FISHES.^MCCULLOCH. 



sr 



and operculum. On the body they are shnilarly rounded and. 

 striated, but ctenoid ; those of the lateral line have a deep' 

 notch in their posterior margins. The scales extend onto the 

 fleshy bases of the dorsal and anal fins and onto the caudal. 

 Lateral line almost straight and extending onto the scalv base 

 of the caudal. 



First dorsal fin originating over or a little behind the base 

 of the pectorals ; the third and fourth spines are subequal, 

 f or almost half as long as the head. The ninth spine is the- 

 shortest and is separated from the second dorsal by an inter- 

 space a little longer than its own length. Spine of the second! 

 dorsal slightly less than half as long as the rays, which are 

 about equal to the length of the longest spines. Anal com- 

 mencing below the third or fourth dorsal ray ; the first spine 

 is short and stout, the second shorter than but usually much 

 stronger than the third which is but little shorter than the 

 rays. \'entrals placed below the anterior part of the base of 

 the pectoral and not nearly reaching to the vent ; the spine is 

 about two thirds the length of the second ra}- which is the- 

 longest. Pectorals very long, |-f as long as the head, the- 

 upper ray rather longer than the others. 



Colour. — Brownish or greyish above, lighter belo^\ ; oper- 

 culum, thorax and abdomen silvery. A series of about five 

 dark blotches along the sides which are less distinct or absent 

 in large specimens. Two darker patches on the scaly portion 

 of the tail. Upper portion of the dorsal fin with a blackish- 

 patch between the second and fifth spines. 



Described from two specimens, 54 and 122 mm. long, the 

 smaller one being the type of the species. Fin formula and" 

 lateral line counted in nineteen specimens. 



Forty-three speciniens were preserved from the following 

 localities : — 



Between Port Setphens and Newcastle, New South Wales, 

 22-60 fathoms. 



Twenty-fi^•e miles south-west of Cape Exerard, \'ictoria, 

 83-98 fathoms. 



Thirtv-six miles off Cape Everard, \^ictoria, 75 fathoms. 



Familv AMBASSID.41. 



Grxus Priopis, Kuhl and Van Hasselt. 



Priopis ramsavi, Macleay, 



(Plate xvi., fig. 3.) 



Pseiidoambassis ramsayi, Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.. 



Wales, v., 1 881, p. 340. 

 Avihassis yanisayi, Ogilbv, Cat. Fish. N.S. Wale's, 1886, 

 p. 14. 



