76 MEMOmS OF TRE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



caudal peduncle. Two or three series of small elongate scales form a sheath at 

 the base of the soft dorsal, the interradial membrane of which is almost com- 

 pletely covered by more or less acuminate minute scales directed outwards ; base 

 of caudal scaly, smaller scales extending between the rays to about two thirds of 

 the length of the fin ; basal half of anal, pectorals, and ventrals scaly. Lateral 

 Hue following the curvature of the back to about the middle of the soft dors^d, 

 beyond whieh it runs straight to the extremity of the caudal fin ; tube-bearing 

 scales 48 to 50, the tribes, which do not extend to the border of the scale, each 

 ■with an ascending and a descending tubule. An arcuate band of three open pores 

 on the snout anteriorly ; seven pori>s across the chin forming two transversely 

 crescentic series, the three anterior small and rounded, the outer pair of the 

 hinder series much the largest and round, the inner jiair small and slit-like. 



Doi'sal fins with x, i 2!) to 31 rays, tlie fir.st originating above the tip of the 

 bony opercle, the last spine basally united to and but little shorter than that of 

 the soft dor.sal : spines weak and flexible, the third the longest, scarcely longer 

 than the fourth, 2-1 to 2-28 in the length of the head and 1-2 to 1-37 in the length 

 of its base, which is about 2-2 in that of the second dorsal, the rays of which, 

 except the last three, are of nearly even length, the postero-niedian ones somewhat 

 the longest, about one third less than the third spine, and 2-S to 3-1 in the length 

 of the head, the last ray, like that of the anal, divided nearly to its base ; base of 

 soft dorsal 2-37 to 2-55 in the body-length. Caudal fin obtusely cuneate or 

 rounded, its length -l-Sl to 5-28 in tliat of the body. Anal with ii 7 rays, 

 originating below tlie thirteenth dorsal ray, the spines short and weak, the 

 second 3-67 to 4-1 in the length of the head and 1-6 to 1-S in the first ray; base 

 of anal 5 to 5-38 in that of the second dorsal. Pectoral pointed, with 17 rays, the 

 sixth the longest, 1-33 to 1-5 in the length of the head, and extending to below 

 the anterior dorsal ray. Ventral inserted below and behind the lowei' angle of 

 the pectoral-base and about one ninth shorter than that fin, the first ray the 

 longest and terMiinating in a sliort filament. 



Gill-rakers short and slender, 6 or 7 + ^2 or 13 with some rudiments on 

 tlie anterior arch, the longest about three tenths of the eye-diameter. Lower 

 l)haryngeals separate, each with three very strong subulate teeth on its inner 

 antci-ioi- angle. Air-l)ladder jiointed ])osteriorly, with a few simple papilliform 

 appendages on each side. 



Silver-gi-ay above, siiading through the pure silver of tlie sides to the 

 |M-arly white of the breast and belly; all llic uppi r and lateral scales are densely 

 |.ow(ic'ii(l with dusky dots, which are so crowded in places as to form four broad 

 longitudinal darker gray bands, two al)Ove and Iwo l)elow the lateral lino; most 

 of the scales of the breast and belly willi a marguial series of from three to five 

 copper-colored dots; nape jjurplish brown, foniiing a triangular blotch on each 

 side I'pper surface of head darU bi-ovvii, separated from the inu'hal collar by a 

 silvery band: sides and lower surface silvery; inside of mouth golden. Dorsal, 

 <';ni(lal, and pictoral fins gray, the siiinotis dorsal so closely dotted as to obscure 



