147 



rior edge, but become longitudinal below the angle ; the 

 operculum covered with scales, about one-fourth smaller than 

 those of the middle of the body, but ciliated like them ; the body- 

 is as thick as the length of the head ; it shows twenty-eight 

 scales on the longitudinal line, and several smaller ones near the 

 root of the caudal; on the transverse series the lateral line runs over 

 the fourth, and I count eight below it. The dorsal fin is formed 

 of thirteen spines, but the soft rays vary from fifteen to seven- 

 teen ; the first spine is short, the others nearly equal one to the 

 other ; the fourth is rather longer than the anterior ones, and 

 the following are about equal to it ; the soft dorsal is nearly 

 twice as high as the spinous one ; the caudal is very strongly 

 bilobated, with the lobes rounded ; it is formed of fourteen rays ; 

 the anal is rounded, and composed of two spines and of fifteen 

 or sixteen rays ; the second spine is about twice as long as the 

 first ; ventrals rather large, formed of one long spine and of five 

 branched rays ; they are nearly three-quarters as long as the 

 head, and from their end to the base of the anal is a space equal 

 to about one-half of their length ; pectorals large, formed of 

 nineteen rays. Almost all the spinous part of the dorsal, the 

 three-quarters of the branched one and of the anal, and also the 

 two-thirds of the caudal, are covered with small scales ; these 

 extend also on the base of the pectorals. The eye is yellow. 



The colour is nearly black, with a purple tinge on the sides of 

 the head and on the spines of the fins ; the membranes of the 

 dorsal have a yellow hue, but these colours seem subject to 

 much variation, as one specimen, a female, was of a light purple 

 colour, with the central parts of the body of a light brown, with 

 the middle of the scales yellow ; the belly was reddish ; the fins 

 yellow ; a broad purplish white stripe extended round the oper- 

 culum. 



This is not a common sort on the Melbourne market, but a 

 specimen appears now and then, particularly in the months of 

 September, October, and November. It does not seem to have 

 actually a vernacular name, but Dr. Grunther says it is called 

 Hock Perch, which is not used now. I could not ascertain if it 

 was fit for the table. 

 Length, 8 to 10 inches, 



