77 



DESCETPTION OF TWO NEW FISHES. 



By Alexandee Morton, Cxtkator of the Tasmania^ 



Museum. 



Genus Eueumetopos, n. g. 



Seven branchiostegals. Single row of villiform teeth. The 

 spinous dorsal continuous with the soft, and composed of 

 nine spines, operculum having a soft, fleshy point. Scales 

 ctenoid. Tasmania. 



JEurumetopos, Jolmstonii, nov. sp. 

 B, 7 ; D, 9 1-9 ; A, 3-13 ; Y, 1-5 P. 



Length of head, 4 ; of caudal, 4 2-3 ; of pectoral, 

 4 1-5 ; height of body, 12-3 in the total length. 

 Eyes. — Diameter, 4 1-4 of the length of head; in- 

 terorbital space convex ; upper profile of the head 

 convex ; jaws nearly equal, maxilla, with a few small denticu- 

 lations in front, reaching in a line to the centre of the orbit. 

 Teeth. — A single row of villiform teeth in the jaws, about the 

 16th of an inch. Fins. — Dorsal commences in about a line 

 with the base of the vertical ; spines short and strong, the 

 first the shortest, the fifth and sixth being the longest. 

 Pectoral nearly as long as the head, ending in a line with the 

 4 dorsal ray. Anal commences opposite the seveuth dorsal 

 ray, the two first spines being very short, hardly perceptible, the 

 anal ending in a line with the anterior part of the soft dorsal, 

 Ventrals short and strong, caudal deeply forked. All the 

 vertical fins with minute scales. Scales finely ctenoid, 

 approaching to cycloid. Total length 3 feet 3 inches. 



This very remarkable Fish was found washed on the beach 

 at Brid-gewater. Unfortunately the crows had eaten a great 

 part of one side, taking the eyes and the intestines out. I 

 was therefore unable to examine the internal parts. On a 

 recent visit to S|?dney the specimen wa^ carefully examined 

 by Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby, the Assistant Zoologist at 

 the Australian Museum, but he was unable to place it 

 in any genus. I have therefore formed a new genus 

 for it. It bears in many respect* a close resemblance 



