70 
and the second one, which is scarcely shorter than the third, is not 
quite twice as long as the first one. The seven inferior simple rays 
of the pectoral have free tips, their membrane being deeply notched 
as in the dorsal. The ventrals are attached under the middle of the 
pectorals, or opposite to the sixth dorsal spine. Their spine is slen¬ 
der, and about two-thirds of the length of the soft rays. The caudal 
is rounded, with the tips of the rays projecting beyond the mem¬ 
brane. 
Threpterius maculostjs, Richardson. 
(Pisces, PI. II. fig. 1, 2.) 
This fish approaches the division Latris of the Cheilodactyli in the 
form of its pectoral fin and other characters, but differs so much in 
its general aspect, which reminds one of a cottoid fish, that it is well 
that we can find a structural difference which enables us to place it 
in a separate genus. This exists in the vomerine teeth, the vomer 
being smooth in the Cheilodactyli , but in this fish it is armed like 
the jaws by a single row of teeth, which, instead of being setiform 
and crowded, as in the Cheilodactyli, are short, somewhat conical, 
and confined nearly to a single row on the jaws as well as on the 
vomer. 
The native name of the fish at King George’s Sound is “ Cum- 
beiik,” and it frequents rocky places, having apparently the same 
habits with the Cheilodactyli. The simple projecting rays of the 
pectoral would appear to perform the functions of an organ of touch, 
and are furnished to many fish that, like the Triglce, swim close to 
the sandy bottom, which they touch with these simple rays, whether 
they are wholly or partially free. The Cumbeuk is prized as an 
article of food, whence the generic name. 
Mr. Neill’s figure represents the fish as having a pale brown colour, 
much lighter on the belly, and thickly studded with irregular dark 
liver-brown spots, most crowded along the back and becoming much 
smaller and more scattered on the belly. The fins are rather of a 
redder brown, and the soft dorsal, ventral and caudal are minutely 
spotted. Length 9 inches. 
Tautoga parila, Richardson. 
Paril and “ Common Rock-fish,” Neill’s drawings, No. 9; Richard¬ 
son, Ichth. Erebus and Terror, p. 127, sub Labro fucicola. 
Radii.— Br. 6; D. 9|11; A. 3|10; C. 13f; P. 13; V. 1|5, spe¬ 
cimens. 
This species of Labrus or Tautoga approaches Labrus tetricus 
(Ichth. of Erebus and Terror, pi. 55. f. 1) in general form, but there 
is only a single row of scales on the temples, and they do not descend 
lower than the middle of the upper limb of the preoperculum. The 
scales covering the operculum and suboperculum are, as in the allied 
species, large. The cheek, preoperculum and the broad thin inter¬ 
operculum show no scales, but, in common with the top of the head, 
are covered with a thick skin full of mucous canals and open pores. 
The diameter of the orbit is less than the length of the preorbital. 
