250 RECORDS OK THE APSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



This variety appears to be quite similar to (i. hderitlli^, Macleay, from 

 Southern Australia, in both form and the disposition of its colour-maiking, 

 but the larpe dark lateral spots are always elonj^ate and disposed obliquely 

 in examples from near Sydney, instead of being rounded. Local examples 

 exhibit the same variation in the relative lengths of their dorsal and anal 

 rays as noted in South Australian specimens. 



The specimen figured is 5G mm. long. Not being full-grown, its fin- 

 rays are shorter than in older examples, but it exliibits the characteristic 

 marking of the variety. 



Lurn. — Parramatta River estuary and Rose Bay, Port Jackson. Lake 

 Illawarra, New South Wales. A single example in the old collection of 

 the Australian Museum is said to have been ol)tained at Lord Howe 

 Island. 



Genus Waiiea, Jordan and Seale. 



Waitea maxillahis, Mudeaij. 



(Plate XXXV., fig. 3.) 



Gohius maxillaris, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, ii., 187S, p. 357, 

 pi. ix., fig. 2. 



D. vi/11 ; A. 10 ; P. 17 ; V. i/5 ; C. 15. Scales about 43; 1. tr. IG. 

 Depth 4"1 in tlie length to the hypnral joint; head 3 in tlie same. Orbit 

 (not eye) 3"1 in the head ; interorbital width 52, snout 16 in the oi-bit. 

 Depth of caudal peduncle 25 in the head. 



Head apparently naked, showing no mucous system, and only the 

 nsnal preopercular, nuchal, occipital and rosti-al pores. Eye of modei-ate 

 size, the orbit cutting the profile ; interorbital space very narrow, less 

 than one-fifth the width of the orbit. Snout shorter than the orbit, its 

 [)r<)file veiy oblique. Anterior nostril Avith dermal margins, the posterior 

 a large open pore. Maxillary slender, produced backwai-d towards the 

 j)reopercular aiigle ; mandible projecting beyond the prcmaxillaries. 

 Teeth in a villiform band in each jaw, prcmaxillaries with an outer 

 row of enlarged, cardiform, curved, movable teeth ; mandibular teeth 

 ending on each side in two or three small, fixed canines: palate and 

 tongue toothless. Tongue truncate anteriorly. 



Body compressed, covered with strongly ctenoid scales of moderate 

 size, which extend forward to above the pectoi'al base and on the thoi-ax ; 

 the area before the dorsal fin and the base of the pectoral are now naked, 

 but may have been scaly in life. A small genital papilla. 



Fiist dorsal originating just behind the pectoral, its spines filamentous; 

 tlie first is a little longer than the head, the following shortei- and 

 decreasing backwards. Second dorsal increasing in height backward to 

 the penultimate i*ay, which is as long as the head without the operculum. 

 Anal originating a little behind the second dorsal and terminating in 

 advance of it ; it is of similar form to that fin, and but little lower. 

 Pectoi-al without fi-ee rays, rounded, and reacliing to above the second 

 anal niy. Ventrals lai-ge, inserted a little before the pectorals, and almost 

 reaching the anal. Caudal apparently lonnded. 



