109 



longer than twice the spine ; the following are shorter. The 

 second dorsal is formed of twenty-three soft rays ; the caudal is 

 truncated posteriorly of thirteen long rays, with one shorter one 

 on each side. 



The anal is divided in two ; the first portion is formed of four 

 strong straight spines ; the membranes which unite these having 

 each a pointed angle. The second anal is formed of twenty-two 

 rays, it has the same form as its corresponding dorsal ; the ven- 

 trals are large, being longer than the snout, when not extended ; 

 they are formed of a slender spine and of six rays ; pectorals 

 small, with fourteen rays. 



The disposition of the colours is similar to that of the Euro- 

 pean sort : the general hue is a dark green, with yellow tinges 

 on the sides of the head and body ; the outer visible parts of the 

 mouth are lilac colour ; towards the centre of the fish there is a 

 large rounded black blotch, surrounded by a wide circle, and 

 below this the body is often variegated with purple and white. 

 The first dorsal, caudal, first anal, and ventrals are green, 

 with the spines or rays purple ; the second dorsal and second 

 anal are white and transparent, with their rays green ; the pec- 

 torals of a light green ; the eye yellow, with a purple tinge. 



The Dorey is very rare on the Melbourne Market, and I have 

 only seen three specimens of it, which were all taken in the 

 month of August. It is considered a great delicacy. 



Nota. — Professor M'Coy {Report Intercolonial Exhib., 1866,) 

 says that he has often caught in Hobson's Bay the Gyttus Aus- 

 tralia of Richardson (Capros), which I have not yet met with. 



HISTIOPTEKTTS. 



This most singular genus was established in the " Fauna 

 Jajxmica." Eichardson, in his " Fishes of the Erebus and 

 Terror," describes the Australian sort from a single head that 

 had been brought from Tasmania. 



HISTIOPTEKTTS BECUEVrEOSTEIS. 



Histiopterus recurvirostris, Richard., Erebus and Terror, 

 page 34, pi. xxii. 



(The Boar Fish or Bastard Dorey. .) 

 The height is rather over three times and a-half in the total 

 length ; the head is three times and a-half in the same ; the orbit 

 is four and one-third times in the length of the head. 



