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THE 


ZOOLOGY 

OF   THE 

VOYAGE  OF  H.M.S.  EREBUS  &  TERROR, 

UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OF  CAPTAIN  STli  JAMES  CLARK  ROSS,  R.N.,  F.R.S., 

n  U  in  X  G      T  H  K      Y  EARS 

1839     TO     1843. 


Hr    AUTHOIUTY    OF    THE    LOHltH    COMMl^SIOSERU    OF    THE    A  HM 1 1!  Al.T  Y . 


JOHN    HICHAKJ)S()X,  .AID,  FII.S.,  kv. 


JOHN    I'.DWAHI)   GRAY,  Esr>.,  PhD.,  F.H.S.,  &r. 


VOL.    11. 
KEPTJLE8,    FISHES,   CRUSTACEA,   INSECTS,    MOLLUSCA. 


1.  O  N  1)  O  N  -. 
K.    W.    J  ANSON,    28,    MUSEUM    STREET,    W.C. 

M.  nccc.  X  I.l  V.  -M.  T)i  .n.'.  LS  XV. 


VOL.    II. 

CON  T  E  N  T  S  . 


Title  Pat;e. 

Contents. 

Reptiles,  by  G.  U.  (Jray,  F.R.S.,  &c.,  (pp.  1—8),  1815.     Conclusion  by  Albert  Guxther,  M.A.. 

M.D.,  Ph.D.,  F.Il.S,.  V.P.Z.S.,  Keeper  of  the  Zoological  Department  of  the  British  Museum, 

(pp.  9—19),  1875. 

Fishes,  by  Sir  John  Richardson,  Kxt..  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c.,  (pp.  i — viii  &  1 — 139),  1811— Is  ts. 

Crustacea,  by  Ebward  J.  Miehs,    Junior  Assistant,    Zoological  Depxrtmeut,   British  Museum, 
(pp.  1—5),  1875. 

Insects,  by  Adam  White,  M.E.S.,  &c.,  (p]).  1—21),  ls46:  and  Arthur  Gardiner  Butler,  F.L.S., 
F.Z.S.,  &c.,  (pp.  25—51),  1871. 

MoLLUscA,  by  Edgar  A.  Smith,  F.Z.S.,  Zoological  Department,  British  Museum,  (pp.  1 7),  1S71<. 

P  L  A  T  E  S . 
Reptiles.     I— XX. 

58:)87 

Fishes.     I— LX. 
Crustacea.     I — IV. 

Insects.     I — X. 
Mollusca.     I— IV. 


REPTILES. 


I.  — THE  REPTILES  OF  AUSTRALIA. 

Dr.  Sham-,  in.the  Appendix  to  White's  'Journal  of  a  Voyage  to  New  South  Wales,'  in  1790,  first  describefl  and 
figured  some  of  the  Reptiles  observed  by  White  in  New  Holland.  Some  of  the  specimens  he  brought  home  hav- 
ing been  placed  in  the  collection  of  the  British  Museum,  were  more  systematically  described  by  the  same  naturalist 
in  his  'General  Zoology,'  and  his  work  on  the  Animals  of  New  Holland. 

Lacepede,  in  the  'Annales  du  Museum,'  (iv.  18),  described  several  Reptiles  from  the  same  country,  and  redescribed 
several  of  those  which  had  been  already  noticed  by  Shaw  and  White. 

Capt.  Flinders,  in  his  'Voyage  to  Terra  Australis,'  1814,  mentions  the  occurrence  of  two  kinds  of  Turtles  [Chelo- 
nia)  one  on  the  north  coast  of  New  Holland  (ii.  154),  and  the  other  on  the  east  coast  (ii.  382). 

Peron  and  liCsueur,  during  their  voyage  with  Captain  Baudin  on  the  coasts  of  Australia,  collected  many  specimens 
of  this  class  of  animals,  which  were  deposited  in  the  Museum  of  the  Garden  of  Plants,  and  a  few  of  which  were  noticed 
by  Oppel  in  preparing  the  Reptile  part  of  Cuvier's  '  Regne  Animal.'  Others  have  been  described  by  Messrs.  Duine- 
ril  and  Bibron,  in  their  '  Erpetologie  Generale,'  now  in  the  course  of  publication.  Some  others  were  described  by  me 
during  my  visit  to  Paris,  when  I  was  preparing  the  Synopsis  of  Reptiles,  which  appeared  in  Griffith's  translation  of 
Cuvier's  '  Animal  Kingdom,'  which  must  only  be  considered  as  an  abstract  of  the  notes  prepared  for  my  '  Synopsis 
Reptilium.' 

In  the  Appendix  to  Capt.  Philip  Parker  King's  '  Voyages  in  Australia,'  1  described  some  new  species  discovered  by 
that  navigator,  especially  the  very  curious  Frilled  Lizard,  which  is  figured  in  that  work.  From  time  to  time,  as  spe- 
cimens from  that  country  have  been  kindly  presented  to  the  Museum  by  different  collectors,  as  my  late  friend  Allan 
Cunningham,  Mrs.  Joseph  Wright,  and  others,  I  have  described  the  specimens  in  the  '  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological 
Society,'  and  other  scientific  periodical  publications. 

In  the  Appendix  to  His  Excellency  Ca])t.  George  Grey's  Australia,  I  attempted  to  bring  together  these  scattered 
materials,  and  formed  a  list  of  the  different  species  which  had  been  described  as  coming  from  Australia,  adding  to  it 
descriptions  and  figures  of  the  new  Australian  species,  chiefly  sent  home  by  Governor  Grey  and  Mr.  Gilbert,  from 
the  west  coast,  then  in  our  collection ;  and  since  that  time  1  have,  in  my  '  Zoological  Miscellany,'  described  several 
additional  species,  which  have,  in  the  mean  time,  been  sent  to  England  from  the  north  coast  of  Australia  by  Mr.  Gil- 
bert, who  is  employed  by  Mr.  Gould  to  collect  specimens  for  him  in  different  parts  of  that  continent. 

In  the  Zoology  of  the  Voyages  of  the  French  ships,  1'  Uranie,  la  Coquille  and  1'  Astrolabe,  some  Australian  Reptiles 
have  been  figured  and  described  by  MM.  Quoy  and  Gaimard  and  M.  Lesson ;  but  unfortunately,  though  the  descrip- 
tions of  the  specimens  are  long  and  apparently  full,  yet  they  are  so  general,  and  the  figures  of  the  species,  though 
good  for  artistic  effect,  are  so  destitute  of  scientific  detail,  that  it  is  often  impossible  to  determine  which  of  the  Aus- 
tralian species  they  are  intended  to  represent ;  and  the  specimens  from  whence  they  were  described,  do  not  appear  to 
be  in  the  collection  of  the  French  Museum,  for  MM.  Dumeril  and  Bibron  do  not  refer  to  them  in  their  work. 

In  the  Appendix  to  Dr.  Dieffenbach's  New  Zealand,  I  described  the  Reptiles  he  had  brought  from  those  islands ; 
Mr.  Bell,  in  the  '  Zoology  of  the  Beagle,'  has  described  and  figured  another  species  from  the  same  country,  which 
was  brought  home  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Darwin  :  and  another  species  has  since  been  discovered  by  my  nephew,  Lieut. 
Alexander  Smith,  R.N.,  who  accompanied  the  Antarctic  Expedition. 


Order  I.  Lizards,  (Sauria). 
Mouth  not  dilatable.  Jaws  toothed.  Tlie  lower  jaw- 
bones being  united  by  a  bony  suture  in  front.  Eye  with 
distinct  eyelids.  Drum  of  the  ears  generally  distinct, 
exposed.  Nostrils  lateral,  nasal  cavities  separated  by  a 
long  cavity.  Limbs  4,  distinct,  rarely  in  such  a  rudimen- 
tary state  "as  to  be  hidden  under  the  skin.  Toes  generally 
distinct,  clawed,  for  walking  or  climbing.  Body  elongate, 
rounded,  covered  with  imbricate  granular  scales.  Ribs 
distinct,  mobile,  and  with  a  distinct  sternum.  Tail  elon- 
gate, tapering,  rarely  prehensile,  generally  covered  with 
whorls  of  scales.  Egg  with  a  hard  skin.  Young  not  un- 
dergoing any  metamorphosis. 

The  Grtphf,  containing  the  Ichthyosauri,  Plesiomiiri, 
the  recently  discovered  Rhtjncosauri,  and  other  Lizard- 
like  fossils  of  the  lias  and  new  red  sandstone,  which  have 
nearly  the  same  formation  of  the  skull,  the  pendant  ear- 
bones  &c.  of  the  Saurias,  are  easily  distinguished  from 
them  by  their  doubly  cupped  vertebrae  and  usually  paddle- 
like feet,  like  Cetacea  amongst  Mammalia. 

Sect.  I.  Sqcamata. 
Body  covered  with  overlapping  or  granular  scales. 
Nostrils  lateral.  The  skull  formed  of  separate  bones. 
The  nasal  cavities  separated  by  a  bony  septum.  The  ear- 
bone  external,  pendent,  and  only  articulated  to  the  skull. 
Tongue  free,  elongate,  nicked  at  the  tip,  often  entire.  The 
lungs  free  in  the  cavity  of  the  thorax.  The  vent  a  linear 
cross  slit.  The  male  organ  and  vagina  forked.  Vertebrae 
with  a  convex  surface  fitting  into  a  concave  surface  in  the 
preceding  joint.  Oviparous,  rarely  viviparous.  The  eggs 
when  deposited  covered  with  a  more  or  less  coriaceous 
shell. 

Sub-order  L  Leptogloss.e. 

Tribe  L  Cyclosaura. 

Scales  of  the  belly  square  (very  rarely  rhombic,  keeled),  in 
cross  bands,  of  the  back  and  tail  rhombic,  imbricate,  or  cir- 
cular and  subgranular,  placed  in  cross  rings,  of  the  sides 
generally  granular,  rarely  like  the  back.  Tongue  elongate, 
flattened,  base  sometimes  sheathed,  generally  free,  only 
attached  to  the  gullet  by  a  long  frenum,  with  two  elongate 
cylindrical  homy  tips.  Tail  elongate,  with  whorls  of 
scales,  generally  conical,  tapering,  sometimes  compressed, 
with  two  elevated  crests  above. 

Family.  Monitorid.e. 
Head  with  minute  polygonal  shields.  Teeth  adnate  to 
the  inner  side  of  the  jaws.  Tongue  elongate,  slender,  re- 
tractile into  a  sheath  at  its  base.  Scales  small,  roundish, 
placed  in  cross  rings,  those  of  the  sides  like  those  of  the 
neck.  Legs  4,  strong.  Toes  5-5,  compressed,  subequal. 
Thighs  poreless.  Superorbital  plate  bony.  Old  World, 
near  water. 

The  species  of  this  family  are  confined  exclusively  to 
the  Eastern  Worid  and  Australasia.  Of  the  twenty-two 
species  described  in  the  Catalogue  of  the  Lizards  in  the 
British  Museum,  the  last  complete  work  on  the  species  of 
Reptiles  that  has  appeared,  six  are  peculiar  to  Australia, 


eleven  are  found  in  India,  Borneo  and  New  Guinea,  and 
five  in  Africa. 

1.  Tail  round  without  any  keel  above.      Terrestrae. 
Odatria,  Gray. 

Nostrils  ovate,  longitudinal,  subanterior.  Teeth  com- 
pressed, acute.  Tail  elongate,  round,  not  keeled  above. 
Scales  large,  sharply  keeled,  subspinose.  Back  with  elon- 
gate, narrow,  keeled  scales.  Ventral  shield  elongate. 
Toes  rather  unequal,  elongate. 

This  genus  is  easily  known  from  the  terrestrial  Monitors 
of  Africa,  by  the  larger  size  and  keeled  form  of  the  caudal 
scales. 

Besides  the  Australian  species,  there  is  one,  O.  Timor- 
en-tis,  from  the  Island  of  Timor,  first  described  by  me  in 
Griffith's  Animal  Kingdom,  ix.  36. 

The  Dotted  Odatria.     Odatria  punctata. 
Plate  I. 

Odatria  punctata,    Gray,  Ann.  N.    H.  ii.  394.     Grey's 
Trav.  Aiisfr.  ii.  422.   Cat  Rept.  B.  M.  7. 
Monitor  tristis,  Schleyel,  Abbild.  73. 

Grey  olive,  with  narrow,  black,  reticulated  lines,  bearing 
large  hexagonal  spots;  head,  limbs  and  tail  blackish,  with 
a  few  pale  spots,  dark-banded;  ventral  shield  twice  as  long 
as  broad  ;  tail  round;  scales  over  the  eye  small,  granular; 
male  ?  with  a  tuft  of  conical  spine-like  scales  on  each  side 
of  the  vent. 

The  young  is  blackish,  with  cross  rings  of  white  spots  ; 
head  closely  white  speckled ;  limbs  white  dotted.  Very 
young  grey,  with  numerous  narrow  dark  cross  bands. 

Inhabits  West  Australia  and  Port  Essington. 

The  Eyed  Odatria.     Odatria  ocellata. 
Plate  2. 

Odatria  ocellata.  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  8. 

Black,  with  rather  large  yellow  rings  ;  limbs  and  tail 
yellow-spotted  ;  tail  round ;  scales  of  the  tail  broad,  oval, 
spinose;  scales  over  the  eyes  small,  granular;  ventral 
shields  twice  as  long  as  broad. 

Inhabits  N.W.  coast  of  Australia.  Benjamin  Bynoe, 
Esq.,  R.N. 

Like  O.  punctata,  but  the  scales  of  the  back,  and  the 
spinose  scales  of  the  tail  are  much  larger.  The  scales  of 
the  back  are  bluntly  keeled,  of  the  tail  square,  nearly  as 
broad  as  long,  shaqjly  and  strongly  keeled,  spinose;  in  O. 
punctata  they  are  nearly  twice  as  long  as  broad,  and  only 
subspinose. 

2.  Tail  triangular,  compressed,  and  with  a  doubly  toothed 
crest  above.     Nostril  small,  round. 

Monitor,  Gray. 
Polydaedalus,  Wagler.     Uaranus,  Fitz. 
Nostrils  small,  round,  in  the  middle  between  the  apex 
of  the  muzzle  and  the  front  angle  of  the  eye.      Tail  elon- 
gate, compressed,  with  a  double-edged  keel  above.      Toes 
elongate,  unequal,  strong.     Teeth  rounded. 


Gould's  Monitor.     Monitor  Gouldii. 
Plate  3. 

Monitor  Gouldii,  Schlegel.  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  12. 

Hydrosaurus  Gouldii,  Gray,  Ann.  N.  H.  i.  394.  Grey's 
Trar.  Austr.  ii.  422. 

With  2  yellow  streaks  on  the  side  of  the  neck  ;  scales 
over  the  eyes  small,  granular,  of  forehead  larger;  ventral 
shields  small,  longer  than  broad. 

Inhab.  Western  and  North-western  coast  of  Australia. 

Hydrosacrus,  Wagler. 
Tupinambis,  part,  Fitz. 

Nostrils  oblong,  longitudinal,  near  the  apex  of  the  muz- 
zle. Tail  elongated,  with  a  double-edged  keel  above. 
Toes  unequal,  elongate.  Teeth  compressed,  shai-p-edged, 
denticulated. 

This  genus  is  divided  into  two  sections;  some  have  the 
scales  over  the  orbit  small  and  equal,  others  have  a  series 
of  larger  ones  in  the  middle  of  the  small  ones.  All  the 
Australian  species  belong  to  the  former  division.  The 
second  section  contains  two  species ;  one,  M.  bivUtutus, 
found  in  India,  Borneo  and  the  Philippines,  the  other,  M. 
prasinus,  at  New  Guinea. 

*  Scales  over  the  orlit  equal.  Neck  with  lunate  hands. 
The  Lace  Lizard.     Hydrosaurus  rarius. 

Lacerta  varia,  Shaw,  White's  Journ.  N.  S.  W.  246,  t.  3, 
/  2.     Nat.  Misc.  iii.  /.  83. 

Uaranus  varius,  Merrem,  Tent.  58.  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G. 
iii.  491.   Gray,  King's  Voy.  ii.  427. 

Tupinambis  variegatus,  Baud.  Rept.  iii.  76.  Kuhl, 
Beytr.  125. 

Hydrosaurus  varius,  Wagler,  Syst.  164.  Gray,  Ann.  N. 
//.i.'394.  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  12. 

Grey,  with  black  cross  bands,  which  are  lunated  over 
the  nape  ;  scales  of  the  orbit  very  small,  equal. 

Inhab.  New  Holland. 

Bell's  Lace  Lizard.       Hydrosaurus  Bellii. 

Uaranus  Bellii,  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  iii.  493,  t.  ^b,  f.  1. 
Gray,  in  Grey's  Trav.  Austr.  ii.  422. 

Hydrosaurus  Bellii,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  13. 

Pale,  body  and  tail  with  broad  black  cross  bands;  scales 
of  the  orbits  dilated,  equal. 

Inhab.  Austraha  ?? 

This  species  is  only  known  from  a  .specimen  in  Mr. 
Bell's  collection,  and  one  in  the  Paris  Museum. 

**  Scales  of  the  orbit  equal,  small.   Neck  spotted  like  back. 

ITie  Gigantic  Lace  Lizard.      Hydrosaurus  giganteus. 

Plate  4. 

Hydrosaurus  giganteus.  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  13. 

Brown,  back  and  tail  with  cross  bands  of  large  black- 
edged  white  spots;  neck  and  under  side  of  body  pale,  with 
large  black  round  reticulations;  legs  white-spotted  ;  toes 


rather  short,  strong;  shields  of  the  head  subequal,  con- 
vex, over  the  orbits  very  small,  granular. 

Inhab.  N.  coast  of  New  Holland. 

The  largest  species  of  the  genus.  The  specimen  in  the 
British  Museum  is  78  inches  long.  It  was  discovered  and 
described  by  Capt.  Stokes,  R.N. 

Tribe  II.  Geissosaura. 
Scales  of  the  belly  and  (almost  always)  of  the  back  and 
sides,  rounded,  quincuncial,  imbricate,  fonned  of  a  more  or 
less  thick,  vascular,  bony  plate,  covered  with  a  thin  epi- 
dermis, often  shomng  the  vessels  through  it.  Sides  round- 
ed, covered  with  scales  like  those  of  the  back.  Tongue 
narrow,  short,  flat,  slightly  nicked  at  the  end.  Head  co- 
vered with  regular  many-sided  shields  (rather  scale-like  in 
[Lialisidtc).  Neck  not  contracted.  Body  fusiform  or 
subcylindrical.  Femoral  pores  none,  (except  in  Pygopus 
and  Lialis). 

A.   Eyes  distinct,  exposed.     Eyelid  rudimentary.     Head 
conical. 

Fam.  Gymnophthalmid^. 
Nostrils  lateral,  in  a  single  nasal  plate,  without  any  su- 
pranasal  above  it.  Teeth  conical,  simple.  Palate  tooth- 
less. Tongue  scaly,  nicked  at  the  tip.  Eyes  naked.  Eye- 
hds  rudimentary,  circular,  ring-like,  and  immoveable. 
Ears  distinct.  Body  fusiform.  Limbs  4,  weak,  unequal. 
Femoral  pores  none. 

Cryptoblephards,  Cocleau,  Weigmann. 
Ablepharus,  part,  Dum.  et  Bib. 
Head  pyramidical.  Frontoparietal  plate  single.  Nos- 
trils lateral,  in  a  single  nasal,  supranasal  none.  Eyelid 
rudimentary,  circular.  Ears  moderate,  open,  denticulated 
in  front.  Tongue  flat,  scaly,  nicked  at  the  tip.  Palate 
toothless.  Body  fusiform.  Scales  smooth,  or  verv  finely 
and  indistinctly  grooved.  Legs  4.  Toes  5-5,  unequal, 
rather  comijressed.  Tail  roundish,  tapering,  acute.  Pre- 
anal  scales  in  three  rows. 

*  Eyelid  complete,  with  a  series  of  larger  scales  above. 
The  Pete.       Cryptoblepharus  Boutonii. 

Scincus  plagiocephalus,  Peron,  Mus.  Paris. 

S.  Boutonii,  Desjard.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  xxii.  298. 

S.  arenarius,  and  S.  furcatus,  Schlegel,  Mus.  Leyd. 

S.  aureus,  Mus.  Paris. 

Cryptoblepharis  Peronii,  Coct.  Scincoides,  i.  t.  Man 
Zool.  t.         Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  813. 

C.  Leschenaultii,  Coct.  Scin,  i.  t. 

C.  Boutonii,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  64. 

Ablepharus  pcecilopleurus,  Weiqm.  N.  Act.  N.  Cur  xv 
183,  /.  8,  /  1.  Gray,  Ann.  N.  H.  ii.  335.  Grey's  Trav 
Austr.  ii.  426.  Seha,  TJies.  ii.  t.  2,/  9-10. 

Tiliqua  Buchanani,  Gray,  Ann.  N.  H.  ii.  291. 

Olive  or  bronzed,  brown-varied.  Scales  black-streaked. 
Eyelid  circular,  scaly,  with  the  three  upper  scales  larri-est. 
Ears  moderate,  suboval,  open,  simple-edged.  Rostral 
plate  very  large,  triangular.  Preanal  plates  6  or  7,  neariv 
equal. 

Inhab.  Western  Australia,  the  Isle  of  France,  Timor. 


**  Eyelid  incomplete,  no  scales  between  the  eye  and 
eyebrow  above. 

The  Eyed  Pete.      Ciyptoblepharus  lineo-ocellatus. 
Plate  5,  fig.  1. 

AblephariLs  lineo-ocellatus,  Diim.  el  Bib.  v.   E.  G.  817. 

Cryptoblepharus  lineo-ocellatus,  Gray,  in  Greys  Trav. 
.4ust'r.  ii.  427.  Cat.  Kept.  B.  M.  65. 

Back  grey  or  reddish,  with  4  series  of  white-edged  black 
spots,  and  edged  with  a  pale  streak,  and  a  black-edged 
white  streak  on  each  side.  Upper  lip  white.  Eyelid  cir- 
cular, covered  with  small  equal  scales,  without  any  between 
the  eye  and  superciliary  plates.  Rostral  plate  small,  very 
broad,  6-sided.  Frontal  plate  broader  than  long.  Ears 
moderate,  suboval,  with  2  or  3  denticulations  in  front. 
Head  short. 

Inhab.  Swan  River,  W.  Australia. 

MoRETHiA,  Gray. 

Head  pyvamidical.  Frontoparietal  shields  rough.  Nos- 
tril lateral,  in  a  small  shield  with  a  small  supranasal  above 
it,  and  a  smaller  nasoloreal  shield  behind  it.  Eyelid  rudi- 
mentary, circular.  Ears  moderate,  open,  denticulated  in 
front.  Body  fusiform.  Scales  smooth.  Legs  4,  weak. 
Toes  5-5,  unequal,  rather  compressed.  Tail  roundish,  ta- 
pering, acute.     Preanal  scales  rather  larger. 

This  only  differs  from  Cryptoblepharus  in  the  nasal 
shields.  It  is  as  if  the  nasal  shield  of  that  genus  was  di- 
vided into  three  small  plates. 

The  MoRETHiA.     Morelhia  anomalus. 
Plate  5,  fig.  2. 

Morpethia  anomalus.  Gray,  Cat.  Kept.  B.  M.  65. 

Olive  bronzed,  black-spotted;  eyelid  scales  equal ;  cars 
with  3  or  4  small  denticulations  in  front. 

The  young  have  a  dark-edged  white  streak  on  the  sides. 

Inhab.  Western  Australia. 

Menetia,  Gray. 

Head  subquadrate.  Muzzle  rounded.  Rostral  plate 
moderate.  Nostril  lateral,  in  an  oblong  nasal  shield  ;  su- 
j)ranasal  none;  frontoparietal  shield  single,  rhombic.  Eyes 
moderate ;  pu])il  round.  Eyelid  rudimentary,  circular. 
Ears  small,  covered  with  the  scales.  Body  elongate,  fusi- 
form, subcylindrical,  rounded  on  the  .sides.  Scales  smooth. 
Legs  4,  weak.  Toes  4-5,  slender,  rather  compressed,  une- 
qual, clawed.     Tail  cylindrical,  tapering. 

The  Menktia.    Menetia  Greyii. 
Plate  5,  fig.  3. 

Menetia  Greyii,  Gray,  Cat.  liept.  B.  M.  66. 

Olive  bronzed,  with  a  narrow  streak  externally  edged 
with  a  very  nanow  black  line. 

Inhab.     West  Australia. 

I  have  dedicated  this  genus  to  Capt.  George  Grey,  the 
Governor  of  South  Australia,  who  has  exerted  himself  to 
make  us  aciiuaiiited  with  the  animals  of  the  Australian 
continunt. 


Miculia,  Gray. 

Head  conical.  Muzzle  rounded.  Rostral  plate  rather 
larger,  with  a  straight  edge  behind.  Nostrils  lateral  in  the 
middle  of  2  transverse  nasal  scales,  edging  the  back  of  the 
rostral ;  supemasal  none  ;  frontoparietal  shield  double. 
Eyes  moderate;  pupil  round.  Eyelids  rudimentary,  cir- 
cular, granular.  Ears  none  visible.  Body  subcylindrical, 
roimded  on  the  sides.  Scales  smooth.  Legs  4,  weak. 
Toes  4-4,  slender,  rather  compressed,  simple,  unequal, 
clawed,  the  two  middle  front  subequal,  longest,  the  third 
hinder  very  long.     Tail  cylindrical,  tapering. 

The  Miculia.      Miculia  elegans. 
Plate  5,  fig.  4. 
Miculia  elegans,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  66. 

Olive,  with  a  dark  streak  on  each  side,  with  a  narrow 
white  edge  below  ;  beneath  pale  whitish  ;  tail  brown-dot- 
ted ;  eyelid  interrupted  above. 

Inhab.  Western  Australia,  Mr.  Gilbert. 

b.  Head  ivedye-shaped.      Rostral  rather  produced. 

Lerista,  Bell. 

Muzzle  rather  wedge-shaped.  Rostral  plate  large,  bent 
back  on  the  upj)er  and  lower  part  of  the  muzzle.  Nostril 
lateral,  in  a  large  nasal  plate;  supranasal  none.  Eyelid 
rudimentary,  circular,  granular.  Ears  distinct,  very  small. 
Palate  with  a  slight  triangular  nick  behind.  Scales  smooth. 
Tail  conical.  Legs  4.  Toes  2-3,  unequal,  clawed,  subcy- 
lindrical, simple.  Preanal  plates  2.  "The  ear-hole  is  so 
small  that  it  was  overlooked  by  Mr.  Bell." 

The  Lerista.     Lerista  lineata. 

Lerista  lineata,  Bell,  Pr.  Z.  Soc.  1833,  99.  Zool.  Journ. 
v.  393,  /.  26,  /:  2.  Gray,  Ann.  N.  H.  ii.  335.  Cat.  Repl. 
B.  M.  66.  Duvi.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  825. 

Greenish  grey,  with  2  black  streaks. 

Inhab.  New  Holland. 

Only  known  from  a  single  specimen  in  the  collection  of 
Mr.  Bell. 

Fam.  PvGOPiD.E. 

Head  pyramidical,  shielded,  short,  with  2  or  3  pair  of 
narrow  frontal  shields,  similar  to  and  behind  the  nasal 
shield,  with  2  large  vertebral  shields.  Nostrils  oblong,  in 
a  ring-like  shield,  in  the  lower  angle  of  the  band-like  trans- 
verse nasal,  appearing  in  the  suture  between  the  outer  an- 
gle of  the  nasal,  the  front  loreal  shield  and  the  lower  labial 
plates.  Throat  covered  with  small  scales.  Teeth  conical 
simple.  Palate  toothless,  with  a  broad  longitudinal  groove. 
Tongue  flat,  scaly  in  front,  velvety  behind,  rounded  and 
nicked  at  the  end.  Ears  distinct,  exposed  ;  tympanum 
sunk.  Eyelid  rudimentary,  circular,  immoveable,  scaly. 
Body  cylindrical,  elongate.  Ventral  shields  broad  behind, 
in  2  or  4  series.  Tail  with  3  series  of  broader  shields,  the 
central  broadest.  Limbs  2,  posterior,  rudimentary,  undi- 
vided, scaly,  on  the  sides  of  the  vent. 


Pygoi'IS,  Fitz.,  Merrcm. 
Bipes,  Cue.       Hysteropus,  Dum.  et  Bib.  (!) 

Head  short,  truncated,  rounded.  Rostral  plate  large, 
with  2  parietal  and  a  pair  of  occipital  plates.  Pupil  cir- 
cular. Scales  of  the  back  keeled.  Ear  ovate.  Vent  with 
a  series  of  pores  in  front.  Hinder  limbs  elongate,  ovate, 
compressed,  scaly.     Tail  cylindrical,  rather  tapering. 

The  PvGOPUS.     Pygopus  lepidopodus. 

Pypogus  lepidopus,  Gray,  Cat.  Kept.  B.  71/.  67. 

Bipes  lepidopodus,  Lriccp.  Ann.  Mus.  H.  N.  iv.  193, 
•209,  t.  bb,f.  1.  Schinz,  Ahhild,  t.  42,/.  2. 

Pygopus  lepidopus,  Menem,  Tent.  77. 

Hysteropus  lep.  Bory,  Res.  Erpet.  142,  t.  27,  f.  2. 

H".  Nova?  Hollandiw,  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  828,  /.  55. 

Sheltopusik  Nova3  Hollandia;,  Oppel,  Rept.  40. 

Coppery  grey,  with  5  series  of  oblong,  4-sided,  while- 
edged,  black  spots  and  some  oblique  black  streaks  on  the 
side  of  the  neck  ;  muzzle  with  2  pair  of  broad  transverse 
frontals,  similar  in  shape  to  the  nasals. 

Inhabits  Australia. 
The  Scaly-faced  Pygopus.     Pygopus  squamiceps. 
Plate  8,  fig.  3.     Animal  and  head. 

Pygopus  squamiceps,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  68. 

Muzzle  with  5  series  of  frontal  jdates ;  grey,  with  a  se- 
ries of  small  spots  on  each  side. 

Inhab.  W.  Australia. 

I  have  only  seen  a  single  specimen  ;  it  may  only  prove 
a  monstrosity  of  the  former,  with  which  it  agrees  in  most 
characters,  except  those  above  mentioned. 

Delma,  Gray. 
Pygodactylus,  part,   IVeigin. 

Head  elongate,  shielded,  with  2  pai-ietal  and  a  pair  of 
large  occipital  shields.  Rostral  plate  transverse,  moderate. 
Eye  circular ;  pupil  elliptical,  erect.  Ears  ovate,  open, 
simple-edged.  Body  subcylindrical.  Tail  tapering.  Scales 
smooth.  Hinder  limbs  short,  scaly.  Vent  without  any 
pores  in  front. 

Eraser's  Delma.      Delma  Fraseri. 

Delma  Fraseri,  Gray,  Zool.  Misc.  14.  Grey's  Trav.  Aus. 
ii.  427,  t.  4,/.  3.   Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  68. 

Olive,  head  white,  with  4  more  or  less  confluent  black 
bands  ;  sides  of  neck  white-spotted,  beneath  white. 

Inhab.  New  Holland. 

Fani.  Aprasiad.e. 
Nostrils  small,  in  the  sutin-e  between  the  top  of  the  front 
upper  labial  and  the  anterior  frontal.  Head  small,  half 
conic,  shielded.  Muzzle  rather  produced,  acute.  Fron- 
tals large,  2  pair,  covering  the  cheeks.  Vertebral  shield 
large,  elongated,  6- sided.  Superciliary  shields  2  pair,  small. 
Labials  few,  large.  Eyelid  rudimentary,  circular,  edged 
with  a  series  of  small  scales.  Pupil  ro\md.  Ears  hidden 
under  the  scales.  Body  and  tail  cylindrical,  tapering,  co- 
vered with  hexagonal  scales  and  rather  broader  ventral 
shields.    Limbs  none. 


Aprasia,  Gray. 

Limbs  none.     Scales  smooth. 

By  some  mistake,  the  slip  containing  the  description  of 
this  genus  in  uiy  Sj-nopsis  of  Slender-tongued  Saurians, 
[Ann.  N.  H.  ii.  362),  accidentally  got  into  tlie  wrong  place, 
with  Tiliqun,  instead  of  being  near  Anyuis. 

The  Aprasia.  Aprasia  pulchella,  Grai/,  Ann.  N.  H.  ii. 
332.  Grey's  Trav.  Austr.  ii.  428—438,'  t.  4,  /'.  2.  Cat. 
Rept.  B.  M.  68. 

Pale  brown,  with  a  series  of  brown  spots,  one  spot  in  the 
centre  of  each  scale  ;  sides  with  the  spots  more  connected, 
fonning  interrupted  streaks  ;  lips  yellow. 

Lihab.  Western  Australia. 

Fam.  LiALisiD.E. 

Head  covered  with  rather  imbricate  scales.  Cheeks 
scaly.  Muzzle  flattened  in  front.  Nostrils  in  the  hinder 
edge  of  a  small  nasal  shield,  in  front  of  the  face-ridge. 
Eyelid  rudimentary,  circular,  scaly.  Pupil  elliptical,  erect. 
Ears  distinct.  Body  elongate,  subcylindrical.  Scales 
oval,  smooth,  imbricate.  Belly  with  2,  tail  with  1,  series 
of  larger  shields.  Limbs  2,  ]Dosterior,  short,  undivided, 
flat,  scaly.  Tail  rather  tapering,  elongate.  Vent  with  a 
series  of  pores  in  front,  each  placed  in  the  front  edge  of  a 
scale. 


LiALis,  Gray. 


The  only  genus. 


Burton's  Lialis.  Lialis  Burtoni,  Gray,  Proc.  Z.  Soc. 
1834,  134.  Grey's  Trav.  Austr.  ii.  437,  t.  3,  /".  1.  Zool. 
Misc.  52.  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  69.  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  831. 

Above  grey  olive,  in  spirits,  with  5  rather  interrupted 
brown  longitudinal  streaks,  the  central  streak  divided  into 
two  over  the  nape,  and  united  together  again  over  the  nose; 
the  outer  lateral  streaks  narrowest  and  more  interrupted, 
edged  with  the  two  colours ;  beneath  blackish  grey,  with 
large  white  spots ;  lips  and  streak  under  ear  and  along  the 
side  of  the  neck  white. 

Inhab.  Western  Australia  and  Houtman's  Abrolhos. 

The  Two-lined  Ll\lis.     Lialis  bicatenata. 
Plate  7,  fig.  1. 

Lialis  bicatenata,  Gray,  Zool.  Misc.  52.  Cat.  Rept.  B. 
M.  69. 

Above  brown  grey,  in  spirits,  with  a  series  of  distant 
black  spots  (one  on  the  centre  of  each  scale)  along  each 
side  of  the  back ;  top  of  the  head  and  nape  with  an  indis- 
tinct double  band,  forming  an  elongated  loop ;  beneath 
blackl.sh  grey,  whitish  dotted ;  chin  and  throat  blackish, 
white-spotted ;  lip-shields  brown. 

Inhab.  Western  Australia  ?  May  be  only  a  variety  of 
Ij.  Burtoni,  but  very  differently  coloured. 

The  Dotted  Lialls.      Lialis  pimctulata. 
Plate  8,  fig.  1. 
Lialis  punctulata.   Gray,  Zool.    Misc.  62.      Cat.   Rent. 
B.  M.  69. 


Brownish  grey,  very  minutely  black-dotted,  beneath 
darker  brownish  grey,  the  two  colours  separated  by  a  very 
narrow  brown  edge  and  a  distinct  white  line;  side  of  the 
head  and  neck  dark  chocolate  brown,  edged  above  with  a 
very  narrow,  and  beneath  by  a  broader  white  band  ;  front 
upper  and  side  lower  labial  plates  white,  the  rest  dark 
brown. 

Inhab.  North  Coast  of  New  Holland,  Port  Essington. 

The  body  is  much  thicker  and  shorter  than  in  either  of 
the  other  species ;  the  tail  is  reproduced,  so  that  it  is  not 
possible  to  refer  to  its  comparative  length. 

I  have  seen,  but  cannot  procure  to  examine,  what  ap- 
peared to  be  a  fourth  species  of  this  genus,  from  Australia, 
with  a  larger  head. 

B.   Eyes  dislinct,  eyelids  dis/iiict,  valvular.  Head  conical. 

Fam.    SciNCiD.'E. 

Head  subquadrangular,  regidarly  shielded.  Rostral 
plate  moderate,  erect,  sometimes  rather  produced  and 
transversely  keeled.  Nostrils  lateral  in  a  more  or  less  large 
nasal  shield,  with  sometimes  a  su])ranasal  over  it,  between 
the  nasal  and  internasal.  Body  fusiform  aud  subcyhndri- 
cal.  Tail  cylindrical  or  tapering.  Scales  smooth,  keeled, 
or  striated.  Limbs  4,  more  or  less  strong,  sometimes  want- 
ing, or  rather  hidden  under  the  skin.    Femoral  pores  none. 

