1889.] ON FISHES NEW TO THE AUSTRALIAN FAUNA. 151 



except that no actual fusion of the renal portions of the two cardinals 

 takes place. On the other hand, the state of things in Protopterus 

 more nearly resembles that seen in Howes's figure' of the venous 

 system of a Frog in which the left azygos was retained, as already 

 mentioned. 



A more complete description and detailed figures of the venous 

 system of Protopterus I reserve until later ; I have brought for- 

 ward the above points in the present connection in order to make 

 clear my former indefinite statement on the subject, and because they 

 seem to me to be important with regard to the question of the homo- 

 logy of the veins throughout the Vertebrata, which is now engaging 

 much attention. The facts I have mentioned are only some out of 

 a great number which go to prove that a near connection must have 

 existed between the ancestors of the Dipnoi and those of the Am- 

 phibia after they had diverged from a common piscine type, for the 

 resemblances between the existing forms of both groups are in many 

 respects exceedingly close. Nevertheless, certain points in the 

 structure of the Dipnoi, more especially that of their fins, show that 

 no direct relationship can exist between them and the Amphibia at 

 the present day. 



4. Notes on some Fishes new to the Australian Fauna. By 

 J. Douglas OgilbYj F.L.S. (Communicated by Dr. F. 

 Day, F.Z.S.) 



[Eeceived February 22, 1889.] 



The present paper contains detailed descriptions of three species 

 of fishes new to the Australian subregion, inclusive of Lord Howe 

 Island ; these are Anthias cichlops, A. pleurotcBnia, and Scorpeena 

 cookii, not one of which appears to be well known to naturalists. I 

 also give notes on a species of Platystethus from the above-mentioned 

 island, pointing out differences which may prove to be of specific 

 value ; but owing to my limited knowledge of the genus I am loath 

 to describe it as new ; however, I append a synopsis of the known 

 species for comparison. Finally I give a description, taken from four 

 specimens, of the life-colours of a species of Chcerops, which I take 

 to be C. ommopterus. 



Anthias cichlops, Blk. 



B. vii. D. 10/16 A. 3/7. V. 1/5. P. 18. C. 15. L. 1. 50. 



L. tr. 6/14 -. 

 The length of the head equals the height of the body, and is two 

 ninths of the total length. The diameter of the eye is contained 

 thrice and two fifths in the length of the head ; the snout, which is 

 very obtuse, is three fourths of the diameter of the eye, while the 

 interorbital space, which is almost flat, is equal to the same. The 



^ Loc. swpr. cit. 



- Counting obliquely backwards from the first dorsal spine. 



11* 



