EDIBLE FISHES OF QUEENSLAND.— OGILBY. 25 



appressed pectoral, anteriorly distant and deeply imbedded, becoming more 

 crowded and finally imbricate on the tail ; belly scaly. Lateral line composed of 

 about 80 short tubes, terminating below the 5th or 6tli dorsal ray. 



Dorsal fin with xi 13 rays, originating above the tip of the maxillary; 

 outer border of the fin linear, the spines and rays gradually increasing in length 

 to the 9th to 11th rays, which are 1-63 to 1-75 in the length of the head. Caudal 

 fin long, 3-9 to 4-3 in the body-length. Anal with i 12 or 13 rays, originating 

 below the 1st dorsal ray, its longest ray 1-7 to 1-83 in the length of the head. 

 Pectoral rounded, with 19 rays, the middle the longest, 1-88 to 2 in the head. 

 Ventral produced, about one third longer than the pectoral, the 2nd and 3rd rays 

 subequal, reaching to or nearly to the vent. 



Gill-rakers long and slender, with the inner edge feebly spinulose, 16 -j- 26 

 on the anterior arch, the longest 2-16 in the eye-diameter. 



Golden or golden brown above; sides with two series of large, round or 

 oval, golden spots, separated by broad blue interlacing bands ; abdominal region 

 and extremity of tail violet, with splashes of greenish gold. Head lilaceous, with 

 irregular violet spots and bars; a deep blue blotch, prolonged upwards as an 

 uneven band on the opercle ; branehiostegal region blackish. Outer half of 

 spinous dorsal dark olive-green, narrowly bordered above with purple, below with 

 pale blue ; the lower band is continued to the end of the soft dorsal, the outer half 

 of which is pale olive-green, with part of the membrane blue, as also is the base. 

 Anal blue, with a median and a basal series of golden spots. Caudal rays olive- 

 green or purple, the interradial membrane blue. Pectoral pale yellowish brown, 

 the base with one or two vertical blue bars. Ventral bluish black. 



Described from five specimens, 224 to 305 mm. in total length, in the 

 collections of the Queensland Museum and the Amateur Fishermen's Association. 

 These were taken on the Snapper Grounds off Moreton Bay, where it does not 

 appear to be uncommon, and which is still the only recorded habitat of the 

 species. It is said to be good eating. 



Our illustration is taken from a Queensland Museum example. Reg. No. 

 I. 17/2840. 



2. MEROGYMNUS JACKSONIENSIS (Macleay). 



Opistliognathus jaclcsoniensis Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, v, 1881, p. 570; O'Connor, 



Proc. Eoy. Soc. Queensl., iv, 1888, p. 43. 

 Gnathypops jaclcsoniensis Waits, Ree. Austr. Mus., v, 1904, p. 240, pi. xxvi, fig. 2. 

 Merogymnus jaclcsoniensis McCulloeh, Rec. West Austr. Mus., 



SOUTHERN SMILER. 

 Type locality: — Port Jackson, N.S.W. 



Body elongate-elliptical, its width at the shoulder 1-6 to 1-75 in its depth, 

 which is 4-33 to 4-5 in its length and 1-4 to 1-55 in the length of the head. 

 Caudal peduncle three fourths deeper than long, its least depth 3-44 to 3-6 in the 

 length of the head. Head a little deeper than wide, the fronto-occipital profile 



