120 



species, the one as in L. ForsUri being altogether destitute of 

 vomerine teeth, and the other represented by the real 

 trumpeter having six or eight such teeth, would result in an 

 intermediate form in which teeth were present, but less 

 numerically developed than in Latris hecateia. 



The precise affinities of the three generally recognised 

 species of the genus Latris, both among themselves, and with 

 relation to the suspected hybrid now described, will be most 

 readily comprehended by an examination of their respective 

 structural formula? when placed in juxtaposition as in the 

 accompanying schedule : — 



L. hecateia— -Heal trumpeter . 

 L. .Forsferi— Silver bastard 

 L. eiliaris— M.S.W. trumpeter. 

 L. sp.— Hybrid (?) . . 



17:1-36-38 9bl"8-9s 



16:l'37-42 9-10br-8-9s 



17:39 9br-6s 



17:1.39 9br-9s 



3-28-30 

 3-38-38 

 3-32 

 3-S2 



L. lat. 



no 



116-120 



84 



110 



Vom'rine 



teeth. 



6-8 

 None 

 None 



2 



Concerning one of the species enumerated in the foregoing 

 schedule, viz., the so-called New South Wales or New 

 Zealand trumpeter, Latris eiliaris, it is, I think, very desirable 

 that more extensive investigations should be made. The 

 structural formula for this species, as above cited, is a trans- 

 script of that given in Dr. Glunthcr's " Catalogue of Fishes," 

 vol. ii, p. 86, and reproduced by other more recent authorities. 

 My friend, Mr. E. M. Johnston, however, informs me that 

 an example has passed through his hands in which there were 

 as many as eight instead of six simple pectoral rays, and on 

 making a careful examination, in company with Mr. Morton, 

 of the type specimen in the Museum, we found that it 

 has only sixteen instead of seventeen spinous rays in the 

 dorsal fin. It consequently follows that if the two specimens 

 just referred to are to be accepted as bona-fide examples of 

 Latris eiliaris, the claims of this accredited species to an 

 independent specific status rest upon an exceedingly slender 

 basis, and, in fact, solely on the number of scales developed 

 along the lateral line of the body, all the remaining structural 

 details agreeing essentially with those of the ordinary silver 

 bastard trumpeter, Latris Forsteri. In order to more fully 

 investigate this matter, and to, if possible, arrive at a satisfac- 

 tory solution of the problem, Mr. Morton is taking steps to 

 procure genuine examples of Latris eiliaris from Sydney. And 

 at a future meeting of this Society I shall hope to report 

 upon the results of a more exhausted comparison between 

 the two species that will then be rendered practical. 



In the possible event of this at present suspected hybrid 

 variety being found to have substantial claims for recognition 

 as an independent species, I would propose to bestow upon it 