1.  Scales  thin,  smooth,  not  striated  nor  keeled,  unarmed. 

Nasal  flat,  smooth,  without  any  lunate  groove  behind 

the  nostril.     Tail  round,  tapering,  tinarmed. 
B.    Toes  compressed,  simple.       Head  subquadrangular. 

Rostral  erect,  triangular.      Nostril  in  the  middle  of 

the  nasal  shield.     Lygosomina. 
a.  Supranasal  plate  none.    Body  fusiform .    Lower  eyelid 
covered  with  scales.     Frontoparietal  separate. 

HiNDLiA,  Gray. 
Lygosoma,  part,  Dum.  et  Bib.     Le  Keneux,  part,  Cocteau. 

Frontal  plate  oblong.  Rostral  erect,  triangular.  Palate 
toothless,  with  a  deep  triangular  notch  in  front.  Body  fu- 
siform. Scales  smooth,  thin  ;  the  2  central  preanal  scales 
larger  than  the  rest.  Tail  tapering,  roundish.  Legs  mo- 
derate. Toes  5-5,  slender,  compressed.  Heel  of  the  hind 
feet  suiTounded  with  granules. 

*  Ears  simple  in  front,  roundish. 
Geruard's  Hinulia.      Hinulia  Gerrardii. 
Plate  9. 
Hinulia  Gerrardii,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  75. 
Silvery  grey  (when  dry),  with  a  broad  irregular  brown 
band  across  the  back  of  the  neck,  with  a  streak  to  the 
occiput,  and  a  broader  one  to  each  fore  leg;  body  with  6, 
tail  with  12  or  14  broad  crescent-like  cross  brown  bands, 
which  are   spotted  with  grey  when   they  cross  the  side  ; 
limbs  with  brownish  streaks ;  head  brown  above,  head- 
shields  black-edged,  with  a  brown  streak  on  the  temple, 
towards  the  ear ;   chin  white,  brown-lined,  belly  brown- 
spotted  ;  ear  open,  simple  in  front,  partly  covered  by  the 


temple-scales ;  supraocular  plates  3-3,  nasal  nearly  conti- 
guous, frontoi^arietal  contiguous.     Length  14  inches. 
Inhab.  Australia. 

The  Elegant  Hinulia.     Hinulia  elegans. 
Plate  10,  fig.  1. 
Hinulia  elegans.  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  75. 
Pale  brown,  back  varied  with  black  spots,  more  close, 
forming  an  irregular  broad  dark  streak  on  the  upper  part 
of  each   side,  beneath   whitish ;  chin  varied  with  black  ; 
lips  and  limbs  blackish  varied;  nasal  and  frontonasal  near- 
ly contiguous  ;  ears  ovate,  open,  simple-edged. 
Inhab.  New  Holland. 

The  Swan  River  Hinulia.    Hinulia  Greyii. 
Plate  10,  fig.  2. 

Hinulia  Greyii,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  75. 

Olive,  black-varied,  with  a  dark-edged  yellow  streak  on 
each  side  of  the  back  ;  sides  black-spotted,  with  a  yellow 
streak  below;  legs  brown-streaked;  lip-shields  black- 
edged  ;  ears  oblong,  smooth-edged  ;  frontal  triangular, 
elongate,  frontonasal  contiguous,  frontoparietal  and  pa- 
rietal small,  similar ;  body  thick,  fusiform. 

Inhab.  Swan  River. 

Named  in  honour  of  Capt.  George  Grey,  the  Governor 
of  South  Australia,  who  discovered  the  species. 

The  Slender  Hinulia.      Hinulia  tenuis. 
Plate  10,  fig.  3. 

Tiliqua  tenuis,  Gray,  Griffith,  A.  K.  ii.  71.  Ann.  N.  H. 
ii.  291. 

Scincus  erucatus,  Peron,  Mus.  Paris. 

Lygosoma  erucata,  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  726. 

Keneux  de  Busseuil,  Coct.  Tab. 

Hinulia  tenuis.  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  76. 

Pale  brown,  varied,  with  an  irregulai'-edged  brown  streak 
on  each  side ;  scales  in  8  series ;  feet  long,  toes  very 
slender ;  muzzle  rather  short ;  supraocular  shields  4  ;  ears 
round,  open,  simple-edged ;  nostrils  lateral,  nasal  triangu- 
lar, frontonasal  nearly  contiguous;  tail  elongate,  rather 
compressed. 

Var.  with  sides  white-speckled. 
Inhab.  W.  Australia,  Swan  River. 

The  Bronzed  Hinulia.     Hinulia  inornata. 
Plate  10,  fig.  4. 
llimdia  inornata,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  76. 

Pale  nearly  uniform  brown  bronze  above,  back  wdth  a 
rather  nairow  bright  yellow  rather  darker-edged  streak  on 
each  side  ;  the  sides  pale,  with  an  indistinct  yellow  streak 
on  the  lower  part  of  each,  both  streaks  extending  along  the 
side  of  the  tail ;  chin  and  beneath  whitish,  with  rather 
darker  edges  to  the  sides ;  ears  oblong,  with  4  or  5  small 
compressed  yellow  scales  in  front. 

Inhab.  Swan  River. 


The  LiNEATED  HiNULiA.     Iliiiulia  twniolala. 

Hiniilia  tseniolata,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  78. 

Lacerta  tajiiiolata,  Shaw,  White's  Jour.  N.  H.  t.  32,/.  1. 
Gray,  Griffith,  A.  K.  ix.  68.  Ann.  N.  H.  ii.  289.  Dum.  ct 
Bib.  E.  G.  V.  734. 

Scincus  undecim-striatus,  Kuhl,  Beytr.  129. 

S.  octolineatus,  Daud.  Rept.  iv.  285. 

S.  muUilineatiis,  Lesson,  Voy.  Coq.  t.  3,/.  2. 

Keneux  de  Lesueur,  Coat.  Tab. 

Brown  or  black,  with  6  white  streaks,  continued  and 
margining  the  shields  of  the  head  ;  sides  brown,  with  2 
white  streaks ;  tail  pale,  with  3  tapering  streaks ;  nasals 
contiguous ;  scales  of  the  back  in  4  series  ;  ears  denticu- 
lated in  front ;  frontonasal  plates  contiguous. 

Inhab.  Australia. 

In  the  British  Museum  there  is  the  specimen  first  de- 
scribed by  Dr.  Shaw,  which  was  brought  by  Capt.  White. 

White's  Hinulia.     Hinulia  Whitei. 
Plate  11,  fig.  1. 

Hinulia  Whitei,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  79. 

Scincus  Whitei,   Lacep.  Ann.  Mas.  iv.  192. 

S.  ocellatus,  and  S.  Lewisiensis,  Peron,  Miis.  Paris. 

S.  tseniolatus  quadrilineatus,  Merrem,  Tent.  72. 

S.  moniliger,  Valenc.  Mus.  Par. 

Lygosoma  moniligera,  Dtim.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  736. 

Keneux  de  White,  Coct.  Tab. 

Tiliqua  leucopsis.  Gray,  Ann.  N.  H.  ii.  291. 

Pale  olive,  back  with  a  central  pale  streak,  and  a  regular 
white-spotted  black  streak  on  each  side ;  sides  white-spot- 
ted; eyelid  and  ear-lobes  white;  lips  black-varied;  scales 
of  the  back  as  long  as  broad,  in  8  series  ;  nasal  plates  con- 
tiguous ;  ears  strongly  denticulated  in  front;  frontonasal 
plates  contiguous. 

Inhab.  Houtman's  Abrolhos. 

Var.  1.  Dorsal  streaks  each  with  2  rows  of  linear  white 
specks. 

Inhab.  Swan  River. 

A  stuffed  specimen  has  a  central  reddish  streak  on  the 
back. 

The  New  Zealand  Hinulia.     Hinulia  ornata. 
Plate  II,  fig.  2. 

Hinulia  ornata,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  77. 

Tiliqua  ornata.    Gray,  Dieff.  N.  Z.  ii.  202. 

Bright  pale  brown,  varied  with  black  and  white  spots ; 
sides  with  an  irregular  narrow  pale  streak  above ;  scales 
with  short  black  streaks,  some  black  on  each  side,  white 
in  the  centre ;  ears  moderate,  roundish,  simple-edged. 

Brown,  with  black  and  white  spots. 

Brown,  with  3  blackish  streaks,  sides  blackish,  edged 
above  and  below  with  an  irregular  edged  pale  line. 

Inhab.  N.  Zealand. 


**  Ears  denticulated  in  front. 

t  Scales  moderate,  in  4  series. 

Laijillakdiere's  Hinulia.      Hinulia  Labillardieri. 
Plate  11,  fig.  3. 

Hinulia  Labillardieri,  Gra>i,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  77. 

Keneux  do  I.abillardiere,  Coct.  Tab. 

Tiliqua  Labillardieri,  Gray,  Ann.  N.  II.  ii.  289.  Dum. 
et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  734. 

Bronze  green,  speckled  or  lined  with  black  ;  sides  black, 
white-dotted,  and  with  2  white  streaks;  nasals  rhombic, 
large,  nearly  contiguous,  frontonasal  plates  separate  ;  ears 
ovate,  slightly  denticulated  in  front;  scales  of  the  back 
large,  in  4  series. 

Young,  in  spirits.  Bronze  green,  with  a  scries  of  round 
white  spots  in  the  black  on  the  sides  of  the  back. 

Inhab.  W.  Australia. 

The  Australian  Hinulia.     Hinulia  australis. 
Plate  11,  fig.  4. 

Hinulia  australis.  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  78. 

Tiliqua  australis.  Gray,  Ann.  N.  H.  ii.  291. 

Lygosoma  Lesueurii,  Bum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  733.  Gray, 
Grey's  Trav.  Atistr.  ii.  425. 

Pale  brown,  with  a  central  white-edged  brown  streak  ; 
sides  black,  with  a  narrow  white  streak  above,  a  series  of 
oblong  white  spots,  as  if  formed  of  an  interrupted  streak, 
and  a  rather  wide  indistinct  pale  streak  below ;  ears  half- 
ovate,  with  4  strong  teeth  in  front ;  temple  white,  brown- 
spotted  ;  scales  of  the  back  in  4  series. 

Var.  I.  Back  pale,  with  a  while-edged  central  streak. 
Back  with  several  white-edged  streaks. 

Inhab.  Houtman's  Abrolhos.     Mr.  Goidd's  collection. 

Var.  2.  Back  brown,  without  a  streak. 

Inhab.  W.  Australia  and  Port  Essington. 

Gilbert's  Hinulia.     Hinulia  Essingtonii. 
Plate  7,  fig.  2. 

Hinulia  Essingtonii,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  78. 

Tiliqua  Essingtonii,  Gray,  Zool.  Misc.  51. 

Pale  brown,  nape  with  3  indistinct  black  streaks,  with  a 
very  distinct  narrow  broadly  black-edged  silvery  streak 
fi-om  the  back  angle  of  the  eye  to  over  the  base  of  the  tail, 
and  with  a  broader  more  indistinct  streak  from  the  front  to 
the  hinder  legs;  sides  of  throat  brown,  white-spotted;  chin, 
under  side  of  limbs  and  beneath,  yellow ;  tail  elongate, 
brown,  with  2  narrow  black  streaks  on  each  side  ;  limbs 
brown,  with  3  indistinct  black-dotted  fines ;  ears  large, 
with  3  small  scales  on  the  front  edge. 

Inhab.  Port  Essington,  North  coast  of  Australia. 

Like  the  preceding,  but  it  has  no  white-edged  central 
streak,  and  the  lateral  streak  has  indications  of  a  white 
border  to  its  upper  edge. 


b.  Supraiiaml  plate  none.    Body  fusiform.    Loiver  eyelid 
with  a  transparent  disk. 

MocoA,  Gray. 
Lygosoma,  part,  Dum.  et  Bib. 

Head  subquadrangular.  Rostral  erect,  triangular,  con- 
vex. Nasal  lateral,  nearly  contiguous,  supranasal  none, 
frontoparietal  separate  or  united  into  one.  Palate  tooth- 
less, nicked  behind.  Ears  oblong,  slightly  denticulated  in 
front;  tympanum  deep.  Lower  eyelid  with  a  central 
transparent  disk.  Chin  with  several  pairs  of  large  shields. 
Body  fusiform.  Scales  smooth,  with  3  or  4  black  streaks. 
Limbs  4,  strong.  Toes  5-5,  com|)ressed,  unequal.  Tail 
round,  tapering,  unarmed.  Central  preanal  scales  rather 
larger  than  the  others. 

*  Fronto-parietal  plate  single,  lozenge-shaped. 

t  Scales  of  the  back  moderate,  in  6  series. 

Guichenot's  Moco.     Mocoa  Guichenoti. 
Plate  7,  fig.  3. 

Mocoa  Guiclienoti,  Cat.  Kept.  B.  M.  80. 
Lygosoma  Guichenoti,  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  713.  Gray, 
Grey's  Trav.  Austr.  ii.  425. 

Bronze  green,  with  a  blackish  streak  on  each  side ; 
scales  of  the  neck  moderate ;  frontoparietal  ])late  single, 
larger,  elongate,  lozenge-sha])ed,  frontal  triangular,  equal- 
sided  ;  nasal  plate  small,  quite  lateral,  internasal  broad, 
truncated  in  front;  ear  large,  nearly  circular,  open,  simple- 
edged  in  front ;  two  of  the  four  scales  of  the  last  preanal 
series  larger  than  the  rest. 
Inhab.  King  George's  Sound. 

There  is,  in  the  British  Museum,  a  specimen  of  this  spe- 
cies which  was  sent  from  Paris  by  M.  Bibron,  under  the 
name  of  Scincus  Duperreyii,  the  name  which  he  has  ap- 
plied to  the  next  species  in  his  work.  The  same  kind  of 
error  is  observable  in  the  other  specimen  sent  at  the  same 
time.  I  should  not  have  observed  this  mistake,  if  it  did 
not  explain  some  of  the  en'ors  into  which  he  has  accused 
me  of  falling,  such  as  considering  his  Scincus  Vosmaeri  the 
same  as  my  Hagria,  (see  Erp.  Gen.  v.  762) ;  my  genus 
and  species  being  absolutely  described  from  his  specimen 
so  named,  lent  to  mo  for  the  purpose  by  M.  Bibron  ! 

The  Nr:w  Holland  Moco.      Mocoa  trilincata. 
Plate  7,  fig.  4. 

Mocoa  trilincata,  Gray,  Cat.  Repi.  B.  M.  81. 

Tiliqua  trilincata.  Gray,  Ann.  N.  H.  ii.  29L 

Lygosoma  Duperreyii,  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  715. 

Olive,  black-spotted,  with  a  pale  streak  on  each  side, 
sides  blackish,  white-dotted;  ears  moderate,  oval,  front 
edge  covered  with  2  scales  ;  nasal  lateral,  nearly  contigu- 
ous, frontojiarietal  plate  single,  lozenge-shaped,  frontal 
rhombic,  short  and  blunt  before,  long  and  acute  behind. 

Var.  1.  Olive,  scales  of  the  back  and  sides  black-edged, 
nut  spotted. 


Var.  2.  Olive,  black  and  white  spotted,  sides  blackish, 
white-dotted. 

Inhab.  S.  Australia. 

tt  Scales  of  the  back  small,  in  8  or  10  series. 
The  Black-chinned  Moco.     Mocoa  melanopogon. 
Plate  7,  fig.  5. 
Mocoa  melanopogon,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  SO. 
Olive,  varied  with  black,  and  with  2  or  3  white  streaks 
in  some  of  the  scales  ;  side  of  the  head  and  neck  black, 
with  a  white  streak  under  the  eyes  from  the  back  edge  of 
the  ear;  chin  and  throat  black,  with  a  central  white  spot 
on  each  scale,  beneath  silvery ;  nasal  lateral,  frontonasal 
contiguous  ;  scales  of  the  back  rather  small,  in  8  or  10  se- 
ries, of  the  sides  smaller  ;  disk  of  lower  eyelid  very  large. 
Inhab.  Port  Essington. 

ttt  Scales  of  the  back  very  small,  in  numerous  series. 
The  Eyed  Moco.     Mocoa  ocellata. 
Plate  7,  fig.  1. 
Mocoa  ocellata,  Gray,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  81. 
Olive,  varied  with  numerous  sometimes  confluent  black 
dots,  forming  rings  on  the  sides,  beneath  whitish  ;  scales 
very  small,  in  many  series  ;  nasal  rhombic,  lateral ;  disk 
of  lower  eyelid  large. 
Inliab.  Australia. 

**  Interparietal  plates  2,  separate. 
t  Ear  ovate,  partly  covered  with  the  scales  above. 
Entrecasteaux's  Moco.     Mocoa  Entrecasteauxii. 
Plate  7,  fig.  2. 
Mocoa  Entrecasteaxii,   Gray,  Cat.  B.  M.  82. 
Lygosoma  Entrecasteauxii,  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  717. 
Olive,  back  with  a  broad  blackish  central  streak,  some- 
times with  series  of  spots  on  the  side,  sides  blackish,  with 
2  narrow  white  streaks ;  nasal  plates  small,  nearly  conti- 
guous;  temple  covered  with  large  scales;  transparent  disk 
of  the  lower  eyelid  very  large  ;  ears  moderately  open,  near- 
ly equal  ;  frontoparietal   plate   double,   frontonasal   nearly 
contiguous. 

Inhab.  Australia. 

The  MoKo  MoKo.     Mocoa  Zelandica. 

Plate  7,  fig.  3.  ] 

]\Iocoa  Zelandica,  Grai/,  Cat.  Rept.  B.  M.  82. 
Tiliqua  Zelandica,   Gray,  Dieff.  N.  Z.  ii.  202. 
Tiliqua  Moko,  Gray,  MSS.  Dum.  et  Bib.  E.  G.  v.  718. 
Pale  brown,  bronzed,  with  2  narrow  black-edged  bright 
streaks  on  each  side,  the  lower  one  continued  down  the 
front  of  the  legs  ;  sides  blackish ;  the  ironlonasal  nearly 
contiguous,  frontoparietal  separate,  similar  to  the  parietal, 
nasal  nearly  contiguous  ;    ears  moderate,  nearly  circular, 
sinqile-edged  ;  preanal  scales  nearly  equal,  larger  ;  ])alpe- 
bral  disk  moderate. 

Inhab.  Cook's  Straits,  New  Zealand,  Bay  of  Islands. 


J  .List  of  the  Saurians  of  Australia  and  New  Zealand.     By  Albert  Gunther,  M.A.,  M.D.,  PhD., 
F.R.S.,  A'.P.Z.S.,  Keeper  of  the  Zoological  Department  of  the  British  3Iuseuni. 

I\  tliH  year  184."!,  wlic-n  tlie  ]iulilicatiiin  of  the  Zoology  of  the  "  Erelms  and  Terror"  was  discontinued,  Dr.  dray  had 
already  prepared  some  of  tlie  materials  for  the  second  part  of  the  account  of  the  Reptiles,  and  the  j)lates  intended  for  it 
had  been  drawn  on  stone  and  the  majority  of  them  printed.  These  plates  remained  unpublished  until  the  year  18(>7, 
when,  considering  it  a  pity  that  work  so  beautifully  executed  and  so  useful  to  the  Herpetologist  should  be  lost,  he 
determined  to  render  them  accessible  by  publishing  them  as  a  collection  of  figures  of  Australian  Lizards.  Thus,  then, 
appeared  a  fasciculus  under  the  title  "The  Lizards  of  Australia  and  New  Zealand  in  the  collection  of  the  British 
Museum,"  consisting  of  a  nominal  list  and  eighteen  plates.  Of  these  plates,  plates  7,  10,  11,  and  15  to  19  had  not  Vieeti 
previously  publislied;  the  others  had  already  appeared  in  the  Zoology  of  the  "Erebus  and  Terror,"  with  the  exception  of 
plates  5  and  6,  of  which  proofs  only  had  been  printed,  the  drawings  having  been  afterwards  inadvertently  effaced  by  the 
lithographic  printer.  Having  fortunately  discovered  the  proofs  of  these  two  plates,  with  the  figures  named  in  Dr.  CJray's 
handwriting,  in  a  collection  of  miscellaneous  drawings  given  to  me  by  him,  I  induced  the  publisher  of  the  present  edition 
to  have  them  re-lithographed  by  Mr.  Ford  (the  same  artist  who  had  drawn  the  originals),  as  the  figures  had  been 
referred  to  by  Dr.  Gray  in  the  preceeding  pages  as  well  as  in  the  "Catalogue  of  Lizards."  Thus  I  believe,  all  the  figiiic^; 
of  Reptiles  executed  for  the  "Zoology  of  the  Erebus  and  TeiTor,"  are  now  before  the  public. 

After  the  lapse  of  nearly  thirty  years,  there  were  serious  difficulties  in  the  way  of  simply  continuing  the  letterpres.< 
as  originally  planned  and  abruptly  terminated  on  p.  8,  and  it  was  finally  determined  to  give  a  complete  list  of  all  tin- 
species  of  Australian  and  New  Zealand  Saurians  at  present  known,  with  references  to  the  principal  works  and  figures 
and  indications  of  their  habitats.  Descriptions  of  a  few  new  species  lately  received  by  the  British  Museum  have  been 
added. 

CROCODILIA.  LACERTILIA. 

1.     Ckocodilus  porosus.  Vvrvmdf 

C'rorodilus  porosus,    (Schneid.),  Giinth.  Rept.   Brit.   Ind 
p.  6-2. 

C^hieensland. 


Odatri.v  punctata.     Plate  1. 


2.    Ckocodilus  johnstoxi. 


Odatria  punctata,  Gray,  Catal.  Liz.  p.  7. 
Northern    and    Western  Australia.      (Port   Essiugton 
Perth). 


Crocodilm  jolimtoni,  Krefft,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1873,  p.  .334; 
Gray,  f  ^V^,  1«74  p.  177,  pi  27.  5     Odatria  semireme. 

Lardwell,  Rockingham  Bay. 


RHYNCHOCEPHALIA. 

Hattekia  punctata.     Plate  20. 


Odatria  semireme,  Peters,  Berl.  Monatsljer.  ISiJO.  p.  6." 
Port  Essington,  Cape  York. 

6.     Odatria  ocell.\ta.     Plate  2. 


Hatteria  punctata.  Gray,  Zool.  Misc.  p.  72  ;  Giinth,  Pliil. 
Trans.  1867,  pp.  595—629;  pis.  26—28.  Odatria  ordlata.  Gray,  Catal.  Liz.  p.  8. 

New  Zealand  (North  Island).  Northern  and  Western  Australia.     (Nicol  Bay). 


7.    Monitor  gouldii.    Plate  3. 

.Uonitor  gouldi'i,  Gray,  Catal.  Liz.  p.  12. 
Queensland ;    Northern   and  Western  Australia,   (Port 
l*J5.sington,  Shark's  Bay) ;  Adelaide. 

8.     Monitor  chlorostigma. 

Monitor  Morostiyimt,  Schleg.  Abbild.  neu.  Amphib.  pi. 
:>■>.  fig.  6  (head). 

(  elebes,  Ceram,  Borneo,  Solomon  Island,  Cape  York. 


9.     Hydrosaurus  varius. 

Jfydrosav.rus  varius,  Gray,  Catal.  Liz.  p.  12. 
Australia. 


15.     Menetia  greyii.     Plate  5,  fig.  4. 

Menetia  greyii.  Gray,  Catal.  Liz.  ]>.  66. 
Western  and  Southern  Au.stralia,  (Adelaide). 

16.     MiCULlA  ELEGANS.     Plate  5,  tig.  3 

Mieidia  elegans,  Gray,  Catal.  Liz.  pi.  66. 
Western  Australia. 


17.    Lerista  lineata. 

Lerista  lineata,  Bell,  Zool.  Journ.  V.  p.  oL'.'l,  tab.  2(1.  fig. 

;  Dum.  &  Bibr.  Erp.  gen.  V.  p.  82.5. 

Plastern  and  Western  Australia.     (Swan  IJiver). 


10.     Hydrosaurus  bellii. 

Hydrosaurus  hellii,  Dum.  &  Bibr.  Erp.   (Jt'iier.    IH,    p. 
49o,  ])1.  35,  lig.  1  ;  Gray,  in  Grey,  Trav.  Austr.  II,  p.  422. 
North-eastern  Australia. 


11.    Hydrosaurus  giganteus.     Plate  4. 

Ilyilriisaiirus  (jigantcws,  Gray,  Catal.  Liz.  p.  13. 
Xortliern  and  Southern  Australia. 


PYGOPODID/E. 

18.     Pygopus  lepidopus.     Plate  8,  hg.  3. 

Pygopus  lepidopjis,  (Lact^p.),  Giinth.  Ann.  &  ]\lag.  Nat. 
Hist.  1867,  XX,  ip.  4:5.=ITysteropus  nova-,  hollandkr,  Dum. 
&  Bibr.  V.  p.  828,  pi.  55.  =  Pygopu.s  squamicfps,  (uay,  (at. 
Liz.  p.  68. 

Western,  Southern  and  Eastern  Australia.  Pare  in 
Tasmania. 


CJymxopthalmid.e. 


19.    Pygopus  gracilis. 


Ckvptoblepharus  pcecilopleukus.     Plate  5,  fig.  2. 


Pygopus  gracilis,  (Mus.  lMgA)^Plethola,i:  grariJix,  Cojie, 


,      ,       I'roc.  Ac.  N.  Sc.  Pliilad.  1874,  p.  229. 
Acad.  r,     ,,         ,         .     ^    ,•       ^ 


Cn/ntoUrpharus  pacilopleitrus,  Wiegm.  Nov.  Act.  Acad.  ,,     ,,  '      '  '    '     .    \  ' 

.  Leo,,.  XV.  1835,  p.  202,  tab.  18,  fig.  1 ;  Giinth.  Proc.  ^outh-westem  Austn 


('.  Leop.  XV.  1835,  p.  202,  tab.  18,  fig. 
Zool.  Soc.  1874,  p.  296. 

South  Sea  Islands  ;    Northern,  Western   and  Southern 
Australia.     (Adelaide,  Swan  Paver). 

13.  CKYI'TmBLEPHAIU'S  lineo-ocei.latus. 

Cryptohlepharus    lineo-occllatus,    CJray,    in    Grey's    Trav 
Austr.  II,  p.  427. 

Swan  Eiver  ;  Kangaroo  Island. 

14.  MoRETHiA  anomala.     Plate  "),  fig.  1. 
.Vorr/Iu'n  inioniida.  Gray,  Catal.  Liz.  p.  65. 
Kastciii,    Woiciu  and  Southern  Australia.     (Adelaide, 

Sam  111  I  list,  ilnckhauipton). 

Tliis    lizard   difiers    in    nothing    from    Cryptohlrpharus  Aj^rasia  piihJiella,  Gv^y,  in  (ivey's  Trav.  in  Austral.  11, 

//.r,wW/../,/,s,  except  in  having  the  supranasal  separated  by'  p.  438,  tab.  4,  fig.  2 ;  Giinth.  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.   1873, 

a  suture  Irom  the  nasal ;  and  it  appears  to  me  very  doubt-  Aug.  p.  14:5.=Aprasia  odolinenta,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad, 

lul  whether  the  presence  or  absence  of  a  supranasal  can  be  18(33  p.  233. 


20.     Delma  eraseri. 

Ihlraa  fraseri,  Gray,  in  (irey's  Trav.  in  Austral.  H.  p. 
427,  taV).  4,  fig.  3 ;  Giinth.  Ann!  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  ls7:i._[., 
\4:5.=DelmM  grayi,  Smith,  111.  Zool.  S.  Afr.  Pept.  jil.  TH. 
fig.  '2.  =  Dclma  inolleri,  Liitken,  Nat.  Foren.  A'id.  ^Icild. 
1862. 

AVestern  and  Southern  Australia,  (Perth,  Chuiniiiou  ISav, 
Nicol  Bay,  Adelaide). 


Aprasiid^e. 

21.      ApRASIA   ITLCHELLA. 


il.ways  used  as  a  generic  character. 


Western  and  Southern  Australia,  (Swau  River,  Adelaide). 


*  In  the  original  proof  of  this  j.latp  the  nainrs  iittaehi'il  bv'Dr 
tor  rr  hn,^.„cr/l„lMs,  but  it  i.s  «ith„ut  any  .ioul.t  tnk.M,  from  u 
already  in  his  huuUs. 


i-identlv  confuse,!  ; 
i-hicl,  Jt  the  tin,.- 


pears  to  have  inteniled  fii;.  "J 


I-IAUn.-K. 

22.     LiALis  BVUTONi.     Plate  8,  fig.  2. 

Lialis  hurtonii.  Gray  in  Grey's  Jouin.  in  Austral.  II,  p. 
437,  tab.  3,  fig.  1,  tab.  5,  fig.  4.  ' 

Western  Australia,  (Houtman's  Abrolhos,  Champion 
Bay,  Swan  River). 


22a.     Li..\.lis  leptokiiyncha. 

Lialk   Ici/torhi/nchfr,    Peters,    MB.    Berlin    Acad.    1873, 
p.  605. 

Port  Mackav. 


23.     Lialis  pu.n'ctul.vta.     Plate  8,  fig.  1. 

Lialis  2ntnctidata,  Gray,  Zool.  Misc.  p.  52,  &  Cat.  Liz.  p. 
l>9  ;  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1867,  XX,  p.  46  ; 
Dum.  Cat.  Eept.  1851,  p.  195.= Lialis  bicatenata,  Gray, 
Zool.  Misc.  p.  52,  &  Cat.  Liz.  p.  69. 

Eastern,  Xorthern  and  Western  Australia,  (Sydney, 
( "ape  York,  Port  Essington). 

SCINCID^. 

24.     Hinulia  gerrakdi.     Plate  9. 

Hinulio  (jermrdi.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  'tb,=Hcm.isphmrio~ 
iio»  (jcrrardi,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1867,  p.  23. 
(Queensland,  (Eockhampton,  Clarence  River). 

2."..     HiNULiA  tenuis.     Plate  10,  fig.  1  &  Plate  11,  fig.  .3. 

Hiiiiiliii  (eauis,  Gray  in  Griff.  Ann.  Kingd.  IX,  p.  71,  & 
("at.  Liz.  p.  7G;=Li/gosoma  criicata,  Dum.  Bibr.  Erp.  Gen. 
V.  p.  726  ■,=Hinulia  elerjans,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  76. 

(Plate  10,  fig.  1,  JI.  ekgans;  and  plate  11,  fig.  3, 
H.  tenvAs). 

Eastern  and  Western  Australia,  (Sydney,  Clarence 
River,  Nicol  Bay). 

26.     HixuuA  GASTEO.'STiCTA,  Giiuth. 

Allied  to  H.  degam,  but  with  much  smaller  scales  which 
form  from  38  to  41  longitudinal  series  round  the  body, 
there  being  82  scales  in  a  series  between  the  chin  and 
vent.  The  anterior  and  posterior  froutals  and  the  vertical 
meet  in  a  point.  Ear-ojjening  veiy  wide,  ovate,  without 
lobed  margin.  Tail  compressed.  A  narrow  whitish  band 
runs  from  the  supraciliary  along  each  side  of  the  back, 
disappearing  about  the  middle  of  the  trunk.  Upper  parts 
greenish-olive,  vnxh  scattered  black  specks  of  the  size  of  a 
scale  irregularly  arranged.  Sides  of  the  trunk  lilack,  with 
white  specks;  sides  of  the  tail  black-spotted.  Lower  parts 
wliitish,  with  more  or  less  numerous  black  spots  longitu- 
dinally arranged. 


Four  specimens  from  Kangaroo  Island,  1 1  inches  long. 

Distance  of  snout  from  vent  93  mm. 

„      ear  •         20    „ 

Lengtii  of  fore  leg  28     „ 

third  and  fourth  fingers  8     „ 

hind  leg  43     „ 

tliird  toe  9     „ 

„         fourth  toe  15    „ 

fifth  toe  8     „ 

27.      HlNTLIA   I.AIilLLARDIEKI.       Plate  1 0,  fig.  3,  (/T.  (^fyitj. 

Hinulia  labillardieri  (Coot.),  =  Tiliqua  lahiUardieTi, 
(iray,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  II,  p.  289,= Lygosoma  labillardieri, 
Dum.  Bibr.  Erp.  gen.  \.  p.  7Sl,=JIinvlia  labillardieri, 
(iray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  77,  =  Hinulia  grei/ii.  Gray,  I.e.  p.  76. 

Eastern  and  Western  Australia,  (Kiug  tieorge's  Sound, 
Swan  River). 

28.  Hinulia  hra.nchialis. 

HiiuiUa  hranchiidis,  Gltnth.  Ann.  &  -Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
18ii7,  XX,  J).  47. 

Western  Australia,  (Chanij>ion  Bay). 

29.  Hinulia  fasciolata. 

Hinulia  fasciolata,  Giinth,  Ann.  &  ^lag.  Nat.  Hist.  1867, 
XX,  p.  47. 

Queensland,  (Rockhamptou,  Port  Curtis). 

30.  Hinulia  striatula. 

Hinulia  striattda,  Steindachner,  Novara,  Eej)t.  p.  49, 
{Euprepes  striatulus). 

New  South  Wales  and  Western  Australia,  (Sundav 
Island). 


31.     Hinulia  orn.\t.\.     Plate  11,  fig.  1. 

Hinulia   ornata.   Gray,  in   Dieffenb.  N.  Z.   II,  p.   201. 
{Tiliqua)  ;  and  Cat.  Liz.  p.  77. 
New  Zealand. 


32.    Hinulia  scho.mburgki. 

Himdia  schomburgki,   Peters,   MB.   Berl.   Acad.    1873, 

p.  231,  (Lygosoma). 

Soutli  Australia,  (Adelaide). 

33.      HiNULU   AUSTR.U,I3. 

Himdia  australis.  Gray,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  II,  p.  291, 
{Tiliqiui),  and  Cat.  Liz.  p.  77,= Lygosoma  lesv.curii,  Dum. 
Bibr.  Erp.  gen.  V.  p.  733. 

Western  and  Southern  Australia,  (Port  Essington, 
Houtmau's  Abrolhos,  Adelaide). 


12 


34.     Hjntlia  essingtoni. 

ffinulia  essingtonii,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  78. 
Nortli  Australia,  (Port  Essington). 


35.     HiNULiA  iNOUXAT.v.     Plate  10,  fig.  2. 

ffinulia  inornat'!,,' Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  78. 

Northern  anil  Western  Australia,  (Cape  York,  Swan 
Eiver). 

This  species  is  not  always  so  plainly  coloured  as  the 
typical  specimen ;  but  generally  it  is  ornamented  with 
black,  white  edged  bands,  similar  in  arrangement  to  those 
of  ff.  australis.  It  may  be  considered  a  variety  of  this  lat- 
ter species,  but  with  somewhat  smaller  and  more  numerous 
scales  which  form  30,  and  in  one  specimen  even  34  longi- 
tudinal series  round  the  body,  whilst  in  the  true  H. 
australis  they  are  arranged  in  26  series  only. 


36.       HiNULIA    T.EXIOLATA. 

Hinulia  tceiiMata,  (Sliaw)  ;  "Wliite.  Journ.  pi.  32,  fig.  1  ; 
Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  78,=Lyi/osoma  twniolatum,  Dum.  Bibr. 
Erp.  gen.  V.  p.  lZ^,=Scincus  multiiineo.tus,  Less.  Voy.  Coq. 
pi.  3,  fig.  2. 

New  South  Wales. 


37.    Hinulia  whitii. 

ffinulia  ivhitii,  (Lac),  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  79,  =  Li/fjosoma 
monUi(jcruvi,  Dum.  Bibr.  Erp.  gen.  V.  p.  736. 

Australia  generally,  Tasmania,  (Kangaroo  Island,  Hout- 
man's  Abrolhos,  Swan  River,  Adelaide,  Sydney,  Gayndah, 
Rockluunpton). 


Di.stance  of  snout  from  vent  .  1  nun 

„           „           „         ear  14     ,. 

Length  of  fore  limb  1  '•-•     ,. 

third  and  fourth  fore  toes                           3     ,. 

„         hind  limb  27     „ 

„         third  hind  toe  6     „ 

fourth       „  ;>     „ 

fiftli           „  _                       4i  „ 

One    specimen    from    Nicol  Bay,   is    in    the    British 

Museum. 


41.      MOCOA  GUICHENOTI. 

Mocoa  guichenoti,  Dum.  Bibr.  Erp.  gen.  V.  p.  713 
{Lygosoma),=Lygosoma  duperreyi,  Dum.  Bibr.  1.  c.  p.  715, 
= Mocoa  guichenoti,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  SO,=Mocoa  triUneata, 
Gray,  1.  cl  p.  81. 

Southern  and  Western  Australia  and  Tasmania,  (Sydney. 
Loyalty  Island,  Swan  Eiver). 

42.     Mocoa  microtis.     Plate  7,  fig.  2. 

Mocoa  microtis,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  83. 
Swan  liiver. 

43.     Mocoa  owenii. 

Mocoa  owenii.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  272. 
Hab.  ? 


44.    Mocoa  ceassicauda. 

Mocoa  crussicauda,  Hombr.  &  Jacq.  Voy.  Austi 
pi.  4,  fiir.  1  {Lggosoma)  ;  Dum.  Cat.  Meth.  p.  172. 
New'^Hollanil. 


i;..pt. 


