118 



colour, and general aspect of the living fish. The specimen 

 did not long survive the injuries it had received in being 

 caught ; and upon its death the structural details as here 

 recorded were accurately determined. Its total length was 

 21 inches, whereof the head occupied slightly less than one- 

 fourth ; the greatest depth, measuring from the centre of the 

 spinous portion of the dorsal fin, was 6§ inches. Its weight 

 fresh from the water was 3flb., but being in an emaciated 

 condition, 41b. may be set down as its approximate living 

 weight. The general colour and the distribution of the 

 markings on the body of the fish, as observed in life, cor- 

 responded closely with those of an adult silver bastard, 

 Latris Forsteri, consisting of a pearl ground with horizontal 

 lines, and reticulations of light brown and tawny yellow that 

 extended throughout the dorsal region to a little below the 

 lateral line. The fins were, however, of a more pronounced 

 yellow than those of the silver bastard, combined with a 

 tendency to green upon the pectorals and ventrals suggestive 

 of what obtains in the real trumpeter. There was also an 

 entire absence of the black edging to the pectoral, candal, 

 and hind dorsal fins that is so characteristic of the silver 

 variety. In its general contour, and with respect to the 

 greater portion of its anatomical details, the fish was found 

 to agree most closely with the real trumpeter, Latris hecateia. 

 Compared with that species, it coincides in the possession of 

 seventeen rays to the anterior or spinous portion of the 

 dorsal fin, in the number of scales, 110, developed on the 

 lateral line, and in the presence of teeth on the vomer, though 

 these are fewer in number than obtains in the last-named 

 species. In the common or silver bastard trumpeter there 

 are invariably only sixteen spinous rays in the anterior moiety 

 of the dorsal fin ; the scales along the lateral line vary from 

 115 to 120, and there are no teeth whatever upon the vorem. 

 It has been suggested to me that the individual now under 

 discussion may be identical with the variety known by the 

 title of the New South 'Wales, or New Zealand trumpeter, 

 Latris ciliaris, and which represents the commercial species of 

 the trumpeter genus in the two colonies, from whence it takes 

 its name. Mr. E. M. Johnston, F.L.S., in his " Catalogue 

 of Tasmanian Fishes," 1882, p. 113, expresses the opinion that 

 this type does not exist in these waters, and that the supposed 

 specimens of it, reported by local naturalists, were variations 

 only of the silver bastard. Since the publication of his 

 catalogue, Mr. Johnston, has, however, satisfied himself that 

 the species pays occasional visits to these shores. (Proc. Eoy. 

 Soc. Tasmania, p. lxxxix, 1884), and one reputed example, 

 taken at George's Bay, has been deposited in the Society's 

 Museum. The leading peculiarities of the New South Wales 



