73 



ichthyologists a notion of the variability of some of them ; 

 and when we consider to what extent age and local sur- 

 roundings modify shape, colour, &c., it may be conceded 

 that it would be hazardous to fix the limits of a species of 

 this genus from an odd or immature individual : — 



Latris hecateia, (Rich.) The Real Trumpeter. 



Latris Forsteriy (Cast.) Bastard Trumpeter. 



Red variety. 



4) 

 (5) 

 (6) 

 (7) 

 (8) 



(9) 

 (10) 



(11) 

 (12) 



White or Silver variety. 



16 

 16 

 16 

 16 



1-38 

 1-40 

 1-39 

 1-41 



3-34 

 3-36 

 3 34 

 3-33 



19 =10 9 



18= 9 9 

 18= 9 9 

 18 =10 8 



1-5 

 1-5 

 1-5 

 1-5 



115-120 

 115-120 

 115-120 

 115-120 

 115-120 



115-120 

 115-120 

 115-120 

 115-120 



There are to be found individuals which link the two 

 latter varieties imperceptibly together. In exact shade of 

 colour, and number of soft fin rays, scarcely two individuals 

 agree ; and hence I am of opinion that the Latris hilineata 

 and L. inornata of Count Castelnau are merely immature 

 forms of the one vai-iable species common to the waters of 

 Victoria and Tasmania. The first spine of the anal in young 

 specimens may be easily overlooked, and frequently I have 

 observed that in extracting the fish from the meshes of the 

 graball the same spine readily gets broken off. This may 

 account for the anal spines being recorded as 2, instead of 3, 

 in the odd individuals erected into specific rank by Count 

 Castelnau. 



The Bastard Trumpeter attains a length of about 21 inches, 

 and rarely exceeds 6 to 7 lbs. weight. It is most prized for 

 food in the Silver Bastai-d, or mature well-conditioned form. 

 It differs from the Real Trumj^etcr chiefly in the absence 

 of vomerine teeth, and of the longitudinal bai's of light 

 colour along the sides. It has a more broadly oval shape, a 

 shorter and thicker head, and a more fleshy and obtuse snout. 