38.     Hinulia  pantheeina. 

ff inula  ■pantlurina,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1866,  p.  89. 
Swan  River. 

39.    Hinulia  kiciiakdsonii.     Plate  11,  fig.  2. 

ffinulia  ricJuirdsonii,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  79. 
Western   Australia,    (Iloutman's    Abrolhos,   Champion 
Bay). 


45.    Mocoa  mustelina. 

Mocoa  mustelina,  O'Shaughnessy,  Ann.  &  ^lag.  Nat.  Hist. 
XIII.  1874,  p.  299. 
Sydney. 

46.    Mocoa  ocellata.     Plate  7,  Hg,  3. 

Mocoa  ocellata,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  ]).  82. 
Tasmania. 


40.  Hinulia  pallida.  Giintli. 
The  pricfrontal  is  in  contact  with  the  rostral  as  well  as 
vertical  which  is  much  elongate;  the  anterior  and  central 
occ.ii)itals  similar  in  shape  and  size.  Seven  ujijier  labials. 
'IMiirty-tsvo  longitudinal  scries  of  scales  round  the  middle 
ol  tli(!  body.  Eighty  .scales  in  a  longitudinal  series 
lie.twei^n  the  chin  an<l  vent.  Ear-opening  rather  small, 
without  projecting  scales  in  front.  Limbs  well  developed! 
Upper  iiurts  liglit  brownish-olive,  very  indistinctly  marbled 
Willi  darktir.      l.uwer  parts  wliite. 


47.     Mocoa  entrecasteauxii.     Plate 

Mocoa  entrecasteauxii,  Dum.  Bibr.  Erp.  g( 
(Li/gosoma) ;  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  82. 
Tasmania. 


48.    Mocoa  metai.lica. 

Mocoa  mcto.llica,  O'Shaughnessy,  Ann.  &  ilag. 
XIll.  1874,  p.  299. 

Tasmania. 


Nat.  Misl. 


49.      MOCOA   MICROLEPIDOTA. 

Mocoa    microlepidota,    O'Shauglmessy,    Ann.    & 
Nat.  Hist.  XIII,  1874,  p.  209. 
Tasmania. 


55c.      HOMBRONU  FASCIOLAUIS. 


Hombronia  fasciolaris,  Girard  in  Wilkes  Expl.  Exp.  X 
p.  243,  ].l.  27,  figs.  25— 32. 


XX. 


50.    Mocoa  pretiosa. 

Mocoa  p}-etiom,  O'Shauglmessy,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
XIII,  1S74,  p.  298. 
Tasmania. 


51.    Mocoa  pseudotkopi.s. 

Mocoa  pscjiclocarinata,  O'Shauglmessy,  Ann.  &  Mag. 
Nat.  Hist.  XIII,  1874,  p.  300. 

The  name  given  by  ilr.  O'Shauglmessy  being  a  "vox 
hi/hrida,"  I  have  changed  it  for  a  better  term. 

Tasmania. 


52.    Mocoa  zealandica.     Plate  7,  fig.  4. 

Mocoa  zealandica,  Gray,  in  Dieffenb.  N.  Z.  II,  p.  202, 
{Tiliqim),  and  Cat.  Liz.  p.  82,  =  L}/gosoma,  moco,  Dum. 
Bibr.  Erp.  gen.  V,  p.  11?<,=Mocoa  smithii,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz. 
p.  8'2,^=Lygoso7na  lineo-ocdlata,  Dum.  Cat.  nieth.  p.  169,= 
Mocoa  variegata,  Buller,  Trans.  N.  Z.  Inst.  Ill,  p.  6,  pi.  2, 
fig.  2,  see  Hutton,  ibid.  IV,  p.  l^'>8,=Mocoa  striata,  Buller, 
1.  c. 

New  Zealand. 


53.  Mocoa  (?)  laxa. 

Mocoa  (?)  laxa,  Hutton,  Trans.   N.  Z.  Inst.    IV,   1872, 
p.  169. 

New  Zealand. 

54.  Mocoa  gkandis. 

Mocoa,  grandis,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  272. 
New  Zealand,  (Soutli  Island). 


56.    Carlia  melanopogon.     Plate  7,  fig.  7. 

Car  Ha  melanopogon,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  pp.  81  &  272. 
North  Australia,  (Port  Essington). 


561i.     Cyclodin-a  .'EXea. 

Cyelodina  cetua,  Girard  in  Wilkes  N.  Z.  Expl.  Exp.  XX, 
p.  236,  pi.  26,  figs.  9—16. 
New  Zealand. 

57.     Lygosoma  .\usti;ai.e.     Plate  6,  fig.  3. 

Lygosoma  australe.  Gray,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  p.  332,  &  Cat. 
Liz.  p.  85,=JIimdia  gracilipes,  Steindaclmer,  S.  B.  Wien. 
Acad.  1870,  LXIL  p. '342,  tab.  5. 

Swan  River,  Piockhampton,  Cape  York  and  Adelaide. 

58.  Lygosoma  bougainvillii. 

Lyijosonia  bougainvillii,  Dum.  Bibr.  Erp.  gen.  V.  p.  716,= 
Lygosoma  laterale,  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1867, 
XX,  p.  46. 

South  Australia,  (Adelaide,  Kangaroo  Island). 

59.  Lygosoma  punctul.vtu.m. 

Lygosoma  punctulatum,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1871,  p. 
646. 

North  Australia,  (Port  Bowen,  Cape  York). 

60.  LY'GOSOMA   SCrilKOSTRUM. 

Lygosoma  scutirostrum,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1873,  p. 
743. 

Port  Bowen. 


54b.     Lygosomella  /Estuosa. 

Lygosomdla  wstuosa,  Girard,  in  AVilkes  Explor.  Exped. 
XX;  p.  251,  pL  28,  figs.  1—8. 
New  Zealand. 


61.     COPKOSCIN'CUS  obscurus. 

Cophoscincus  ohscurus,  O'Shaughnessy,  Ann.  &  Mag  Nat. 
Hist.  XIV,  1874,  p.  35. 
Queensland. 


55.      MOCOA   NIGKOPLAXTARIS. 

Mocoa  niqroplantaris,   Peters,   MB.    Berl.   Acad.    1873, 
p.  744. 

New  Zealand. 

55b.      HOMBUONIA    r.XDOSA. 

Homhronia  mulosa,  Girard  in  Wilkes  Expl.  Exp.  XX,  p. 
240,  pi.  27,  figs.  17—24. 
New  Zealand. 


62.     Tetkadactylus  decresiexsis.     Plate  6.  fig.  4. 

Tctradartylns  dccresiensis,  (PA'on),  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  86. 

Western  Australia,  (Swan  Eiver,  Champion  Bay, 
Kangaroo  Island).  New  South  Wales,  (King  George's 
Sotind). 

63.     Hemieugis  decuesiexsis.     Plate  6,  fig.  5. 

Hemiergis  dccresiensis,  (PA'on),  Gray,  Cat,  Liz.  p.  86. 
Swan  Eiver  and  Adelaide. 

c  2 


64.      HEMIEKGIS   rOLYLEPIS. 

Hemicr'jis  2whjlcpis,  Gtintli.  Ann.  &   Mag.  Nat.   Hist. 
1867,  p.  48. 

Soutli  Australia,  (Kangaroo  Island). 


73.     Ehodona  punctato-vittata. 

Rhoilona  pundato-vittata,  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
1867,  XX,  p.  46. 
Queensland. 


65.     Chelomeles  QUADKiuxEATrs.     Plate  6,  %.  2. 

Chclomclcs  qiuulrilincatus,  Dum.  Bilir.  Erp.  gen.  V,  p. 
774. 

Western  Australia,  (Houtman's  Abrolhos,  Champion 
Bay,  Swan  Eiver). 


74.     Ophioscixcus  australis. 

Ophioscincus  australis,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1873,  p. 
747. 

Port  Bowen. 


66.      C'lIELOMELES    nETlCUL.\TUS. 

Chelomeles  reticulatus,  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
1873,  p.  146. 


Clarence  Paver. 


OMOLEPIDA   CASUARINtE. 


Omolejrida  casuarince,  Dum.  Bilir.  Erp.  gen.  V,  p.  749. 
Tasmania  and  South-eastern  Australia,  (Sydney). 

68.      LiSSOLEPIS   LUCTUOSA. 

Lissolepis  luctuosa,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1866,  p.  90, 
■&  1872,  p.  776. 

South-western  Australia. 


69.     SiAPHOS  yEqualis.     Plate  6,  fig.  1. 


Siaplios  mqualis,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  89. 
South-eastern  Australia,  (Sydney). 


70.    Anomalpus  vereeauxii. 

Anamdlnpiix  rn-rrrnixii,  Dum.  Cat.  m^th.  p.  185;  Peters, 
Ml;.  I'mtI.  a. ■;,.!.  ISCT,  ],  24;  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.  18G7,  p.  -il  —  Shi phos  simplex,  Cope,  Proc.  Phil.  Acad. 
1864,  p.   229= A nomalo2ms  t/odeftroiji,  Peters,  1.  c. 

New  South  Wales  and  Queensland,  (Brisbane,  Clarence 
liiver). 


71.      PiIIODOXA   PUNCTATA. 

Ehodona  jmnctata.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  89  =  Eonia 
catcmdata,  Gray,  in  Grey's  Trav.  Austr.  II,  ]i.  437,  tab.  4, 
fig.  1  =  Brachystoijas  linco-puncivlatus,  (Smitli  MS.)  Dum. 
Cat.  m^th.  p.  186. 

Western  Australia,  (Swan  Piiver). 


75.     SORIDIA  lixeata. 

Soridia  lineata.  Gray,  in  Grey's  Trav.  Austr.  II,  p.  428, 
tab.  3,  fig.  2,  &  Cat.  Liz.  p.  92  ■,=zPJwlcq}hilus  capemis, 
Smith,  111.  Zool.  S.  Afr.  App.  p.  15 ;  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag. 
Nat.  Hist.  1873,  p.  147. 

Western  Australia. 


76.     Soridia  miopus. 

Soridia  miopus,  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1867, 
XX,  p.  370. 
Champion  Bay. 


77.    Eumeces  albofasciolatus. 

Etimeees  albofasciolatus,  Giinth,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
1872,  XX,  p.  49. 


78.     Mabouia  hieroglyphica. 

Mahouia  hieroglyp)hica,  Hombr.  &  Jacq.  Voy.  Pole  Sud. 
Kept.  pi.  5,  fig.  1,  {Lygosoma) ;  Dum.  Cat.  m^tli.  p.  166. 

■Tasmania. 


79.     Mabouia  iiaci!Ura. 

Mahouia    macrura,    Giinth.   Ann.   &   Mag.   Nat.   Hist. 
1867,  p.  48. 
Cape  York. 


80.     Bkachymeles  leuckartii. 

Brachymeks   Icvcl-urtii,  AYeinland,  Abhandl.   Senckenb. 
Ges.  IV,  1862,  p.  140,  talj.  5,  fig.  3. 
New  Holland. 


12.      PtIIODOXA    GERKARIII. 


80a.      NoRBEA  (?)  ISOLATA. 


Ehodona  fjcrrardi,  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1867,         Norlea  (?)  isolata,  Hutton,  Trans.  N.  Z.  Inst.  IV,  1872. 
XX.  p.  46.  p.  170. 

\\'estern  Australia,  (Swan  River,  Champion  Bay).  Bay  of  Plenty. 


81.      TR.VCHYDOSAUKUS   RUGOSUS. 

Traclujclosaurus  rugoms,  Gray  in  King's  "Voy.  Austr.  II, 
p.  424,  &  Cat.  Liz.  p.  102. 

Western  and  Southern  Australia,  (Houtnian's  Abrollios, 
Sydney). 

82.       HVDROSAUliUS   ASPER. 

Tmchydosaurus  aqKr,  (Jray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  103. 
Adelaide. 


83.    Cyclodus  gigas. 

Cijclodus  gigas,  (Bodd.),  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  lQ'i;=i djclodm 
loddcertii,  Dum.  Bibr.  Erp.  gen.  V,  p.  752. 

Australia  generally  and  Tasmania.  (Port  Essington, 
Sydney,  Adelaide,  Gayndah). 


'.»().    Silubosaurus  dei'uessus,  Giinth. 

Tills  new  species  differs  from  S.  stohesii  in  having  tlie 
liind  pait  of  the  body  and  esijecially  the  tail  strongly 
depressed  and  flattened.  Tlie  scales  wliich  in  S.  stohesii 
are  unispinous  on  tlie  tail,  and  partly  bispiuous  ou  the 
back,  are  provided  with  three  spines  in  the  present  species 
on  tlie  back  of  the  tail  as  well  as  of  the  body,  the  central 
spine  of  each  scale  being  tlie  strongest.  Olive-green  ^vith 
irregular  black  narrow  tranverse  markings  or  spots. 
Lower  spots  M-hitish,  with  small  blackish  spots. 

Two  specimens  from  Swan  Eiver  are  in  the  British 
Museum ;  the  larger  is  five  inches  long. 


91.      EgERNIA  CUNNIXGIIAill. 

Egcrnia  cunninghami,  Gray  in  Stokes  Trav.  Austr.  & 
Cat.  Liz.  p.  105  \=Egcrnia  krefftii,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad. 
1871,  p.  30. 

Southern  and  Western  Australia,  (Adelaide,  Sydney). 


84.    Cyclodus  nigro-luteus. 

Cyclodus  nigro-lutevs,  (Wagl.),  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  104; 
Quoy  &  Gaim.  Voy.  Uran.  Kept.  pi.  41.  (Scincus). 
Tasmania  and  Houtman's  Abrollios. 


85.     Cyclodus  occipitalis. 

Cyclodus  ocajntalis,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.   Acad.    1863,   ]>. 
231. 

Adelaide  and  Swan  Biver. 


86.     Cyclodus  adelaidexsis. 

Cyclodus  c'.dclaidensis,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1863,  p. 
231. 

Adelaide  and  Swan  Eiver. 


92.     Tropidolepisma  kixgii.     Plate  13. 

Tropidolcpisiiia  kingii,  Gray,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  II,  p.  280, 
&  Cat.  Liz.  p.  lQ&;=Tropidolcpisnu(,  duinerilii,  Dum.  Bibr. 
Erp.  gen.  V.  p.  745. 

Western  and  Southern  Australia,  (Houtman's  Abrollios, 
Swan  Eiver). 


93.    Tropidolepisma  xitidu.m.     Plate  12. 

Tro2ndolepisma  nitidum,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  106. 
Western  Australia,   Queensland,    (Swan    Eiver,   Wide 
Bay). 

04.     Tropiikjlepisma  majus.     Plate  14. 

Tropidolepisma  majus,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  107. 
Eastern  Australia,  (Sydney,  Eockhampton). 


87.     Cyclodus  petersii. 

Cyclodus  2Ktersii,  Strauch,  Bull.  Acad.  St.  Petersb.  1866, 
X,  p.  449. 
__? 


yo.       IIJDPIDOLEPISMA   STRIOLATUM. 

Tropidolepisma  striulatum,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1870 
p.  787. 

Northern  Australia. 


Cyclodus  fasciatus. 


96.      TliOI'IDOLEPISMA   RICHARDI. 


Cyclodus  fasciatus,  Liitken,  Vid.  Medd.  1863,  p.  292,  tab.  Tropidolepisma  richardii,  Peters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1869 

1  &  2,  fig.  1.  p.  787. 

New  HoUand.  Northern  Australia. 


Silubosaurus  stokesii. 


97.    Tropidolepisma  dorsale. 


Silubosaurus  stokesii,  Gray  in  Stokes  Trav.  Austr.  &  Cat.  Tropidolejiisma  dorsale,  Peters,  JIB.  Berl.  Acad.  1873  p. 

Liz.  p.  104.  642,  &  1872,  p.  775. 

Western  Australia,  (Houtman's  Abrollios).  Port  Bowen. 


16 


98.    HETERorrs  schmkltzii. 
Hrteropis  schmdtzn,  Teters,  MB.  Beii.  AcaJ.  1867,  p. 
23. 

Iiockliampton. 

99.    Hkteropus  khomboidalis. 

Heterosis  rlwmUodalis,  Teters,  MB.  Berl.  Acad.  1869,  p. 
446. 

North-eastern  Australia,  (Port  Mackay). 

Scarcely  distinct  from  H.  fuscus;  without  separate 
central  occipital  shield. 

100.     Oedura  maemorata. 
Plate  16,  fig.  1  (juv.),  and  fig.  4. 

Occhira  marmorata,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  147. 
North-western  Australia,  (Port  P^sington). 

101,    Oedura  riiombifera.    Plate  16,  fig.  6. 
Oedura  rhovM/era,    Gray,   Cat.   Liz.    p.    147  =PJnjUo- 
dactylus  Icsueurii,  Dum.  Bibr.  Eqi.  gen.  Ill,  p.  392. 
Western  Australia. 

102.     Oedctja  vekrillii. 

Oedura  verriUii,  Cope,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1869,  p.  318. 
New  Holland. 


103.     Strophura  spixigera.     Plate  16,  fig.  5. 

Strophura  spinvjr.ra,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  liS^Phyllo- 
dadylus  strophura,  iJum.  Eihr.  Erp.  gen.  Ill,  p.  307,  pi. 
32,  fig.  1. 

Western  and  Southern  Australia,  (Houtnian's  Abrolhos, 
Freeniantle,  Champion  Bay,  Sydney). 


107.    Diplodactylus  marmoratus.    Plate  15,  fig.  6. 

Diplodactt/lus  marmoratus,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  149. 

Western,  and  Northern  Australia,  (Kangaroo  Island,. 
Swan  River,  Freeniantle,  Champion  Bay,  Houtman's 
Abrolhos,  Norfolk  Island,  Aneiteum). 

108.    Diplodactylus  polyophthalmus. 

Diplodactylus  p>olyophthalmus,  Giinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.  1867,  XX,  p.  49. 

Western  Australia,  (Champion  Bay,  Nicol  Bay). 

109.     Stenodactylopsis  tessellatus.     Giinth. 

Back  covered  with  comparatively  large  flat  tessellated 
tubercles,  which  on  the  sides  are  rather  smaller,  scale-like 
and  slightly  imlsricate.  Ear  opening  minute.  LoM-er  parts 
with  very  small  scales.  Nine  upper  and  ten  lower  labials. 
Chin  shield  longer  than  broad,  whithout  larger  scutes 
behind.  Tail  (rejiroduced)  witli  the  scutes  in  narrow 
verticelli.  Limbs  slender,  the  fore-leg,  if  stretched  for- 
ward, reaches  to  the  nostril,  the  hind-leg  to  the  axil. 
Whitish  with  faint  irregular  brownish  spots. 
Distance  of  snout  from  vent  49  mm. 

eye  6     „ 

ear  13    „ 

Length  of  fore  leg  19    „ 

hind  leg  23    „ 

One  specimen  in  the  British  Museum  from  Australia. 

110.     Stenodactylopsis  pulcher. 

Stc7iodact>/lopsis  pidcher,  Steindachner,  SB.  Wien.  Acad. 
1870,  p.  343,  pi.  2,  figs.  3—5. 
Swan  River. 


104.  Diplodactylus  vittatus.    Plate  16,  fig.  3. 

Diplodactylus  vittatus,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  148. 
Western    and    Eastern     Australia,     (Champion     Bay 
Sydney). 

105.  Dipdodacytlus  orx.itus.    Plate  16,  fig.  2. 

Diplodactylus  ornatus.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  ]i.  149  = 
Diplodarfylus  furcosus,  Peters,  MB.  Bcrl.  Acad.  186;'.  i) 
22'.i,  \-  isiiG,  p.  446. 

Wrstcni  and  Southern  Australia,  (Houtman's  Abrolhos, 
Adelaide,  New  South  Wales). 

lOCi.     Diplodactylus  ocellatus. 
Plate  15,  fig.  3,  D.  Ulineatus;  fig.  4.  D.  ocrUatm. 
Diplodactylus    ocellatus,     Gray,    Cat.    Liz.      p.    149  = 
Diplodactylus  Inlimcdus,  Gray,  1.  c.  Giinth.;  Ann.  &  Mao- 
Nat.  Hist.  18G7,  XX,  p.  49.  ^' 
Western      Australia,      (Champion      P.av,     Houtman's 
Abrolho.s).                                                          '  . 


111.     Rhyxchoedura  orxata. 

Ehi/nchocdura  ornata,  CUinth.  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
1867,"  XX,  p.  50. 
Nienl  Bay. 

112.     Phyllodactylus  axomalus. 

P/n/llodacti/lus    anomalus,   Peters,     MB.     Berl.     Acad., 
1867,'  p.  14.  ' 

Queensland,  (Rockhampton). 

This  species  might  be  referred  to  Discodaciylvs  (Tschudi. 

113.     Hemidactylus  depressus.     Plate  15,  fig.  1. 

Hniiidacti/lvs  depressus,  Cfray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  153. 
Hab.  ?     '  ■ 


114.    Hemidactylus  brookii.     Plate  15,  fig.  2. 

Hemidactylus  hroolii,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  153. 
Borneo  and  Australia. 


17 


115.     Hemidactylus  vittatus.     Tlate  15,  fig.  5. 

Hemidactyhis  vittatus.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  155. 
Port  Essiugton. 

116.    Hemidactylus  variegatus. 

Heviidactylus  variegatics,D\im.  Bibr.  Erp.  Gen.  Ill,  p.  353. 
Western    Australia,  (Houtman's    Abrollios,    Champion 
Bay). 


125.    Naultixus  grayi. 

Naultinus  grayi,  Bell,  Voy.  Beagle.  Eept.  p.  27,  pi.   14, 
fig.  2. 

New  Zealand. 


126.    Naultinus  punctatus. 

Naultinus  punctatus.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  169. 
New  Zealand. 


117.    Hemidactylus  tusillus. 


127.    Naultinus  lixeatus. 

Heviidadylus  pusilhis.  Cope,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1869,         Naultinus  lincatus.  Gray,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1869, 
P-  ?19-.  .  ..  Ill,  p.  243. 

New  Zealand. 


South-western  Australia. 


118.     Pentadactylus  brunneus. 

Pcntadactylus  bmnneus,  Cope,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1869, 
p.  320. 

New  Holland. 


128.      GONIODACTYLUS  AUSTKALIS. 

Goniodactylus  a%cstralis.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  172. 
Hab.  ? 


119.    Gecko  trachyl^emus. 

Gecko  trachylcemus,  Peters,  M.B.  Berl.  Acad.  1872,  p.  774. 
Northern  Australia 


120.    Gehyra  australis. 

Gehyra  australis,  Gray  Cat.  Liz.  p.  163. 

Western  and  Northern  Australia,  (Swan  Eiver,  Champion 
Bay,  Port  Essington,  Sunday,  Loyalty,  and  Norfolk 
Islands). 


121.    Gehyra  grayi. 


grayi,  Steindachner  in  Novara,  Eept.  p.  11. 
New  South  Wales. 


122.    Naultinus  pacificus. 

Naultinus  pacificus.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  169. 
New  Zealand. 


129.    Heteronota 

Hcteronota  binoei.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  174;  Giinth.  Ann.  & 
Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1867,  XX,  p.  50  ■,=EuMepharis  derbianus, 
Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  21A  i^Hoplodactylus  aw^^?-aKs,  Steindach- 
ner, Novara,  Eept.  p.  18,  tab.  1,  fig.  2. 

Western  and  Northern  Australia,  (Champion  Bay,  Hout- 
man's Abrollios,  Port  Essington,  Queensland). 


130.  Phyllurus  platurus.    Plate  17,  fig.  3. 

Phyllurus  platurus,  Shaw,  in  White,  Journ.  N.S.  Wales, 
p.  246,  tab.  3,  fig.  2,  (Lacerta). 

Southern  and  Eastern  Australia,  (Sydney,  Macquarie 
Eiver). 

131.  Phyllurus  miliusii.     Plate  17,  fig.  2. 

Phyllurus  miliusii,  (Bory  St.  Vincent),  Gray,  Cat.  Liz. 
p.  176. 

Western  and  Southern  Australia,  (Houtman's  Abrolhus,- 
Champion  Bay,  Adelaide,  Sydney). 


123.    Naultinus  granulatus. 

Naultinus  granulatus,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  273. 
New  Zealand. 


132.    Phyllurus  inermis.    Plate  17,  fig.  1. 

Phyllurus  inermis,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  176. 
Sydney. 


124.    Naultinus  elegans. 

Naultinus  elegans,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  169  ;  Buller,  Trans. 
N.Z.  Inst.  Ill,  p.  8,  pi.  2,  fig.  l.=Naultinus  sulphureus, 
Buller,  l.c. 

New  Zealand. 


Agamid^. 

133.    Gixdalia  bennettii. 

Gindalia  lennetiii.  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  p.  247. 
North-western  Australia. 


ICHTHYOLOGY 


VOYAGE  OF  H.M.S.  EREBUS  &  TERROR, 


UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OF  CAPTAIN  SIR  JAMES  CLARK  ROSS,  R.N.,  F.R.S. 


SIR    JOHN    RICHARDSON,    Knt.,    M.D.,    P.R.S.,    &c. 


y'SPECTOI!    OF    NAVAI,    HOSPITALS,    ETC.,    ETC. 


LONDON 


M.DCCC.XLIV. M.DCCC.XLVIII. 


FISHES 


METHODICAL    LIST    OF    SPECIES. 


SC0MBERISID,fi. 

Gasterochisma  melampus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXVII.  f. 

1—3        .  .  .  .  .  .60 

New  Zealand. 
Caranx  georgianus  (C.  et  V.)  PI.  LVIII.  f.  1—3  .     135 

Australia. 

Caranx  paraspistes  (Rich.)  PI.  LVIII.  16,7         .     136 
North  Australia. 

Caranx  speciosus  (Forsk.)  PI.  LVIII.  f.  4,  5  .     136 

Australia.     Polynesia.     Malay  Archipelago.     Indian 
Ocean.     Red  Sea. 

Eqiuila  senulifera  (Rich.)  PI.  LIX.  f.  12—14        .     137 

Australia. 


Sphyr^nid^. 

Alepisaurus  (Lowe)  PI.  XXII.  f.  1— 4        .  .34 

Tasmania. 

Zeid,«. 

Zeus  australis  (Rich.)  PI.  XXV.  f.  1.  .36,  138 

Sidney.     Western  Australia. 
Capros  australis  (Rich.)  PI.  LIX.,  f.  1— .5  .     137 

Tasmania.     South  Australia. 

N0TACANTHID.E. 

Notacanthus  sexspinis  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXII.  f.  4—11     54 

Western  Australia. 

CVCLOPTERID^. 

Lepidogaster  puniceus  (Rich.)  PI.  XLIII.  f.  1 — 7         71 
New  Zealand. 


Chironectes  caudimaculatus  (Riipp.)  PI.  LX.  f.  8,  9     125 

Red  Sea.     Australia. 

Chironectes  trisignatus  (Rich.)  Ph  IX.  f.  1  .15 

Western  Australia. 


Chironectes  pictus  (Cuv.)   var.  vittatus,  PI.  IX.  f. 
3,  4         . 

Tropical  Atlantic. 

Chironectes  politus  (Rich.)  PI.  IX.  f.  2      . 
Tasmania. 


Gobius  bynoensis  (Rich.)  PI.  I.  f.  1,2 

Western  Australia. 
Gobius  criniger  (C.  et  V.)  Pi.  I.  f.  3,  4 

North-west  Australia. 
Gobius  lentiginosus  (Rich.)  PL  I.  f.  5,  6 

New  Zealand. 

Gobius  interstinclus  (Rich.)  PI.  V.  f.  3 — fi 

North-west  Australia. 
Eleotris  gobioides  (C.  et  V.)  PI.  II.  f.  .5,  6 

New  Zealand. 
Eleotris  mogurnda  (Rich.)  PI.  II.  f.  1,  2 

North  Australia. 
Notothenia,  genus 

Notothenia  corriiceps  (Rich.)  PI.  III.  f.  1,  2 

Kerguelen's  Laud.     Auckland  Islands. 

Notothenia  cyanobraucha  (Rich.)  PI.  IV.  f.  1,  2 

Kerguelen's  Land. 
Notothenia  purpuriceps  (Rich.)  PI.  II.  f.  3,  4 

Kerguelen's  Land. 
Notothenia  cornucola  (Rich.)  PI.  VIII.  f.  4,  5,  and 
PL  XI.  f.  3,  4     . 

Cape  Horn,  Falklands. 
Notothenia  phoca;  (Rich.) 

Victoria  Land. 
Notothenia  magellanica  (Forster,  Gadm)  . 

Tierra  del  Fuego. 
Notothenia  virgata  (Rich.)  PL  XI.  f.  5,  6  . 

Falklands. 
Notothenia  marginata  (Rich.)  PL  XII.  f.  I,  2  * 

Falklands. 
Notothenia  sima  (Rich.)  PL  XI.  f.  1,  2 

Falklands. 
Notothenia  tessellata  (Rich.)  PL  XII.  f.  3,  4  * 

Falklands. 
Notothenia  rossii  (Rich.)  PL  V.  f.  1,  2 

Unknown. 
Hemerocaetes  acantliorhynchus  (Forster),  PL  LIV 
f.  7—12  .... 

New  Zealand. 

*  These  numbers  are  quoted  incorrectly  in  pp.  18  and  IS). 


Page 
1 

•2 

3 
3 
4 
4 

5 

5 


8,  18 
8 
9 
18 
18 
19 
19 
9 

123 


METHODICAL    LIST    OF    SPECIES. 


Pataecus,  geuus       .  .  .  .  .20 

Patcecus  fvonto  (Rich.)  PI.  XIII.  f,  1,  2      .  .       20 

South  Austialia. 

Ch^nichthys,  genus  (misspelt  Chcsnicthys)  .       12 

ClifBiiichthys  ihinoceratus  (Rich.)  PI  VI.  f.  1  —  3  .       13 

Blenniid.e  ? 

Gadopsis  marmoratus  (Rich.)  PI.  LIX.  f.  6—11    .     122 

Rivers,  South  Australia. 
This  fish  probably  ought  to  be  referred  to  the  Hccmulonidm. 

Batrachid^. 

Batrachus  dieniensis  (Lesueur),  PI.  VIII.  f.  1,  2     .     17 

North-west  Australia. 

Batrachus  dubius  (White),  PI.  X.  f.  1,  2      .  .     16 

South  Australia.     Sydney. 

Callionymid.f,. 

Callionymus  calauroporaus  (Rich.)  PI.  VII.  f.  4,  5       10 

Western  Australia. 
Harpagifer,  genus  .  .  .11 

Harpagifer   bispinis    (Forster,    Callionytntis),  PI. 
VII.  f.  1—3,  PI.  XII.  f.  8,  9        .        ■  11,19 

Falklands.     Cape  Horn. 

Harpagifer  palliolatus  (Rich.)  PI.  XII.  f.  5—7  20 

Falklands. 

Uranoscopid^. 

Uranoscopus  maculatus   (Forster),  PI.  XXXIII.  f. 
1—3 54 

New  Zealand.    Australia.     Otaheite  ? 

Uranoscopus  macropygus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXIII.  f. 

4,6 55 

Port  Jackson. 

Bovichthys  variegatus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXIV.  f.  1 — 4      56 

Sydney. 

Triglid.e. 

Sebastes  percoides  (Solander,  Scornama),  PI.  XV. 

f.  1,  2 23 

Ta.sraania.     Sydney. 
Sebastes  pandus  (Rich.)  PI.  XLI.  f.  3,  4   .  70 

Weslem  Australia. 

Scorpajna  militaris  (Rich.)  PI.  XIV.  f.  1,  2  .       22 

Tasmania.     New  Zealand. 
Scorpaena  bynocnsis  (Rich.)  PI.  XIV.  f.  .3—5        .       22 

North-west  Australia. 

Platycephalus  tasmanius  (Rich.)  PI.  XVIII.  f.  1,  2      23 

Tasmania. 

Platycephalus  cinonasus  (Rich.)  PI.  LI.  f.  7—10       114 
Botany  Bay. 

Triglaplcuracanthica  (Rich.)  PI.  XVI.  f.  1— 4  23 

Sydney. 

.\griopus  leucopaecilus,  PI.  XXXVII.  f.  4,  5  60 

South  Australia. 


Page 

Pagetodes,  genus  incertum,  PI.  VIII.  f.  3  15 

Victoria  Land.     Lat.  77^"  S. 
Xystophorus,  genus  incertum,  PI.  XXX.  f.  22  52 

Percid^. 

Psammoperca,  genus  .  .  .  .115 

Psammoperca  datnioides  (Rich.)  PI.  LVII.  f.  1,  2     116 

Australia. 
Centropristes  salar  (Rich.)  PI.  XX.  f.  4—6  29 

New  Zealand.     Tasmania.     Norfolk  Island.      King 
George's  Sound,  Australia. 
Centropristes  georgianus  (C.  et  V.)  PI.  LIV.  f.  3—6    117 
S.E.  and  .S.W.  coasts  of  Australia. 

ScLEMD^. 

Eleginus  falklandicus  (Rich.)  PI.  XX.  f.  1—3       .       30 

Falklands. 

Emmelichthys,  geuus  (Erythrichthys,  Schl.)  47 

Eramehchthys  nitidus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXIX.  f.  7,  8    .       47 
West  Australia. 

H.EMULONID.E. 

Diagramma  porosa  (Rich.)  PI.  XVI.  f.  5,  6  26 

Australia. 

Glaucosoma,  genus  .  .27 

Glaucosoma  hebraicum  (Rich.)  PI.  XVII.  27 

Houtman's  Abrolhos.     Australia. 

Grystes  macquariensis  (Cuv.)  PI.  LIII.  f.  8,  9  118 

Australian  rivers. 

Gadopsis  marmoratus  (Rich.)  PI.  LIX.  f.  6—11    .     122 

Rivers  in  South  Australia.     (Vide  Blenniida.) 

SERRANID.E. 

Plectropoma  dentex  (C.  et  V.)  PI.  LVII.  f.  3,  5    .     117 
King  George's  Sound. 

Theraponid.e. 

Datnia  caudavittata  (Rich.)  PI.  XVIII.  f.  3—5       .       24 

Harvey  River,  Australia. 
Datnia  elliptica  (Rich.)  PI.  LII.  f.  4—8    .  .118 

Rivers,  Australia. 
Datnia  ambigua  (Rich.)  PI.  XIX.  .  25 

Western  Australia. 

Cihrhitid^. 

Latris  ciliaris  (Forster,  Scicena),  PI.  XXVI.  f.  6,  7        37 

Sydney. 

Spaeid^. 

Lethrinus  chrysostomus  (Rich.)  PI.  LX.  f.  6,  7      .     118 
Norfolk  Island. 

Crenidens  tephraops  (Rich.)  PI.  XLI.  f.  1,  2  69 

West  Australia. 

Crenidens  triglyphus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXV.  f.  2  .       36 

Sydney. 

Crenidens  zebra  (Rich.)  .  .  .70 

West  Australia. 


METHODICAL    LIST    OF   SPECIES. 


Crenidens  simplex  (Rich.) 
Port  Jackson. 


Ch^todontid.«;. 


Histiopterus  recurvirostiis  (Rich.)  PI.  XXII.  f.  5,6       34 

Tasmania. 
Psettus  argenteus  ( Lin.  Chatodon),  PI.  XXXV.  f. 

1—3       ......       57 

Australia.     China. 
Scatophagus  multifasciatus  (Rich.)   PI.  XXXV.  f. 
4—6  .  .  .  .57 

Western  Australia. 
Scorpis  aequipinnis  (Rich.)  .  .  .     121 

King  George's  Sound. 
Scorpis  georgianus  (Cuv.)  .  .  .     121 

King  George's  Sound. 

FlSTDLARID^. 

Centiiscus  humerosus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXIV.  f.  5,  6        56 

South  Australia. 

Mdgilid.e. 

Dajaus  diemensis  (Rich.)  PI.  XXVI.  f.  1—4  .       37 

Tasmania.    Western  Australia. 
Dajaus  forsteri  (C.  et  V.  Mugil),  PI.  XLIV.  f.  20 
—26        .  .  .  .  .77 

New  Zealand. 
Atherina  nigricans  (Rich.)  PI.  XLII.  f.  13—18      .       77 
Falklands. 

Gadid^. 

Lota  breviuscula  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXVIII.  f.  1,  2      .       61 

New  Zealaud. 

Ophidid.e. 

Machffirium  subducens  (Rich.)  PI.  XLIV.  f.  1—6.       72 

Western  and  Northern  Australia. 
Oxybeles,  genus     .  .  .  .73 

Osybeles  homei  (Rich.)  PI.  XLIV.  f.  7—18  74 

Australia.     Tinia. 
Phucocoetes  (Jenyns,  Ichth.   Voy.  of  Beagle,  p. 

168),  PI.  XLIX.  f.  7—11  .  .  .      viii 

Falkland  Islands. 
Iluocoetes  (Jenyns,  Ichth.  Voy.  of  Beagle,  p.  165), 
PI.  XLIX.  f.  12—16       ....      viii 
Falkland  Islands. 


Labrid^. 

Labrus  (vel  Tautoga)   tetricus  (Rich.)  PI.  LV.  f. 

