BY C. W. DE VIS. 



67 



structure obtaining throu^jhout — their specific characters consist 

 chiefly of ornamental markings, appearing in one series as longi- 

 tudinal stripes, in another as cross-bands, while in a few species, 

 they are almost obsolete, and to these latter belong the perch of 

 Lake Elphinstone. 



Therapon Elphinstoneneis. — 



D 12/10 A 3/8 Lat. line 52 - 54 - Tr. 7/15. 



Height of the body equals length of head, and less than one 

 fourth of the whole length ; orbit three-fourths of the interorbit, 

 and one-fifth of the length of the head ; interorbit one-fourth, 

 and snout one-third of the length of the head ; outer row of teeth 

 strong and regular ; preorbital strongly serrated except one side 

 of one specimen ; preoperculum feebly serrated ; operculum with 

 one point ; coracoid strongly denticulated ; maxillary not quite 

 reaching the vertical from the front margin of the orbit ; spinous 

 dorsal low, 5th spine the longest, nearly one-third of the depth of 

 the body ; second anal spine much stronger, but not longer than 

 the third ; caudal slightly emarginate. 



Colour, uniform pale-brown, a little redder on the back. 

 The nearest ally of this species is T. longuhis^ Macl^ from the 

 inland waters of North Australia. Its distinctive characters are 

 much smaller eyes nearer together ; smaller scales ; a single 

 opercular spine, and a feebly serrated preoperculum of which the 

 serrations are stronger at the lower angle. 



