DR. RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION OF AUSTRALIAN FISH. 143 



The spine, as in the other species, is composed of nine cervical and sixteen caudal 

 vertebra'. The first caudal one differs from that of laticlavius in the limbs of the ellip- 

 tical arch, formed by its transverse processes, being broader, and uniting at the base to 

 form an additional smaller opening close to the body of the vertebra. The descending 

 process of the succeeding vertebra is also broad and is perforated by two holes. There 

 are differences in tiie pharyngeal teeth of ail the species, but they are too minute to be 

 described without entering more into detail than is desirable. 



Dimensions. 



In. Lin. 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of upper caudal lobe . .10 3 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of scales on caudal ... 9 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of dorsal fin 7 6 J 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to end of anal fin 7 6 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to beginning of anal 5 2 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to anus 5 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to ventrals 3 2 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to beginning of dorsal . . . . 2 6j 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to pectorals 2 6 



Length from intermaxillary symphysis to edge of gill-flap 2 6 



Diameter of eye 5 



Length of space before the eye 9 



Length of pectorals Ill 



Length of ventrals 12 



Length of spinous part of dorsal 2 4 



Length of soft do 2 8 



Length of anal 2 4 



Length of naked part of tail 15 



Height of first dorsal spine 5 



Height of ninth or last 9 j 



Height of ninth soft ray of dorsal 12 



Height of ninth soft anal ray 10 



Height of body at ventral 2 10 



Height of tail 13 



Greatest thickness of body 12 



The greater part of the description of Labrus pcecilopleura in the ' Histoire des Poissons,' 

 applies also to psittaculus, but the latter species has a shorter head, and higher body ; its 

 pectorals, which cannot be said to be large, have a ray more ; the upper angle of the 

 caudal projects further than the rest of that fin, and there are no traces of a stripe 

 on the suborbitars, or of spots on the flanks in the specimens after maceration in 

 spirits. 



u 2 