1—4 126 

Tasmania. 
Labrus  fucicola  (Rich.)  PI.  LIV.  f.  1,  2      .  .     127 

Tasmania. 
Labrus  celidotus  (Forster),  PI.  XXXI.  f.  1— 5       .       53 

New  Zealand.    Australia.    China. 
Labrus  botryocosmus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXI.  f.  6—10        53 

Australia.     Tasmania. 


Page, 

Labrus  inscriptus  (Rich.)  PI.  LVI,  f.  1,  2  .  .134 

Norfolk  Island. 
Labrus  luculentus  (Rich.)  .  .  .130 

Eastern  and  Western  coasts  of  Australia.      Norfolk 
Island. 
Labrus  psittaculus  (Rich.)  PI.  LVI.  f.  7—10  .     129 

Tasmania. 
Labrus  laticlavius  (Rich.)  PI.  LVI.  f.  3—6  .     128 

Tasmania.     South  Australia. 
Tautoga  melaptera  (Bl.  Labrus)    :  .  .130 

Java.     Torres  Straits.     North  Australia. 
Kielmick    .  .  .  .  .129 

King  George's  Sound. 
Miname      .....     129 

King  George's  Sound. 
Cossyphus  (vel  Lachnolairaus)  gouldii  (Rich.)       .     132 

Western  Australia. 
Lachnolaimus   (vel  Cossyphus)  cyanodus  (Rich.) 
PI.  LV.  f.  .5—7  ....     131 

North  Australia. 
Scarus  acroptilus  (Rich.)  .  .  .69 

North  Australia. 
Odax  lineatus  (Quoy  et  Gaimard,  Malacanthm), 
PI,  LX.  f.  ]— 5  .  .  .137 

King  George's  Sound. 
Toobitovit  .  .  .  .  .134 

King  George's  Sound. 


Chatoessus  come  (Russell),  PI.  XXXVIII.  f.  7—10 
Western  Australia.    Indian  Ocean. 

GoNORHYNCHiD^.  Valenc.  Hist,  des  Poiss.  xix.  p.  171 
Gonorhynchus  (Gronovius,  Rhync/tana,Rich.)  greyi, 
PI.  XXIX.  f.  1—6  .... 

New  Zealand.     Western  Australia. 
Lutodeira  (Rijppell,  Chanos,  Lacepede)  salmonea 
(Forster,  Mugil),  PI.  XXXVl.  f.  1,2. 

Northern  and  western  coasts  of  Australia.      Torres 
Straits.     Tanna. 

Elopid^.     Valenc.  Hist,  des  Poiss.  xix.  p.  358. 
Elops  saurus,  Lin.  {Argentina  macknata,  Forskal), 
PI.  XXXVL  f.  3— 5       . 

Cosmopolite.   Vide  Valenc.  Hist,  des  Poiss.  xix.  p.  374. 

Galaxid.e. 

Galaxias  truttaceus  (Cuv.)  PI.  XLII.  f.  1—6 

Tasmania. 
Galaxias  alepidotus  (Forster,  Esox) 

Dusky  Bay,  New  Zealand. 
Galaxias  scriba  (Valenc.) 

Tasmania.     Eastern  Australia. 
Galaxias  fasciatus  (Gray) 

New  Zealand. 
Galaxias  maculatus  (Jenyns,  Mesites),  PI.  XLIII 
f.  14—17  .  . 

Falklands.     Patagonia. 


METHODICAL    LIST    OF    SPECIES. 


Galaxias  reticulatus  (Rich.)  PI.  XLII.  f.  7—12 

Auckland  Islands. 
Galaxias  brocchus  (Rich.)  PI.  XLIII.  f.  8—13 

Auckland  Islands. 


Argentina  retropinna  (Rich.)  PI.  LII.  f.  1 — 3 

New  Zealand. 

SCOPELID^. 

Saurus  undosquamis  (Rich.)  PI.  LI.  f.  1 — 6 

Noith  Australia. 
Myctophum  boops  (Rich.)  PI.  XXVII.  f.  6—12     . 

New  Zealand  and  Australia. 
Myctophum  coruscans  (Rich.)  PI.  XXVII.  f.  1—5 

South  Atlantic  and  Australian  Seas. 
Myctophum  hians  (Rich.)  PI.  XXVII.  f.  19—21    . 

Hab. ? 

Myctophum  asperum  (Rich.)  PI.  XXVII.  f.  13—15 

Hab. ? 

Lampanyctus  (vel  Myctophum)  resplendens  (Rich.) 
PI.  XXVII.  f.  16—18     .... 

Hab. ? 

Macrourid^. 

Macrouvus    (  vel    Lepidorhynchus  )     denticulatus 
(Rich.)  PI.  XXXII.  f.  1— 3 

South  Australia. 

SiLURID.E. 

Bagrus  venaticus  (Rich.)    . 

North-west  Australia. 
Bagrus  vertagus  (Rich.) 

North-west  Australia. 
Plotosus  megastomus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXI.  f.  1  —  3 

Sidney. 
Plotosus  microceps  (Rich.)  Ph  XXI.  f.  4 — 7 

North-west  Australia. 

MUR.ENID^. 

Anguilla  australis  (Rich.)  PI.  XLV.  f.  1—5 

Tasmania.     New  Zealand.     Auckland  Islands. 
Anguilla  dieffenbachii  (Gray) 

New  Zealand. 
Anguilla  aucklandi  (Rich.)  PI.  XLV.  1.  7-13 

Auckland  Islands. 
Anguilla  labrosa  (Rich.)     . 

Polynesia. 
Congrus  (vel  Conger)  genus 
Congrus  vulgaris  (Auct.  Bl.  105)    . 

European  Seas. 
Congrus  leucophaeus  (Rich.) 

Bahamas. 
Congrus  myrus  (Risso  .?)   . 

Mediterranean. 

Congrus  lepturus  (Rich.  Voy.  Sulph.  p.  106,  PI.  56, 
f.1,6)     . 

Chinese  Seas. 


137 

39 
40 
41 
41 


33 
33 
31 
31 

112 

113 

113 

113 

107 
107 

108 

108 


Page 

Congrus  habenatus  (Rich.)  PI.  L.  f.  1—5  .  .109 

New  Zealand. 
Congrus  [Murcenesox,  McClelland)  tricuspidatus 
(Rich.  Voy.  Sulph.  p.  105,  PI.  51,  f.  2)  .  .     110 

Indian  and  Chinese  Seas. 
Congrus  protervus  (Rich.)  .  .  .110 

Hab.  Unknown. 
Congrus  angustidens  (Rich.)  .  .110 

China. 

Congrus  hamo  (Schlegel,  Fauna  Japonica,  PI.  114, 
f.  2)         .  .  .  .  .  .111 

Philippines.    Japan. 
Congrus  brevicuspis  (Rich.)  .  .  .111 

Hab.  Unknown. 

Congrus  curvidens  (Rich.)  .  .  .111 

Hab.  Unknown. 

Ophisurus,  genus   .  .  .  .  .97 

Ophisurus  cancrivorus  (Rich.)  PI.  L.  f.  6 — 9  .       97 

North  Australia. 
Ophisurus  sinensis  (Rich.)  .  .  .98 

China. 
Ophisurus  semicinctus  (Rich.)  .99 

Hab.  Unknown. 
Ophisurus  boro   (Buch.-Hamilt.     Gray,  111.   Ind. 

Zool.  PI.  95,  f.  1 )  .  .  .  .99 

India. 
Ophisurus  breviceps  (Rich.)  .  .99 

Hab.  Unknown. 

Ophisurus  pardalis  (Valenc.  Webb  et  Berth.  Ca- 
naries, PI.  16,  f.  2)  .  .  .     100 

Canaries. 
Ojohisurus  fasciatus  (Thunberg,  Murtena,  Quoy  et 

Gaim.  Voy.  du  Frey.  PI.  45,  f.  2)  .  .     100 

Malay  Archipelago.     Indian  Ocean. 
Ophisurus  colubrinus  (Boddaert,  Thunb.  t.  1  f.  1)      100 

India.     Malay  Archipelago.     Moluccas.     Polynesia. 
Ophisurus  pallens  (Rich.)  .  .101 

China. 
Ophisurus  haraucha  (Buch.-Hamilt. .')       .  .     101 

China. 
Ophisurus  hijala  (Buch.-Hamilt.  PL  5,  f.  5)  .     102 

India. 
Ophisurus  maculosus  (Cuvier,  Lacep.  11,  PI.  6,  f.  2)    102 

Madagascar. 
Ophisurus  intertinctus  (Rich.)       .  .  .     102 

West  Indies. 

Ophisurus  spadiceus  (Rich.)  .  .  .     103 

China. 
Ophisurus  versicolor  (Rich.)  .  .  .103 

Moluccas. 
Ophisurus  .sugillatus  (Rich.)  .  .  103 

Hab.  Unknown. 
Ophisurus  ocellatus  (Le  Sueur,  Ac.  Phil.  v.  PI.  4, 
f.  .3)         .  .  .  .     104 

Gulf  of  Mexico. 

.      105 


Ophisurus  parilis  (Rich. 
West  Indies. 


Ophisurus  dicellurus  (Rich.  Voy.  of  Sulph.  PI.  48 
f.  2—4)  .... 

Chiua. 
Ophisurus  rostellatus  (Rich.) 

Senegal. 
Ophisurus  compar  (Rich.) 

Sumatra. 
Ophisurus  regius  (Shaw,  an  ophis  auct.) 

Hab.  Unknown. 
Ophisurus  serpens  (Lin.  Murwna) 

Mediterranean.     Atlantic. 
Ophisurus  vimineus  (Rich.  Voy.  of  Sulph.  PI.  52, 
f.  16—20) 

China. 
Muraena,  genus 

Murajna  helena  (Lin.)  PI.  XLIX.  f.  1- 

Mediterraneau.      English   Channel.     North   Africa 
Indian  Ocean.     Australia. 
Muraena  nubila  (Rich.)  PI.  XLVI.  f.  0  —  10 

Mauritius.     Australia. 
Muraena  sagenedota  (Rich.) 

Mauritius. 
Muraena  reticulata  (Bl.  416) 

Indian  Ocean.     Borneo. 
Muraena  ocellata  (Agass.  Gymnothorax,  Pise.  Br, 
t.  L.  f.  6-9)       .  .  .  .  , 

Gulf  of  Mexico.     Brazils. 
Muraena  punctata  (Bl.  Schn.  Russell,  32) 

Indian  Ocean. 
Murfena  similis  (Forster)   . 

Polynesia.     Red  Sea.     Japan. 

Muraena  pratbemon  (Quoy  et  Gaim.  Freyc.  p.  52 

f.  1) 

Darnley  Island,  Australia. 

Muraena  tenebrosa  (Solander) 

Polynesia. 
Murana  lita  (Rich.) 

Moluccas. 
Muraena  siderea  (Rich.)  PI.  XLVIU.  f.  1—5 

Western  and  Northern  Australia.     New  Guinea. 

Muraena  atomaria  (Solander) 
Society  Islands. 

Muraena  erythroptera  (Solander)     . 

Society  Islands. 
Muraena   isingleena    (Rich.    Voy.    of    Sulph.    PI 
48,  f.  1) 

China. 
Muraena  bullata  (Rich.) 

Borneo. 

Mur^na  stellifer  (Rich.)    . 

Madagascar. 
Muraena  cancellata  (Rich.)  PI.  XLVI.  f.  1— 5 

Western  Australia.     Sumatra. 
Mura;na  tessellata  (Rich.  Voy.  of  Sulph.  PI.  55 
f.  5-8)  .... 

Hab.  Unknown. 
Muraena  colubrina  (Commerson)  PL  XIX.  f.  1 

New  Britain.     Amboyna.     Polynesia. 


METHODICAL    LIST    OF   SPECIES. 


105 
105 
105 
106 
106 


Muraena  vittata  (Solander) 
Society  Islands. 

Mura;na  moringua  (Cuv.    Catesby,  t.  20)  . 

Bermudas.     Gulf  of  Mexico.     Caribbean  Sea. 
Muraena  lineo-pinnis  (Rich.) 

Puerto  caballo. 

Mura;na  griseo-badia  (Rich.) 

Tonga  Islands. 
Murasna  pavonina  (Rich.  Voy.  of  Sulph.  PI.  53,  f. 
1-6) 

Southern  Seas. 

Muraena  guttata  (Solander,  Park.  11,  f.  1) 

Madeira.     Brazils. 
Muraena   thyrsoidea    (Rich.    Voy.    of   Sulph.    PI. 
49,  f.  1) 

China. 
Muraena  sathete  (Hamilt.-Buch.)    . 

India. 
Muraena  gracilis  (Hardw.  Icon.  303) 

India. 
Muraena  vermiculata  (Hardw.  Icon.  310) 

India. 


vu 

Page 


Muraena  meleagris   (Shaw,  Voy  de  Freyc 
f.2)         .  .  .  .         • 

Southern  Ocean. 
Muraena  prasina  (Rich.)      . 

Australia. 
Murasna  ophis  (Riippell,  Atl.  29,  f.  2  ?) 

Mauritius.     Red  Sea. 


PI.  52, 


f.  1—5, 

Polynesia. 
PI.  55,  f. 


Muraena  variegata  (Forster),  PI.  XLVII. 
11—16  .... 

Indian  Ocean.     Chinese  Sea.     Australia. 
Muraena  polyzona  (Rich.  Voy.  of  Sulph. 
11—14) 

Hab.  Unknown. 
Muraena  catehata  (Bl.  415) 

Bermudas.     Caribbean  Sea.     South  America. 


Gymnomuraena  zebra  (Shaw,  Nat.  Misc.  101) 
Sumatra.     New  Britain. 

Ichlhyophis  tigrinus  (Lesson,  Voy.  de  la  Coquille, 

12) 

Oualan. 

Nettastoma  vittata  (Rich.  Voy.  of  Sulph.  PI.  53,  f. 

7-9) 

Hab.  Uncertain. 

Synbranchus  gutturalis  (Rich.)  PI.  XXX.  f.  14—17 

Dampier's  Archipelago,  Australia. 

Cheilobranchus,  genus       .... 
Cheilobranchus  dorsalis  (Rich.)  PI.  XXX.  f.  1—5 

North  Australia. 
Cheilobranchus  aptenodytum  (Rich.) 
Penguin  Island.     Lat.  72"  S. 

Leptocephalus  altus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXX.  f.  8—10      . 
Hab.  Unknown. 

Prymnothonus  hookeri  (Rich.)  PI.  XXX.  f.  6,  7 
Hab. ? 


Balistid^. 

Mouacanlhiis  granulatus  (White)  PI.  XL.  f.  1,  2    . 

Sidney. 
Monacanthus  chinensis  (Osbeck,  Balistes)  PI.  XL. 
f.  3,  4     . 

Eastern  and  western  coasts  of  Australia.     Malay  Ar- 
chipelago.    China.     Indian  Ocean. 

Monacanthus  rudis  (Rich.)  PI.  XL.  f.  7,  8  {scaler, 
Forsteri .'') 
Tasmania. 
Monacanthus  vittatus  (Solander,  Balistes) 

Western  Australia. 
Monacanthus  variabilis  (Rich.),  Aleuterius  errone 
ously,  PI.  LIIL  f.  1—7  . 
Western  Australia. 
Aleuterius  paragaudatus   (Rich.)  PI.  XXXIX.  f. 
1—4       ..... 
Tasmania.     Australia. 
Aleuterius  maculosus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXIX.  f.  5 — 7 
Tasmania.     Australia. 

Aleuterius  trossiilus  (Rich.)  PI.  XL.  f.  5,  6 

Western  Australia. 
Aleuterius  ?  brownii  (Rich) 

North  Australia. 
Aleuterius  ?  baueri  (Rich.) 

North  Australia. 


OSTRACIONTID.E. 

Ostracion  boops  (Rich.)  PI.  XXX.  f.  18—21 
Southern  Atlantic. 


Teteaodontid.e. 

Tetraodon  virgatus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXIX.  f. 

Port  Jackson. 


METHODICAL    LIST    OF    SPECIES. 

Page 


Tetraodon  hamiltoni  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXIX.  f.  10,  11 

Australia.     Tasmania.     New  Zealand. 


Syngnathid^. 

Syngnathus   hymenolomus    (Rich.)    PI.   XXX.    f. 
11—13   ...... 

Falklands. 

SCYLLIID^. 

Hemiscyllium  trispeculare  (Rich.)  PI.  XXVIII.  f. 

3—7        ...... 

Western  Australia. 
Hemiscyllium  ocellatum,  a  scale  only,  PI.  XXVIII. 

f.  8  . 


Acanthias  (MiiUer  und  Henle),  PI  XXVIII.  f.  1,  2*    44 

Australia. 


Raiid^. 

Raia  lemprieri  (Rich.)  PI.  XXIII. 

Tasmania. 


Tbygonid^. 

Urolophus  ephippiatus  (Rich.)  PI.  XXIV. 

Tasmania. 


Peteomyzontid^. 

Petromyzon  mordax  (Rich.)  PI.  XXXVIII.  f.  3—6      42 


Misprinted  5  instead  of  1  in  p.  44. 


Through  inadvertence  the  following  omissions  were  made  in  the  text  :- 


Phucoccetes  (Jenyns,  Ichth.  of  Voy.  of  Beagle,  p.  168,  PI. 
XXIX.  f  3). 

Our  specimen  is  not  in  the  best  order,  and  we  can  add 
nothing  to  Mr.  Jenyn's  account  of  the  genus.  It  is  possi- 
ble that  the  species  differs  fi-om  his  latUans;  but  not 
having  his  specimen  at  hand  for  comparison,  we  have  left 
the  matter  for  future  investigation. 

Hab.  Falkland  Islands  and  Cape  Horn. 


Iluoccetes  (Jenyns,  Ichth.  of  Voy.  of  Beagle,  sp.  165,  PI. 
XXIX.  f  2). 

The  above  remarks  apply  also  to  this  fish.  Our  speci- 
men has  a  small  barbel  on  each  side  of  the  symphysis  of 
the  lower  jaw,  which  is  not  shown  in  Mr.  Jenyn's  figure  of 
I.Jimbriatus,  and  the  dentition  seems  also  to  differ,  as  well 
as  the  form  of  the  body  ;  but  in  the  absence  of  comparison 
of  specimens,  we  have  preferred  leaving  the  matter  unde- 
termined. 

Hab.  Falkland  Islands  and  Cape  Horn. 


FISHES. 

BY   JOHN    RICHARDSON,   M.D.,  F.R.S.,    &c. 


In  no  expedition  that  ever  sailed  from  Europe  has  more  care  been  taken  to  collect  the  zoological  productions  of  the 
sea,  than  in  the  pre-eminently  scientific  one  of  the  Erebus  and  Terror.  The  commanding  officer,  an  accomplished 
zoologist,  had  previously  paid  much  attention  to  Ichthyology,  and,  under  his  fostering  superintendence,  ample  col- 
lections of  fish  were  made  at  New  Zealand,  Van  Diemen's  Land,  Australia,  Kerguelen's  Land,  Cape  Horn,  the 
Falklands,  and  wherever  an  opportunity  offered  of  drawing  the  seine  or  trawl,  or  dropping  a  hook.  The  specimens 
thus  obtained  filled  many  casks,  and  numerous  jars  and  bottles,  and  it  were  greatly  to  be  wished  that  so  much  industry 
had  met  with  the  full  measure  of  success  that  it  desen'ed ;  but  we  have  to  regret  that,  during  a  voyage  protracted  for 
upwards  of  four  years  and  a  half,  including  every  possible  change  of  climate,  and  during  which  the  ships  were 
buffeted  by  many  severe  gales,  and  sustained  innumerable  shocks  in  forcing  their  way  through  the  ice-packs  of  the 
Antarctic  Seas,  the  specimens  suffered  very  severe  damage.  Owing  to  the  deterioration  of  the  spirits  in  jars  that  were 
crowded  with  fish,  and  the  long  continued  action  of  the  brine,  where  that  liquid  was  employed,  very  many  specimens 
entirely  perished,  or  merely  fragments  of  skeletons  could  be  rescued  from  the  mass.  Yet  the  present  number, 
which  includes  only  the  Gobioid  fishes  and  their  allies,  is  rich  in  new  forms,  and  will  shew  the  Ichthyologist  that  enough 
remains  to  render  the  collection  as  interesting  as  any  that  has  been  made,  of  late  years,  in  any  quarter  of  the  globe. 
Except  what  may  be  gleaned  from  the  notes  and  drawings  of  the  Forsters,  who  accompanied  Cook  on  his  second 
voyage,  nothing  is  known  of  the  fish  inhabiting  the  seas  beyond  the  fiftieth  parallel  of  south  latitude.  Sir  James  Ross 
merits  the  warmest  thanks  of  zoologists  for  having  done  so  much  to  supply  this  want.  They  are  due  also  to 
Dr.  Joseph  Dalton  Hooker  for  his  able  co-operation  with  his  commanding  officer,  and  for  the  excellent  sketches  and 
notes  which  he  has  contributed  ;  as  well  as  to  the  other  officers  who  lent  their  aid  in  forming  the  collections. 

Fam.  GoBiiD^.  venenatus  (12,  p.  85.)      It  is  not  very  dissimilar   in   its 

GoBius  BYNOENSis.     Richardson.  general  form  to  G.  niger.     The  specific  name  has  been 

bestowed  in  honour  of  Benj.  Bynoe,  Esq.,  Surgeon  in  the 

Ch.  Spec.     G.  quinque-fasciatus  maculatusque,  punclis  Royal    Navy,   who,   while    serving   in  the   Beagle,  made 

coloratis,    seriatis    utrinque  in    nucha;    pitind   dorsi  extensive  collections   of  Australian    animals   and  plants, 

priori  nebulosd,  secundd  lineatd  ;    pinnis  ceteris  uni-  which  he  presented  to  the  Museum  of  Haslar  Hospital.* 

coloribus.  The  length  of  the  head  is  contained  four  times  and  a 

Radii:— D.  6|—1|16;  A.  1|1.5;  C  19;  P.  21 ;  V.  lIlO— 1  half  in  the  total  length  of  the  fish,  caudal  fin  included  ; 

united.  '  its  width  is  less  than  half  its  length,  but  equal  to  its  height, 

Plate  I.,  fig.  1  and  2,  natural  size.  »  To  make  the  list  of  Australian  species  as  complete  as  possible,  a  few 

rrii,:_ •   „  1 ■„„ ,;„„  . »v,        -ii         ^    ■     .i  undescribed  fish  from  the  western  coasts  of  that  country,  discovered  bv 

This  species  havnig  canine  teeth,  will  rank  m  the  group  ih^  officers  of  the  Beagle  surveying  ship,  have  been  added  to  Sir  James 

which    IS    lieaaeci  in    the   Histoire  des   Potssons    by  G.  Ross's  collection. 


and  the  cheeks  are  but  little  swelled  out.  The  height  of 
the  body  and  length  of  the  head  are  equal,  and  exceed 
the  altitude  of  the  first  dorsal.  This  fin  has  less  of  the 
triangular  fonn  than  is  usual  in  the  genus,  the  five  foremost 
rays  differing  little  in  height;  the  last  ray  is  shorter.  The 
rays  of  the  second  dorsal  and  anal  are  more  than  usually 
numerous.  The  caudal  is  widely  rounded.  The  mode- 
rately large  eyes  are  the  length  of  the  orbit  apart  from 
each  other,  the  same  distance  from  the  edge  of  the  inter- 
maxillary, and  twice  as  far  fi-om  the  gill-opening.  The 
scales  come  forward  on  the  top  of  the  head  to  the  orbits, 
a  few  clothe  the  upper  border  of  the  gill-cover,  but  the 
rest  of  the  head  is  naked.  A  row  of  open  pores  follows 
the  course  of  the  temporal  groove,  and  three  pores  exist  on 
the  vertical  limb  of  the  preojjerculum.  A  raised  mucigenous 
line  runs  under  the  eye,  and  is  connected  with  another, 
which  forms  a  small  circle  on  the  cheek. 

The  cleft  of  the  mouth  scarcely  reaches  to  the  fore  part 
of  the  orbit.  It  is  armed  above  l3y  an  outer  row  of  subu- 
late, slightly  curved  teeth,  to  the  number  of  eight  or  ten 
on  each  intermaxillary,  and  extending  about  half  way  to 
the  angle  of  the  mouth.  The  inner  teeth  are  too  small  to 
be  easily  seen  without  the  assistance  of  a  lens,  and  stand 
in  a  single  line,  as  far  as  the  outer  ones  extend,  but  beyond 
them  they  are  two  or  three  rows  deep.  On  the  under  jaw 
the  outer  row  is  similar,  and  of  the  same  extent  with  the 
upper  ones,  but  it  is  terminated  on  the  middle  of  the  jaw 
on  each  side  by  a  somewhat  larger  recurved  tooth.  The 
distribution  of  the  interior  teeth  of  this  jaw  is  the  reverse 
of  what  occurs  in  the  upper  one,  being  in  a  single  row 
towards  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  and  in  a  double  one 
behind  the  outer  teeth.  The  strap-shaped  tongue  is  pro- 
minent and  smooth.  There  is  a  pretty  broad  velum  to 
both  jaws,  and  the  palate  is  smooth,  with  a  mesial  fold  of 
membrane. 

The  scales  are  moderately  large,  there  being  sixty-five 
in  a  longitudinal  row  between  the  gill  opening  and  caudal 
fin.  Their  exposed  disks,  iti  situ,  are  exactly  rhomboidal, 
and  their  borders  are  finely  plaited  and  ciliated.  The 
gill-opening  is  entirely  lateral,  being  closed  beneath  by 
the  broad  and  directly  transverse  attachment  of  the  mem- 
brane to  the  isthmus. 

The  original  colours  cannot  be  ascertained  from  the 
specimens,  which  have  been  long  macerated  in  spirits. 
The  body  is  marked  by  dark  patches,  which  appear  to  have 
formed  about  five  vertical  bands  between  the  gill-opening 
and  caudal.  There  are  blotches  high  on  the  back  between 
the  bands,  a  round  dark  spot  at  the  base  of  the  middle 
caudal  rays,  and  some  dark  specks  on  the  snout  and 
other  parts  of  the  head  ;  a  row  of  coloured  spots  runs  on 
each  side  of  the  hind  head,  from  the  eye  to  the  dorsal. 
The  first  dorsal  is  marked  in  a  clouded  manner,  with  alter- 
nate waving  dark  and  light  bands  ;  a  dark  streak  traverses 
the  bottom  of  the  second  dorsal,  and  the  rest  of  the  fin  is 
occupied  by  five  lines  alternately  lighter  and  darker.  The 
extreme  edge  of  the  fin  is  blackish  ;  the  anal  has  likewise 
a  blackish  edge,  but  is  without  other  markings,  as  are  also 
the  pectorals,  ventrals,  and  caudal.  Length  of  the  speci- 
men, S^  inches. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  Western  Australia. 


GoBius  CRiNiGER.     Cuv.  et  Valenc,  12,  p.  8-2. 

Ch.  Spec.  G.  capite  michdque  esquamosis ;  corpore 
maculoso ;  pinnis  dor.ti  caudcBque  seriatim  guttatis ; 
genis,  operculis  nuchdque  liiieis  mucigenis  percursis ; 
pons  apertis  in  preoperculo  :  deiite  caniiio  parvo  in 
latere  utroque  maxillce  inferioris ;  dentibus  interioribus 
mandibulorum  brecissimis,  scobiformibus,  stipatis. 

Radii:— Br.  4  ?   D.  6|  — 1|9  ;    A.  1]9  ;    C.  25;    P.    15; 
V.  1|10— 1  united. 

Plate  I.,  figs.  3  and  4,  natural  size. 

This  goby  agrees  so  well  with  the  description  of  the 
G.  criniger  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  that  I  have 
referred  it  to  that  species,  though  I  have  seen  neither 
authenticated  examples  nor  figures  to  confirm  this  deter- 
mination. The  specimen  described  by  M.  Valenciennes 
was  obtained  at  Java  by  MM.  Qiioy  and  Gaimard,  and 
had  a  tall  filiform  tip  to  the  second  ray  of  the  first  dorsal. 
M.  Valenciennes  considers  this  to  be  peculiar  to  the  male, 
and  refers  to  the  same  species  an  Indian  goby  which 
wants  this  prolongation.  It  is  also  wanting  in  our  example, 
which  was  taken  on  the  north-west  coast  of  Australia. 

The  head  makes  a  fourth  of  the  total  length,  caudal 
included,  and  its  width  at  the  gills,  which  exceeds  half 
its  length,  nearly  equals  its  height.  The  eyes,  large  and 
approximated,  interfere  with  the  profile.  There  are  three 
orifices  in  the  nasal  region,  the  lower  of  which  has  a  very 
short  tubular  lip.  The  head  is  entirely  scaleless,  the 
nakedness  extending  backwards  on  the  nape  to  the  first 
dorsal,  but  there  are  some  small  remote  scales  deeply  im- 
bedded in  the  skin  of  the  supra-scapular  regions.  A 
raised  muciferous  line,  which  forks  twice,  traverses  the 
cheek;  two  similar  lines  cross  the  gill- cover,  the  lower 
one  being  forked ;  and  there  are  also  some  faint  ones  on 
the  nape.  The  mouth  is  cleft  to  opposite  the  fore  part  of 
the  eye,  and  descends  obliquely.  The  teeth  are  in  fine, 
close,  even,  brush-like  plates  on  the  jaws.  An  exterior 
row  of  more  widely  set,  slightly  taller  and  curved  teeth, 
reaches  to  the  middle  of  each  jaw,  and  is  terminated  in 
the  lower  jaw  by  a  recurved  canine  of  small  size.  The 
gill-opening  is  vertical,  being  closed  on  the  under  surface 
of  the  head.  Only  four  rays  sustain  its  membrane.  If 
there  be  a  fifth  one,  it  is  imbedded  in  the  part  attached 
to  the  isthmus,  and  cannot  be  detected  without  dissection. 
The  last  rays  of  the  second  dorsal  and  anal  are,  as  u.sual, 
divided  to  the  base. 

The  basal  streaks  of  the  scales  cross  the  exposed  disk, 
and  converge  to  a  point  in  the  middle  of  the  posterior 
edge,  which  is  strongly  toothed. 

The  dark  markings  are  well  described  in  the  Histoire 
des  Poissons,  but  the  spots  on  the  caudal  fin  are  not 
noticed.  In  our  specimen  there  are  four  rows  of  round 
spots,  similar  to  those  on  the  second  dorsal ;  and  the 
interstices  appear  to  have  been  yellow.  The  whole 
ventrals  retain  the  latter  tint,  and  some  streaks  of  it  remain 
on  the  dorsal  and  belly.  The  length  of  the  specimen, 
3^  inches. 

Hab.  The  North-west  coast  of  Australia. 


3 


GoBius  LENTiGiNosus.     Ricliardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  G.  gracilis,  capite  tiimidulo,  goiis  conve.vi.s 
pit rpu rein, pii)iclii/(if/s,(orpui('  vinrmorato punctatoqne ; 
pinnis  dorsi  cniidwqiie  .scriiilim  giittatis,  pectoralibus 
basi  punctiilatis  :  dentibus  villonis. 

Radii:— D.  (i|— 1|10;  A.  1|9;   C.  22;  P.  20;  V.  1|10— 1 

united. 

Plate  I.,  figs.  5  and  6,  natural  size. 

This  small  species  has  some  resemblance  to  the  last  in 
the  colours  of  the  body,  but  it  is  a  more  slender  fish,  and 
the  nape  is  clothed  forward  to  the  eyes  with  scales,  nearly 
as  large  as  those  of  the  body,  which  are  of  moderate  size. 
There  are  no  scales  on  the  gill-covers,  or  rest  of  the  head. 
The  basal  grooves  are  few  and  parallel,  the  free  edge  of 
the  scale  toothed.  The  length  of  the  head  is  twice  its 
height,  and  forms  one-fourth  of  the  total  length  of  the 
fish,  caudal  included.  The  under  jaw  is  a  little  more 
prominent  than  the  upper  one.  The  jaw  teeth  are  disposed 
in  broad,  very  close,  villiform  plates,  with  an  outer  row  of 
stouter  and  more  widely  set  teeth,  but  scarcely  taller. 
There  are  no  distinct  canines  in  the  middle  of  the  lower 
jaw,  or  elsewhere,  and  none  of  the  teeth  can  be  clearly  seen 
without  the  aid  of  a  lens.  The  gill  cover  is  convex. 
Three  mucigenous  lines  diverge  from  the  upper  lip,  a  little 
above  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  one  to  run  immediately 
beneath  the  eye,  another  to  cross  the  middle  of  the  cheek, 
and  a  third  to  traverse  the  lower  part  of  the  cheek.  A 
fourth  line  runs  from  the  chin  along  the  limb  of  the  lower 
jaw  and  the  interoperculum,  and  ascends  the  vertical 
limb  of  the  preoperculum.  A  similar  line  skirts  the  tem- 
poral groove,  and  two  diverge  at  a  right  angle  on  the  gill- 
cover.  Open  pores  exist  on  the  upper  border  of  the  orbit 
and  vertical  limb  of  the  preoperculum.  The  general 
colours  of  the  specimens  in  spirits  are  honey-yellow, 
marbled  and  spotted  with  umber  and  blackish  brown,  and 
minute  white  specks  exist  in  longitudinal  rows  along  the 
lower  part  of  the  sides.  A  dark  mark  is  jilaced  on  the 
tail,  close  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin,  and  there  are 
many  dark  dots  on  the  snout.  The  cheeks  have  a  bright 
purplish  hue,  with  numerous  whitish  specks.  The  basal 
halves  of  the  jjectorals  are  also  studded  with  white  specks. 
There  are  four  rows  of  dark  dots  in  the  first  dorsal,  and 
six  rows  on  the  second  dorsal  and  caudal.  The  anal  is 
dark  on  the  border,  but  unspotted,  and  there  are  no  marks 
on  the  ventrals.     Length  of  the  specimen,  \^  inch. 

Hab.  Bay  of  Islands,  New  Zealand. 

GoBios  INTEKSTINCTUS.  Richardson. 
Ch.  Spec.  G.  .iiibcy//iidi-iciix,roslrogibbo,ociilisconi/gins; 
squamix  iiiajiixcKlis  ;  hiteribiifi  in/id  ordinihus  duobus 
rectanguloriim  riigrorum  supraqiie  lineoli.s  nigris  phiri- 
mis  percursis,  cum  punciis  albescentibus  ordinatis 
interjacentibus  ;  pinnis  omnibus  prater  ventrales  albo 
nigroque  alterne  liiieatis. 

Radii:— D.  6|— 1|10;  A.  1|8;    C.  19;   P.  16 ;  V.  1|10-1 
united. 
Plate  v.,  figs.  3,  4  and  5,  natural  size ;  6  magnified. 
This  goby  has  much  resemblance  in  general  form  to  the 


preceding  one,  and,  like  it,  belongs  to  the  division  which 
is  characterised  by  the  negative  characters  of  the  want  of 
canine  teeth,  the  absence  of  free  simple  rays  in  the  pec- 
torals, or  of  any  other  remarkable  peculiarity  in  the  fins. 
The  snout  is  very  short  and  gibbous,  the  eyes  rather  large, 
and  nearly  touching  above,  and  the  cheeks  are  not  swollen. 
The  teeth  are  in  villiform  bauds,  tapering  off  nearly  to  a 
single  series  towards  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  but  having 
considerable  breadth  at  the  symphysis,  from  the  addition, 
as  it  were,  of  several  rows  exterior  to  the  general  line  of 
the  dental  surface.  The  exterior  ones  are  a  very  little 
stouter  than  the  rest,  and  all  are  slightly  incurved,  but 
there  are  no  canines.  The  eyes  are  very  prominent,  and 
the  short  snout  is  suddenly  rounded  off.  The  preorbitar 
lip  is  rather  full,  but  it  is  even,  and  in  no  wise  lobed  or 
notched,  as  in  Perioplit/ialmus,\\\nch  this  fish  much  resem- 
bles in  the  face.  The  scales  of  the  cranium  terminate  by 
a  rounded  outline,  which  just  touches  the  orbits.  The 
snout,  the  whole  of  the  cheeks,  gill-plates  and  membranes 
are  scaleless.  Bright  yellow  muciferous  lines  branch  on 
the  cheek,  and  traverse  the  temporal  furrow.  There  are 
open  pores  on  the  disk  of  the  preoperculum,  in  the  tem- 
poral furrow,  on  the  nape,  and  other  parts  of  the  head. 
The  lengths  of  the  head  and  caudal  fin  are  about  equal, 
and  each  forms  one-fifth  of  the  length  of  the  whole 
fish. 

The  pectoral  is  semi-elliptical,  or  more  rounded  when 
very  fully  extended.  Its  membrane  is  very  delicate,  and 
readily  disappears  ;  but  in  our  most  perfect  specimens,  only 
the  tips  of  the  upper  rays  are  free.  The  uppermost  ray 
alone  is  simple.  The  first  and  second  rays  of  the  first 
dorsal  are  longer  than  the  rest.  The  last  ray  of  tlie  second 
dorsal  and  of  the  anal  is  divided  to  the  base.  The  caudal 
is  rounded. 

