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but they are united by their membrane ; the first is composed of 
three spines and the second of thirty-six, four or five of which 
are branched rays, but it is difficult to well indicate their number, 
as they seem to pass gradually one to the other ; the caudal has 
twelve long rays ; the anal twenty-six rays and two spines. The 
pectorals have twelve rays, and the ventrals three, the centre one 
much longer than the other two, and divided almost to its base. 
The colour is subject to much variation ; in one specimen, it is 
green, with the lower parts of the head and the belly yellow ; the 
latter is covered with minute black points ; the prteoperculum 
presents numerous transverse lines, formed of red and black 
spots, which are disposed in rather a radiant way. On the back 
part of the second dorsal the rays are spotted with red ; the 
caudal is yellow, with its rays marbled with red, and near its 
base are two rounded, brown-red spots ; the anal is yellow, 
marbled with purple, and the prolonged parts of the rays are 
red. The ventrals and pectorals are yellow ; the last has six or 
seven transverse lines of carmine spots ; the lower portion of the 
operculum and the throat are covered with carmine points ; the 
eye is green, spotted with black, and surrounded by an external 
white ring- 
In other specimens the colour is brown, marbled with blotches 
of a rather darker colour. Over the eye, there is a small plumi- 
form tentacle, of a green colour. 
I have only seen few specimens of this fish, which appears to 
belong to Cristiceps, at least as much as does Argentatus. 
CEISTICEPS. 
Cuvier and Dr. Gunther separate from Clinus, and under the 
above name, the species which have a first dorsal fin separated 
from the second, and placed generally more forward than in 
the other sorts. 
This is evidently an artificial character, and these species ought 
only to form a division in the genus Olinus. The greater number 
of the sorts are found in Australia. Several have been described 
by Cuvier, Valenciennes, and Dr. Gunther, but the only two I 
have seen at Melbourne appear different from all. 
In his extraordinary tendency to consider, as belonging to the 
same species, fishes found in the most remote parts of the world. 
