FOIK QVIiKNULAMI FISHES— MrCULLOCU. 93 



posterior, which is eloso to the border of the eye. Teeth depressed, their margins 

 rouiuled and uniforiiily lobiihite ; sixteen in the upper jaw. The exposed surfaces 

 of the clavicle and supraelavicle are striated. 



The greater part of the body is covered with small, strongly ctenoid 

 scales, which become cycloid on the breast and abdomen ; head-scales deeply 

 embedded and cycloid. Lateral line arched anteriorly, thence oblique to below 

 the hinder third of the soft dorsal, whence it descends to the middle of the 

 caudal peduncle. Caudal sjjine strong, its anterior fi-ee portion longer than 

 the posterior. 



Dorsal connnencing above the middle of the operculum, the spines 

 increasing evenly in length to the la.st. The margin of the fin is evenly rounded, 

 and the rays decrease evenly backwards to the eighteenth, after which they 

 become rapidly shorter. Anal commencing below the posterior dorsal spines, 

 and terminating a trifle behind the last ray; its margin rounded. Ventrals 

 acutely pointed, and reaching the base of the first anal ray. Caudal damaged, 

 emarginate (the lobes probably produced). 



Colour. — Body brown before preservation, tinged with yellow. The 

 greater part of the side.s covered with narrow dark-brown lines, which are largely 

 horizontal, irregular and anastomosing, ^'entral surface luiiform brown. Home 

 broad blue bands around the eye enclose light areas. Cheeks, opereles, shoulder, 

 and base of pectoral brown, closely covered with reticulating darker brown 

 stripes. Dorsal orange yellow, becoming darker posteriorly ; a broad blue 

 l)and along the entire base and a .second darker one above it posteriorly; a narrow 

 black margin. Anal dark greenish brown, with a pale blue border, with indica- 

 tions of two blue stripes near the base posteriorly. Ventrals dark brown ; 

 ])ectorals yellowish, darker between the rays. Caudal dark, with many round 

 darker spots between the rays; the base near the caudal peduncle light in colour; 

 a blackish area round the caudal spine. 



Described and figured from a specimen 218 mm. long, from the Clarence 

 River, New South Wales. 



Variation. — Two smaller examples from Masthead Island, 150 and 159 

 mm. long, are very similar, though their markings are not so distinct as in the 

 larger example; in one, the vei'miform markings on the body are unich broader 

 and le.ss numerous than in the other. The dorsal and anal fins are marked with 

 about six longitudinal dark stripes, and are darker anteriorly than in the specimen 

 figured. The white area around the caudal peduncle is more sharply defined 

 anteriorly, and the extreme margin of the fin is white. 



Locs. — Clarence River, New South Wales; presented to the Austi'alian 

 Aluseum by the Fisheries Department of New South AVales. Masthead Island, 

 off Port Curtis, Queensland ; coll. A. R. McCulloch. Specimens are in the 

 Macleay Museum from Port Darwin, Northern Territory. 



