42 Records of the S.A. Museum 



Body covered with large cycloid scales extending forward to the nape and to 

 behind the eyes ; tliere are 44-45 on the silver lateral band from behind the base of 

 the pectoral to the hypnral, and nine in a transverse series, including the median 

 dorsal and ventral rows. 



Fins. Origin of the dorsal well behind that of the ventrals, and much nearer 

 the snout than the hypural ; second and third spines longest : the interspace 

 between the anterior spines of the dorsals is greater than the distance between the 

 last dorsal ray and the hypural. and is half or more than half the distance between 

 the snout and the first dorsal spine: anal originating well in advance of the second 

 dorsal, and terminating before the vertical of its ])OSterior ray; the length of its 

 base is about i '3 in its distance from the hypural : anterior anal rays longer than 

 those of the dorsal, the margin of the fin somewhat incised : upper pectoral rays 

 longest, not quite reaching the vertical of the ventral: ventrals reaching rather 

 less than half their distance from the anal ; the \ent is placed between or slightly 

 behind their tips. 



Colours. Whitish in alcohol, with a broad silver lateral band along the 

 fourth row of scales : upper portion of the head and back densely dotted with 

 greenish-black dots, which also Ijorder the scales above the lateral band, and 

 occasionally some of those below it : fins nearly transparent, sparingly dotted with 

 black. 



Described from sexeral s])ecimens (i8-<>S mm. long, selected from a large 

 series secured together in a net. They agree with others in the Australian 

 Museum collection which were received from the Tasmanian Museum in 1884 as 

 Atherina tamarensis, and dift'er only from Johnston's brief description of that 

 species in having an extra ray or two in the anal fin. 



This species is allied to T. microstoma Gunther, but differs in having smaller 

 teeth, more numerous scales between the pectoral and the hypural, and rather 

 longer and more numerous gill-rakers ; the maxillary also usually attains the 

 ocular margin in T. tamarensis. but falls short of it in the former species. 

 T. tamarensis is perhaps synonymous with Atlierina liepsctoidcs Richardson, 

 described from Port Arthur. Tasmania; the descriiHion of that species, however, 

 differs from the characters of our specimens in hax'ing nine dorsal sjjines and 

 fifteen pectoral rays. 



We have examined the specimen identified by Zietz as A. ceplialotes from 

 Thistle Island, Spencer Gulf, and find it is identical with those describeil above: 

 it dififcrs from .■/. eepbalotes in having more numerous dorsal rays. 



Lacs. Cornelian Bay, Hobart, Tasmania; coll. C". Hedley, .\pril 1917. 

 Thistle Island, Spencer Gulf, South Australia. 



