280 REConns ok the atstralian museum. 



rounded anteriorly and largely fi-ee. Gill-openings separated b}' a wide 

 isthmas, the membi'anes extending forward, but not united across it. 

 Exposed edge of the sljoulder-girdle forming a smooth, cui-ved ridge. 

 Psendobi"anchi«? present ; gill-rakers of first gill-arch short and spaced, 

 about eight on the lower limb. Dorsal with 7-9 spines, and 9-14 mys, 

 anal with 9-14 rays. Ventrals separate, with i/5 raj^s. Caudal rounded. 



Affinitieit. — This genus is very similar to Ophiocara, Gill, from which 

 it ilifFerw principally in its pliysiognomy. The squamation of the upper 

 surface of tlie liead is very different in typical forms of the two genei-a, 

 wliile tlie first dorsal has usually six spines in Ophiofuni and seven to nine 

 in MiK/Knuhi, but some species exhibit intermediate chai-acters between 

 these extremes. Odoiit(iIiiiti.<, Bleekei-, is also closely allied to Mmiiiniihi, 

 but has oidy a narrow isthmus separating the gill-openings, over which 

 the membranes are narrowly united. 



Key to species. — 



a. Dorsal with 11-13 rays, body spotted. Vertebrae 31 Subgenus Mogunula. 



b. 37-42 scales between the axil and the hypural joint subspecies viogmnda. 



bb. 30-35 scales between the axil and the hypural joint subspecies adspersiis. 



aa. Dorsal with 9 rays, body striped. Vertebra) 28 Subgenus A're/i ins. 



c. 31-33 scales between the axil and the hypural joint austraUs. 



MOOURNDA MOOURNDA, Rlchanho)! . 



Eleolris mogvrnila, Richardson, Ichth. "Erebus & Terror", 1844, p. 4, pi. 

 ii., fig. 1-2. Id., Gunther, Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish., iii., 1861, p. 111. 

 /(/., Castelnau, Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict., ii., 1873, p. 85, and Res. Fish. 

 Austr. (Vict. Ofiic. Rec. Philad. Exhib.), 1875, p. 28. Id., Klunzinger, 

 Sit/.b. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Ixxx. i., 1879, p. 384. 7(/., Macleay, Proc. 

 Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, v., 1881, p. 617. 



fEleotriK viof/uruda, Weber, Nova Guinea, v., 1903, p. 253, and Abhandl. 

 Senckenb. Natnrforsch. Gesellsch., xxxiv., 1911, p. 34, pi. i., fig. 2. 



Eleotris htrapitita', Zeitz, Rept. Horn Sci. Exp. C. Aust., ii., 1896, p. 179, 

 pi. xvi., Hg. 4. 



D. viii/13; A. 12; P. 16; V. i/5; C. 15. 41-42 rows of scales 

 between the axil and the hypuml joint, and 16 between the anterior 

 dorsal and anal rays. 



Depth at ventrals 3-5 in the length between the premaxillary 

 symphysis and the hypural joint ; head 3"2 in the same. Eye 5 in the 

 head, shoi-ter than the snout, which is 4*2 in the head ; interocular width 

 almost twice as wide as the eye, 27 in the head. Breadth between the 

 bases of the pectorals 1-4 in tlie depth ; depth of caudal peduncle 2 in the 

 head. Sixth dorsal spine 27, last dorsal i"ay 15, and last anal ra}' 21 in 

 the head. Pectoral 17, caudal 13 in the head. 



Head largely covered with cycloid scales, which extend forward to 

 between the posterior nostrils above, and covei* the cheek and operculum ; 

 snout and niaiulibh' nakt'd. Rows of niijiiitt' pores extend from above the 