The  scales  of  the  body  are  rather  large,  and  very  regu- 
larly placed.  Each  is  five  sided:  having  the  lateral  sides 
straight  and  parallel,  the  base  undulated,  so  as  to  produce 
a  central  rounded  lobe,  and  the  two  free  or  posterior  sides 
meeting  in  an  acute  angle,  with  the  apex  more  or  less  blunt. 
These  free  sides  are  strongly  and  regularly  toothed.  About 
twelve  fine  fan-like  lines  run  from  near  the  posterior  tip  lo 
the  basal  lobe.  There  are  twenty-six  scales  in  a  row 
between  the  gill-opening  and  the  caudal  fin. 

The  general  colour  of  the  specimens  in  spirits  is  honey- 
yellow.  The  sides  are  marked  by  brownish  black  inter- 
rupted lines,  which  in  the  upper  parts  are  slender  and 
approximated.  The  lowest  two,  being  on  a  level  with  the 
lower  half  of  the  pectorals,  are  composed  of  a  series  of 
seven  or  eight  oblong,  rectangular  spots.  The  fine  upper 
lines  are  most  numerous  at  the  shoulders  of  the  fish,  pos- 
teriorly they  are  reduced  to  about  four;  between  them 
there  is  an  equal  number  of  rows  of  very  minute  white 
specks.  On  the  caudal  and  pectorals  there  are  five  or  six 
dark  transverse  lines,  alternating  with  an  equal  number  of 
white  ones.  On  the  dorsals  and  the  anal  there  are  also 
alternate  black  and  fine  white  lines,  slightly  oblique,  and 
inteiTupted  by  the  rays.  The  mucigenous  fines  on  the 
cheeks  are  bright  yellow,  the  rest  of  the  head  looks  jiur- 
plish,  but  the  colour  appears  to  be  nearly  faded  away  in 
our  specimens.  The  specimen  which  is  figured  had  the 
following 

B   2 


DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  tip  of  snout  to  end  of  caudal  fin  3"25  inches. 

„                     „             anus 1-30  „ 

„                     „             gill-opening 0-70  „ 

Height  of  body 0-60  „ 

Thickness  of  ditto 045  „ 

Length  of  pectoral  fin   0-55  „ 

„          caudal  fin 070  „ 

Hab.  North-west  coast  of  Australia. 

Eleoteis  gobioides.     Cuv.  et  Valenc. 

Eleotris  gobioides.     Hist,  des  Poiss.  12,  p.  247. 

Radii:— B.   6;   D.  6|  — 1|11;    A.   l\\0;    C.  22  ;   P.   20; 
V.  1|5.* 

Plate  II.,  figs.  5,  6,  natural  size. 

Many  specimens  of  this  fish  were  procured  by  the 
expedition  in  the  salt  water  of  the  Bay  of  Islands,  and  in 
a  fresh  water  lake  a  short  way  in  the  interior.  They  vary 
considerably  in  the  distinctness  of  the  markings,  and  the 
pale  vertical  line  on  base  of  the  pectoral  fin  is  in  some 
scarcely  to  be  perceived.  The  dark  blotches  on  each  side 
of  the  line  always  exist. 

The  operculum  and  suboperculum  are  scaly  ;  the  ante- 
rior corner  only  of  the  latter  bone,  and  the  interoperculum, 
being  naked.  The  cheek  appears  to  be  naked,  but  scales 
may  be  detected  by  scraping  off  the  smooth  integument. 
On  the  top  of  the  head  the  scales  come  forward  to  oppo- 
site the  posterior  third  of  the  orbits,  and  are  scarcely 
sensibly  less  than  those  of  the  body ;  their  bounding 
line  sweeps  round  to  behind  the  eye,  and  there  is  a 
cluster  of  small  scales  on  the  temple  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  preoperculum.  Two  open  pores  exist  on  the  disk 
of  this  bone,  and  there  are  many  fine  mucigenous  lines 
on  the  head,  viz.,  one  running  longitudinally  along  the 
interior  border  of  each  nasal  region,  another  beneath  the 
eye,  a  double  one  along  the  temporal  fuirow,  one  branching 
on  the  cheek,  one  tracing  the  lower  edge  of  the  interoper- 
culum, and  continuing  up  the  furrow  which  marks  the 
edge  of  the  preoperculum  to  the  temple,  and,  lastly,  one 
crossing  the  operculum  obliquely. 

dimensions. 

Length  from  upper  lip  to  tip  of  caudal  fin 5'80  inches. 

„                 „             anus    2-90  „ 

„                „            gill-opening    1-65  „ 

Length  of  caudal 1-05  „ 

Height  of  body MO  „ 

Thickness  of  body    0!W  „ 

„             head  at  gill  plates 1-00       „ 

The  largest  example  measures  above  seven  inches  in 
length. 

Hab.  Bay  of  Islands,  and  adjoining  fresh-water  lakes 
of  New  Zealand. 

*  The  last  two  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  separate  at  the  base 
and  aie  counted  here  separately,  not  as  branches  of  one  ray,  as  in  the 
Hist,  des  Poiss. 


Eleotris  mogurnda.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  El.  rostro,  genlsque  sqtiamosis ;  fasciis  tribus 
obliquis  nigrescentibus  in  operculis,  maculis  obscuris  in 
medio  latere;  pinnis  dorsi,  ani  et  caud<B  maculosis. 

Radii:— D.  8|-1|14;  A.  1|14;  C.  32;  P.  16;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  II.,  figs.  1  and  2,  natural  size. 

This  species,  like  the  preceding,  has  much  the  aspect 
of  the  common  obscure-coloured  gobies  of  the  European 
seas,  and  it  differs  from  the  Eleotrides  generally,  in  having 
a  greater  number  of  dorsal  and  anal  rays.  Its  specific 
name  is  its  native  appellation  at  Port  Essington. 

The  body  is  highest  at  the  commencement  of  the  first 
dorsal,  and  it  diminishes  so  gradually  posteriorly,  that  the 
tail  is  only  a  third  less  high.  In  profile  the  nape  is  round, 
and  the  slope  from  thence  is  pretty  steep,  in  a  straight  or 
slightly  hollow  line  to  the  nostrils,  where  the  snout,  as  is 
usual  in  the  genus,  bulges  a  little.  The  thickness  of  the 
body  is  a  third  less  than  the  height,  and  the  compression 
increases  in  the  tail  until  the  thickness  is  only  a  third  of 
the  height.  The  sides  are  flattish,  the  belly  is  obtuse,  the 
back  rather  less  so.  The  cheeks  and  gill-cover  are  convex, 
and  the  top  of  the  head  is  Hat,  or  somewhat  hollow  in 
the  middle.  The  temporal  groove  is  deeply  impressed,  and 
is  lined  with  scales,  without  the  fine  line  of  pores  which 
traverses  it  in  many  species.  Neither  are  the  muciferous 
lines  to  be  traced  on  the  cheek. 

The  cheeks  and  gill-covers  are  densely  scaly,  and  on 
the  top  of  the  head  the  scales  are  equal  in  size  to  those  of 
the  body.  They  run  forward  nearly  to  the  edge  of  the 
snout,  terminating  in  an  obtuse  projection  on  each  side  of 
a  small  scaleless  space,  covering  the  intermaxillary  pedicles. 
The  narrow  nasal  regions,  the  small  preobitar,  the  upper 
and  under  lips,  the  lower  border  of  the  interoperculum, 
the  lower  jaw,  and  the  gill-membrane,  are  also  scaleless. 
The  convex  upper  border  of  the  orbit  is  clothed  by  a  triple 
series  of  densely  tiled  scales,  much  smaller  than  those  on 
the  cheek,  or  top  of  the  head. 

The  eye  is  distant  one  diameter  of  the  orbit  from  the 
tip  of  the  snout,  and  two-and-a-half  from  the  gill-opening. 
The  head  constitutes  a  third  of  the  length  of  the  fish, 
excluding  the  caudal  fin.  The  mouth  is  moderately  large, 
and  the  lowerjaw  is  longer  than  the  upper  one.  The  teeth 
are  in  moderately  broad  villiform  bands,  with  an  outer 
row  above  and  below,  a  little  stouter.  The  tongue  and 
palate  are  studded  by  minute  glandular-looking  papillae. 
The  gill-membranes  join  the  isthmus  far  forward,  beneath 
the  fore  part  of  the  orbit,  but  the  opening  is  restricted  by 
a  delicate  interior  fold  of  membrane,  beneath  the  upper 
limb  of  the  preoperculum.  There  are  three  pores  on  the 
disk  of  the  preoperculum.  The  anus  is  posterior  to  the 
middle  of  the  fish,  caudal  excluded.  The  anal  papilla  is 
small  and  simple.  The  general  colour  of  the  specimens, 
after  long  maceration  in  spirits,  is  honey-yellow,  or  pale 
brown,  unspotted  on  the  under  surface  of  the  head  and 
belly,  but  deepening  into  dark  umber  on  the  back.  A 
crowded  series  of  blackish  brown  blotches  runs  along  the 
middle  of  the  sides,  and  there  are  three  parallel  oblique 
dark  streaks  on  the  side  of  the  head.     The  upper  streak 


crosses  the  operculum  and  base  of  the  pectoral,  the  other 
two  run  from  the  orbit  over  the  cheek  and  suboperculuni. 
The  vertical  fins  are  spotted.  Some  specimens  measured  a 
third  more  than  the  one  having  the  following 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  upper  lip  to  end  of  caudal  fin  4-20  inches. 

„  „  anus 2-00  „ 

„  „  gill-opening    1-15  „ 

Height  of  body  behind  the  pectorals 0-86  „ 

Thickness  there 0o8  „ 

„        at  the  gill-covers 0t)3  „ 

Height  of  tail   0-50  „ 

Thickness  of  tail  near  base  of  caudal O'UJ  „ 

Length  of  caudal  fin    0-80  „ 

H.\B.    Port  Essington,  north  end  of  Australia. 

NoTOTHENiA.     RichardsoH. 

Ch.    Gen.     Forma    Eleotridihus    necnon   Tradiiiiis   rel 

Percibus  quodammodo  similis.     Corpus  e  capUe  turnido 

ventreque    prominulo    in  caudam   compressam   sensim 

macrescens. 
Os  modicum,  terminale.     Labia  tumida,  rejlexa.     Inter- 

niaxillaria  ossa  parum  prolractiUa.     Maxilla  sub  os 

preorhitale  recedeiis,  apice  tamen  lafiori  ultra  extenso 

hinc  ad  angulum  oris  patefacto. 
SquamaB  satis  magna. 
Linea  lateralis  ante  Jinem  pimue  dorsi  seciindw  diffracta, 

infra  resumpta  denique  ad  basin  pinncc  candce  desinens. 
Preoperculum  porosum,  incrme,  acie  sonicinulari  libera. 
Os  operculare  prope  angulum  ejus  superum  emarginatum, 

nee  tamen  in  pisce  recenti  angulos  acutos  ostendetis. 
Membrana  branchiostega  radiis  sex  sustentata,  aperturam 

satis  magnam  operiens. 
Dentes  mandibulorum  breves,  acerosi,  intcquales,  slipati. 
Palatum  linguaque  Iceves. 
Pinna;  ventrales  jugulares:  pectorales  magna,  rotundata: 

pinna  dorsi  prior  radiis  panels  Jiexilibus  sustentata  ; 

dorsi  secunda  priori  approximata,  pinnaque  ani  longa, 

cequales. 
Caeca  pylorica  circiter  quinque. 
Vesica  pneumatica  nulla. 
Cranium  convexum,  lave. 

NoTOTHENi.\  coRiicEPs.     Richardson. 


Ch.  Spec.  N.  capite  coriaceo,  papilloso  rugosoque ; 
pinna  cauda  truncatd ;  membrana  branchiostega 
albidd. 

Radii:— Br.  6;    D.  5|  — .34;    A.   -27;    C.   12,  i.;    P.  17; 

V.  1|5. 

Plate  III.,  fig.  1  and  2,  natural  size. 

Kerguelen's  Land,  lying  in  the  49th  parallel  of  south 
latitude,  and  70th  degree  of  east  longitude,  or  directly 
southward  of  the  Indian  Ocean,  and  far  from  other  islands 
of  any  magnitude,  is  skirted  by  a  belt  of  sea-weed,  among 
which  our  navigators  obtained  many  examples  of  three 
different  species  of  fish  belonging  to  the  genus  charac- 


terised above  as  a  new  form.  The  present  species  was 
taken  also  at  the  Auckland  Islands,  in  the  51st  parallel, 
and  due  south  of  New  Zealand.  Other  species  frequent 
Cape  Hora,  and  one  was  procured  among  the  ice,  within  the 
Antarctic  circle,  near  the  155th  meridian,  west.  The  de- 
signation* of  the  genus  has  reference  to  its  high  southern 
habitat,  where  it  is  probably  represented  by  one  or  more 
species  in  almost  every  degree  of  longitude. 

I  have  not  been  able  satisfactorily  to  detennine  the 
family  to  which  Notothenia  belongs.  Jn  many  of  its  cha- 
racters it  coincides  with  Eleginus,  whieh  is  associated  by 
Cuvier  with  the  Scianida.  They  agree  in  having  jugular 
ventrals,  only  six  gill-rays,  and  no  air-bladder,  particulars 
that  seem  to  indicate  a  want  of  affinity  with  the  true 
Scianida,  which  are  remarkable  for  the  development  of 
their  air-bladders,  and  have  cavernous  crania,  very  different 
from  the  smooth,  rounded  skull  of  a  Notothenia.  The 
flexibility  of  the  spinous  rays  of  this  genus,  the  open  pores 
on  the  preoperculum  and  lower  jaw,  and  the  close  simi- 
larity of  its  ventrals  and  general  habit  to  Eleotris,  induced 
me  to  place  it  among  the  Gobiida,  next  to  the  latter  genus  ; 
but  the  existence  of  the  aberrant  form  of  Notothenia  } 
rossii,  which  has  short,  stiff,  blunt,  though  not  stout  rays, 
in  the  first  dorsal,  renders  this  collocation  less  satisfactory. 

I  have  not  had  access  to  any  specimen  of  Eleginus,  for 
the  pmpose  of  instituting  a  comparison  with  Notothenia, 
but  judging  from  the  figure  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons, 
(plate  115,)  and  that  in  the  Voyage  de  la  Coquille  of 
Eleginus  maclorinus,  the  general  habit  of  the  two  genera 
is  dissimilar.  Eleginus  has  a  bluff  snout,  more  like  a 
Sciana  ;  its  maxillary,  considerably  enlarged  in  the  middle, 
glides  under  a  square  preorbitar,  its  head  is  extensively 
scaly,  and  its  gill-plate  is  dissimilar  in  form.  The  figure 
in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  differs  from  that  in  the 
Voyage  de  la  Coquille,  in  the  lateral  line  being  repre- 
sented as  continuous ;  and  though  the  specimens  from 
which  the  fonner  drawing  M'as  made  are  stated  to  have 
been  imperfect,  yet  the  continuous  line  seems  unques- 
tionably to  be  proper  to  Eleginus,  for  it  is  assigned  in 
the  Histoire  des  Poissons  to  two  other  species,  closely 
resembling  maclorinus,  and  M.  Lesson  states  that  his  figure 
is  incorrect  in  this  point,  and  in  some  others.  The  inter- 
rupted lateral  line,  therefore,  is  a  ready  mark  by  which  to 
know  Notothenia  fi'om  Eleginus. 

In  Notothenia  coriiceps  the  head  constitutes  exactly  a 
fourth  part  of  the  length  of  the  fish,  caudal  fin  included, 
and  is  convexly  conical,  with  all  the  corners  rounded  off, 
the  snout  and  upper  lip  forming  the  rather  obtuse  apex. 
The  body  is  thickest  at  the  pectorals,  where  the  height  and 
width  are  about  equal,  and  is  much  compressed  beyond 
the  anus,  which  is  in  the  middle  of  the  fish,  caudal  ex- 
cluded. Behind  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  the  height  of  the 
tail  is  thrice  its  thickness.  The  profile  descends  in  a  con- 
vex curve  from  the  first  dorsal,  with  a  moderate  flattening 
of  the  cranium,  and  a  sudden  drooping  of  the  upper  lip, 
beneath  the  end  of  the  snout.  The  belly  is  rather  tumid, 
and  when  the  blunt  tongue  is  depressed,  the  integument 
bulges  out  between  the  limbs  of  the  lower  jaw.  The  cir- 
cular orbit  is  situated  high  up,  and  as  near  again  to  the 


tip  of  the  snout  as  to  the  gill-opening.  Its  diameter  is 
one-fifth  of  the  length  of  the  head.  The  upper  rim  of  the 
orbit  is  slightly  prominent,  and  the  interorbital  space, 
whose  breadth  exceeds  the  diameter  of  the  eye  by  a  third, 
is  flat,  the  flatness  reaching  from  the  hind  head  to  near  the 
nostrils.  One  nasal  orifice,  with  a  tubular  rim,  is  situated 
a  short  way  before  the  eye.  The  other  opening  is  very 
small,  and  close  to  the  edge  of  the  snout,  but  it  does  not 
differ  in  appearance  from  the  neighbouring  pores. 

The  head  is  almost  entirely  destitute  of  scales,  and  its 
upper  surface  is  rough  with  innumerable,  porous,  conical 
papillae.  On  the  side  of  the  head  the  roughness  is 
produced  by  minute  crests,  or  thin,  short,  cuticular  ridges, 
which  occasionally  anastomose,  or  divide.  The  scales  of 
the  body  terminate  on  the  nape  in  a  convex  curve,  which 
is  on  a  line  with  the  upper  ends  of  the  preopercula,  and 
sweeps  backwards  on  each  side  to  the  gill-openings.  An- 
terior to  this  there  is  a  small  patch  of  scales  on  each  limb 
of  the  supra-scapular,  and  four  or  five  small  round  scales, 
deeply  imbedded  in  the  integument,  lie  in  a  line,  stretching 
from  the  inferior  edge  of  the  orbit  over  the  temples.  Many 
small  open  pores  are  scattered  over  the  head,  particularly 
on  the  snout  and  lips.  Five  remarkable  ones  perforate  the 
disk  of  the  preoperculum,  and  there  are  three  on  each 
limb  of  the  lower  jaw.  The  preorbitar  has  an  oblong 
rectangular  form,  and  is  of  moderate  size,  but  its  form  is 
concealed  by  the  integument  which  is  continuous  with  the 
cheek.  The  rest  of  the  suborbitar  chain  is  merely  a  row 
of  small  tubes,  closely  embracing  the  under  half  of  the 
orbit. 

The  mouth  is  terminal  and  rather  small,  extending  back- 
wards only  to  the  anterior  third  of  the  eye.  The  tumid 
and  roughish  lips  fold  back  on  the  intermaxillaries  and 
lower  jaw.  The  teeth  on  the  jaws  are  short,  subulate,  and 
slightly  curved,  and  near  the  symphyses  are  disposed  in 
four  or  five  rows,  which  on  the  limbs  of  the  jaws  are 
reduced  to  one.  Those  forming  the  exterior  row  are  a  little 
stouter  than  the  rest.  There  is  a  narrow  but  firm  velum 
behind  the  teeth  on  both  jaws.  The  roof  of  the  mouth  is 
smooth,  and  the  pharyngeal  teeth  are  a  Utile  smaller  than 
those  of  the  jaws.  The  rather  slender  maxillary  is  con- 
cealed, for  the  greater  part  of  its  length,  when  the  jaws 
are  closed,  by  the  edge  of  the  preorbitar.  Its  lower,  wider, 
and  truncated  end,  passes  beyond  the  preorbitar,  curves  a 
little  forwards,  and  is  exposed  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth. 
The  preoperculum  has  an  obtusely  elliptical  outline, 
approaching  to  the  segment  of  a  circle,  with  a  perfectly 
entire  edge,  which  is  free,  and  capable  of  being  elevated. 
The  bony  operculum  has  a  semi-circular  notch  in  the 
upper  part  of  its  posterior  edge,  the  bone  there  being 
strengthened  by  two  low  ribs,  whose  points  form  the  cor- 
ners of  the  notch.  Two-thirds  of  a  disk  of  the  bone  is 
below  the  notch.  The  suboperculum  is  much  less  high. 
These  parts  are  concealed  in  the  recent  fish,  but  show  a 
little  as  the  integument  dries.  The  thin  interoperculum 
is  rather  broad.  The  gill-raj's  ai'e  stoutish,  and  some- 
what curved,  and  the  gill-membrane  is  a  little  narrowed  at 
the  edge,  which  causes  it  to  swell  out  when  fully  extended, 
the  play  of  the  pieces  of  the  gill-cover  producing  a  corre- 
sponding bulging  out  of  the  sides  of  the  head.  The  mem- 
branes are  united  on  the  throat,  and   a  free  edge  is  left 


where  they  adhere  to  the  isthmus.*  On  the  rays  the 
cuticle  is  rough,  but  it  is  smooth  in  the  folds  of  the  mem- 
brane.    The  bones  of  the  humeral  chain  are  smooth. 

The  scales  are  moderately  large,  there  being  fifty-four 
in  a  row  between  the  gill-opening  and  base  of  the  caudal, 
exclusive  of  two  or  three  small  ones  on  the  latter  fin,  and 
eighteen  in  a  vertical  row  anteriorly,  of  which  six  are 
above  the  lateral  line.  Each  scale  is  truncated  at  the  base, 
has  two  parallel  sides,  and  a  rounded  free  edge,  its  length 
and  breadth  being  about  equal.  Ten  or  twelve  diverging 
fuiTows  cross  the  centre  of  the  disk,  and  end  on  the  basal 
edge,  where  they  produce  a  corresponding  number  of  cre- 
natures.  The  semicircular  tip  is  covered  with  thick  epi- 
dermis, which  under  the  lens  appears  to  be  dotted  with 
stelliform  specks.  When  the  integument  is  removed,  little 
pits  appear  on  the  scale,  but  there  are  no  rough  points,  or 
the  slightest  indication  of  teeth.  This  is  the  character  of 
the  scales  generally  on  the  back,  belly  and  tail,  but  on  the 
sides  behind  the  pectoral  the  scales  are  more  truncated  at 
the  tip,  without  the  membranous  edge,  and  are  distinctly 
toothed  on  the  edge.  The  diff"erence  of  the  two  kinds  of 
scales  is  not  readily  perceptible  to  the  naked  eye.  The 
lateral  line  runs  near  the  back,  and  terminates  under  the 
thirtieth  ray  of  the  second  dorsal,  recommencing  two 
scales  lower  down,  and  running  along  mid-height  of  the 
tail  to  end  at  the  base  of  the  caudal.  Except  two  or 
three  crowded  rows  of  small  scales  on  the  base  of  the 
caudal,  and  the  patch  which  encroaches  on  the  base  of  the 
pectoral  anteriorly,  there  are  no  scales  on  the  fins.  The 
pectoral  is  naked  posteriorly. 

The  ventrals,  having  much  resemblance  to  those  of  an 
Eleotris,  are  situated  before  the  bases  of  the  pectorals. 
Their  small  spine  has  a  flexible  tip.  The  pectorals  are 
rather  large,  and  are  rounded.  They  reach  beyond  the 
anus.  The  first  dorsal  commences  over  the  base  of  the 
pectorals,  and  is  sustained  by  five  flexible  rays.  The 
second  dorsal  begins  close  to  the  end  of  the  first  one,  and 
has  an  even  outline.  All  its  rays  are  jointed,  but  the  first 
is  unbranched,  though  its  tip  is  divided  by  a  dark  line. 
The  last  ray  is  divided  to  the  base.  The  anal,  similar  in 
form  to  the  second  dorsal,  has  no  spinous  ray.  The  caudal 
is  even  at  the  end,  with  the  corners  rounded  oflf. 

The  colours  of  the  fish  appear  to  have  been  obscure,  but 
they  cannot  be  made  out  from  the  specimens.  The  gill- 
membrane  and  under  surface  of  the  head  are  white.  There 
are  some  dark  marks  on  the  gill-cover,  and  the  whole 
upper  surface  is  darkish. 

The  intestines  of  the  specimen  examined  were  some- 
what damaged,  but  the  stomach  was  distinctly  made  out 
to  be  wide,  with  a  short  conical  pyloric  branch  going  ofT 
laterally  at  about  the  third  of  the  height,  from  the  rounded 
fundus.  The  internal  surface,  especially  towards  the 
pylorus,  is  finely  reticulated,  and  coarsely  plaited.  The 
pylorus  is  much  contracted,  and  five  obtuse  cajca  surround 
the  gut  immediately  below  it,  the  longest  exceeding  an 
inch  in  length.  The  gut  was  filled  with  Entomostrava, 
and  a  few  small  shells. 


*  In  the  Eleoti-is  tlie  gill-membrane  is  attached  to  each  side  of  the 
narrow  islhimis,  is  not  united  to  its  fellow,  exterior  to  it,  and  conse- 
quently has  no  free  edge  at  the  union. 


DIMENSIONS. 
Length  from  the  iutermaxillary  symphysis  to  extremity 

of  caudal '. 10-20  inches. 

Length  of  head  to  gill-opening 2-5o  „ 

„          caudal  fin  HI  „ 

Height  of  the  head  at  the  ocei|iiit IVH 

body  at  tlie  Ills!  ,lni^,,l   2-14  „ 

Width  of  the  head  at  the  pro. percula   2-10  „ 

„       of  shoulder  at  tlie  liisl  dorsad 2-14  „ 

Distance  between  the  eyes  0(i5  „ 

Diameter  of  the  orbit 050  „ 

Hab.  The  coasts  of  Kurgueleii's  land,  anrl  of  the  Auck- 
land Islands. 

NOTOTHENIA    CYANOBRANCHA.       Richaidson. 

Ch.  Spec.  N.  capite  (prater  genas,  partes  siipra-scapv- 
lares  et  superiores  operculi  squamosasj,  cute  levissimd 
tecto  ;  pinna  caudee  rotundatd ;  pinnis  dorsi  membrand 
conne.vis  ;  viemhrand  branchiostegd  margine  cwruleo. 

Radii  :  -Br.  6  ;  D.  4|— 36  ;  A.  .3-2  ;  C.  '2-2  ;  P.  21  ;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  IV.,  figs.  1,  -2,  natural  size. 

This  species  has  a  rather  smaller  and  more  depressed 
head  than  the  preceding  one,  the  total  length  of  the 
fish  being  equal  to  4^  times  that  of  the  head.  The  width 
of  the  head  is  equal  to  its  length,  its  height  is  less.  The 
top  of  the  head,  the  preorbitar,  suborbitars,  and  lower  parts 
of  the  gill-plates,  are  covered  with  perfectly  smooth  integu- 
ment, without  a  vestige  of  the  papillae  which  are  crowded 
over  the  head  of  coriiceps.  There  are,  however,  two  small 
scaly  patches  on  the  limbs  of  the  supra  scapular  on  each 
side,  and  nearly  the  whole  cheek  and  the  upper  quarter 
of  the  operculum  are  scaly.  Pores  exist  on  the  preoper- 
culura  and  lower  jaw  as  in  the  preceding  species,  and  there 
are  also  some  on  the  snout,  and  on  the  upper  margins  of  the 
orbits.  The  teeth  do  not  form  more  than  two  inegular 
rows  at  the  symphysis  of  the  jaws,  and  are  smaller  on  the 
pharyngeal  bones  than  those  of  coriiceps.  The  two  dorsals 
are  also  joined  at  the  base  by  membrane  ;  the  numbers  of 
the  rays  differ.  In  other  parts  of  structure  the  resemblance 
is  close.  The  lateral  line  is  interrupted  under  the  thirtieth 
ray  of  the  second  dorsal,  and  in  recommencing  again 
below,  it  is  faintly  shown  farther  forward.  A  band  of  deep 
purple,  or  blue,  skirts  the  edge  of  the  gill-membrane.  In 
this  species  most  of  the  scales  of  the  body  are  toothed  on 
the  posterior  edge,  those  having  a  smooth  membraneous 
margin  being  confined  to  the  summit  of  the  back  and 
ventral  surface.  A  scale  taken  from  the  side  is  nearly 
equally  foiu'-sided,  the  posterior  edge  being  convexly 
curved  in  a  slight  degree,  and  finely  toothed.  The 
bases  of  teeth  which  have  worn  off,  produce  rounded  emi- 
nences on  a  narrow  part  of  the  disk,  adjoining  the  edge. 
Fifteen  furrows  commence  close  to  this  rough  border,  cross 
the  disk,  and  end  on  the  base,  including  its  rounded  corners, 
producing  a  corresponding  number  of  crenatures.  There  are 
six  rows  of  small  scales  on  the  base  of  the  pectoral,  ante- 
riorly. The  corresponding  part  behind  is  naked.  The 
last  rays  of  the  second  dorsal  and  anal  are  divided  to  the 
base. 

The  intestines  were  damaged,  so  that  their  form  could 
not  be  fully  ascertained,  but  four  pyloric  casca  were  clearly 


made  out,  and  there  may,  perhaps,  be  a  fifth.      No  vestige 
of  an  air-bladder  was  seen. 

niMENSIONS. 
Length  from  intermaxillary  symphysis  to  end  of  caudal 

(ill  ! 1060  inches. 

Length  from  iutermaxillary  symphysis  to  gill-opening...  255  „ 

„        of  caudal  fin 1"40  „ 

Thickness  at  preopercula    2'22  „ 

Height  at  occiput    I'H5  „ 

"„         1st  dorsal 215  „ 

Diameter  of  orbit    OSO  „ 

Breadth  between  orbits    0-50  „ 

Hab.    The  coasts  of  Kerguelen's  Land. 

Notothenia  puiti'UKiCEi's.     Richardson. 

Ch.  spec.     N.  pinnis  dorsalibus  discretis,  pinnd  priori 
superne  nigrd  ;    genis  hemilcpidolis  ;   capite  purpureo. 

Radii:— B.  6;  D.  4|— 35  ;  A.  31;  C.  IH;  P.  21  ;  V.  I|.5. 

Plate  II.,  figs.  3  and  4,  natural  size. 

This  species  considerably  resembles  the  last  one,  but  it 
is  less  com]3ressed  posteriorly  ;  its  whole  head  has  a  purple 
hue,  and  the  edge  of  the  gill-membrane  has  the  dark 
bluish  tint  of  cyunobrnncha  ;  the  first  dorsal  is  not  united 
by  membrane  to  the  second,  and  the  upper  half  only  of 
the  cheek  is  scaly.  There  are  also  some  minute  differ- 
ences in  the  form  of  the  scales  near  the  temples.  There 
are  fifty-two  rows  of  scales  between  the  gill-opening  and 
caudal  fin.  The  tail  is  less  compressed  than  in  the  other 
two  species.  The  vent  is  close  to  the  first  ray  of  the  anal 
fin,  with  its  orifice  facing  it,  and  there  is  no  anal  papilla. 
Our  examples  of  the  other  species  had  been  slit  open  on  the 
belly,  so  that  the  non-existence  of  an  anal  papilla  could  not 
be  clearly  ascertained.  In  the  enumeration  of  the  rays  given 
above,  the  last  two  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  considered 
as  separate  rays,  instead  of  branches  of  one  ray,  as  in  the 
jjreceding  species.  The  teeth  are  similar  to  those  of 
cyanobrancha. 

The  following  anatomical  particulars  were  ascertained. 
The  intestines  similar  to  those  of  coriiceps,  the  pyloric 
cceca  five  in  number.  In  the  skeleton  the  top  of  the  skull 
is  smooth  and  rounded,  both  transversely  and  longitudi- 
nally, without  ridges.  The  thin  papery  preorbitar  has  an 
oblong  rectangular  form  ;  the  other  bones  of  the  suborbitar 
chain  are  mere  narrow  tubes  which  bound  the  inferior  half 
of  the  orbit.  The  preopercidum  is  traversed  by  canals  in 
its  substance,  which  open  on  the  disk  by  oblique,  irregular 
mouths.  Its  outer  edge  is  thin  and  entire,  and  the  integu- 
ment which  covers  it  is  perforated  by  pores,  as  in  the 
other  species.  The  operculum  has  a  quadrantal  form, 
with  a  notch  occupying  the  upper  quarter  of  its  posterior 
curved  edge.  The  acute  points  which  bound  the  notch, 
are  the  tips  of  two  depressed  slender  ridges,  or  smooth 
ribs,  which  strengthen  the  bone,  and  meet  anteriorly  at  its 
articidar  angle.  The  suboperculum  is  narrow,  and  tapers 
into  a  thin  submembraneous  tip.  The  interoperculura 
is  rather  wide,  oblong,  and  thin,  with  an  even  edge.  A 
thin  posterior  ridge  gives  strength  to  the  limb  of  the  inter- 
maxillary. There  are  forty-six  vertebrae,  fifteen  of  which 
are  abdominal. 


DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  upper  lip  to  end  of  caudal  fin    520  inches. 

,,  „  gill-opening     1"31      „ 

Length  of  caudal-fin 0-70      „ 

Width  of  head  0-90      „ 

Height  of  hind  head 080      „ 

„         first  dorsal     0-95      „ 

Thickness  of  body  at  the  pectorals 085      „ 

Hab.    The  coasts  of  Kerguelen's   Land. 

NoTOTHENiA  coRNUCOLA.     Ricliardson. 
Ch.  Spec.    N.  capite  nudo,  Uevi,  poroso  ;  squamis  nullis 

supra-scapularibus,  operculis  superne  sqnamosis. 
Radii  :— Br.  6  ;  D.  5|— 32  ;  A.  27  ;  C.  19  ;  P.  21,  V.  \\b. 
Plate  VIII.,  figs.  4,  5,  natural  size. 
Many  specimens  of  a  small  Notothenia  were  collected 
by  the  expedition,  among  the  sea-weed  that  lines  the 
shores  of  Cape  Horn.  These  specimens  have  suffered 
much  injury  from  deterioration  of  the  spirit  in  which 
they  were  put,  and  the  figure  is  the  result  of  a  combina- 
tion of  the  most  perfect,  one  supplying  what  was  wanting 
in  another.  It  is  drawn  to  the  dimensions  of  the  largest 
specimen. 

In  general  form  the  species  resembles  N.  cyanobrancha. 
The  dorsal  fins  are  distinct,  but  contiguous.  There  is  a 
band  of  deeply  imbedded  scales  on  the  upper  border  of 
the  operculum,  a  few  small  ones  on  the  temples  adjoining 
the  upper  end  of  the  preoperculum,  but  none  on  the  space 
enclosed  by  the  limbs  of  the  supra-scapular.  The  tip  of 
that  bone  is  creuated,  and  looks  like  a  scale  through  the 
investing  skin.  A  row  of  pores  completely  encircles  the 
eye,  and  runs  forward  along  the  edge  of  the  snout.  Pores 
also  trace  out  the  limb  of  the  preoperculum,  and  run  along 
the  lower  jaw,  and  there  is  a  single  pore  on  the  mesial  line, 
between  the  eyes.  The  interorbital  space  is  narrower 
than  the  width  of  the  orbit.  The  posterior  nostril  is 
shortly  tubular  ;  the  anterior  one  cannot  be  distinguished 
from  a  pore.  The  scales  on  the  bellj'  are  very  small,  and 
between  the  ventrals  they  are  confined  to  the  middle  third 
of  the  space.  On  these  parts  they  are  not  toothed,  and 
no  teeth  are  visible  on  the  larger  scales  above  and  behind 
the  vent.  On  the  sides  of  the  body  and  tail  the  scales  are 
strongly  ciliated.     There  is  no  anal  tubercle. 

The  colours  generally  have  faded.  The  cheeks  and 
bases  of  the  pectorals  are  dark,  the  caudal,  second  dorsal, 
and  pectoral  fins  are  finely  mottled.  The  stomach  is 
pyriform,  with  a  short,  nearly  cylindrical  pyloric  branch 
springing  upwards  from  above  its  middle.  Round  the 
pylorus  there  are  seven  short  cseca,  and  the  intestine,  in 
its  course  to  the  anus,  doubles  once.  The  stomachs  of 
those  which  we  opened  contained  small  fish,  crabs,  and 
crayfish. 

Length,  from  three  to  six  inches. 
Hab.    Cape  Horn,  Port  Louis. 

Notothenia  phoc^.     Richardson. 
Ch.  Spec.    A'^.  rostro  conve.vo,  rictu  oris  ascendenti  ;  cor- 

pore  fusifornii,  caudd  compressd ;  pinna  dorsi  secundd 

pinndque  am  arcuatis. 
Radii:— Br.  6;  D.  41—25;  A.  30;  C.       ;  P.  23;  V.  \\b. 

On  the    14th   of  January,   1842,  when  the  ships  were 


embayed  among  ice,  in  the  65th  parallel  of  south  latitude, 
and  about  the  1 55th  west  meridian,  a  seal  was  taken  with 
twenty-eight  pounds  of  fish  in  its  stomach.  The  fish  were 
of  two  kinds,  one  a  Spliyrana,  the  other  a  Notothenia,  of 
which  there  were  many  mutilated  individuals.  Dr. 
Hooker  made  a  careful  drawing  of  the  most  perfect,  and 
put  several  examples  in  spirits,  but  they  have  become 
still  more  deteriorated,  though  enough  remains  to  leave 
little  doubt  as  to  the  genus,  and  even  to  show  that  the 
species  is  distinct  from  any  of  the  preceding  ones,  but 
not  sufficient  to  furnish  materials  for  a  correct  desciiption. 

