278 KECOUKS OK TUK ALLS J UALIAN MUSKUM. 



tlie spjict* st'panitiiig tliein narrowei- than tlie eye. Exposed edge of the 

 shouldei'-girdle a smooth i idge, and forming an angle at its jauction witli 

 the lower margin of the gill-opening. 



Body robust, subcylindrical anteriorly, compressed posteriorly. 

 The scales are of moderate size, and everywhere ctenoid except on the 

 breast and base of the pectoiul ; they cover the bases of the pectoral rays, 

 and extend up between those of the caudal, (ienital papilla large, 

 subquadrate, its hinder margins fimbriate. 



First dorsal rounded, originating above the middle of the pectoral ; 

 the third spine is the longest, but does not reach the second dorsal when 

 adpressed. Dorsal rays increasing in length to the penultimate, which 

 reaches three-fourtlis of its distance from the hypural joint. Anal opposite, 

 and similar in form to the second dorsal. Pectoral rounded, reaching to 

 below the middle of the intei'space between the two dorsal tins. Ventrals 

 widely sepaiuted, their fourth rays longest and reaching more than two- 

 thirds of their distance from the vent. Caudal broadly rounded. 



Colonr-uiarliivij. — Dark brown above after long preservation, light 

 below; the sides bear dai-k longitudinal stripes between each row of scales, 

 and the central portion of many of the scales is occupied by a light spot. 

 The sides of the head likewise bear a few light spots, but are otherwise 

 uniformly dark in colour. The membrane of the vertical fius is dark 

 between the rays, and the second dorsal and caudal bear numerous 

 pronounced yellowish ocelli in irregular rows ; similar ocelli are indicated 

 on the first dorsal, but they are absent from the anal. The margin of the 

 8ect)nd doi-sal, and the ui)per and lower borders of the caudal are light 

 colouicd, while the anal is bi-oadly mai'gined witli yellow. Ventrals 

 dusky with lighter margins. 



Described from a specimen 187 mm. long, which is one of fifteen 

 cotypes pi-eserved in the Macleay Museum. The others, which range 

 from 4:5-11)0 mm. in length, exhibit but little variation in their colour- 

 mai'king, though the white spots are scarcely developed in the smallest 

 specimens. 



Culuur. — An example 21-1 mm. long, secured alive by one of us at 

 Cooktown, presented the following colouration. Dorsal surface olive- 

 green, closely vermiculated with dark brown ; sides dark blue shot with 

 green, most of the scales with a large greenish-white spot ; under surfaces 

 dusky grey, changing to white near the vent. Sides of the head similar 

 to the body, but with fewer and smaller light spots ; throat dusky, with 

 large light blotches. First doi-sal dusky olive, shot with blue and green. 

 Second dorsal dusky olive below, clearer above, the i-ays darker ; numerous 

 bluish-white spots between the rays forming veiy iri-egular rows, and 

 extending high up between the posterior rays ; a broad orange margin 

 between the second and seventh i-ays. Caudal pale blue, the X'ays daik 

 olive, with numeious greenish-white spots basal ly ; an imperfect orange 

 margin above and below. Anal rich blue and green, the rays darker ; a 

 dark submarginal ill-delined band, and a broad orange border. Ventrals 

 blue, the niys olive, with an imperfect yellow margin. Pectoral base 

 without darkei- maikings but with numerous lighter spots; the ra^s are 

 dusky olive iriegularly si)otted with black. 



