154 
land by Forster, and in Western Port by Messrs. Quoy and 
Gaimard. Cuvier and Valenciennes (vol. xiv., p. 305,) state 
that it has thirty-four rays to the dorsal, but as all the thousands 
of Strangers that are brought from Western Port belong to the 
same sort, I cannot but think there is some mistake in these 
numbers. 
I had taken this sort for the Odax Semifasciatus (Cuv. & Yal., 
V. xiv., p. 299), and I see that Eichardson has been of the same 
opinion; but Dr. Gunther, finding that it has its preeoper- 
culum entire, very properly distinguishes the Australian species 
from it; he also thinks that the A’mIZms of Cuvier and Valen- 
ciennes is not the one of Bloch, which was brought by Forster 
from New Zealand. 
ODAX OEScimrs. 
Height of body a little over four and one-half times in the 
total length ; length of head three and three-quarter times in 
same ; eye four and three-quarter times in length of head. 
The head is not protruded in so long a snout as in the first 
species, and a longitudinal line passing through the centre of the 
eye would be much nearer to the extremity of the muzzle than 
to that of the operculum ; the profile of the head forms a rather 
long oval ; the upper lip is rather longer than the other ; the 
prseoperculum is very finely denticulated ; the lateral line ex- 
tends to the base of the caudal, and is arched over the pectorals ; 
it runs over about forty-five scales, these being much larger than 
those of mdiardsonii. 
Dorsal of twenty-eight rays ; its height is equal in all its 
length ; caudal rounded, of thirteen rays ; anal of fifteen ; pec- 
torals rounded, of fourteen rays. 
The general colour is almost black with a purplish tinge ; the 
upper part of the head is of a lighter brown ; on its sides 
are numerous, narrow, flexuous red lines running longitu- 
dinally ; eye of a beautiful red, with a broad exteral blue circle ; 
dorsal and anal of a light blue colour, covered with oblique scarlet 
lines ; it has also a broad black border ; the other fins black. 
Only seen once at the Melbourne Market, in the month of 
December ; but it is probable that the following only constitutes 
a variety of the same sort : — 