In  the  form  of  the  head  this  fish  closely  resembles  the 
following,  N.  niagellanica,  the  orifice  of  the  mouth  in 
both  being  more  oblique  than  in  the  four  species  we  have 
figured.  The  dorsal  line  also  is  more  arched,  and  there 
is  a  corresponding  curve  of  the  ventral  line  posterior  to 
the  anus.  Anterior  to  that  orifice,  the  belly,  as  in  the 
others,  is  rather  protuberant,  and,  on  that  account,  the 
body  is  highest  at  the  commencement  of  the  second  dorsal 
fin,  though  the  summit  of  the  dorsal  curve  is  so  far 
back  as  the  ninth  ray  of  the  fin.  This  ray  is,  more- 
over, the  tallest,  and  the  anterior  and  posterior  ones 
diminish  very  gradually  in  height,  so  as  to  give  a  flatly 
curved  outline  to  the  fin.  The  first  dorsal  appears  to  be 
as  high  as  any  part  of  the  second  one,  but  neither  Dr. 
Hooker's  sketch,  nor  the  specimens,  enable  us  to  deter- 
mine whether  the  two  fins  were  connected  by  membrane 
or  not.  The  second  ray  of  the  first  dorsal  is  the  tallest, 
the  form  of  the  fin  being  the  same  with  that  of  niagellanica. 
The  anal  closely  resembles  the  second  dorsal,  and  both 
fins  have  a  slightly  prolonged  tip  to  the  last  ray.  The 
pectoral  is  similar  in  form  and  relative  size  to  that  of  the 
figured  species,  and  the  ventrals  are  also  similarly  placed. 
The  caudal  was  mutilated  in  all  the  specimens.  Neither 
the  course  of  the  lateral  line,  nor  the  presence  or  absence 
of  scales  on  the  head,  could  be  ascertained.  The  scales 
of  the  body  appear  to  have  been  tolerably  large.  Dr. 
Hooker's  notes  state  that  they  were  deeply  imbedded  in 
the  skin.  The  jaw  teeth  are  in  narrow  bands,  and  near 
the  middle  of  each  limb  of  the  lower  jaw  there  is  one  a 
little  larger  than  the  rest,  which  may  be  called  a  small 
canine  tooth.  The  partially  digested  fragments  were 
coloured  "  azure-blue,  mixed  with  pale  pink,  the  blue 
stronger,  brighter,  and  more  silvered  about  the  gill-covers, 
jaws,  and  cheeks,  mottled  more  or  less  with  large  black 
spots,  especially  about  the  ujjper  aspect  of  the  head,  the 
belly,  base  of  the  pectorals,  and  shoulders.  The  black 
pupil  surrounded  by  a  brilliantly  iridescent  iris,  streaked 
with  azure-blue,  silver,  and  carmine."  Perhaps  some  of 
the  tints  mentioned  by  Dr.  Hooker  may  have  been  pro- 
duced by  the  action  of  the  gastric  juice. 

The  liver  is  pale  red,  very  large,  three  lobed,  and  covers 
the  ventral  surface  of  all  the  intestines,  Its  breadth  above, 
in  a  fish  6|  inches  long,  is  TOSinch.  Below,  when  spread 
out,  it  measures  2*40  inches.  The  left  lobe,  in  situ,  is  0'70 
in  length,  the  right  one  hangs  down  to  the  anus,  and  is  \'7S 
inch  long ;  the  intermediate  lobe  is  much  smaller.  The 
vertically  kidney-shaped  stomach  emits  from  its  middle  at 
right  angles  a  short  cylindrical  pyloric  branch,  042  inch 
long,  and  below  the  pylorus  there  are  five  cylindrical 
obtuse  caeca,  the  longest  of  which   measures  035  inch. 


"Tlie  surface  of  the  stomach  was  studded  with  large  chalky- 
looking  spots.  Intestines  white,  corrugated,  and  three 
inches  in  length.  An  oblong  red  spleen  lies  between  the 
pyloric  branch  and  body  of  the  stomach.  The  urinary 
bladder  close  to  the  anus,  spha;rical,  and  in  all  the  speci- 
mens, full  of  water.  There  were  but  few  females  among 
the  specimens,  and  in  these  the  ova  were  very  large  and 
white."  The  subjoined  vignette  represents  the  liver  and 
stomach,  in  nitu  fa)  ;  the  stomach  and  intestine  (b),  and 
the  urinary  bladder  and  lower  part  of  the  rectum  (ej. 

Dimensions  of  five  of  the  most  complete  specimens. 

Females.  Male. 

Length,  exclusire  of  caudal...  6-73  6.35  6  27  600  2-.5.T  inches. 

from  vent  to  cauilal...  5-72  :V42  .307  .360  1-28  „ 

Greatest  depth  of  hody 1-82  163  1-20  1-.50  048  „ 

breadth  of  ditto  112  0-98  0-93  103  026  „ 

Length  of  head  to  gill-opening  2-00  1-82  182  1'83  059  „ 

Heightofhead 1-21  1-17  1-28  115  045  „ 

Breadth  of  ditto O'So  0-80  0-91  102  0-25  „ 

Length  of  pectoral  fin   1-60  125  126  1-28  027  „ 

ventrals    I'll  107  104  „ 

Average  weight,  2j  ounces. 

Hab.  Antarctic  Glacial  Ocean,  off  Victoria  Land. 


ventral  fins,  and  a  first  dorsal  similar   to  that  of  cyano- 
b  ranch  a. 

IIab.    Among    the    sublittoral    sea-weed   of   Terra  del 
Fuego. 


NOTOTHENIA  ?    RO.SSII. 

Ch.  Spec.     N.   ?  radiis  pinnie  dc 
iusis,  brevibus  ;  corpore  elongat 

Kadii:— Br.  6;    D.  7| 


NOTOTHENIA    MAGELLANICA.       Forster. 

Ch.  Spec.  N.  capite  supra  piano,  dedive,  laieribus  et 
infra  roitindato,  sqiiamoso  ;  preoperciilis,  operculisque 
sqvamosis  ;  pinnis  ventral ibiis  aciinunalis,  pinna  dorsi 
secundd  el  anisensim  postice diminuendis  ;  pinna  dorsi 
priori  trigond  ;  pinnis  omnibus  fuscis.     (Forster.) 


Radii 


14;    P.    17: 


115. 


-Br.  6;    D.  51—31;     C. 
(Forster.) 

Gadus  magellanicus,  I.  R.  Forsteri,  M.S.  TV.  46.   aj^ud 
Bl.  Schn.  p.  11.     Icon.  ined.  Bibl.  Banks,  fig.  178. 
Of  this  species  we  have  seen  no  example.      The  figure 
above  referred  to  represents  a  fish  very  similar  to  the  fol- 
lowing in  general  form,  but  with  a  different  outline  to  the 


Richardson. 

irst  prioris  r/gidis,  ob- 


1|32;    A.  l|-26;  C.  11|;  P.  22 ; 
V.  11.5. 


Plate  v.,  figs.  1,  2,  one-fourth  of  the  natural  size. 

This  fish  is  not  only  of  a  much  larger  size  than  the 
specimens  of  the  preceding  species  of  Notothenia  which 
were  brought  home,  but  differs  from  them  all  in  its  com- 
paratively low  first  dorsal,  supported  by  bluntish  spines, 
destitute  of  flexibility,  or  of  filamentous  tips.  There  is, 
moreover,  a  very  short  spine  at  the  commencement  of  the 
dorsal  and  anal,  and  the  pectoral  fin  is  smaller,  and  less 
orbicular  than  in  the  other  NotothenicB.  In  other  respects 
there  appears  to  be  no  external  generic  difference.  Only 
one  specimen  exists  in  the  collection,  and  that  is  merely 
the  stuffed  skin,  so  that  we  can  add  no  anatomical  parti- 
culars to  the  following  description,  which,  from  the  aber- 
rant character  of  the  species,  is  given  in  detail. 

The  head  measures  more  than  a  fourth  part  of  the  whole 
length  of  the  fish,  caudal  fin  excluded.  Its  height  at  the 
preoperculum  is  about  one-seventh  less  than  its  thickness, 
which  is  equal  to  two-thirds  of  its  length.  The  top  of  the 
head  is  flattish,  the  descent  from  the  hind  head  to  the 
snout  is  very  slight,  and  the  inclination  is  equally  slig:ht 
along  the  back  to  the  tail.  The  belly  is  a  little  tumid,  but  its 
profile  behind  the  anus  has  the  same  inclination  with  that  of 
the  back,  in  an  opposite  way.  The  head  is  thicker  than 
the  body.  The  oval  and  lateral  orbit  is  rather  large,  and 
is  placed  high  up  in  the  cheek,  at  the  distance  of  more 
than  its  length  from  the  edge  of  the  upper  lip,  and  three 
and  a  half  times  as  far  from  the  gill-opening.  In  the 
dried  specimen  the  suborbitar  bones  show  unevenly  through 
the  skin,  but  when  the  fish  was  recent,  they  must  have 
been  entirely  concealed.  The  anterior  one  covers  merely 
the  head  of  the  intermaxillary,  its  edge  not  being  free 
beneath.  One  nostril  is  placed  on  a  level  with  the  upper 
edge  of  the  orbit,  and  midway  between  the  eye  and  anterior 
comer  of  the  preorbitar,  or  edge  of  the  snout.  This  has  a 
tubular  rim.  The  other  very  minute  opening  is  close  to 
thatcorner.  The  preoperculum  has  its  limbs  sliglitly  curved, 
and  meeting  at  a  right  angle,  but  with  the  corner  gra- 
dually rounded  off.  Its  edge  is  quite  smooth,  audits  very 
narrow  disk  is  perforated  with  pores,  as  in  the  other  spe- 
cies, but  their  number  cannot  be  ascertained  from  the 
specimens,  as  both  cheeks  have  been  opened  along  the 
edge  of  the  preoperculum,  in  its  preparation.  The  upper 
end  of  this  bone  is  about  midway  between  the  eye  and  the 
gill-opening.  The  slightly  uneven  interoperculum  is  five 
times  as  long  as  it  is  broad.  The  suboperculum  is  ante- 
riorly of  the  same  height  with  the  interoperculum,  and 
gradually  tapers   away  posteriorly  to  a  thin  point,  which 


10 


sustains  the  membranous  tip  of  the  gill-flap.  The  trian- 
gular operculum  is  more  than  thrice  the  height  of  the 
subopevculuni,  and  a  deep  notch  or  fissure  divides  the 
border  of  its  upper  third.  The  lower  point  of  the  notch 
contiguous  to  the  tip  of  the  suboperculum  scarcely  shows 
through  the  dried  integument.  The  upper  limb  of  the 
notch  is  one-half  shorter  than  the  lower  one,  and  has  au 
obtuse  tip.  The  notch  is  filled  np  and  concealed  by 
integument.  The  head  is  nearly  scaleless,  the  nuchal 
scales  ending  at  the  directly  transverse  edge  of  the  occiput, 
which  shows  through  the  skin.  The  limbs  of  the  supra- 
scapular are  naked,  but  include  a  scaly  patch,  which  is 
separated  from  a  similar  small  patch  on  the  side  of  the 
scull,  by  the  transverse  occipital  edge  above  mentioned. 
The  junction  of  the  gill-flap  to  the  scull  is  also  protected 
by  about  four  rows  of  deeply  imbedded  round  scales,  and 
a  few  scales  encroach  irregularly  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
cheek,  behind  the  eye.  On  the  top  of  the  head  the  skin 
is  slightly  roughened  by  numerous  glandular-looking 
specks,  regularly  dispersed,  and  the  posterior  frontal  bones 
and  the  opercula  are  radiated.     The  cheeks  are  smooth. 

The  maxillary  is  cylindrical  for  three-fourths  of  its 
length,  and  becomes  thinner  and  wider  at  its  lower  end, 
which  is  unevenly  truncated.  There  is  no  enlargement  in 
the  middle  of  its  upper  border,  as  in  Eleginus.  The  lips 
and  tip  of  the  snout  are  minutely  villous.  The  jaw-teeth 
above  and  below  are  villiform,  with  an  outer  row  of  subu- 
late teeth,  stouter,  and  a  little  taller. 

The  gill-rays,  six  in  number,  are  cylindrical,  and  increase 
in  length  from  the  lowest  to  the  uppermost.  The  thick 
membrane  unites  with  its  fellow  a  little  behind  the  preoper- 
culum,  leaving  a  free  edge  where  it  adheres  to  the  isthmus. 
The  ventrals  are  attached  opposite  to  the  tip  of  the  gill- 
flap.  Their  rays  are  much  divided  at  the  tips,  and  are 
enveloped  in  thick  membrane,  which  entirely  conceals  the 
short  spine.  The  pectoral  is  rather  truncated.  The  sixth 
and  seventh  rays  are  longest.  The  first  dorsal  commences 
over  the  base  of  the  uppermost  pectoral  ray.  It  is  supported 
by  seven  short,  blunt,  but  not  very  stout  spines,  the  last 
two  scarcely  rising  above  the  skin.  The  second  dorsal 
has  a  very  short  spine.  Its  last  two  rays  are  approximated 
at  the  base,  but  are  reckoned  separately  in  our  enumeration. 
The  same  is  the  case  with  the  anal.  Its  spine  is  very 
short  and  incumbent  on  the  base  of  the  succeeding  ray. 
The  caudal  is  even  at  the  end. 

The  scales  are  round,  with  the  fore  and  hind  edge 
slightly  truncated,  so  as  to  render  them  higher  than  wide. 
There  are  sixty-two  in  a  line  between  the  gill-opening  and 
caudal  fin,  with  four  rows  above  the  lateral  line  anteriorly, 
and  about  twelve  below.  They  are  deeply  imbedded  in 
the  skin,  and  when  in  situ,  they  have  a  raised,  posterior, 
toothed  border,  which,  in  the  dried  fi.sh,  is  white,  and, 
under  a  lens,  appears  to  be  granulated  and  porous.  This 
border  is  easily  detached,  coming  away  with  the  epidermis. 
The  scale,  removed  from  its  place,  is  very  thin,  and,  under 
the  microscope,  exhibits  very  tine  close  concentric  lines  of 
structure,  with  six  or  seven  very  faint  fan-like  rays,  di- 
verging from  a  point  posterior  to  the  centre,  and  spreading 
a  little,  so  as  to  take  in  but  a  small  part  of  the  basal  edge. 
The  lateral  line  is  interrupted  under  the  twenty-eighth 
jomted  ray  of  the  second  dorsal,  resumed  on  the  fourth 


row  of  scales  beneath,  and  ends  at  the  base  of  the  caudal 
fin.  There  are  no  scales  on  the  fins,  except  on  the  base 
of  the  caudal,  on  which  there  are  two  rows  of  deeply 
imbedded  ones. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  upper  lip  to  end  of  caudal  fin 3420  inches. 

anus  1910  „ 

„  „  second  dorsal    13o0  „ 

„  „  first  dorsal 930  „ 

„  „  edge  of  gill-flap    9-00  „ 

Longitudinal  diameter  of  oval  orbit  1-40  „ 

Vertical  ditto  ditto  TOO  „ 

Height  of  head  posteriorly,  and  of  body  at  first  dorsal..     6o0  „ 

Width  of  ditto,  about.....' 6-20  „ 

Length  of  caudal  fin  3o5  „ 

„         pectoral  4-53  „ 

Callionymus  calauropomus.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  C.  spina  preoperculi  elongatd,  apice  sursum 
curvd,  bicuspidatd,  absque  denticulo  antico  bmali  ;  pin- 
nis  dorsi  nebulosis,  ventralibus  lentiginosis. 

Radii:— D.  4|— 8  ;  A.  7  ;  C.  10| ;  P.  19;  V.  1|5. 
Plate  Vli.,  figs.  4,  5. 

This  Australian  species  difl'ers  from  all  that  have  been 
described,  in  the  form  of  its  preopercular  spine,  which  is 
not  only  longer  than  is  usual  in  the  genus,  but  wants  the 
basal  tooth,  and  has  only  two  teeth  at  the  summit,  the 
interior  one  being  recurved,  so  that  the  whole  spine  has  a 
resemblance  to  a  shepherd's  crook,  [Ka>.au^o-l>). 

In  the  fullness  and  roundness  of  the  posterior  part  of  the 
body  and  tail,  this  species  differs  from  most  of  the  genus. 
The  sides  swell  out,  so  as  to  place  the  anal  and  second 
dorsal  in  a  deep  furrow,  and  to  give  the  fish  the  appear- 
ance of  a  full  bean-pod,  or  banana.  The  shoulders,  as 
usual,  are  broader  and  flatlish,  the  flatness  reaching  to  the 
orbits.  Before  the  eyes,  the  profile  descends  obliquely. 
The  mouth  is  small,  and  the  jaws  incline  downwards  when 
protracted.  The  eyes  are  not  above  a  line  apart,  and  are 
about  one  diameter  of  the  orbit  from  the  tip  of  the  snout, 
and  rather  more  from  the  gill-opening.  The  head  makes 
rather  more  than  a  third  of  the  length  of  the  fish,  caudal 
excluded.  The  lateral  line  crosses  the  nape  to  join  its 
fellow,  curves  over  the  end  of  the  pectoral,  and  runs  rather 
above  the  middle  of  the  side  to  the  caudal  fin,  on  the  base 
of  which  it  forks.  It  is  formed  by  a  continuous  narrow 
crenulated  ridge.  The  teeth  are  short,  villiform,  the  dental 
surface  being  widest  at  the  symphyses,  reducetl  to  a  single 
row  on  the  limbs  of  the  jaws,  and  not  extending  to  the 
angle  of  the  mouth.  The  preopercular  spine  is  long  and 
curved,  with  its  very  acute  tip  curved  upwards,  and  a 
stronger  tooth  above,  near  the  tip,  directed  upwards  and 
forwards. 

The  body  appears  to  have  been  entirely  of  a  rich  bronze 
colour,  smooth  and  shining,  with,  perhaps,  some  darker 
blotches  above.  The  second  dorsal  is  still  clouded  by  a 
few  dark  blotches.  The  membrane  of  the  first  is  blackish 
above,  the  ventrals  are  freckled,  and  there  are  some 
whitish  specks  on  the  caudal.  No  note  was  made  of  the 
colours  of  the  fish,  when  recent. 


11 


DIMENSIONS. 

LeiigtL  from  end  of  snout  to  tip  of  caudal S^S  inches. 

„  „  base  of  ditto 425  „ 

„      of  head  to  edge  of  operculum 1'50  „ 

I,  „  gill-opening     1'20  „ 

firet  dorsal  1-25  „ 

Long  diaractov  of  orbit 0-40  „ 

Breadth  of  head  at  gill-cover  0!)0  „ 

Height  of  body  at  nape    0-55  „ 

Height  at  middle  of  second  dorsal 055  „ 

Breadth  of  body  there 075  „ 

Geuus  Haupagifer.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Gen.     Caput    horizonlale,  supra  planum,   triangu- 

lare. 
Corpus  in  caudam  maxime  compressam   scnsim  e  hiimero 

attenuatiim. 
Squamas  iiiilla.     Linea  lateralis  antlce  trans  niicham  cvm 

pari  suo  conjugata  ram  ill  urn  que  ad  orlilam  utramque 

emUtens  in  summo  dorso  cursutn  tenens  et  ad  medium 

basis  pinna-  dorsi  secundce  dcsinens. 
Os  parvinn    ierminale.      Dentes  mandibularum  minuii, 

subulati,  suljincurii,stipati.  Palatum  lingitaque  laves. 
Oculi  viodici,  laterales.   Ossa  siiborbitalia.    Preoperculum 

inerme,  ellipticum.     Interopevculum  gracile,  spatula- 

forme,  preupervnlo  occidtum.      Operculum  spinani  ha- 

mifcram   sursiim    extrudens.      Suboperculum    spinam 

rectam  aque  insignem  eviHiens. 
Apertura  branchiarum  satis  magna  nee  tamen  sub  guld 

extensa.  Membrana  branchiostega  radiis  sex  sustentata. 
Pinnae  dorsalis  ducB,  quarum  prior  radiis  paucis  Jiexi- 

bilibus  sustentata.     Pinnae  ventrales  Eleotridum. 
Vesica  pneumatica  nulla.     Caeca  pylorica  tria. 
Obs.    Genus  inter   CalUonymum    et  Platypterum   collo- 

candum. 

Harpagifer  bispinis.     Richardson. 

Species  unica  adhuc  cognita. 

Radii:— B.  6;  D.  81—24;  A.  17;  C.  11|;  P.       ;  \.\\b. 

Batrachus  bispinis.     Bl.  Schn.  45. 

Callionyvius  bispinis.     I.  R.  Forster.     M.S.  IV.  45. 

Plate  VII.,  figs.  1,  2,  3,  natural  size. 

This  small  fish  abounds  among  the  kelp,  on  the  shores 
of  Cape  Horn.  Many  specimens  were  taken,  but  they 
are  all  injured  by  deterioration  of  the  spirit  into  which 
they  were  put,  so  that  the  true  distribution  of  the  dark  bars 
or  spots  cannot  be  determined,  and  some  uncertainty  exists 
with  respect  to  the  exact  shape  of  the  first  dorsal,  though 
there  is  none  as  to  the  number  of  the  rays.  It  seems  to 
be,  unquestionablj',  the  fish  described  by  Forster,  in  the 
notes  quoted  above.  The  description,  the  size  of  the  spe- 
cimens, and  the  locality,  correspond.  Forster  notes  the 
colour  of  his  specimens  as  being  blackish-brown  above, 
with  an  intermixture  of  orange-red  on  the  head ;  the 
second  dorsal,  pectorals  and  caudal,  as  being  varied  with 
orange-red  and  brown,  and  the  under  surface  of  the  body 
as  pale  orange,  the  anal  having  a  deeper  tint  of  the  same. 
He  enumerates  also  a  ray  less  in  the  second  dorsal,  and 


one  more  in  the  anal,  than  the  individual  we  liave  described 
below  possesses,  but  a  similar  variation  exists  in  Sir  James 
Ross's  specimens.  The  course  of  the  lateral  line  corre- 
sponds with  Forster's  account  of  it ;  but  the  line  of  jjores 
on  the  middle  of  the  sides  could  be  traced  only  at  the 
base  of  the  caudal  fin,  owing,  most  probably,  to  the  skin 
being  softened  and  worn. 

The  height  and  breadth  of  the  fi.sh  is  greatest  at  the 
gills,  the  head  being  a  short  pyramid,  and  the  body  a 
greatly  elongated  one,  with  the  plane  connecting  the  tips 
of  the  opercular  and  subopercular  spines  for  a  common 
base.  The  top  of  the  head  behind  the  eyes  is  flat,  and 
slightly  concave,  without  ridges.  The  eyes  are  placed 
high  up,  and  the  snout  anterior  to  them  is  short  and  trian- 
gular. The  length  of  the  head  is  contained  3j  times  in 
the  whole  length  of  the  fish,  and  its  breadth  at  the  hind 
head,  when  the  gill-covers  are  open,  is  equal  to  its  length. 
Before  the  eyes  the  profile  descends  obliquely  to  the  tip 
of  the  snout.  The  under  surface  of  the  head  and  breast 
is  flat,  and  the  ventral  line  ascends  slightly  from  the  ven- 
trals  to  the  tail,  in  correspondence  with  the  inclination  of 
the  back.  The  height  of  the  tail,  at  the  base  of  the  caudal 
fin,  is  equal  to  a  third  of  the  height  of  the  nape.  The  eye 
is  1  diameter  of  the  orbit  from  the  tip  of  the  snout,  and 
1^  from  the  gill-opeuing,  Sg^  diameters  being  equal  to  the 
length  of  the  head. 

The  mouth  is  small,  horizontal,  and  terminal,  the  lower 
jaw  being  just  perceptibly  longer  than  the  upper  one. 
The  jaws  are  very  little  protractile.  The  very  short  teeth 
are  subulate,  slightly  curved,  and  crowded  into  a  small 
tuft  at  the  symphyses  above  and  below,  but  reduced  almost 
to  a  single  row  on  the  limbs  of  the  jaws.  There  is  a  nar- 
row velum  behind  them  on  both  jaws.  The  tongue  and 
roof  of  the  mouth  are  smooth.  The  maxillary  increases 
gradually  in  breadth  to  its  lower  end,  which  is  truncated, 
and  moves  over  the  limb  of  the  lower  jaw.  A  very  short 
part  only  of  its  slender  upper  end  glides  under  the  edge 
of  the  preorbitar. 

Preorbitar  narrow,  not  toothed,  but  having  a  cavernous 
or  cellular  structure,  which  is  concealed  by  the  integument. 
The  rest  of  the  suborbitar  chain  is  reduced  to  a  row  of 
little  eminences,  with  porous  mouths,  closely  skirting  the 
eye  beneath  and  behind,  and  leaving  a  large,  fleshy,  convex 
cheek.  The  preoperculum  has  an  obtuse  semi-elliptical 
curve,  with  a  rather  narrow  disk,  equally  wide  throughout, 
and  without  any  projection  at  the  curve.  In  drying,  the 
integument  permits  cavities  on  the  disk  to  appear.  The 
interoperculum  is  slender  and  cylindiical,  and  is  concealed 
under  the  edge  of  the  preoperculum.  The  end  which  joins 
the  suboperculum  is  dilated,  so  as  to  give  the  form  of  a 
spatula  to  the  entire  bone.  The  operculum  ends  in  a  strong 
spine,  which  stands  upwards,  and  a  little  outwards,  and 
gives  off'  from  its  inner  side,  near  its  tip,  a  hooked  antler- 
like  branchlet.  The  suboperculum  ends  in  a  straight  hori- 
zontal spine,  having  a  slight  notch  at  its  tip.  When  the 
gill-plates  are  raised,  the  spines  project  laterally,  and  a 
narrow  border  of  membrane  runs  between  them,  to  the 
extreme  edge  of  which  the  branchiostegous  membrane  is 
united  at  an  acute  angle,  and  several  of  the  rays  show 
between  the  opercular  and  subopercular  spines.  The  sub- 
operculum  also  sends   off  vertically   a   filiform,   flexible, 

c  2 


12 


cartilaginous  ray,  which  lies  in  the  branchiostegous  mem- 
brane, above  the  uppermost  ray,  and  parallel  to  it,  and 
might  be  easily  mistaken  for  a  seventh  ray.  There  is  a 
deep  notch  on  the  upper  edge  of  the  operculum,  above 
the  spine,  which  is  filled  by  membrane.  The  gill-opening 
is  pretty  large,  but  mostly  vertical.  The  branchiostegous 
rays  are  cylindrical  and  slender,  and  the  membrane,  when 
extended,  bulges,  from  the  greater  narrowness  of  its 
edge. 

There  are  no  scales ;  the  skin  being  smooth,  and  appa- 
rently destitute  of  skinny  processes.  The  lateral  line  com- 
mences at  the  orbit,  unites  with  its  fellow  by  a  transverse 
line  on  the  nape,  then  runs  to  the  upper  angle  of  the  gill- 
opening,  and  from  thence  crosses  the  shoulder  to  the  base 
of  the  second  dorsal,  at  the  middle  of  which  it  terminates. 
At  first  it  is  traced  by  a  series  of  contiguous  tubes,  with 
open  mouths,  but  before  it  terminates  by  three  or  four 
pores  only,  without  the  tubes.  Two  or  three  pits  may  be 
seen,  with  difficulty,  at  the  base  of  the  caudal,  on  the 
level  of  its  middle  rays,  as  if  the  line  had  recommenced 
there. 

The  pectoral  and  caudal  fins  are  rounded  in  outline. 
The  first  dorsal  is  somewhat  triangular,  and  is  supported 
by  three  flexible,  filiform,  jointless  rays.  All  the  rays  of 
the  second  dorsal  (twenty-four)  are  jointed,  and  the  last  one 
is  divided  to  the  base.  The  anal  contains  seventeen  rays, 
the  last  being  divided,  and  all  of  them  jointed.  The 
ventrals,  in  position  and  form,  resemble  those  of  an  Eleo- 
tris.  They  are  a  little  in  advance  of  the  pectorals.  The 
spine  is  short,  and  has  a  flexible  tip. 

The  original  colours  have  perished,  but  the  specimens 
still  show  oblique  dark  bands  on  the  body  and  second 
dorsal,  and  three  or  four  narrow  transverse  bands  on  the 
pectorals  and  caudal. 

The  skeleton  shows  a  very  short  occipital  spine,  which 
does  not  rise  above  the  hind  head,  and  is  not  visible  in  the 
recent  fish.  The  vertebrae  are  thirty-five,  of  which  eleven 
are  abdominal  and  twenty-four  caudal.  The  peritoneum 
is  silvery,  with  minute  dark  brown  specks.  The  liver, 
broad,  thin,  and  rounded,  lies  on  the  ventral  surface  of 
the  upper  part  of  the  stomach,  embracing  the  oesophagus, 
and  having  a  fissure  on  the  left  side,  to  half  its  depth,  sepa- 
rating a  small  obtuse  tongue-shaped  lobe.  Stomach  nearly 
globular,  with  a  very  short  pyloric  branch  on  the  right 
side.  The  intestine  makes  a  short  convolution  on  the  right 
side  of  the  stomach,  not  descending  to  the  fundus  of  that 
viscus,  and  then  runs  straight  to  the  anus.  Three  short 
conical  ca;ca  surround  the  pylorus.  There  is  no  air- 
bladder.  The  stomach  filled  more  than  half  the  belly, 
and  contained  Cruntacea.  A  parasitic  worm  was  half 
buried  in  the  liver. 


DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  tip  of  snout  to  end  of  caudal  fin   2-.35  inches. 

„                  „                 upper  angle  of  gill-opening  0-6.1  „ 

„                  .,                point  of  opercular  spine    ...  075  „ 

Breadth  between  tips  of  opercular  spines   0-78  „ 

,1                  „          subopercular  ditto    085  „ 

Height  of  nape 040 

Length  of  caudal  040  „ 

Diameier  of  eye 0-18  ^^ 


Cu^NiCTHYs.     Richardson. 
Channicthys,  Richardson.     Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  June,  1844. 

Caput  magnum,  cranio  scabro,  subtetragono,  facie  hori- 
zontali  ante  oculos  longd,  lateraliterque  per  parietes 
oris  membranaceos  dilatabiles  auctd. 

Faux  laxissima,  horizontalis,  terminalis  ;  rictu  superne 
ab  ossibus  interniaxillaribiis  (satis  mobilibus  nee  tamen 
propter  pedicelLorum  eximiam  brevitatem  protract  ilibus) 
facto.  Os  maxillare  gracile,  paulo  in  f  curvatmn,  un- 
guium tantum  oris  attingens,  nee  sub  aciem  ossis  preor- 
bitalis  reddens. 

Dentes  in  ambitii  oris  breves,  curvati,  slipati.  Vomer  et 
palatum  edentati.     Ossa  pharyngis  denticulata. 

Oculi  largiusculi,  laterales. 

Narium  apertura  anteriores  ante  articulos  ossium  maxil- 
lariiim  posita;  a  posterioribus  remotce. 

Os  preorbitale  oblique  flabelliforme,  rostro  brevius  :  ossa 
suborbitalia  sequentia  minima,  scabriuscula,  orbitam 
subter  cingentia. 

Gena  magna,  nuda,  inermis,  nee  mode  Triglorum  osse 
suborbitaU  secundo  percursa. 

Ossa  operculi  parva,  una  cunt  tncinhrand  rDinicetcnIi  cir- 
cumeuntique  operculum  modicuui  triaugulare  confi- 
cientia.  Os  operculare  propriuin,  tri/nirlilum  :  pars 
postica  ad  marginem  sublibera  et  in  apicibus  quinque 
subspinosis  divisa. 

Apertura  branchialis  amplissima  intra  ramos  maxiUce  in- 
ferioris  procedens.  Membrana  branchiostega  lata, 
radiis  sex  gracilibus  teretiusculis  sustentata.  Areas 
branchiarum  quatuor,  liberi,  et  lamina  una  operculo 
adnata. 

Corpus  teres,  modo  Triglorum  in  caudam  gracilem  sensim 
attenuatum,  ventre  tumidiusculo. 

Squamae  vera;  nullcB.  Cutis  Iwvis.  Linea  lateralis  post 
Jinem  pinnce  dorsi  secundce  diffracta  denuoque  ad  basin 
pinncB  caudcB  desinens,  per  totum  cursum  suuni  scutellis 
scabris  armata.  Scutelli  rotundi  pauci  in  medio  latere 
spars  i. 

Pinnae  ventrales  ante  pectorales  positcB.  Pinnte  ventrales 
jrinnas  Triglae  simulantes.  Dorsales  du<B,  quarum  prior 
alta,  triangularis  ;  secunda  longa,  radiis  setaceis,  sim- 
pliciusculis,  arlicu'atis  sustentata.  Radii  pinnce  ani 
omnes  articulati  cum  apicibus  modo  Trachinorum  de 
membrana  extantibus.  Pinnee  pectorales  wajusculw, 
rotundatiB,  non  pedicellatcB,  radiis  omnibus  divisa. 

Papilla  genitalis  simplex,  parva. 

Vesica  aeris  nulla. 

Ventriculus  oi'a//s,  ramo  brevi  asccndenti ;  cceca  pglorica 
dua  brevia. 

Ods.  Genus  inter  Hmmerocwlem  et  Comephorum  locandum. 
Nomen  ab  xaira  hisco,  et  Ix^u^  piscis  derivatum.* 


*  In  constructing  a  generic  name  from  these  Greek  words.,  I  followed, 
at  first,  the  example  of  Ovid  (De  Piscibus),  who  wrote  Channe  as  the 
Latin  derivative  from  X''"''")  l"''  •'  l^^s  been  suggested  to  me,  that  the 
conjunction  of  this  adopted  Latin  word  with  a  Greek  one,  is  not  so 
proper  as  following  the  Greek  orthography  in  both  ;  and  I  have,  there- 
fore, altered  Channicthtjs  to  CU(Enicthys.  I  was  precluded  from  using 
the  word  Channe  alone,  from  its  having  been  the  designation  of  a  Medi- 
terranean fish. 


13 


Ch.ENICTIIYS   lUIlNOCKKATUS.      Ilicliavilsoii. 

Species  uiiica  adliuc  cognita. 

Rauii  :— B.  6  ;  D.  7|— 34  vel  35  ;  A.  33  ;    C.  1  H  ;  P.  -22  ; 
V.  l!5. 

Plate  VI.,  figs.  1,  2,  and  3. 

This  fish  has  a  general  resemblance  to  the  Gurnards,  or 
Prionotes,  in  the  form  of  the  head,  the  tapering  body,  and 
the  fins,  but  is  without  the  free  pectoral  rays.  The  head 
makes  one-third  of  the  length  of  the  fish,  exclusive  pf  the 
caudal  fin,  and  from  its  width,  its  bidk  is  in  still  greater 
proportion.  Its  great  size  is  chiefly  owing  to  the  extent 
of  the  face  and  mouth.  It  is  wider  than  the  body,  and  the 
flat  top  of  the  somewhat  cubical  cranium  is  continuous 
with  the  straight  line  of  the  back  :  before  the  eyes  the  pro- 
file is  slightly  concave.  The  snout  is  formed  of  the 
fiontal  bone,  lengthened  into  two  low,  transversely  rounded 
ridges,  separated  by  a  narrow  mesial  furrow,  and  is 
enlarged  laterally  to  the  full  width  of  the  head,  by  the 
soft,  extensible  walls  of  the  ample  month.  Almost  all  the 
bony  parts  of  the  head  have  a  more  or  less  granular  or 
radiated  surface,  as  in  the  Gurnards,  but  the  bony  case  is 
less  complete  than  in  that  genus,  much  smooth  integument 
interposing  between  the  plates  of  bone.  The  vomer  ap- 
pears on  the  upper  surface  of  the  tip  of  the  snout,  between 
the  ends  of  the  frontal  processes,  in  form  of  a  small  circu- 
lar plate,  with  a  central  umbo,  or  horn.  This  plate  is 
flanked  on  each  side  by  the  narrow  ends  of  the  nasal 
bones,  and  the  points  of  the  palate  bones,  which  likewise 
show  through  the  integument,  marking  the  breadth  of  the 
truncated  end  of  the  snout.  The  articulating  knob  of  the 
maxillary  is  contiguous  to  the  tip  of  the  nasal  bone  on  each 
side.  The  truncation  of  the  proper  snout  is  not,  at  first 
sight,  evident,  for  the  intermaxillaries,  lying  at  their  sym- 
physis in  the  same  place  with  the  frontal  processes,  con- 
stitute the  anterior  extremity  of  the  head,  which  is  thin 
vertically,  but  widely  curved  laterally.  Their  pedicles 
being  very  short,  admit  of  no  protrusion,  but  being  con- 
nected by  soft  parts  to  the  proper  extremity  of  the  snout, 
have  a  vertical  hinge-like  motion.  The  limbs  of  the  lower 
jaw  meet  at  the  symphysis  in  a  rather  acute  ellipse,  and 
have  a  small  knob  beneath.  The  under  jaw  is  fully  equal 
to  the  upper  one  in  length.  Its  articulation  being  under 
the  centre  of  the  eye,  admits  of  a  very  wide  gape,  but  the 
horizontal  orifice  of  the  mouth  is  restricted  to  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  length  of  the  jaw,  by  membranes,  which 
include  the  maxillaries,  and  fold  up  as  the  mouth  closes. 
The  surface  of  the  articulating  piece  of  the  lower  jaw  is 
furrowed,  and  roughl}'  granular. 

