134 DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 



dorsal ; or as the skin of the back is somewhat loose and forms a small fold, it may be 

 considered as actually connected to the base of the second dorsal. The two anterior rays 

 of the first dorsal are before the eye, and the third is just over it The second dorsal 

 commences over the axilla of the pectoral by a very short incumbent ray, and is con- 

 tinued to the base of the caudal. Anteriorly it is equal in height to the first dorsal, 

 and the posterior rays diminish in succession, but not much. The anal is equal in 

 height to the part of the dorsal opposite to it, and terminates near the base of the 

 caudal by a minute ray. The membrane of both fins is in the specimen a little frayed 

 on the edge, and a single very fine thread-like point projects from each ray. In the 

 caudal two points equally fine project from each of the seven intermediate caudal rays, 

 the upper one above and below, showing only a single point. 



Radii.— P. 9 ; V. 1|4 ; D. 1, 3J-15 ; A. 8 ; C. 9. 



The fish after long maceration in spirits appears of a shining reddish brown, with 

 minute pale marbhngs or reticulations, seeming to the naked eye like cracks in the 

 cuticle. Two irregular pale blotches occupy some space near the base of the second 

 dorsal, and there is a darker tint between the pectoral and eye. In Dr. Ross's figure a 

 semilunar dark hne is represented over the eye, a smaller but broader one above the 

 base of the pectoral, and three fainter ones along the base of the dorsal. 



Dimensions. 



In. Lin. 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to base of caudal 2 3^ 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to beginning of caudal ... 1 8 



Length from intermaxillary to vent 10 



Height at ventrals 8 



Height behind pectorals 6 



Thickness at pectorals 4 



Length of pectorals 6 



Length of second ray of first dorsal 6 



Length of third ray of first dorsal .... 5 



Length of second and third ray of second dorsal 6 



Height of anal 5 



Labei, Wrasses. 



The collection contains four different Wrasses, but it is to be regretted that the labels 

 having fallen from all the specimens, Mr. Lempriere's notes of the colours of the re- 

 cent fish cannot be confidently assigned to the proper species. The name of ' Parrot 

 Fish' is locally applied to the gayer Labri, the striped Balistes, and to some Ostra- 

 cions. Two of the Wrasses appear to have been comparatively little ornamented (L. te- 

 tricus and fucicola) , and the other two to have been tinged with lively colours, or even 



