1.— REPORT OX THE FISHES. 



Part I. 



I. — Introduction. 



The collections dealt with in this Report were obtained 

 by the Federal Fisheries Investigation Ship "Endeavour," 

 under the direction of Mr. H. C. Dannevig. They were 

 obtained at many localities along the New South Wales. 

 Victorian, Tasmanian and South Australian coasts at various 

 depths down to ninety fathoms. The present part deals with 

 the greater number of the fishes forwarded for examination tO' 

 the Australian Museum from this area, but the Scleroparei 

 and Jugulares of the Acanthopterygii and the Pediculati and 

 Plectognathi are reserved for a second part. 



In all about 1070 specimens, representing 94 species, have 

 been critically examined, which, in conjunction with the large 

 collections in the Australian Museum, have afforded excellent 

 material for a detailed study of variation in many hitherto little 

 known species. With a series of forty or fifty specimens from 

 wide-spread localities before one, it is often a simple matter to 

 recognise the identity of fishes which have been regarded as 

 distinct when isolated examples afford no clue. In the follow- 

 ing pages I have endeavoured to clear up the synonymy of 

 species of Ccelorhyrichus, Physiculus, SerioJella, Callauthias, 

 CcBsioperca, etc., while figures are given showing the remark- 

 able variation of ZcnicUstius, ^[acrorhan^phosns, Centriscops, 

 Beryx and others. Many of the more striking variations were- 

 specially selected by Mr. Dannevig on board the ship, and it 

 is largely due to his discrimination in this direction that so 

 many extreme forms are here dealt with. When individuals 

 were lacking to complete a series he has gone to considerable 

 trouble to obtain them, and in the case of fishes in which the 

 colours were of importance, he has sent me fresh material 

 packed in ice. For this and other valuable help I owe him 

 my best thanks. 



I have also to acknowledge the kindness of the Com- 

 mittee of the Macleay Museum who have allowed me to 

 borrow some of Sir William Macleay's type specimens for 

 examination and comparison with the "Endeavour" collec- 

 tions. 



Ten species are described as new, and four others and twO' 

 genera are recorded from Australia for the first time. Thirty-^ 

 three are figured, and I have to acknowledge the very willing 

 assistance of Mr. Dene Fry, of the Australian Museum, in^ 

 the preparation of the plates. 



