it as a species of 

 Latris, notwithstanding that Schneider, who quotes Forster's account of the fish, under 

 the head of Anthias ciliaris, mentions two characters which do not exist in the Port Arthur 

 examples of the genus, viz. a keeled belly, and two cihated tubercles over the eyes. The 

 rays of Latris ciliaris, enumerated in Schneider, are D. 16|— 1|42 ; A. 2|36 ; C. 30 ; P. 20 ; 

 V. 1|5. The last spine of the first part of the dorsal is stated to be only half the length of 

 the spine at the beginning of the second part. The length of the individual (which 

 seems to have served both for the description and drawing) was 9^ inches, its height 3 

 inches. 



The fourth figure (pi. 209.) is a mere pencil outline of a fish taken in Queen Char- 

 lotte's Sound on the 25th of October 1774, and its being also entitled Scimna ciliaris 

 seems to be a proof that it was considered at the time to be the same species with the 

 preceding. The preoperculum is more distinctly serrated. The length of the specimen 

 was seventeen inches. 



Nemadactylus concinnus (Nob.), Silvery Threadfinger. — Nemadactylus concinnus, 



Richardson, Zool. Proceed., June 1839. 



Tab. IV. Fig. 2. 



In the collection first despatched by Mr. Lempriere there was a single specimen of 

 a small fish, which agrees with the genera commented upon in the preceding article in 

 the simplicity of the lower pectoral rays, and particularly with Cheilodactylus and Chei- 

 ronemus in one of these rays being lengthened out beyond the rest, as well as in 

 the dorsal rays being numerous ; but it is abundantly distinguished by its very feeble 

 dentition, the perfect smoothness of the roof of the mouth and fauces, and the want 

 of scales on the cheeks and gill-covers, which latter are totally unarmed. The small 

 number of branchial rays, and the scomberoid character of the scales are additional 

 pecuUarities. In the extreme thinness of the scales, their cycloid structure, the ele- 

 vation and silvery aspect of the row which clothes the lateral line, and the entire 

 want, of points or serratures on the opercular pieces, combined with the largeness of the 



q2 



