FISH. 69 



Habitat, King George's Sound, New Holland. 



Cuvier and Valenciennes have noticed several variations of form occurring in 

 different specimens of the C. Irachurus, from different seas, which they have not 

 ventured to raise to the rank of species. That the one here described is entitled, 

 however, to this distinction, I can hardly entertain a doubt. The suddenness of 

 the bend in the lateral line, and the more backward point at which the bend 

 commences ; the larger number of laminae which protect it ; and also the larger 

 number of rays in the second dorsal and anal ; all seem to indicate a specific 

 difference. Whether it be identical with any of the varieties noticed by them is 

 uncertain ; but it seems to be distinct from the only one they speak of as having 

 been received from New Holland, in which the number of laminae did not exceed 

 seventy-three. I have called it declivis, in reference to the character of the lateral 

 line above alluded to. It was obtained by Mr. Darwin in Princess Royal 

 Harbour, in King George's Sound. 



2. Caranx torvus. Jen. 

 Plate XV. 



C. corpore crassiusculo, subelongato ; altitudine vix quartam partem longitudinis 

 cnquante, capite quartam superante ; maxilla inferiore longiori ; oculis magnis ; 

 suborbitalibus venis nonnullis subparallelis obscuris notatis ; lined laterali parum 

 dejlexd, antice squamis parvis inermibus, postice laminis carinatis 35 vel 36 tectd ; 

 spina reclinatd ante pinnam dorsalem sub cute occultd ; pectoralibus longis, falcatis, 

 ad initium pinnae analis prope per ting entibus. 



D. 8— 1/26; A. 2— 1/22; C. 17, &c; P. 21 ; V. 1/5. 

 Long. unc. 11. lin. 9. 

 Form. — Thicker and deeper in the body than the C. trackurus. The greatest depth a little less 

 than one-fourth of the entire length ; the thickness exceeding (but by a very little) half the 

 depth. Head large ; its length a little more than one-fourth of the entire length ; its height or 

 depth, taken in a line forming a tangent to the posterior part of the orbit, less than its own 

 length by two-sevenths. Eyes large ; their diameter very nearly one-third the length of the 

 head ; partially covered at the sides by two fatty membranous veils, as in several other species. 

 The ventral line of the body is rather more curved than the dorsal, and the upper profile in 

 like manner a little more approaching to rectilineal than the lower. The lower jaw a little the 

 longer, and ascending to meet the upper. Maxillary reaching not quite to beneath the middle 

 of the eye ; its extremity truncated in the form of an arc, with the curvature inwards. In each 

 jaw a single row of very fine, minute, closely set teeth ; two small patches on the anterior 

 extremity of the vomer, a band on each palatine, and one on the tongue, all closely shorn 

 velutine. Suborbital, on each side of the extremity of the snout, marked with several nearly 

 parallel dark-coloured veins. Preopercle with the angle very much rounded ; the limb broad, 



