EDIBLK FlsnKS OF QrKENSLAND—OOII.BT. 53 



Dorsal fin with x 11 rays, the soft portion 1-44 in the length of the spinous ; 

 sixth spine longest, but scarcely longer than the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth, 

 its length 244 in that of the head ; soft dorsal a little lower than the spinous, 

 one fourth longer than high, the posterior branch of the last ray produced, two 

 sevenths more than the longest spine, but not reaching to the base of the, cajadsij. 

 Caudal deeply emarginate, with the lobes acute, the middle rays one third of the 

 upper lobe, which is 3-33 in the body-length. Anal fin with iii 8 rays, originating 

 below the second dorsal ray, the spines slender and flexible, the third the longest, 

 3-75 in the length of the head and a little shorter than the first ray; soft anal 

 one sixth longer than high, the last ray similar to that of the dorsal, and seven 

 ninths more tlian the second spine. Pectoral with 16 rays, its length 3-55 in 

 that of the body, the fifth ray longest, not reaching to the vertical from the vent; 

 below the fifth the rays rapidly decrease in length, so' that the seventh is only 

 three fifths of the length of the longest. Ventral long and pointed, with the 

 outer ray slightly produced, extending as far back as and 1-25 in the length 

 of the pectoral, which is about as long as the head. 



Gill-rakers of moderate length and strength, 16 on the lower branch of the 

 anterior arch, the longest 1-86 in the eye-diameter. 



Upper surface and sides roseate, shading into pearly white lielow, the 

 upper surface of the head and the snout washed with violet. Fins pinkish, the 

 dorsal with a median saffron band, and with a basal sa.Pfron or pearly spot 

 between each pair of spines and rays; anal with a pearly basal and saffron 

 marginal band ; tips of caudal, pectoral, and ventral rays grayish, (/xt/cpo?, small ; 

 Xems, scale.) 



Described from a specimen, 395 millim. long, taken in Moreton Bay by 

 Mr. A. E. Wood, and presented by him to tlie Queejisland JMuseum ; Reg. No. 

 I. 2509. I have also had the opportunity of examining a larger example (482 

 millim.), caught by Mr. John Colclough on the Snapper Banks off Moreton Bay, 

 and now the property of the Amateur Fishermen's Association. 



Historical : — But little is known of this rare and beautiful fish, vihich was 

 originalh' described from two small examples obtained at Amboina; some years 

 subsequently its describer included it in the catalogue of fishes, published by 

 Pollen & van Dam in their "Faune Madaga.scar, " on the strength of an example 

 received from Reunion. As xlpharcus roseufs Castelnau described it two years 

 later from Port Jackson, and his type not being available for re-examination, the 

 error was perpetuated in all subsequent lists of New South Wales fishes. It was, 

 therefore, wdth especial pleasure that I discovered, in the collection of the Queens- 

 land Museum, the specimen from whicli the above description was drawn up, and 

 ^m thuj ena_bled to fix the position of Castelnau 's fish. 



-••r'.? r- .. . _r _~_ ■■ ., . • ,_ ■ ,-,■-:..-.-.•« v.-^.-.—i*' 



ZTses;— Nothing appears to have been recorded as to the edifce qilaliti'es"^ 

 this species or its congeners, but as it is a fairly large and robust fish, it is doubti- 

 less of equally good quality for the table as its lutianoid allies. ;- - ~^ 



