12 STUDIES IN THE ICHTHYOLOGY OF QUEENSLAND 



stay with a single smooth ridge. Vertebrae 11 + 16 = 27. 

 (KcVrpov, a spine ; Trwywv, beard.) 



East Coast of Australia. Two species. 



As will be seen by a comparison of the generic diagnosis 

 given by Macleay (copied for the most part from Giinther) and 

 the above definition, the former is far from satisfactory, sins of 

 commission and omission being both plentiful and palpable. 

 For instance, we find that according to it both the head and the 

 body are scaly, whereas the former is wholly, the latter partly 

 naked ; the genus, as regards this character, being intermediate 

 between Notesthra and Fentaroye. We are also told that there is 

 no preoccipital groove and no cleft behind the fourth gill. A 

 very superficial examination reveals the presence of both groove 

 and cleft, and both these characters, as also the nakedness of the 

 head, were fully recognised by Giinther in his description of 

 Centropogon mannoratus, and the necessary corrections made. 

 Giinther, however, has failed to notice the conspicuously en- 

 larged outer series of premaxillary teeth, which at a glance 

 differentiates this genus from Xotesthes. 



That no reference whatever is made to the extensive naked 

 area on the back and nape, although it forms an important 

 generic character, is the more remarkable because Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes commence their notice of the species with the 

 following paragraph, which plainly shows the importance which 

 they attach to the character: — "A la suite de ces apistes a 

 longues pectorales et a rayons libres, viendra un poisson du 

 Port Jackson, qui a pour caractere particulier la nudite de la 

 partie anterieure et superieure de son dos, oii les ecailles 

 manquent, comme a sa tete, tandis que le reste de son corps en 

 a de petites, apres, serabables a peu pres a celles de notre Scor- 

 pcBHu porcus." Again, in the description of the fish the following 

 passage occurs : — " L'espace nu de son dos est circonscrit de 

 chaque c6t6 par une ligne qui part du haut de I'orifice branchial, 

 et monte obliquement en se rapprochant de la dorsale jusqu' a 

 son dernier rayon epineux." These authors also give the 

 formula of the dorsal fin in the typical species correctly, a fact 

 to which it is necessary to draw special attention, because 

 Giinther has given as normal a formula founded on accidental 

 variation, and this has been copied without comment or verifica- 

 tion by Macleay. 



