AUSTRALIAN GOBIID^ McCULLOCU AND OGILBY. 243 



Body compressed, the breadth between the pectorals 1"4 in its depth. 

 It is covered with ctenoid scales which are large and regular posteriorly, 

 bat small and irregular anteriorly. They extend forward to above the 

 opercnlum, leaving the nape and pectoral base naked ; thorax scaly. There 

 are approximately thirty-seven rows between the upper base of the 

 pectoral and the hyj)ural joint, but the anterior scales are so irregular 

 that either more or less may be counted. Genital papilla well developed. 



First dorsal rounded, the fourth and fifth rays longest, as long as the 

 postorbital portion of the head ; second doi'sal rays increasing in height 

 backwards, the last as long as the head without the operculum, and 

 reaching to the base of the caudal rays. Anal of similar form to the 

 second dorsal, commencing behind its second ray, and terminating slightly 

 behind its last; the last ray is as long as that of the second dorsal. 

 Pectoral somewhat pointed, its eleventh ray longest, reaching to a little 

 behind the vertical of the vent. Ventrals completely united, not quite 

 reaching the vent. Caudal elongate, pointed, the median rays longer than 

 the head and trunk. 



General colour light green in life, abdomen white. Muzzle and throat 

 greenish-black ; a broad purplish-black bar from below the eye extends 

 obliquely across the opercles to the lower base of the pectoral, and termin- 

 ates between the pectoral and ventral bases ; another bar is situated in the 

 nuchal groove, and extends backward on the body to below the last dorsal 

 spine; an interrupted, curved bar commences behind the eye, and crosses 

 the cheek to behind the mouth ; upper lip blackish. An incomplete dark 

 bar commences beneath the pectoral, and running downward, breaks up 

 into a row of blackish blotches above the anal fin. Many of the scales 

 near the back on the hinder part of the body bear oblique, purplish streaks 

 near their margins. Large opalescent spots are arranged in two irregular 

 rows on the anterior half of the body, the base of the pectoral, thorax, and 

 the preoperculum. Dorsal fins with a broad, horizontal, dark bar near 

 their bases, the remainder of the fins almost hyaline ; anterior spines 

 tipped with orange. Caudal dark green, with a pale yellowish border, 

 and a lighter median area ; about five broad purple bars cross the basal 

 half obliquely, and become broken up into broad interradial spots distally. 

 Anal pale orange basally, with a broad greyish border. Ventrals similar 

 to the anal, pectoral greenish-grey. 



Described from a fresh specimen 142 mm. long, secured by Mr. 

 J. H. Wright at Sans Souci, Botany Bay. It was caught in a prawn- 

 net, among sea-grass (Zostera), where the species is not uncommon. A 

 fine series of seventy specimens, ranging from 28 mm. in length, shows 

 that the characteristic markings of this species are developed early in 

 life, and vary but little. The posterior dorsal and anal rays, and the 

 median caudal rays are proportionately shorter in the younger examples, 

 but in all other details they are very similar to the adults. 



Synonymy. — Klunzinger suggested the identity of G. bassensis, 

 Castelnau,"and G. hifrenatus, but counted about 50 scales in the latter 

 species, whereas according to Castelnau, there are only 38 on the lateral 

 line. I find them very irregular anteriorly and variable in number, but 