Both  jaws  are  armed  with  flat  bands  of  fine  card-like 
teeth,  the  bands  narrowing  to  a  point  at  the  corners  of  the 
mouth.  There  is  a  narrow  velum  immediately  behind  the 
dental  surface,  above  and  below.  The  roof  of  the  mouth 
is  toothless. 

The  maxillaries  have  a  slender,  cylindrical  shape,  slightly 
curved,  like  the  italic  f,  and  becoming  thinner,  and  a  very 
little  wider,  towards  the  end  which  touches  the  corner  of 
the  mouth,  and  plays  along  the  limb  of  the  lower  jaw. 
They  are  giauulated  at  the  upper  end,   and  striated  and 


smooth  lower  down.  Their  articulations  are  entirely  pos- 
terior to  the  intermaxillary  pedicles,  so  that  the  two  bones 
approach  only  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  very  small 
anterior  nasal  opening  is  situated  close  before  the  articu- 
lating head  of  the  maxillary  ;  the  posterior  one  is  over 
the  middle  of  the  preorbitar,  and  has  a  short  tubular  mar- 
gin. The  eyes  are  rather  large,  the  long  diameter  of  the 
orbit  being  equal  to  about  one-sixth  of  the  length  of  the 
head.  They  are  two  diameters  nearer  to  the  tip  of  the 
gill-cover  than  to  the  intermaxillary  symphysis.  The 
upper  edge  of  the  orbits  is  raised  so  as  to  render  the  inter- 
orbital  space  concave.  The  top  of  the  skull  is  flat,  and 
nearly  square,  and,  together  with  the  orbital  plates,  is 
strongly  marked  by  radiating  granular  lines.  The  princi- 
pal centre  of  radiation  on  each  side  is  near  the  base  of 
the  orbital  plate,  lines  running  from  it  to  the  edge  of  the 
orbit,  to  the  occiput,  and  across  the  posterior  part  of  tlie 
frontal  bone.  There  are  three  much  smaller  radiating 
clusters  on  the  hinder  part  of  the  cranium,  behind  which 
four  small  rough  plates  cross  the  head,  and  form  the  pos- 
terior boundary  of  the  skull,  while  the  rough  temporal 
bones  flank  it  laterally.  A  short  occipital  crest,  and  two 
roughly  striated  supra-scajjulars,  which  pass  outwards  to 
the  humeral  chain,  are  on  the  same  plane  with  the  top  of 
the  skull  and  the  nape. 

The  preorbitar  bone  has  a  scalene  triangular  form,  the 
under  side  being  the  hypothenuse.  It  is  traversed  by  fine, 
prominent,  smooth,  radiating  lines,  whose  tips  form  teeth 
on  the  edge  of  the  bone.  The  preorbitar  reaches  about 
half  way  to  the  intermaxillary  symphysis,  but  there  is 
much  smooth  integument  beneath  it,  and  the  maxillary 
scarcely  touches  it,  even  when  the  mouth  is  closed.  The 
other  bones  of  the  suborbitar  chain  are  small  and  rough, 
and  girdle  the  under  half  of  the  orbit,  leaving  a  large 
naked  cheek.  The  second  suborbitar  bone  has  no  resem- 
blance, in  form  or  oflrce,  to  that  of  the  Gurnards.  The 
preopercnlum  is  considerably  curved,  and  has  an  obtuse 
process,  or  elbow,  a  little  above  the  apex  of  the  curve. 
Its  disk,  including  this  elbow,  is  roughly  granular.  Its 
upper  limb  is  nearly  vertical,  and  is  shorter  than  the  under 
one.  It  is  a  little  distant  both  fi-om  the  temporal  bone 
and  the  operculum.  The  sub-cylindrical  intcroperculuni 
is  widest  at  its  junction  with  the  suboperculum,  and  is 
rough  and  ridged  on  its  surfoce.  The  bony  operculum  is 
divided  deeply  into  three  diverging  parts,  exclusive  of  its 
very  short  articulating  stem.  The  upper  and  under  parts 
are  triangular,  and  the  posterior  one  is  split  into  five  teeth, 
having  the  spaces  between  them  filled  with  a  notched 
membrane.  The  posterior  and  uppermost  tooth  varies  in 
form,  being  sometimes  forked,  at  otlier  times  crenated,  or 
denticulated.  The  others  point  more  or  less  downwards, 
and  the  lowest  and  foremost  is  a  little  recurved.  Thev 
all  rise  at  their  tips,  with  their  membrane,  from  the  general 
surface  of  the  gill-cover.  The  bony  part  of  the  suboper- 
culum shows,  exteriorly,  in  form  of  fine  ribs,  imbedded  in 
the  general  membrane  of  the  gill-cover,  and  radiating  to- 
wards its  edge,  beyond  which  they  slightly  project.  This 
structure  approaches  to  that  of  the  suboperculum  of  a 
Lophius.  The  entire  gill-cover  has  a  triangular  form, 
with  an  acute  tip,  which  is  somewhat  curved  upwards. 
It  is  united  to  tl;e  side  of  the  head,  at  the  junction  of  the 


14 


supra-scapular  and  humeral  bones,  and  the  upper  edge  of 
the  membrane  is  concave,  as  is  usual  with  the  Scorpienm, 
TrhjUv,  &c. 

The  gill-opening  is  ample,  extending  from  the  point  of 
the  supra-scapular  obliquely  forwards  to  the  throat.  The 
membrane  is  sustained  by  six  roughish,  slender  raj's.  Its 
width  is  equal  to  the  length  of  the  gill-cover,  and  its  at- 
tachment to  the  isthmus  is  opposite  to  the  hinder  part  of 
the  orbit.  The  bones  of  the  humeral  chain  are  partially 
rough.  The  large  rounded  pectorals  are  remarkably  ses- 
sile, having  no  pedicle  whatever.  They  contain  twenty 
rays,  exclusive  of  a  short  adnate  one  above,  all  of  which 
are  more  or  less  forked.  The  connecting  membrane  is 
delicate.  The  ventrals  are  attached  well  before  the  pec- 
torals. Their  first  three  jointed  rays  are  thickened  at  the 
tips,  and  with  the  shorter  spinous  ray  are  enveloped  in 
thick  integument.  The  two  last  rays  are  branched  as 
usual.  The  first  dorsal,  high  and  triangular,  is  supported 
by  slender  rays,  which  are  partially  roughened  by  acute 
grains.  The  second  and  third  rays  are  the  tallest,  and 
exceed  the  height  of  the  body.  Its  first  ray  stands  over 
the  tip  of  the  gill-cover,  and  a  little  behind  the  ventrals. 
The  second  dorsal,  which  is  lower,  longer,  and  even,  is 
supported  by  thirty-five  setaceous  rays,  covered  by  rough 
integument.  The  rays  appear  to  be'simple,  but,  on  close 
examination,  they  were  all  found  to  be  jointed,  and  to 
have  a  dark  line  down  their  middles.  The  space  between 
the  fir.st  and  second  dorsals  is  equal  to  about  two-thirds 
of  the  base  of  the  former.  The  anal  fin  has  much  resem- 
blance to  that  of  a  Traclunus.  It  is  supported  by  thirty 
jointed  rays,  whose  tips  are  free,  and  it  has  no  spine.  It 
commences  beneath  the  seventh  ray  of  the  second  dorsal, 
and  reaches  a  little  beyond  that  fin.  The  caudal,  which 
is  rather  small,  and  even  at  the  end,  contains  twenty-three 
rays,  viz.,  eleven  of  the  full  length,  and  the  rest  graduated 
above  and  below. 

The  lateral  line  runs  parallel  to  the  back,  and  very  near 
it,  and  is  armed  by  eighty-three  small  saddle-shaped 
shields  to  midway  between  the  end  of  the  second  dorsal 
and  the  base  of  the  caudal.  It  is  there  interrupted,  the 
short  lower  portion  commencing  a  little  further  forward,  or 
opposite  to  the  end  of  the  anal  fin,  and  ending  at  the  base 
of  the  caudal,  between  the  two  middle  rays.  This  part  is 
armed  by  twelve  shields,  making  ninety-five  in  all.  All  the 
shields  are  rough,  and  they  diminish  gradually,  as  they 
recede  from  the  shoulder.  On  the  middle  line  of  the  side, 
where  the  muscles  decussate,  there  are  four  or  five  round 
shields,  of  a  similar  structure,  placed  at  irregular  distances, 
and  varying  in  size  and  number  in  different  specimens. 
There  are  no  other  scales. 

The  ground  colour  of  a  specimen  preserved  in  spirits  is 
purplish-brown,  varied  by  numerous  round,  or  oblong, 
anastomosing  dark  spots.  The  under  surface  of  the  fish, 
including  the  anal  fin,  is  pale  yellow,  or  white.  The 
other  vertical  fins,  and  the  pectorals,  have  leaden  coloured 
membranes,  with  dark  rays.  The  ventrals  are  partially 
dark. 

The  stomach  is  moderately  large,  and  of  an  ovoid  form, 
the  fundus  being  obtuse.  An  ascending  branch,  having 
about  a  quarter  of  the  capacity  of  the  body  of  the  stomach, 
separates  from  it  at  its  upper  third.     The  walls  are  thick, 


and,  together  with  the  short  oesophagus,  are  coarsely  plaited 
interiorly.  Close  beneath  the  narrow  pylorus  there  are 
two  wide,  short  C£eca,  the  lower  of  which  is  twice  as  long 
as  the  one  which  rises  from  the  upper  side  of  the  gut.  The 
canal  is  wide  near  the  stomach,  but  gradually  diminishes  in 
capacity  till  it  comes  near  the  anus,  when  it  widens  a 
little  again.  The  gut  makes  one  complete  convolution, 
which  reaches  three-fourths  of  the  distance  from  the 
pylorus  to  the  anus,  and  returning  back  again,  takes  a 
straight  course  to  the  vent.  The  ovaries  are  short,  wide, 
cordiform  sacs,  united  at  the  neck,  to  form  the  oviduct. 
They  contained,  in  the  specimen  which  was  examined, 
man}'  small  eggs,  and  a  few  larger  ones,  about  the  size 
of  a  swan-shot.  Dorsad  of  the  neck  of  the  ovary  there 
is  a  short,  wide,  forked,  or  breeches-shaped  urinary  blad- 
der. The  genital  papilla  is  small,  conical,  and  entire.  The 
liver,  after  maceration  in  spirits,  was  white  and  soft,  and 
as  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  was  entire,  or  merely  with 
a  small  lobe  at  its  upper  end.  It  covers  the  ventral  surface 
of  the  right  half  of  the  stomach.  The  branchial  arches 
are  four,  aud  are  armed  exteriorly  with  a  row  of  small, 
sessile,  bristly  warts.  A  few  scattered  warts  only  are  to 
be  found  on  the  inner  surfaces,  near  the  bend  of  the  arch. 
The  lower  limb  of  each  arch  is  by  much  the  longest,  and 
runs  far  forward  between  the  limbs  of  the  lower  jaw.  The 
upper  and  under  phageal  bones  are  set  with  small,  subu- 
late, curved  teeth.  The  stomach  contained  a  half-digested 
fish. 

Hab.  The  kelp-weed  on  the  shores  of  Kerguelen's  land. 
The  specimens  were  caught  by  the  hook. 


DIMENSIONS. 

Length  froiu  intermaxillary  symphysis  to  extremity  of 

caudal  flu '. 18-20  inches. 

„                                „                     end  of  anal  15-50  „ 
„                                „                     end    of    se- 
cond dorsal   15-25  „ 

„  „  beginning  of 

anal  fin 10-25  „ 

„                                „                     anus 10-15  „ 

„  „  beginning  of 

second  dorsal    8-50  „ 

„                                 „                       pectorals  ...  6-50  „ 

„                                  „                       first  dorsal..  5-70  „ 

„                                 „                       ventrals 5-60  „ 

„                                  „                      tip    of    gill- 
cover  6-40  „ 

„                                 „                      tip  of   occi- 
pital spiue 5-00  „ 

„  „  fore  edge  of 

orbit  3-00  „ 

„  „  articulation 

of  lower  jaw 4-20  „ 

Diameter  of  orbit 100  „ 

Breadth  betneen  eyes 1"22  „ 

„            „        tips  of  maxillaries,  (mouth  extended)  4-60  „ 

of  hind  head 2-20  „ 

„       of  shoulder    2-35  „ 

Height  of  nape    2-80  „ 

„            first  dorsal 3-50  „ 

„            second  ditto   1-40  „ 

„            anal 100  „ 

Length  of  pectoral 2-85  „ 

„           ventrals  285  „ 

caudal    J-56  „ 


15 


Pagetodks. 

Th.  'jraytTahf,  yelu  adstriclus. 

Plate  VIII.,  fig.  3,  natural  size. 

When  the  ships  were  in  the  high  latitude  of  77°  10'  S., 
and  long.  1781^",  a  fish  was  thrown  up  by  the  spray  in  a 
gale  of  wind,  against  the  bows  of  the  Terror,  and  frozen 
there.  It  was  carefully  removed,  for  the  purpose  of  pre- 
servation, and  a  rough  sketch  was  made  of  it  by  the  sur- 
geon, John  Robertson,  Esq.,  but  before  it  could  be  put  into 
spirits,  a  cat  carried  it  away  from  his  cabin,  and  ate  it. 
The  sketch  is  not  sufficiently  detaileH  to  show  either  the 
number  or  nature  of  the  gill  and  fin  rays,  or  whether  the 
skin  was  scaly  or  not,  so  that  even  the  order  to  which  the 
fish  belongs  is  uncertain ;  and  we  have  introduced  a  copy 
of  the  design,  merely  to  preserve  a  memorial  of  what 
appears  to  be  a  novel  form,  discovered  under  such  peculiar 
circumstances.  The  ground  colour  of  the  body  is  pale 
blue  ;  much  of  the  head,  and  the  vertical  bands  are  dark 
neutral  tint,  and  minute  dark  specks  are  scattered  over  the 
body  and  caudal  fin.  The  foUowiug  measurements  were 
noted. 

Extreme  length ei\  inches. 

Length  of  head  to  tip  of  gill-cover 2  „ 

„  mouth li  ,, 

„  pectoral  fin IJ  „ 

Breadth  of  ditto,  when  expanded   1  „ 

Length  of  ventrals    2  „ 

Breadth  of  caudal  fiu Yo  n 

Diameter  of  body,  nearly    1  „ 

„  small  part  of  tail   ^  „ 


fins.     The  fin  membranes  are  not  thick,  and  permit   the 
slender  rays  to  be  easily  seen. 

Rays:— D.  3j— 1-2  ;  A.  7  ;  C.  9  ;  P.  11  ;*  V.  5. 

All  the  rays  of  the  second  dorsal  and  .anal  arc  jointed, 
but  the  first  nine  of  the  former,  and  only  the  first  one  of 
the  latter,  are  simple,  the  others  being  forked.  The  rayed 
part  of  the  pectoral  forms  an  angle  with  its  supporting  arm, 
so  that  the  whole  length  of  the  fin  is  only  two-thirds  of 
the  sum  of  the  two  parts,  separately  measured.  The  gill- 
opening  is  situated  in  the  axilla  of  the  pectoral  arm,  on 
its  under  side.  The  number  and  position  of  the  filaments 
may  be  easily  made  out  from  the  figure,  without  a  detailed 
description. 

The  colours  of  the  specimen  in  spirits  are  reddish-white, 
with  bluish-black  markings,  edged  and  spotted  with  milk- 
white.  In  their  distribution  on  the  body  and  tail,  they  are 
not  without  resemblance  to  those  of  Cheironpcles  marino- 
ralun,  brought  by  Lesson  from  the  coast  of  New  Guinea,t 
and  are  still  more  like  those  of  the  Baudroie  Geocjraphique, 
of  the  Voya<je  da  Freyciiiet,  plnnche  65,  Jig.  3. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  the  upper  lip  to  extremity  of  caudal  fin  ...  2-82  inches. 

„                     „              anus   1-42  „ 

„                     „              edge  of  preoperculum 110  „ 

Height  of  the  body  at  the  ventrals 1-25  „ 

Thiclness  of  ditto  at  the  pectorals 0'70  „ 

Length  of  the  pectoral  arm 060  „ 

„                 „             rays 050  „ 

„                 „             caudal  fin   082  „ 

Hab.  Fields  of  sea-weed  in  the  Tropical  Atlantic. 


Cheironectes  pictus.     Cuvier.     Var.  vittatus. 
Plate  IX.,  figs.  3,  4,  natural  size. 

A  single  specimen  of  this  fish  was  obtained  in  the 
Atlantic,  on  a  field  of  Sargasso  sea-weed,  on  the  4th  of 
August,  1843.  It  is  in  excellent  preservation,  and  from 
the  rigidity  of  its  expanded  fins,  and  the  stiffness  of  its 
filaments,  it  was  probably  plunged,  while  still  alive,  into 
strong  spirits.  This  has  enabled  the  artist  to  make  a  cor- 
rect delineation  of  it,  and  on  that  account  we  publish  the 
figure,  though  rating  the  fish  only  as  a  variety  of  a  well- 
known  species. 

The  body  is  rather  higher  than  that  of  pictus,  as  repre- 
sented in  plate  364  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  and  the 
filaments  are  broader,  and  much  more  numerous.  It 
agrees  with  the  description  of  the  Cheironectes  leevigatus 
of  the  same  work,  in  the  slenderness  of  the  first  free  dorsal 
ray,  which  has  a  small,  spongy,  globular  tip,  and  in  the 
more  continuous  dark  markings  of  the  body,  but  Dr. 
Mitchill's  figure  of  Lophius  yibbits,*  which  is  referred  by 
M.  Valenciennes  to  lanigatus,  has  more  resemblance  to 
the  pictus  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  than  to  our  fish. 

The  skin  o{  vittatus  is  smooth  to  the  touch,  and  appears 
polished  to  the  naked  eye,  but  under  a  lens  of  moderate 
power  it  is  seen  to  be  granulated  with  soft,  contiguous, 
rounded  eminences,  which  also  exist  on  the  bases  of  the 

*  Phil.  Ti-ans.  of  New  York,  1 ,  pi.  6,  f.  9, 


Cheironectes  trisignatus.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  Ch.  hispidus,  circumscriptione  laterale  ovato  ; 
fascia  humerali,  et  fascia  annulari  caudte  lacteis ; 
pnnctus  tribus,  rotundis,  nigrcscentibus  in  vtroque 
latere  ;  pinna  Cauda  medio  fasciatd,fenestratini  punc- 
tata. 


Radii:— D.3|— 13;    A.  7  ;  C.  9;  P. 
Plate  IX.,  fig.  1. 


V.  5. 


This  is  a  hispid  Cheironectes,  which  I  have  not  been 
able  to  refer  to  any  described  species.  The  members  of 
this  group  have  a  strong  likeness  to  each  other,  and  many 
of  them  have  dark  spots  on  the  sides,  or  fins,  but  differ- 
ently arranged  from  those  of  this  fish,  which  has  three  on 
each  side :  one  on  the  base  of  the  dorsal,  near  its  middle ; 
one  immediately  beneath,  over  the  anus,  and  the  third 
directly  above  the  pectoral  arm.  In  the  centre  of  these 
three  there  is  a  milky  blotch.  There  is  also  an  irregular 
white  mottled  band,  which  descends  with  a  forward  bend, 
from  the  space  between  the  second  dorsal,  and  the  third 
anterior  ray  to  the  pectoral  arm,  which  it  includes.  A 
similar  band  encircles  the  stump  of  the  tail,  and  includes 
the  posterior  edges  of  the  dorsal  and  anal.     The  ground 

*  It  is  by  an  oversight  that  twelve  rays  are  given  to  the  pectoral  iu 
our  figure. 

•)-   Voyage  de  la  Coquille. 


16 


colour  of  the  body  is  greyisli,  with  a  purphsh  brown 
shining  through,  and  a  minute  reticulation  of  lighter  lines. 
A  brown  band  crosses  the  middle  of  the  caudal,  interrupted 
bv  a  niesh-work  of  clear,  transparent  spaces.  The  whole 
skin  is  thickly  studded  with  little  globular  eminences,  from 
each  of  which,  two  divergent,  minute,  hair-like  spines 
stand  out.  These  spinas  are  equally  conspicuous  on  all 
the  fin  membranes. 

The  first  dorsal  ray  is  very  slender,  rises  from  a  globular 
base,  and  terminates  in  a  single  lanceolate  membranous 
tip.  The  third  ray  is  closely  bound  down  by  the  skin. 
The  profile  is  more  arched  than  that  of  /lispidii.':,  and  most 
of  the  species  nearly  allied  to  it.  The  thickness  of  the 
shoulder  is  but  little  more  than  a  fourth  of  its  height. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  upper  lip  to  tip  of  caudal  fin 1-55  inches. 

Height  at  the  ventrals  070      „ 

Greatest  thickness 018      „ 

Length  of  the  caudal  fin 040      ,. 

Cheironectes  POLIT0S.     Richardsoii. 

Cheironectes  potiUts.     Richardson,  Zool.  Trans.,  vol.  iii.,  part  2,  p.  1.33. 

Plate  IX.,  fig.  2,  natural  size. 

This  species  belongs  to  the  little  group  of  Cheironectes 
which  have  the  second  and  third  dorsal  rays  united  by 
membrane,  to  form  an  anterior  fin,  and  more  elongated 
bodies  than  the  other  members  of  the  genus.  Two  exam- 
ples of  the  same  group  are  made  known  in  the  Histoire 
des  Puissons ;  one  having  a  rough  .skin,  the  other  so  much 
more  smooth  that  it  has  received  the  name  of  l(Bri.s,  yet 
it  is  said  to  be  furnished  with  scabrous  points,  similar  to 
those  of  hirsutus  in  structure,  thongh  a  little  less  rude  to 
the  touch.  The  subject  of  the  present  notice  is  perfectly 
smooth  and  soft,  and  a  powerful  eye-glass  reveals  no  ine- 
qualities in  the  skin.  It  is  without  skinny  appendages, 
at  least  in  the  state  in  which  we  have  received  it.  The 
gill-opening,  with  a  tubular  lip,  is  situated  behind,  and 
a  little  above  the  level  of  the  pectoral  arm.  The  work 
above  referred  to  contains  a  description  of  the  fish,  but  it 
requires  the  following  slight  corrections  in  the  account  of 
the  fins,  as  I  have  ascertained  by  minute  examination  and 
dissection. 


Ravs:— D.  11 


17;   A.  9  ;  C.  9;  P.  9  ;  V.  l|4. 


The  two  anterior  rays  of  the  second  dorsal  are  graduated, 
and  enclosed  in  the  membrane,  so  as  to  look  like  one  ray, 
until  dissected.  They  are  a  little  shorter  than  the  third, 
which  is  the  tallest  of  all.  The  fin  lowers  in  the  middle 
by  a  slight  curve,  rising  again  near  the  end,  which  is 
rounded  off.  All  the  rays  are  single,  tapering,  and  strongly 
jointed.  The  same  is  the  case  in  the  anal,  whose  first  two 
rays  are  also  enclosed  in  the  same  membranous  sheath. 
The  figure  erroneously  shows  five  rays  in  the  ventrals. 
There  are  but  foin-,  and  an  extremely  short  spine,  which  is 
discovered  with  difficulty. 

H.\B.  The  northern  coasts  of  Van  Diemen's  Land,  Port 
Arthur. 


Batrachus  dubius.     White  } 

Ch.  spec.  B.  nigra,  fuscoque  variiis,  piiinis  nigrescenli- 
bus,  fiisco-striatis ;  denlihus  subiilato-conicis  nnise- 
rialibns,  in  npice  tantum  ma.villcB  inferioris  diiplicalis ; 
Jilamentis  tribus  superciliaribus. 

Radii:— Br.  6;  D.  3)— 19;  A.  18;  C.  13;  P. 22;  V.  1|2. 

Plate  X.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size. 

In  the  appendix  to  his  '  Journal  of  a  Voyage  to  New 
South  Wales,'  by  John  White,  Esq.,  published  in  1790, 
the  author  notices,  very  briefly,  a  fish  about  six  inches  long, 
under  the  title  of  Lop/iius  dubius  :  nigricans  subtiis  pal- 
lidus.  He  says  nothing  more  of  it  than  that  the  "  general 
colour  is  a  very  deep  brown,  almost  black  ;  the  mouth  is 
extremely  wide,  and  furnished  with  several  rows  of  very 
sharp  teeth.  Many  ova  were  found  on  opening  it,  which 
were  very  large  in  proportion  to  the  fish."  The  figure 
which  accompanies  this  notice  is  execrable,  and  almost 
nseless  as  a  means  of  determining  the  species.  The 
teeth  of  the  lower  jaw  are  represented  as  brush-like,  or 
villiform,  and  we  find  that,  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissous, 
White's  fish  is  referred  to  the  Batrachus  Dussumieri, 
which  has  villiform  teeth.  All  the  specimens,  however,  of 
Batrachus,  which  we  have  seen  from  the  port  of  Sidney, 
where  White  procured  his,  belong  to  a  species  having  the 
teeth  and  general  form  of  B.  grunniens,  with  colours  ap- 
proaching those  of -B.  Dussumieri ;  and  it  seems,  therefore, 
fair  to  conclude,  until  another  species  be  detected  in  the 
same  quarter,  that  this  is  the  fish  figured  by  White,  and 
we  have,  therefore,  given  an  exact  figure,  under  his  specific 
name. 

The  Batrachus  dubius  appears  to  have  a  wider  and  thicker 
body  at  the  pectorals  than  grunniens,  and  a  shorter  head, 
with  a  larger  eye.  The  teeth  are  in  single  rows  on  the 
jaws  and  roof  of  the  mouth,  except  at  the  symphysis  of 
the  lower  jaw,  where  they  are  doubled,  bj-  the  addition  of 
an  outer  row  of  four  or  five  on  each  limb.  Their  form  is 
between  conical  and  subulate,  much  shorter,  and  more 
slender  on  the  intermaxillaries,*  which  reach  little  more 
than  half  way  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  lateral 
ones  on  the  lower  jaw  are  stouter  and  blunter,  and  those 
on  the  arch  of  the  vomer  and  palatine  bones  still  more  so. 
Tw'o  narrow  villiform  bands,  rather  distant  from  each  other, 
cross  the  upper  pharyngeal  bones  on  each  side.  A  single 
broader  band  is  opposed  to  those  beneath,  on  each  side. 
The  lips  at  the  roots  of  the  jaw-teeth,  without  and  within, 
are  crenated  by  minute,  soft,  black  eminences.  The  fila- 
ments on  the  head  appear  to  be  more  ninnerous  than  in 
grunniens,  but  from  the  extreme  laxity  of  the  skin  some 
address  is  required  in  ascertaining  their  true  number  and 
form.  Mr.  Mitchell  has  exhibited  them  in  the  figure  very 
acciu'atel}'.  There  are  open  pores  beneath  the  eye,  two  or 
three  above  the  orbit,  a  cluster  at  the  articulation  of  the 
lower  jaw,  and  a  row  along  the  disk  of  the  preoperculum. 
There  is  no  hole  in  the  cheek,  behind  the  corner  of  the 
mouth,  as  in  grunniens.     The  mouth  does  not  open  farther 

*  In  grunniins  the  iutermaxillarj  teeth  are  Tillifonn. — Histoire  da 
Poissons. 


17 


back  than  the  fore  part  of  the  orbit,  being  proportionally 
smaller  than  that  of  gnouiieiis.  The  upper  and  under 
lateral  lines  are  marked  by  a  double  row  of  pores.  The 
upper  opercular  spine  is  longer  than  the  under  one,  which 
equals  the  subopercular  spine  in  length.  A  cartilaginous 
ray  curves  upwards  from  the  upper  axil  of  the  suboper- 
cular spine,  and  supports  the  membrane  beyond  the  tip  of 
the  lower  opercular  spine. 

The  dark  parts  of  the  fish  are  ])ilch-black,  the  light 
parts  different  shades  of  brown,  approaching  on  the  belly 
to  brownish,  or  purplish-grey.  The  light  spots  on  the 
pectorals  form  a  net-work,  with  circular  meshes. 

The  first  ray  of  the  ventrals  is  thick  at  the  base, 
closely  jointed,  tapers  to  a  fine  point,  and  is  bordered 
with  membrane  anteriorly.  The  second  is  divided  and 
branched  An  extremely  short  spine,  that  cannot  be 
detected  without  dissection,  is  incumbent  on  the  base  of 
the  first  ray.  The  second  dorsal  spine  is  taller  than  the 
third  one.  All  three  are  distinct  at  their  bases,  and  are 
not  visible  until  sought  for  among  the  loose  skin  of  the 
back.  The  last  ray  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  is  divided  to 
the  base.  The  anterior  rays  of  the  anal  are  shorter  than 
tlie  rest,  and  not  easily  found  under  their  flaccid  covering, 
so  that  only  about  sixteen  rays  show,  as  in  the  figure,  but 
there  are,  in  reality,  eighteen,  all  branched  at  the  tips,  and 
jointed.  The  loose  skin  in  the  axil  of  the  rounded  pec- 
toral is  perforated  by  a  hole,  in  the  specimen  figured,  but 
in  others  the  skin  is  entire  at  this  place. 

DIMENSIONS. 
Lengdi  from  upjier  lip  (letracted)  to  end  of  cauilal  fin  ...  8-20  inches. 

„  ,,  anus   3-70  „ 

„  „  tip  of  gill-cover    ...  2-36  „ 

„  „  centre  of  orbit Oo5  „ 

Breadth  between  the  orbits  0-62  „ 

Height  of  body  at  pectorals , 1-88  „ 

Thickness  there .' 1-50  „ 

Length  of  caudal  liu    1-35  „ 

„  pectorals 1-75  „ 


Obs.  Ad  payinam  12,  lin.  39,  pro  "  ventrales"'  lege  "  rerticales." 

Bateachus  diemensis.     Lesueur. 

Ch.  Spkc.    B.  esquamosus,  umbrlnus  ;  nehulis  piDictisqiie 
confertis  niyro-fuscis ;  subopercnlis  bispinosis. 

Radii  :  B.  6  ;  D.  3|— 20  ;  A.  17 ;  C.  15  ;  P.  23  ;  V.  i;2. 

Batrachoides  diemensis.     Lesueur,  Joum.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  Philad.,  p.  402. 
Batrachus  quadrispinis.     Cuv.  et  Val.  xii.,  p.  487. 

Balrachus  diemensis.     Richardson,  Annals  N:it.  Hist.,  x.  p.  352,  descrip- 
tion of  a  dried  specimen,  imperfect. 

Plate  VIII.,  figs.  I  and  2,  natural  size. 

In  the  Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences  of  Philadel- 
phia as  quoted  above,  M.  Lesueur  has  described  a  5a/ra- 
chus  preserved  in  the  gallery  of  the  Jardin  des  Planles,  at 
Paris,  in  a  bottle,  marked  "  C  C,  No.  1."  This  is  most 
probably  the  same  specimen  which  is  named  B.  quadri- 
spinis,  in  the  Hisloire  des  Poissoiis,  and  is  therein  stated 
to  have  been  brought  from  the  Indian  Ocean,  by  Peron. 
M.  Valenciennes,  at  least,  who  has  the  best  opportunity  of 
knowing,  considers  diemen.'iis  and  quadrispiins  to  be  but 


one  species  ;  and  in  adopting  his  opinion,  we  employ  the 
name  which  has  the  right  of  prior  publication,  though  it 
is  less  characteristic.  M.  Lesueur's  description  agrees 
with  our  specimens,  except  in  the  number  of  superciliary 
cirrhi,  of  which  he  counts  only  two,  and  of  the  anal  and 
pectoral  rays  ;  the  extreme  looseness  of  the  integument, 
however,  exposes  the  examiner  to  error  in  his  enumeration 
of  these  parts  ;  and  had  we  not  had  the  advantage  of  in- 
specting specimens,  whose  fin-membranes  were  nearly  re- 
moved by  putrefaction,  our  reckoning  would  have  been  the 
same  as  that  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons. 

The  profile  of  the  comparatively  small  head  is  flatly 
arched  above,  the  summit  of  the  dorsal  curve  being  at  the 
first  dorsal  fin,  where  the  body  is  considerably  higher  than 
elsewhere. 

The  number  and  position  of  the  cirrhi  may  be  more 
readily  ascertained  by  an  inspection  of  the  figures,  than 
by  any  description,  however  elaborate,  and  we  have  only 
to  say,  that  in  most  cases,  if  not  in  all,  they  are  the  elon- 
gated margins  of  pores.  There  are  also  open  pores,  with- 
out elevated  edges,  on  the  under  border  of  the  orbit,  and 
on  the  disk  of  the  preoperculum.  Besides  the  upper  and 
under  lateral  lines,  there  is  a  middle  one,  with  more  distant 
cirrhiferous  pores,  which  are  less  easily  discovered. 

The  teeth  on  the  jaws,  vomer,  and  palate  bones  are  very 
short,  and  closely  villiform.  On  the  lower  jaw  the  dental 
plate  expands  forward  at  the  symphysis,  and  tapers  to  a 
point  at  the  coiner  of  the  mouth.  The  intermaxillaries 
form  only  half  the  upper  border  of  the  mouth,  and  their 
teeth  are  in  a  single  row,  except  at  the  symphysis  where 
the  series  is  doubled  or  trebled.  The  pharyngeal  teeth  are 
longer,  more  uneven  and  setaceous  than  those  on  the  jaws. 
The  middle  dorsal  spine  is  taller  than  the  third  one,  and 
they  are  more  separated  at  the  base  than  they  appear  to  be 
when  seen  through  the  membrane,  as  they  are  in  our  figure. 
The  last  rays  of  the  second  dorsal  and  anal  are  di\ided 
to  the  base.  All  the  rays  of  these  fins  are  jointed,  and  the 
foremost  two  or  three  of  the  anal  are  short,  graduated, 
and  so  bound  together  by  membrane,  that  in  the  recent 
fish  they  will  be  generally  reckoned  as  only  one  ray.  The 
three  middle  filiform  branchiostegous  rays  are  so  approxi- 
mated at  the  base,  as  to  look  like  branches  of  one  ray,  and 
they  separate  less  in  the  membrane  than  the  other  rays. 
The  subopercular  spines  are  a  little  shorter  than  the  oper- 
cular ones,  and  the  under  spine  of  each  piece  is  only  half 
the  length  of  the  upper  one.  The  anus  is  in  the  middle 
of  the  fish. 

After  long  maceration  in  spirits,  the  colours  of  the  darker 
parts,  including  the  minute  dots  generally  dispersed  over 
the  body  and  fins,  are  deep  umber  and  liver  browns,  ap- 
proaching to  black.  The  lighter  parts,  including  the  belly 
and  bars  on  the  tail,  are  pale  broccoli-brown,  verging  on 
purplish-grey. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Lcnjith  from  upier  lip  to  end  of  caudal  fin    4-25  inches. 

"    „            "     „          anus 2-12  „ 

„                   „          gill-opening     120  „ 

„                   „          centre  of  eve  037  „ 

Diameter  of  orbit ". 0-21  „ 

Height  of  body 1-20  „ 

Thickness  of  shoulder  095  „ 

Length  of  caudal  fin 084  „ 


18 


Hab.  The  nortliern  and  western  coasts  of  Australia, 
Port  Essington  ;  Houtmans  Abrolhos,  Swan  River  colony. 
(We  have  seen  no  specimen  from  Van  Diemen's  Land). 

NOTOTHENIA    CORNUCOLA,   vide  p.  8. 

Ch.  spec.  N.  capite  nudo,  Icevi,  squamis  in  regioiiihus 
suprascapularihus  millis,  operculis  superue  squamosis  ; 
pinnis  dorsi  contiguis ;  corpore  fusco,  vario ;  gend 
oblique  fasciatd. 

Radii  :— Br.  6  ;  D.  5|— 32  ;  A.  29  ;  C.  13|;  P.  19;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  XL,  figs.  3,  4,  natural  size. 

Having,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Gray,  had  an  op- 
portunity of  inspecting  a  collection  of  Falkland  Island 
fish,  I  am  enabled  to  give  a  fuller  account  of  the  species  of 
Notothenia  than  I  could  from  Sir  James  Ross's  specimens. 
The  figures  of  N.  cornucola,  in  the  former  fasciculus,  having 
been  taken  from  worn  and  mutilated  examples,  and  the 
ventral  fins  having,  through  inadvertence,  been  altogether 
omitted  (in  Plate  VIIL,  fig.  4  and  5),  the  defect  is  sup- 
plied by  more  correct  representations. 

