53 



third times in its total length ; the head is three and three-fourth 

 in the same ; the eye five and one-third in the length of the 

 head. 



It is of a greenish lead colour, with the upper part of the head 

 of a brilliant black ; on the upper half of the body are numerous 

 and irregular black spots. The operculum and the end of the 

 pectorals are usually tinged with yellow. Its length is sometimes 

 over 22 inches. This is the arripis solar of Eichardson and 

 Grunther . 



The young specimens are the true centr. truttaceus of Cuvier ; 

 they are of an olive green on the upper parts ; sides and lower parts 

 of a silvery white. On the sides and upper surface extend three or 

 four longitudinal lines of rather large, rounded, and golden spots 

 numbering from 14 to 19 on each line. Dorsal transparent, 

 bordered with black ; caudal yellow, with its terminal part 

 black ; anal white, as are also the ventrals ; pectorals yellow ; 

 the sides of the head and the eye of a bright yellow. 



This is oneof the most common of all Victorian fishes. The young 

 only take the adult livery, when they are at least one foot long. 

 During the cold months of the year, the adults are hardly ever 

 seen, but they become common in the Australian summer. 

 When not very fresh, this sort is also very dangerous ; and, as 

 Professor McCoy states, almost all the cases of fish poisoning 

 are caused by it. 



The genus Arripis is one of those curious beings who seem to 

 have been created by Nature to puzzle the systematic zoologist. 

 By its palatine teeth, it belongs to the Percoid family ; but its 

 general form would otherwise cause it to be placed uear or with 

 Gcesio. The general appearance of the adult truttaceus is that of 

 a scombero'id, of which it has even the colours, but the young 

 has the same Ccesio appearance I have just mentioned. The 

 pra^operculum is more radiated than serrated. 



OLIGrOBUS. 



This genus has been formed by Dr. Grunther on a species of 

 grystes of Cuvier ; but he adds to it a large New Zealand fish, 

 evidently very different, and it ought to be characterised by 

 having an operculum with a simple, smooth ridge. 



