SOME NEW OR LITTLE-KNOWN AUSTRALIAN FISHES.— OGILBY. 129 



Dorsal and anal fins subfaleiform, the former with 10 rays, the 2nd 

 longest, 1-75 in the length of the head, and 2-55 times the length of its base. 

 Anal with 9 rays, originating more than an eye-diameter behind and not much 

 smaller than the dorsal, its length 2-66 in its height, which is 2-15 in the length 

 of the head. Caudal rounded, its length 3-7 in 4;hat of the body and as long 

 as the space between the nostril and the pectoral-axil. Pectoral rounded, with 

 17 rays, the upper longest, 2-12 in the length of the head. 



Gill-opening wide, extending well above the pectoral, the base of which 

 is 145 in its width; inner flap partially exposed. Vent behind the vertical from 

 the last dorsal ray. 



Imperial purple above, yellowish white below. Upper surface of head 

 and body with numerous very narrow parallel longitudinal violet lines as wide 

 as the interspaces; on the sides of the head the bars are much wider and sub- 

 vertical, with a graduated inclination backwards, and may be broken up into 

 spots or anastomosant ; above the gill-openings and pectoral fins the obliquity 

 becomes much more marked, but decreases again on the upper half of the flank 

 and tail ; the postpeetoral area is white with a series of large lavender spots, 

 followed by a similar series of darker spots, beyond which the sides are covered 

 with a network of lavender bands enclosing round or oval purple spots of 

 irregular size. Fins pale olive-green, edged and tipped with darker. 



Etymology: — Latin: multus, many; striatus, literally "furrowed," but 

 here used in the sense of "striped." 



Beg. No. in the Queensland Museum — I. 13/1462. 



How acquired: — Presented to the Queensland Museum by Mr. P. H. 

 Taylor. 



Range: — Originally described by Richardson from a specimen vaguely 

 recorded as from "Southern Polynesia," this toadfish does not again appear to 

 have fallen into expert hands, until the example here described was forwarded 

 during last September to the State Museum. 



