54 
ICHTHYOLOGY 
Mr. Gulliver, who sent me the Tasmanian specimen, says, 
that when living the colour was most beautiful, that the body 
wasof a magnificent purple, with the broad transverse bands of a 
brilliant crimson, and that the head presented all the colours 
of the iris. 
MONACANTHUS RUDIS. 
Monacanthus Rudis, Rich., Ereb. and Terror, p. 65, pi. 
40, fig. 7. 
Gunth. Cat. vol. viii., p. 244. 
The Australian species of Monacanthus seem to be very 
numerous ; I have obtained the following since my last year's 
publication, but all the specimens being preserved and dried, 
I cannot say anything about their natural colours. I have 
also seen a second specimen of Prasinus, and numerous ones 
of Forsteri • the largest is six inches long; and has a faint 
narrow blue stripe, which extends from the anterior margin of 
the eye towards ihe mouth. 
This sort is placed by Dr. Gunther in a division charac- 
terised by " anal fin with less than forty rays ; dorsal spine 
with only two series of barbs ; ventral spine present, 
anchylosed to the pelvic bone." 
The form is oblong and rather elongate ; the entire surface 
is covered with very small, irregular, spiniferous scales ; the 
colour is of a yellowish brown, marked with minute brown 
spots ; on the tail are two series of straight points directed 
backwards, which are probably only to be seen on the male. 
This sort is found on the southern coast of Tasmania, and 
also in Bass's Straits. 
On my specimen the teeth are very small, but this is pro- 
bably due to age ; it was ten and a half inches long. 
Dr. Gunther mentions, among his uncertain species, a 
Monacanthus Freycineti of Hollard, characterised by having 
caudal spines, disposed on two series, and having their points 
directed backwards. This would agree well with my specimen, 
but I cannot unfortunately have here access to Mr. Hollard's 
Work (Ann. Sc. Nat.) In all cases, this fish is so very 
similar to Rudis, that I should consider it as belonging to this 
species. 
