13T) DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 



corresponding spinous one one- third ; but the decrease of the posterior ones is very 

 gradual, and the last, which shortens more perceptibly, is only one-third lower. The 

 last rays are bound down in an oblique direction to the back by the membrane which 

 reaches nearly to their tips, giving a rounded form to the end of the fin. The spinous 

 and articulated portions occupy equal spaces, or about one-third of the total length of 

 the fish, as in gatturigine. The anal is supported by twenty-one rays, the first being 

 very short : their tips pass beyond the membrane, and their length is about one-third 

 less than that of the rays of the opposite dorsal. The fin terminates a short way from 

 the base of the caudal, and is highest at the commencement of its posterior third, but 

 not so much so as to produce a decidedly arched outhne. The pectoral has an oval 

 outhne, the rays becoming successively stouter from the upper one and lengthening to 

 the tenth, after which they again shorten. The ventrals, attached far forwards, contain 

 two simple rays. The caudal contains eight rays forked at the tips (two of them being 

 even trifid), and three simple incumbent rays above and below. There is no mem- 

 branous edging to the caudal exterior to the rays. The length of the fin is equal to 

 one-sixth of the total length of the fish, as in gatturigine. 



The lateral line curves downwards opposite to the tip of the pectoral, and then runs 

 straight along the middle of the tail. 



Dimensions. 



Female. Male. 



In. Lin. In. Lin. 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of caudal ..311 46 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to beginning of caudal 3 3 3 10 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of dorsal ..32 38 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of anal ... 3 1 37^ 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to beginning of anal .18 2 2 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to pectorals ... 1 1 10 



I.iength from intermaxillary symphysis to end of gill-cover .09 12 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to beginning of dorsal 8|- 10^ 



Height of body at pectorals 9^ 11 



Height of body behind anus 7i 8f 



Thickness of body at pectorals 5:j 7j 



Diameter of eye 21 2 J^ 



Height of fourth dorsal spine 3^ 4 



Height of fourth articulated ray of dorsal 5^5 6 



Height of fourteenth anal ray 3-^ 4 



Length of anal 7^ 8 



Length of pectoral 8 8f 



Length of ventrals 7 7;^ 



Length of space between anal and caudal 01^ 02 



