54 ON NEW OR INSUFFICIENTLY DESCRIBED FISHES 



possibly be selected in order to ensure a freer play of water 

 on each egg. The young, on their emergence from the ova 

 are quickly driven out from the parents' domicile to make 

 their own way in the great world beyond. On one occasion 

 only have I known of a specimen having been discovered 

 otherwise than in an oyster-shell ; this individual, which 

 was in a greatly contorted condition, had when young 

 insinuated itself into a rock-crevice so small that, as it 

 increased in size, its body was compelled to adapt itself 

 to the form of its cell, of which it was in fact an animated 

 cast ; notwithstanding this disability the fish was in perfect 

 condition, not seemingly having suffered any inconvenience 

 from the distortion of its body. This little blenny has 

 contracted a curious habit, possibly due to inherited instinct 

 consequent on the restricted nature of its normal home 

 environment ; when kept alive in a tumbler or even in a 

 basin, it never willingly moves forward in the usual manner 

 of its class, but invariably retrogrades, pushing itself 

 backward by means of its pectoral and ventral fins. 



Described from 3 Moreton Bay and one Great Sandy 

 Strait specimens, measuring from 52 to 70 millim., in the 

 collection of the A.F.A.Q. ; Cat. Xoo. 871 and 1237. 



Bleymechis anolius Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. 



Poiss., xi, 1836, p. 288 : Port Jackson. 

 Petroscirtes anolis Giinther, B.M. Catal. Fish., iii, 1861, p. 



238. 

 Petroscirtes cristiceps Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, 



vi, 1881 : Port Jackson. 

 Petroscirtes wilsoni id., ibid, ix, 1884, p. 171 : Port Jackson. 



Note. — The Giintherian genus Petroscirtes has very 

 properly been broken up in sections by various authors, 

 and with the object of facilitating the identification of 

 species may with advantage be still further subdivided 

 as follows : — 

 a. Canine teeth in both jaws. 



h. Dorsal fin free or just touching the caudal 



i Petroskirtes'^ 



c. Anterior dorsal rays produced (Petroskirtes). 



ci. Anterior dorsal rays not produced. 



* Petroskirtes Kiippell, Atlas Fisch. itoth. Meer., 1828, p. 110 

 [mitratus). 



