410 Zoological Society :— 
be found by reference to the index of the volume. Four lithographs, 
numerous good woodcuts, and a well-compiled map (by Lowry) 
illustrate this really amusing and instructive volume of Mexican 
travel. 
PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
December 10, 1861.—Professor Busk, F.R.S., in the Chair. 
On a New SpreEcies OF PLECTROPOMA FROM AUSTRALIA. 
By Dr. ALBERT GUNTHER. 
PLECTROPOMA RICHARDSONII. 
10 3 
D. = A. = L. lat. 105. 
The height of the body is contained four times and a half in the 
total length, the length of the head three times and a quarter. Inter- 
orbital space concave, half as wide as the orbit. Snout conical, with 
the lower jaw produced. Cleft of the mouth wide, the maxillary 
extending behind the orbit. Dentition very strong ; the upper jaw 
with a patch of cardiform teeth in front, and a narrow villiform band 
on the side; there is a very long curved canine tooth on the outer 
side of the cardiform teeth, followed by a series of five or six teeth 
of moderate size. Lower jaw with a pair of very strong canines 
anteriorly, and with four or five strong, canine-like teeth on the 
side. The upper canines are received in a notch behind those of the 
lower jaw. Vomerine and palatine teeth in a narrow band, the 
former angularly bent. 
Lower jaw more than half as long as the head. Preeopercular 
margin rounded, finely serrated posteriorly, and with a small spine 
on the middle of its inferior margin, pointing forwards. Pectoral 
rounded, scaly at the base, as long as the mandible; ventral not 
quite half as long as the head. The spinous dorsal is separated from 
the soft by a very deep notch: the spines are rather slender; the 
fifth and sixth are the longest, one-fourth of the length of the head. 
The soft portion higher than the spinous, with the upper margin 
nearly even; base scaly. The second anal spine as long as, but 
stronger than, the third. Caudal truncated. 
Upper part of the head, cheeks, back of the trunk, and the spinous 
dorsal bright red ; the remainder of the fish yellow, with a very 
broad, irregular, brown band from the axil to the lower half of the 
caudal. Head and upper parts of the body with scattered irregular 
small blue spots, most of which are edged with brown; the brown 
band with large dark-brown spots. Fins immaculate, except the 
spinous dorsal, which has a few small blue spots. 
Freemantle (Australia). 
Length 153 inches. 
The nearest ally of this species is Plectropoma dentex, Cuy. & Val.; 
