110 MEMOIRS OF TEE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



Scales in 48 to 56 series above, 44 to 52 below the lateral line ; 8 or 9/1/18 to 21 

 scales in the series extending obliquely backwards from the base of the first dorsal fin ; 

 cheek-scales in 8 or 9 series below the middle of the eye. Lateral line tubes 46 to 51. 



Dorsal fin with xii (rarely xi or xiii) 10 (rarely 9 or 11) rays, originating above 

 the pectoro -ventral interspace, the length of the soft portion 2 to 2-25 (1-9 to 2-4) in 

 that of the spinous, which is low, with the spines rather weak and flexible, the 1st 

 short, about one third of the 5th, which is usually a little longer than the 4th or 6th, 

 its length 2-85 to 3-4 in that of the head ; beyond these the spines are finely graded to 

 the penultimate, which is about one sixth shorter than the last ; soft dorsal rounded, 

 the 2nd and 3rd rays longest, 1 to 1-25 in its base and one fifth to two fifths more than 

 the longest ray. Caudal fin truncate or feebly emarginate with the angles rounded, 

 the middle rays 5 to 5-6 (4-75 to 6) in the body-length. Anal with iii 8, sometimes 7 

 or 9, rays, the last divided to the base ; spines short and stout, the 2nd or 3rd longest, 

 3 to 4 in the length of the head and 1-3 to 1-7 in the longest ray ; soft fin similar to 

 but much shorter and usually a little higher than the soft dorsal, its length 1-3 to 1-7 

 in its height. Pectoral rounded, with 15, rarely 14 sometimes 16, rays, its length 5 to 

 5-6 in that of the body. Ventral fin originating well behind the pectoral base, rounded, 

 the spine short and flexible, less than half the length of the 2nd ray, which is usually 

 longer than the pectoral, 1-5 to 2 in the length of the head, and extending to midway 

 between its oHgin and the 1st anal spine or 2nd ray.* 



Gill-rakers 5 or 6-|-ll or 12, short and stout, the longest 3 to 3-33 in the eye- 

 diameter. 



Blue-gray, each scale with a dark brown or purphsh border, which almost, 

 or in large examples wholly, conceals the ground color above the lateral fine, but grows 

 gi"adually narrower and fainter down the sides, where each scale has a central golden 

 or bronzy spot, and finally merges in the ground color, which itself passes insensibly 

 into the white or yellowish white of the lower surface. Soft dorsal broAvii with a 

 paler marginal band ; anal spines and anterior ray and usually the lower caudal rays 

 white, the other fins colorless, {unicolor, of one color. A most unfortunate name for 

 this handsome fish.) 



In the preparation of the above description we have examined 64 picked 

 specimens from the following localities : — Burnett River at Eidsvold collected by 

 Dr. T. Bancroft (14) ; Fitzroy River at Rockhampton, Mr. W. N. Jaggard (10) ; 

 Inkerman (1) and Cromarty (3) both in the ToA\aisville District; Lake Elphinstone, 

 Dr. Ling Roth (3), t\q3es of T. elphinstonensis ; Eureka Creek, Stannary Hills, Dr. T. 

 Bancroft (12) ; Norman River at Normanton, Dr. C. Taylor (2) ; Gregory River, Dr. 

 T. Bancroft (3) ; Alice River at Barcaldine (10) ; Lagunes in Ryan's Paddock near 

 Goondiwindi, Mr. J. Lamb (4) ; and Condamine River, Messrs. M. Colclough (1) and 

 Mr. White (1), the latter being the type of T. idoneus. 



Remarks : — Although, as might be expected in a freshwater fish inhabiting 

 so vast a territory, and living under so many and diverse conditions, the individual 

 variation is very great, we have not found that these dift'erences are confined to certain 

 fixed areas, but occur indiscriminately wherever the species exists. 



* An analysis of the fin variation in the 64 examples critically examined gives the following 

 results : — 



D. xi 10 (1) ; xii 9 (4) ; xii 10 (47) ; xu 11 (10) ; xiii 11 (2). 

 A. iii 7 (9); iii 8 (43); iii 9 (12). 

 F. 14 (1); 15 (52); 16 (11). 



