106 MEMOIRS OF TEE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



of the 1st dorsal spine, 4|-5 between the lateral line and the middle of the spinous 

 dorsal fin. Cheek-scales in 4, rarely 5 series. 



Dorsal fin with xiii rarely xiv 9, rarely 8 or 10, rays, originating above the 

 pectoro -ventral interspace, the length of the soft i)ortion 2-5 to 3 in that of the spinous, 

 which is high, the spines rather slender with flexible tips, the first less than a fifth of 

 the 5th, which is the longest, 1-5 to 1-9 in the length of the head ; beyond this the 

 spines decrease rapidly to the penultimate, which is shorter than the last ; soft dorsal 

 rounded, the anterior rays the longest, a little shorter than its base, and from one sixth 

 to two fifths shorter than the longest spine. Caudal fin emarginate, Avith the lobes 

 obtusely pointed, the middle rays 4-8 to 5-33 in the body-length. Anal fin with iii 8, 

 rarely 7, rays, the last diAaded to the base ; spines long and strong, the 1st about five 

 ninths of the 2nd, which is stronger and from one tenth to one third longer than the 

 3rd, 1-5 to 2-1 in the length of the head, and as long as to two ninths more than the 

 longest ray ; soft fin similar to but much shorter than the soft dorsal, its length 1-2 

 to 1-75 in its height. Pectoral obtuselj^ pointed, with 15 rays, the 5th the longest, its 

 length 4 to 4-8 in that of the body. Ventral originating well behind the pectoral base , 

 pointed, the spine long slender and flexible, 1-33 to 1-66 in the fin to the tip of the 1st 

 ray, which is slightly produced, usually somewhat longer than the pectoral, 1-2 

 to 1-5 in the length of the head, and extending to midway between its origin and the 

 posterior anal rays or further. 



Gill-rakers 5 or G-fll or 12, short and moderately slender, the longest about 

 4-5 in the eye -diameter. 



Upper surface dark blue-gray, gi'adually shading on the sides into the pearly 

 white of the lower surface, the scales above the lateral line Avith a darker border, those 

 below darkest basally with an increasingly widening lighter border ; back and sides 

 with five black vertical bands two scales wide, the first from the naj^e to the opercle, 

 the second and third below the spinous dorsal, the fourth below the soft dorsal, and 

 the fifth upon the peduncle. Cheeks and vertical limb of preopercle gray with a faint 

 tinge of yellow, the former Avith a median horizontal blue bar ; lower surface of head 

 white. Spinous dorsal colorless ; soft with one or two rows of dusky spots, the basal 

 row always present. Caudal with numerous blue spots on the proximal two thirds 

 and the lower rays uniform dark blue-gray with a narrow white border. Anal clouded, 

 with a broad lighter border. Pectorals colorless, as also are the ventrals, except the 

 middle of the two outer rays which is dusky. (7rep/<?/, perch ; etSos, Hke.) 



The above description has been drawni up after a ciitical examination of 23 fine 

 examples from various localities. Of these 6 belong to the Old Collection of the Queens- 

 land Museum and though faded are in perfect condition ; they were presented by Mr. 

 W. N. Jaggard of Rockhampton, by whom they were obtained from the FitzroyRiver 

 in the vicinity of that city, and are therefore, practically topot^q^es of Griinther's species: 

 For 10 others we are indebted to Dr.T. L. Bancroft of Eidsvold on the Burnett River, 

 who spared no pains in his endeavour to capture and send them with as Httle delay as 

 possible ; for 3 others from Eureka Creek, Stannary Hills, we have also to thank the 

 same indefatiga])le collector. The other 4 are preserved in the Austrahan Museum, 

 and came from the Barron River near Cairns, and from the FHnders River at Hughenden 

 and Richmond. The description is therefore based on 17 specimens from rivers 

 flowing towards the east, and 6 from those flowing westwards. 



Remarks : — While there can be no doubt that the four names included in the 

 synonymy belong to the same fish, this species, as is the case with so many freshwater 

 forms of wide distribution, shows infinite variation as regards individuals from 



