90 
ICHTHYOLOGY 
more elongate, and the disposition of the colours is rather 
different, as there is no trace of a spot on the upper part of 
the tail. 
The height of the body is contained twice and two-thirds 
in the entire length ; the head is a little over four times in 
the same ; eye contained twice and a half in the length of 
the head. 
The prasorbital and the prseoperculum are strongly crenu- 
lated ; the operculum is entire ; the lateral line follows the 
upper profile in approximating it gradually ; it stops a little 
behind the centre of the soft dorsal, and runs over eighteen 
scales. The number of scales on the longitudinal line is 
about thirty ; the transverse one has twelve ; the lateral line 
running over the third ; the dorsal has thirteen spines ; the 
first is shorter than the others, which all go increasing in 
length as they extend backwards ; the soft portion of the 
dorsal is formed of fourteen rays ; the caudal of seventeen, 
and of a few small ones on each side ; the central ones are 
longer than the others. 
Anal with two spines, the second of which is more than 
twice the length of the first, and fourteen rays ; the ventrals 
are formed of a spine and of five rays ; the two outer ones 
of these prolongated in long filaments, which extend to the 
base of the second anal spine ; pectorals nearly as long as the 
head, of seventeen rays. 
The general colour (in liquor) is of a light purple brown ; 
a narrow blue line runs over each eye, from the mouth to the 
base of the dorsal ; these lines unite over the mouth, several 
other longitudinal blue lines, irregular and interrupted, run on 
the sides of the head. Each scale is marked with two or 
three light blue spots, which are more visible on the back and 
belly than on the sides ; there is no trace of a spot on the 
tail ; the fins are yellow, the end of the dorsal fins is rather 
obscure. 
I have two specimens of this sort, which measure each a 
little over two inches long. 
Port Darwin. 
