53 
third times in its total length ; the head is three and three-fourth' 
in the same ; the eye five and one-third in the length of the 
head. 
It is of a greenish lead colour, -with the upper part of the head 
of a brilliant black ; on the upper half of the body are numerous 
and irregular black spots. The operculum and the end of the 
pectorals are usually tinged with yellow. Its length is sometimes 
over 22 inches. This is the arripis solar of Kichardson and 
Gunther . 
The young specimens are the true centr. truttaoeus of Cuvier ; 
they are of an olive green on the upper parts ; sides and lower parts 
of a silvery white. On the sides and upper surface extend three or 
four longitudinal lines of rather large, rounded, and golden spots 
numbering from 14 to 19 on each line. Dorsal transparent, 
bordered with black ; caudal yellow, with its terminal part 
black ; anal white, as are also the ventrals ; pectorals yellow ; 
the sides of the head and the eye of a bright yellow. 
This is one of the most common of all Victorian fishes. The young 
only take the adult livery, when they are at least one foot long. 
During the cold months of the year, the adults are hardly ever- 
seen, but they become common in the Australian summer. 
When not very fresh, this sort is also very dangerous ; and, as 
Professor McCoy states, almost all the cases of fish poisoning 
are caused by it. 
The genus Arripis is one of those curious beings who seem to 
have been created by Nature to puzzle the systematic zoologist. 
By its palatine teeth, it belongs to the Percoid family ; but its 
general form would otherwise cause it to be placed near or with 
Casio. The general appearance of the adult truttaceus is that of 
a scomberdid, of which it has even the colours, but the young 
has the same Casio appearance I have just mentioned. The 
preeoperculum is more radiated than serrated. 
OLIGOEUS. 
This genus has been formed by Dr. Gunther on a species of 
grystes of Cuvier ; but he adds to it a large New Zealand fish, 
evidently very different, and it ought to be characterised by 
having an operculum with a simple, smooth ridge. 
