147 
rior edge, but become longitudinal below tbe angle ; the 
operculum covered with scales, about one-fourtb smaller tban 
those of tbe middle of tbe body, but ciliated like them ; tbe body 
is as thick as the length of the head ; it shows twenty-eight 
scales on the longitudinal line, and several smaller ones near the 
root of the caudal; on the transverse series the lateral line runs over 
the fourth, and I count eight below it. The dorsal fin is formed 
of thirteen spines, but the soft rays vary from fifteen to seven- 
teen ; the first spine is short, the others nearly equal one to the 
other ; the fourth is rather longer than the anterior ones, and 
the following are about equal to it ; the soft dorsal is nearly 
twice as high as the spinous one ; the caudal is very strongly 
bilobated, with the lobes rounded ; it is formed of fourteen rays ; 
the anal is rounded, and composed of two spines and of fifteen 
or sixteen rays ; the second spine is about twice as long as the 
first ; ventrals rather large, formed of one long spine and of five 
branched rays ; they are nearly three-quarters as long as the 
head, and from their end to the base of the anal is a space equal 
to about one-half of their length ; pectorals large, formed of 
nineteen rays. Almost all the spinous part of the dorsal, the 
three-quarters of the branched one and of the anal, and also the 
two-thirds of the caudal, are covered with small scales ; these 
extend also on the base of the pectorals. The eye is yellow. 
The colour is nearly black, with a purple tinge on the sides of 
the head and on the spines of the fins ; the membranes of the 
dorsal have a yellow hue, but these colours seem subject to 
much variation, as one specimen, a female, was of a light purple 
colour, with the central parts of the body of a light brown, with 
the middle of the scales yellow ; the belly was reddish ; the fins 
yellow ; a broad purplish white stripe extended round the oper- 
culum. 
This is not a common sort on the Melbourne market, but a 
specimen appears now and then, particularly in the months of 
September, October, and November. It does not seem to have 
actually a vernacular name, but Dr. Gunther says it is called 
Boch Perch, which is not used now. I could not ascertain if it 
was fit for the table. 
Length, 8 to 10 inches. 