The  specimens,  which  are  preserved  in  spirits,  have  the 
back,  sides  and  head  of  a  clear  umber,  or  chestnut-brown 
colour,  varied  by  a  paler  yellowish-brown,  in  a  clouded  or 
banded  pattern.  An  oblique  pale  stripe  crosses  the  fore 
part  of  the  cheek,  and  is  defined  above  and  below  by  dark 
umber  brown  blotches  ;  the  base  of  the  pectoral  is  crossed 
by  a  dark  bar,  and  the  hinder  part  of  the  first  dorsal  is 
black,  as  in  most  other  species.  The  space  between  the 
ventrals  is  more  scaly  than  appeared  from  the  injured  spe- 
cimens, but  the  scales  over  the  whole  of  that  region  are 
small,  and  deeply  imbedded  in  the  mucous  skin.  The 
teeth  are  subulate,  and  rather  long  for  the  size  of  the  indi- 
vidual, as  compared  with  some  of  the  other  species.  They 
form  two  or  three  rows  in  the  front  of  the  jaws,  and  merely 
a  single  series  on  the  sides.  The  vela  are,  as  in  the  others, 
large,  and  covered  with  tumid-lipped  pores.  Length,  six 
inches. 

Hab.  Cape  Horn,  and  the  Falkland  Islands. 

Notothenia  virgata.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  N.  capite  oheso,  nudo,  prater  tempora  et  summa 
opercula  f:q>i<uii(isii  ;  colore  corporis  purpurea,  punctis 
violaceis  ;  ririja  )iiiiliiindlatd  et  altera  in  snmmo  dorso 
tenuiori,  pullldifi,  iiilaminatis  ;  fascia  obliqnd  in  buccd. 

Radii:— Br.  G;  D.  51—32;  A.  29;  C.15*;  P.  22  ;  V.  I|5. 
Plate  XL,  figs.  5,  6,  natural  size. 
This  Notothenia  resembles  cornucola  in  its  naked  jjorous 
head,  the  distribution  of  the  scales  on  the  upper  border  of 
the  operculum,  in  the  cheek  stripe,  dark  mark  on  the  base 
of  the  pectoral,  and  in  the  numbers  of  the  rays  of  the  ver- 
tical fins.  It  has,  however,  a  fuller  bluff  head,  with  large 
lips,  and  is  well  distinguished  from  it  and  the  other  species, 
by  a  broad,  longitudinal,  pale,  spotless  stripe  on  the  side, 
and  a  narrower  one  adjoining  the  base  of  the  dorsal.  The 
rest  of  the  side  has  a  plum-purple  tint,  besprinkled  with 
dark,  violet-coloured  dots.  The  head  has  also  a  purple 
hue,  and  the  oblique,  pale  stripe  on  the  cheek,  is  bounded 


above  and  below  with  dark  marks.  The  first  dorsal  is,  as 
is  most  usual,  black  posteriorly  ;  there  are  small  obscure 
spots  on  the  second  dorsal,  and  a  dark  line  crosses  the 
anal  rays  near  their  ends.  These  colours  are  described 
from  specimens  kept  in  spirits. 

The  scales  along  the  middle  of  the  sides  are  finely  and 
equally  ciliated ;  the  teeth  of  the  upper  and  lower  ones 
are  more  minute,  and  are  nearly  concealed  by  the  epider- 
mis ;  while,  towards  the  middle  of  the  belly,  and  on  the 
top  of  the  back,  the  teeth  of  the  scales  become  quite 
obsolete. 

The  jaws  are  armed  with  a  single  series  of  slightly 
curved  subulate  teeth,  which  are  tallest  in  front.  In  the 
up])er  jaw  only,  there  are  three  or  four  interior  teeth  in  front, 
as  tall  as  the  others.  The  vela  are  softly  granular  and 
porous,  as  in  other  species.  The  head  forms  a  fourth  of 
the  total  length  of  the  fish,  caudal  included,  and  the 
height  of  the  body  is  equal  to  a  fifth  of  the  length. 
Length,  b^  inches. 

Hab.  The  Falkland  Islands. 

Notothenia  marginata.     Richardson. 

Ch.  spec.  N.  capite  nudo,  heri,  squamis  iantummodo 
panels,  inconspicuis  ocuhnn  inter  aperturamque  sum- 
mam  branchiarum ;  pinnis  dorsi  conne.vis  ;  pinna  dorsi 
secundd pinndque  ani  nigro  tinctis,  marginibus  pallidis. 

Radii:— Br.  6;  D.  6]— 1|.32;  A.  28;  C.21;  P.  20;  V.  1|5. 

Plate*  XII.,  figs.  3,  4,  natural  size. 

This  fish  has  the  same  kind  of  bar  on  the  cheek,  and 
line  across  the  base  of  the  pectoral,  which  we  observe  in 
N.  cornucola  and  virgata,  and  the  head  is  even  less  scaly, 
there  being  only  five  or  six  small  deeply  imbedded  scales 
scattered  along  the  line  of  junction  of  the  gill-cover  with 
the  cranium.  There  are  none  on  the  supra-scapular  re- 
gions, and  the  top  of  the  supra-scapular  itself  can  with 
difficulty  be  traced  through  the  integument.  Open  pores 
exist  on  the  same  parts  of  the  head  as  in  the  species 
named  above,  viz.  across  the  snout  and  nape,  along  the 
upper  hinge  of  the  gill-cover,  round  the  eye,  along  the 
limbs  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  up  the  edge  of  the  preopercu- 
lum.  One  of  the  nasal  openings  has  an  elevated  tubular 
mouth  situated  just  before  the  eye.  If  there  be  a  second 
opening,  it  cannot  be  distinguished  from  a  pore.  The  gill 
membranes  are  united  beneath,  as  in  the  others,  the  free 
edge  over  the  isthmus  being  a  segment  of  a  circle.  The 
pale  borders  of  the  anal  and  dorsal  fins  form  a  ready  dis- 
tinctive mark  of  the  species.  These  fins  are  otherwise 
blurred  or  blotched  with  black,  but  the  colours  of  the  fish 
have  faded  in  the  spirits. 

The  scales  of  the  body  are  strongly  ciliated,  except 
those  which  are  on  the  top  of  the  back,  and  on  the  belly, 
and  near  the  anal  fin,  where  the  teeth  become  obsolete. 
The  scales  of  the  lateral  line  are  notched  at  the  tip,  and 
have  a  tube  on  the  disk.  There  are  forty  such  scales  on 
the  fore  part  of  the  line,  and  ten  on  the  posterior  part. 

*  It  is  due  to  Mr.  Mitchell  to  say,  that  from  a  mistake  in  preparing 
this  plate,  which  was  partly  executed  in  lithotint,  the  drawings  have 
been  considerably  injured. 


19 


The  teeth  stand  in  a  single  series  on  both  jaws,  and  are 
short,  subulate,  slightly  incurved,  becoming  gradually 
smaller  towards  the  corners  of  the  mouth.  The  vela  are 
thickly  covered  with  soft,  perforated,  granular  eminences. 
The  length  of  the  head  is  contained  thrice  and  three  quar- 
ters in  the  total  length  of  the  fish,  which  is  4^  inches. 

Had.  The  Falkland  Islands. 

NOTOTHENIA    TESSELLATA.       Richardsou. 

Ch.  Spec.  N.  squamis  leevissimis :  capite  squamoso  ;  cor- 

pore  sex-fasciato ;  pinnd  dorsi  tessellatd. 

Radii  :— Br.  6;  D.  C|— 33  ;  A.  32  ;  C.  21 ;  P.  22  ;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  XII.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size. 

This  species  has  a  more  extensively  scaly  head  than  any 
of  the  NotoihehicB  described  in  the  preceding  pages.  The 
scales  cover  the  top  of  the  head  forward  nearly  to  the 
nostrils,  two-thirds  of  the  cheek,  and  the  whole  of  the  gill- 
cover,  except  a  narrow  margin,  which  is  smooth.  The 
limb  of  the  preoperculum,  the  whole  interoperculum,  the 
preorbitar,  end  of  the  snout,  maxillaries,  jaws,  and  under 
surface  of  the  head  are  also  smooth.  The  opercular  scales 
are  larger  than  the  others  on  the  head.  The  scales  on  the 
body  are  small  as  compared  with  those  of  the  other  Noio- 
IhenicB,  there  being  about  eighty  in  a  row  between  the  gill- 
opening  and  caudal  fin.  These  scales  are  quite  smooth  on 
the  edge,  no  teeth  being  visible  through  an  eye-glass  of 
considerable  power.  They  are  bounded  by  four  slightly 
convex  curves,  and  one  taken  from  the  middle  of  the  side, 
showed  thirteen  furrows  impressed  on  the  basal  half.  When 
ill  fsitii,  they  are  invested  with  a  tliick  epidermis,  which 
renders  their  edges  blunt,  and  they  feel  smooth  to  the  fin- 
ger drawn  either  way  over  them. 

The  lateral  line  is  traced  on  scales  which  are  notched 
at  the  tip,  and  have  two  pores  on  the  disk,  without  any 
visible  tubular  ridge.  The  upjjer  line  can  be  traced  con- 
siderably past  the  commencement  of  the  lower  one.  The 
pores  of  the  head  are  in  the  same  situations  as  in  the  other 
species.  The  free  edge  of  the  united  gill-membranes  is 
curved  in  the  arc  of  a  circle.  The  length  of  the  head  is 
contained  three  times  and  a  half  in  the  whole  length  of 
the  fish.  Both  jaws  are  armed  with  a  row  of  subulate 
teeth,  similar  to  those  of  the  other  species,  with  two  or 
three  much  smaller  ones  behind  the  front  teeth,  and  curved 
backwards.  The  tongue,  large  and  smooth,  has  a  free, 
rounded  tip.     The  upper  and  lower  vela  are  glandular. 

The  original  tints  have  perished  during  the  immersion 
of  the  specimen  in  spirits,  but  six  irregularly  wedge- 
shaped  bars  can  be  traced,  descending  from  the  back  down 
the  sides.  The  fins  generally  have  a  dark  ground.  The 
first  dorsal  is,  as  usual,  mostly  deep  black,  and  the  second 
is  barred  with  rows  of  square  spots. 

Length,  seven  inches. 

Hab.  The  Falkland  Islands. 

NoTOTHENiA  siMA.     Richardson. 
Ch.  SPEC.   N.  capite  depressiiisculo  parum  convexo,  squa- 
moso ;  corpore  Jasciatim  nebuloso  ;  squamis  ciliatis. 
Radii:— Br.  6;  D.  G|— 28  ;  A.  28;  C.  13|;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  XT.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size. 
This  Notothenia\ia.s  an  extensively  scaly  depressed  head. 


The  cheek  is  thickly  covered  with  small  scales,  excc])t 
about  one-third  of  it,  next  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth, 
which  is  naked.  On  the  temples  and  supra-scapular  re- 
gions the  scales  are  minute  ;  on  the  top  of  the  head  and 
opercula  they  are  larger  and  more  deeply  imbedded  in  the 
skin,  and  their  form  and  disposition  are  less  regular  be- 
tween the  eyes.  Most  of  the  scales  on  the  body  are 
ciliated.  A  row  of  open  pores  runs  along  each  limb  of 
the  lower  jaw,  round  the  preoperculum,  along  the  najie, 
across  the  upper  edge  of  the  gill-cover,  round  the  orbits, 
and  over  the  end  of  the  snout,  as  in  most  of  the  other 
species. 

The  length  of  the  head  is  contained  thrice  and  two- 
thirds,  and  the  height  of  the  body  five  times  and  three 
quarters  in  the  total  length.  The  space  between  the  eyes 
is  narrower  than  the  breadth  of  the  orbit.  The  teeth  are 
all  short,  and  in  front  of  the  jaws  are  disposed  in  several 
rows. 

The  original  colours  of  the  fish  have  faded,  but  some 
dark  marks  still  exist  on  the  cheek  and  temples.  On  the 
upper  parts  of  the  body  and  sides  the  dark  tints  have  a 
clouded  and  banded  form.  There  are  dark  marks  on  the 
base  and  towards  the  extremity  of  the  caudal,  and  some 
obscure  spotting  on  the  other  two  vertical  fins,  with  a 
darkening  of  the  membrane  near  the  tips  of  the  rays.  The 
pectorals  are  obscurely  banded  ;  a  few  spots  exist  on  the 
ventrals,  and  the  first  dorsal  exhibits  the  usual  black  mark. 

Length,  A\  inches. 

Hab.  The  Falkland  Islands. 

Harpagifer  BisriNi>s.     Vide  Y>.  11. 

Ch.   spec.    H.  corpore    auraviiaco,  fasciis    irihus  fuscis 
ciiicio  ;   capite  Jusco. 

Radii  :— B.  6;  D.  4|— 22vel  24  ;   A.  17;  C.  114;  P.  17; 
V.  l;5. 

Plate  Vll.,  figs.  1,  2,  3.     Plate  XII.,  fig.  8,  natural  .size, 
fig.  9,  magnified. 

The  specimens  from  which  the  geneiic  characters  and 
the  detailed  description  of  the  species  were  given  in  the 
preceding  fasciculus,  as  referred  to  above,  had  been  much 
injured  by  immersion  in  brine,  and  the  patterns  of  colour 
had  nearly  perished.  Through  Mr.  Gray's  kindness,  I  have 
had  an  opportunity  of  examining  specimens  well  preserved 
in  spirits,  and  of  making  some  additions  to  the  account  of 
the  species. 

The  first  dorsal  in  reality  contains  four  spines,  the  last 
spine  being,  in  some  examples,  much  more  conspicuous 
than  in  others.  By  a  re-examination  of  Sir  James  Ross's 
specimens,  I  detected  the  fourth  spine  concealed  under 
the  integuments.  1  he  last  ray  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  is 
bound  down  to  the  tail  by  membrane,  which  extends  nearly 
to  the  base  of  the  caudal.  A  row  of  pores  runs  along 
each  limb  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  round  the  edge  of  the 
preoperculum  to  the  temples.  Another  crosses  the  end  ol' 
the  snout,  follows  the  edge  of  the  preorbitar,  completely 
encircles  the  eye,  then  continues  along  the  union  of  the 
gill-cover  with  the  skull,  and,  crossing  the  nape,  unites 
with  its  fellow.      All  these  pores  have   elevated  tubular 

d2 


20 


mouths  forming  short  cirrhi.  The  structure  of  the  pores 
on  the  lateral  line  is  the  same.  A  row  of  minute  and  dis- 
tant pores,  without  tubular  lips,  can  be  traced  from  behind 
the  pectoral,  along  the  line  of  origin  of  the  muscles  in  the 
middle  of  the  sides,  to  the  caudal  fin.  The  skin  on  the 
iip])er  edge  of  the  orbit  is  tumid,  and  a  small  crest,  com- 
posed of  united  tubes,  with  open  mouths,  rises  from  its 
middle.  This  crest  is  not  uniform,  having  a  more  pahuated 
shape  in  some  individuals,  while  in  others  the  little  tubu- 
lar branchlets  stand  out  on  every  side.  Some  variation  in 
size  and  form  is,  perhaps,  owing  to  the  season  at  which 
the  specimens  were  taken,  the  examples  procured  by  Sir 
James  Ross  having  but  a  vestige  of  the  crest,  even  when  the 
skin  is  perfect  in  that  part ;  but  it  is  to  be  observed,  that 
many  of  them  have  the  integuments  broken  there,  as 
if  the  tubular  projections,  having  been  very  tender,  had 
worn  off  more  readily  than  the  rest  of  the  integument. 
The  top  of  the  head  and  shoulders  is  studded  with  little 
round  soft  grains,  and  filamentous  points,  not  very  visible 
without  the  aid  of  a  lens;  and  a  few  similar  grains  exist 
on  the  integuments  investing  the  dorsal  rays.  All  these 
seem  to  be  the  tumid  lips  of  minute  pores. 

The  body  ap])ears  to  have  been  orange,  with  three  irre- 
gular dark  brown  bands  desceuding  from  the  back.  The 
top  of  the  head  is  dark  ;  the  belly  and  the  fore  part  of  the 
back  showing  the  orange-coloured  ground.  The  second 
dorsal,  pectoral,  and  caudal,  are  tessellated  by  squarish, 
blackish-brown  spots,  confined  to  the  meuibrane.  These 
spots  form  rows,  when  the  fins  are  fully  extended.  There 
are  also  some  dark  specks  on  the  edge  of  the  first  dorsal, 
and  a  few  blotches  on  the  ventrals.  The  anal  is  orange, 
and  unspotted. 
Length  of  the  specimens  generally  about  three  inches. 

Obs.  One  specimen  is  entirely  destitute  of  a  first  dorsal, 
and  bears  no  mark  of  the  back  having  received  any  injury. 
Its  second  dorsal  contains  twenty-one  articulated  rays,  and 
the  anal  fin  eighteen  rays. 

Hab.  The  Falkland  Islands. 

Harpagifer  palliolatus.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  H.  strlgd  albescenti  ah  extreme  rostra  per  sum- 
mum  dorsum  ad  caudam  tractd ;  laterihus  fusvis  trans- 
verse hifasclatis  I  corpore  infra  auranliaco. 


Radii;— Br.  6;  D.  3|- 


A.  17;  C.  U^;  P.  16;  V.  1|5. 


Plate  XII.,  figs.  5,  6,  7,  natural  size.* 

I  have  seen  only  one  example  of  this  form  of  Harpagifer, 
and  am  not  convinced  of  its  being  specifically  distinct 
liom  bispinis,  notwithstanding  the  very  different  way  in 
which  it  is  coloured.     It  may  be  a  sexual  dress  merely. 

Only  three  spines  can  be  delected  in  the  first  dorsal,  and 
the  supraorbitar  crest  seems  to  be  composed  of  a  single 
conical  tube.  In  all  other  parts  of  external  structure,  the 
resemblance  to  bispinis  is  extremely  close.  The  suboper- 
cular  spine  is  acutely  pointed.  In  bispinis  this  spine  is 
sometimes  acute,  sometimes  notched  at  the  tip.     The  only 


reason  for  giving  this  fish  a  distinct  name,  is  the  milk- 
white  streak  which  connnences  on  the  symphysis  of  the 
upper  jaw,  and  runs  along  the  middle  of  the  head  and 
back  to  the  tail,  sending  one  band  down  the  side  towards 
the  anus,  and  another  at  the  end  of  the  second  dorsal. 
The  maxillaries  are  also  white.  The  ground-colour  of  the 
head  and  sides  is  greyish-black,  fading  on  the  flanks  to 
hair  brown.  The  under  surface  and  the  fins  are  marked 
as  in  bispinis. 

A  small  crenated  flap  projects  from  the  fore  edge  of  the 
anus,  rather  more  conspicuously  than  in  the  ordinary  ex- 
amples of  bispinis,  and  there  is  a  minute  genital  tubercle 
behind,  as  shown  in  figure  7. 

Length,  2'6-2  inches.  Length  from  tip  of  upper  lip  to 
anus,  rSO  inches. 

Hab.  The  Falklauds. 

Pat^cus.  Richardson,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist,  for  Oct.  1844, 
vol.  xiv.  p.  -280. 

Ch.  Gen.  Forma  compressissima,  circiimscriptioiie  laterali 
semiparaboUcd ;  facie  frontatd  oblique  retro  descen- 
denti. 

Os  parvum,  rictu  fere  horizonlali  parum  decliri.  Maxilla 
inferior  porosa,  cirris  minimis  jinrr/'  pn'ilila. 

Dentes  minulissiuii,  arciKuei  in  iiinjillis  u/risque,  ossi- 
busque  pliaryiKjeis  stipati.  Lingua,  vomer,  palatum- 
que  l(Bves. 

Oculi  laterales  in  summd  gena  positi. 

Ossa  capitis  operculorumque  inermiu,  sulcatim  iiisculpla. 

Os  preorbitale  membro  tenui  verticali  :  disco  in/'ero  dila- 
tato,  iiiscnlpto.  Catenula  suborbilalis  memhraiiacco- 
tubulala,  iiec  ossea,  oculo  remota,  e  disco  preorbitalis  ad 
tempera  genam  transcurrens. 

Apertura  branchialis  ampla,  postice  infraque  etiam  intra 
ramos  nia:r///(e  inferioris  ad  mentem  usque  externa, 
super  opercnhiiii  c/aiis/i.  Membrana  branchiostega  su- 
perne  apuiildid,  infra  non  isthmo  annexa  nee  cum  pari 
suo  conjugata,  radiis  sex  sustentata. 

Squamae  nulla.  Cutis  Icevissimus.  Linea  lateralis  pos- 
tice summum  dorsum  atlingens.  Anus  niedianus,  pa- 
pilla nulla. 

Pinnee  pectorales  satis  magna;,  pauciradiatoi,  humiles,  po- 
sitioiie  forsitaiique  Juiictione  veiilrales  pinnas  quce 
desunt  simulantes  ;  radiis  tenuibus  mdivisis  omnibus 
urticulatis. 

Pinna  dorsi  pinnam  dorsalem  Agriopi  referens,  per  totum 
dorsum  ab  e.vtremo  fronte  ante  ociilos  ad  pinuam  caudte 
usque  cui  membrana  counexa  regnans :  radiis  iirticu- 
lalis  ejus  et  pinncB  ani  attenuatis  vix  a  radiis  uou  arti- 
cular ibus,  Jiexilibus,  uumerosioribus  oculo  nudo  dig- 
noscendis. 

Pinna  ani  a  pinna  caudw  discreta.  Radii  piinne  caudcc 
indivisi,  tenues,  articulati. 

Vertebree  circiler  35,  quarui/i  18  ad  caudam  perlinentes. 

Pat.ecus  fkonto.     Richardson. 

Pat<BCUS fronto,  species  uuica  adliuc  coguila. 

Radii:— Br.  6;  D.  24ll6;  A.  11|15;  C.  10;  P.  8. 

Plate  XIII.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size. 

We  have  seen  but  a  single  example  of  this  very  curious 


21 


fisli,  which  was  dried  without  any  ])ii|)aration  whatever. 
From  the  extreme  thinness  of  ihc  body,  this  phm  has  an- 
swered pretty  well,  and  there  does  not  ajipear  to  have  been 
any  material  alteration  of  the  natural  form.  The  specimen 
was  presented  to  the  British  Museum,  by  His  lilxcellency 
Captain  George  Grey,  Governor  of  South  Australia.  On 
account  of  the  flexibility  of  its  spinous  rays,  it  ought  pro- 
bably to  be  ranged  with  the  Gohiidai,  among  which  there 
is  already  another  apodal  genus,  viz.  AinirrliiclKiK,  but  it 
does  not  possess  a  genital  papilla,  and  the  internal  anatomy 
is  unknown.  In  external  form,  and  in  the  general  appear- 
ance and  sculpturing  of  the  bones  of  the  head,  Pal<ccus 
has  some  analogy  to  Agriopux,  just  as  C/ueiiichi/ii/s  re- 
sembles Triyla.  The  habits  of  the  fish  are  unknown  to  us. 
This  fish  is  very  much  compressed,  thinning  olT  on  the 
dorsal  line  to  the  mere  thickness  of  the  bases  of  the  dorsal 
rays,  but  being  obtuse  on  the  belly,  before  the  anus.  The 
up]ier  profile  is  parabolic,  the  curve  rising  from  the  over- 
hanging forehead  to  its  summit  at  the  twelfth  ray,  which  is 
opposite  to  the  base  of  the  pectorals.  The  descent  to  the 
caudal  fin  is  longer,  and  more  gradual.  The  face,  in  de- 
scending towards  the  mouth,  inclines  considerably  back- 
wards, in  a  slightly  concave  line.  The  rictus  of  the 
mouth  is  nearly  horizontal ;  the  under  jaw  is  equal  in 
length  to  the  upper  one,  and  lies  nearly  in  a  straight  line 
with  the  thorax  and  belly,  as  far  as  the  anus.  There  is  a 
little  ascent  from  the  anus  to  the  horizontal  under  profile 
of  the  tail.  The  height  of  the  posterior  part  of  the  tail  is 
scarcely  one-eighth  of  that  of  the  body  at  the  pectorals. 
The  greatest  thickness  of  the  fish  appears  to  be  at  the  con- 
vex gill-covers,  and  the  compression  to  augment  posteriorly, 
but  as  the  specimen  has  been  dried,  the  exact  thickness  at 
the  shoulder  cannot  be  ascertained.  1  he  anus  is  midway 
between  the  upper  lip  and  the  base  of  the  caudal. 

The  head,  measured  iiom  the  brow  to  the  gill-opening, 
forms  nearly  a  third  of  the  total  length,  caudal  excluded. 
It  is  extremely  narrow,  on  a  front  view  jircscnting  nothing 
but  the  thin  edges  of  the  frontal  bones,  connected  by  a 
narrow  stri])e  of  membrane,  which,  in  the  dried  specimen, 
forms  a  furrow,  the  eyes  and  nostrils  being  entirely  lateral. 
The  eyes  are  high  up  on  the  cheeks,  and  the  nostrils,  which 
are  minute,  are  nearer  the  profile.  The  upper  opening  is 
between  two  descending  processes  of  the  anterior  frontal, 
and  the  lower  one,  which  has  a  tubular  margin,  is  about 
half  way  between  the  eye  and  the  upper  lip. 

The  mouth,  small  and  low  down,  is  formed  above 
entirely  by  the  intermaxillaries,  which  are  moderately 
protractile,  their  pedicles  being  about  half  as  long  as  the 
limbs.  The  maxillaries  widen  gradually  towards  their 
lower  rounded  ends,  and  are  longitudinally  scul])tured. 
The  lower  jaw  equals  the  upper  one  in  length,  and  its 
limbs  are  porous  beneath,  several  of  the  pores  having  pro- 
jecting lips  forming  minute  barbels.  The  intermaxillaries 
and  lower  jaw  are  armed  with  very  minute  teeth,  like 
gi'ains  of  sand,  densely  crowded  into  a  moderately  wide 
band.  The  vomer  and  palate-bones  are  smooth.  The 
pharyngeal  bones  and  the  sessile  hemispherical  rakers  are 
armed  with  nearly  microscopical  villifonn  teeth. 

The  suborbitar  chain  appears  to  be  a  mere  row  of  mem- 
branous tubes,  curving  across  the  cheek  iiom  the  temples 
at  a  considerable  distance  beneath  the   eye.      The  preor- 


bitar  is,  howe\cr,  well  developed,  and  presents,  close  to 
the  mouth,  an  oval  bony  disk,  sculptured  in  a  stelliform 
manner.  A  narrow  process  rises  from  before  the  cheek, 
to  meet  a  point  of  tht;  anterior  frontal,  near  the  angle  of 
the  eye ;  there  is  a  minute  point  or  tooth  on  the  same  side 
of  the  disk,  in  connexion  with  the  suborbitar  chain  ;  two 
others,  equally  small,  exist  on  the  other  side,  next  the 
maxillary,  and  the  two  ends  of  the  disk  are  obtuse.  The 
bone  is  level  with  the  integument,  and  does  not  cover  any 
part  of  the  maxillary. 

The  frontal  bone  is  arched  over  the  eye,  and  is  entirely 
lateral,  its  thin  edge  only  being  seen  above  or  anteriorly. 
It  is  sculptured,  as  are  also  the  occipital  and  suprascapular 
bones.  The  preoperculum  is  curved  cUiptically,  its  upper 
limb  being  wiaest,  and  somewhat  triangular ;  the  narrower 
under  limb  descends  considerably,  as  it  runs  forward  to 
the  angle  of  the  mouth.  At  the  union  of  the  lindjs,  ]ios- 
teriorly,  there  is  a  small  corner,  rendered  more  distinct  by 
the  course  of  the  lines  on  its  surface.  The  edge  of  the 
bone  is  otherwise  entire.  The  interoperculiim  ascends  ob- 
liquely as  it  runs  backwards,  and  widens  posteriorly  in  a  spa- 
tulate  manner.  The  operculum  comes  in  forwards  for  nearly 
half  its  length  above  the  upper  disk  of  the  preoperculum, 
and  the  lines  on  its  surface  run  towards  two  distinct  points 
on  its  posterior  margin.  The  suboperculum  is  rather  over 
than  behind  the  interoperculnm,  and  has  a  nearly  rectan- 
gular disk.  All  these  bones  are  sculptured,  as  is  also  the 
humeral  chain,  but  none  have  either  pungent  teeth,  or 
serratures. 

The  gill-membrane  edges  the  gill-cover,  and  ends  at 
the  upper  angle,  in  a  small  peak,  with  a  notch  anterior 
to  it.  It  is  supported  by  six  rays,  the  upper  one 
curving  round  the  opercular  bones  to  the  upper  angle. 
The  0])ening  runs  under  the  throat  up  to  the  chin,  the  mem- 
brane having  no  attachment  to  the  isthmus,  and  no  con- 
nexion with  its  lellow,  except  at  the  point  of  attachment 
to  the  lower  jaw. 

The  dorsal  fin  commences  at  the  anterior  top  of  the 
forehead,  before  the  eye,  and  reaches  to  the  end  of  the 
tail,  being  united  to  the  caudal  fin.  Its  spinous  rays  are 
rather  stout  at  the  base,  particularly  anteriorly,  but  flexible 
at  the  tips.  The  second,  third,  and  fourth  are  tallest;  the 
following  ones  become  gradually  shorter  to  the  fifteenth  or 
sixteenth,  alter  which  they  increase  in  length  on  to  the 
eighth  articulated  ray.  This  gradation  of  the  rays,  con- 
joined with  the  curve  of  the  back,  gives  an  almost  straight, 
or  slightly  concave  line  to  the  edge  of  the  fin,  with  a 
rounding  ofi'  towards  the  end  of  the  tail. 

The  jointed  rays  taper,  and  are  notreadily  distinguishable 
by  the'naked  eye  from  the  posterior  spinous  ones.  There 
are  two  or  three  pairs  of  minute  membranous  processes  on 
the  side  of  the  second  dorsal  ray,  and  one  pair  on  the  third 
ray.  The  caudal  fin  is  slightly  rounded  at  the  end,  eight 
of  its  rays  being  nearly  of  the  same  length,  while  the  two 
lower  ones  are  shorter  and  graduated.  'l"he  anal  fin,  with 
considerably  less  height  than  the  posterior  part  of  the 
dorsal,  apitroaches  to  it  in  form.  It  is  not  connected  with 
the  caudal,  but  the  last  ray  is  bound  to  the  tail  by  mem- 
brane. The  pectorals  are  large,  over-reaching  the  anterior 
third  of  the  anal,  and  are  attached  near  to  the  ventral  sur- 
face.     Their  rays  are  slender  and  tapering,  with  the  tips 


22 


slightly  projecting,  particularly  the  lower  ones.  The  rays 
appear  simple  at  first  sight,  but  are  not  so,  each  having 
two  closely  adhering  branches. 

The  skin  is  perfectly  smooth,  and  appears  to  have  been 
mucous  when  recent.  Its  colour,  when  dried,  is  yellowish- 
brown,  and  there  are  three  pale  spots  on  each  side  of  the 
back,  above  the  lateral  line  :  one  under  the  sixteenth  and 
seventeenth  rays,  the  second  under  the  twenty-seventh  and 
twenty-eighth  rays,  and  the  third  and  smallest  on  the  base 
of  the  thirty-fourth  dorsal  ray.  The  dorsal  fin  is  clouded, 
and  some  minute  speckling  can  be  traced  on  the  other 
fins.  There  are  about  thirty-four  or  thirty-five  vertebrae, 
as  nearly  as  they  can  be  counted  through  the  integuments. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Lens'tli  from  upper  lip  to  end  of  cauflal  fin 8  75  inches. 

„                 „            base  of  ditto 700  „ 

„                 „            anus   3-70  „ 

Height  of  body  at  eleventh  dorsal  ray 300  „ 

„         second  dorsal  ray  2-7.5  „ 

Length  of  pectorals    300  „ 

Hab.  South  Australia. 

ScoRP^NA  MiLiTARis.     RichardsoH. 

Ch.  Spec.  Sc.  spinis  capitis  fere  Scorpaenae  porci  ce/bufo- 
nis  ;  carinis  intra-orbitalihus  lavibus,  apicibus  puiigen- 
t  ibus  ;  operculo  summo,  temporibus,  genisque  squam  osis  ; 
orhHis  superne  forte  tridentatis,  cirrho  unico  parvo  ; 
cirrhis  qiioque  tiasalibus  ;  colore  carmesino  ;  pinna 
dorsi  spinosd  rivtilatd  cum  macula  nigra  obloiigd  ad 
marginem  pone  medium. 

Radii:— Br.  7;  D.  12ll0;  A.31.5;  C.  I24;  P.  17;  V.  1|5. 

Scnrpana  cruenta,  Solander,  MSS.  ?  Rich.  Annals  Nat.  Hist,  for  May, 
1842,  p.  217.  Scorptena  mililaris,  Rich.  Zool.  Trans.,  iii.  p.  90.  Scor- 
peena  ergastulormn,  Idem,  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.,  May,  1842,  p.  217. 
Soldier  tish  of  the  colonists  of  Tasmania. 

Plate  XIV.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size. 

In  Solander's  MSS.,  preserved  in  the  Banksian  library, 
there  is  an  account  of  the  colours  of  a  Scorp<etia  cruenta, 
taken  ofi'  Cape  Kidnappers,  New  Zealand,  on  Cook's  first 
voyage.  This  is  not  accompanied  by  a  figure,  or  any  de- 
scription of  form.  In  June,  1839,  I  read  an  account  of  a 
collection  of  fish  made  at  Port  Van  Diemen's  Land,  before 
the  Zoological  Society,  in  which  a.  Scorpceua  niilitaris  was 
described  from  specimens  which  had  lost  their  markings, 
and  had  been  otherwise  injured  by  deterioration  of  the 
spirit  in  which  they  \vere  immersed.  From  this  cause,  the 
black  mark  on  the  dorsal  was  effaced,  and  I  did  not  recog- 
nize it  as  coiTesponding  with  Solander's  description  of 
cruenta.  In  a  paper  on  Australian  fish,  published  in  the 
Annals  of  Natural  History,  in  1842  and  1843,  I  described 
a  drawing  made  by  a  convict  at  Port  Arthur,  of  a  Scor- 
pcBiia,  which  I  named  provisionally  ergastulurum,  placing 
it  in  juxtaposition  with  Solander's  cruenta ;  but  being 
unable,  from  defects  in  the  drawing,  to  identify  it  with 
that  or  any  other  species  that  had  been  described.  A 
more  perfect  specimen  in  the  present  collection  is  repre- 
sented in  Plate  XIV.,  and  appears  to  justify  the  reference 
of  the  synonymes  above  collected,  to  one  species.     There 


was  no  trace  left  in  the  specimen  of  the  blood-red  mark 
on  the  soft  dorsal,  mentioned  by  Solander,  but  it  may, 
nevertheless,  have  existed  in  the  recent  fish,  or  may  be  a 
mark  assumed  in  the  spawning  season.  The  following  is 
Solander's  account  of  the  colours  of  the  living  fish  : — 

"  Corpus  saturate  sed  obscure  rubrum,  nebulis  sub/as- 
ciatis  paucis  pallide  lulesceniibus  pictuin,  subtus  dilute 
sangnineuM.  Caput  superni;  et  latere  p urpura scent i- 
rubiciindum ,  subtus  dilute  sm/i/'i/in'/n//,  nch/i/is  albis.  Iris 
rubro-argentea.  Pupilhi  iiiijnt.  I'iinnc  i/i/rsules  pars 
prima  obscure  rubra,  rirnlis  paucis,  suhpcllucidis,  postice 
nebula  nigra,  oblonga  ;  pars  posterior  antici',  prope  basin 
macula  intense  sanguined  notata,  alias  ruhicuuda  macu- 
lis  nigricantibus  adspersa.  Pinna  ventralis  sa)iguiuea, 
mavulis  paucis  uiijris.  Pinna  caudalis  rotundata,  rubra, 
n/acu/is  ii/gr/s  in  quatuor  fasciis  per  radios  disposids  or- 
nata  :  Meinbraiiti  connectens  immaculata^''  (Solander, 
Pisces  Australia;,  MSS.,  jJ.  5). 

The  foim  of  the  fish  is  fully  described  in  the  Zoological 
Transactions,  as  above  quoted. 

Length  of  specimen,  six  inches. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  Van  Diemen's  Land,  and  of  New  Zea- 
land. 

SCORP.ENA  BVNOENSis.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  Sc.  capite  breri  alio  cum  carporc  cirrhis  plu- 
rimis  parris  ornato  ;  j/in/ni  pcdiinili  (jul lis  lacleis  seri- 
atim Jasciatd ;  pinnis  aliis,  corparv,  el  capite  nebulis 
albis  variis. 

Radii:— Br.  7;  D.  I2|10;   A.  3|5  ;  C.  I24  ;  P.  17;  \.\\b. 

Plate  XIV.,  figs.  3,  4,  5,  natural  size. 

This  species  was  discovered  by  Benjamin  Bynoe,  Esq., 
while  serving  as  surgeon  of  the  Beagle,  on  the  north-west 
coast  of  Australia,  and  seems  to  diff'er  from  all  the  Scor- 
p<en(B  that  have  been  hitherto  figured. 

The  scales  on  the  head  are  confined  to  the  upper  part  of 
the  gill-cover  and  temples,  the  cheeks  above  the  preorbitar 
ridge  being  smooth  and  scaleless.  There  is,  perhaps,  a 
single  row  of  very  minute  scales  close  to  the  ridge  be- 
neath, but  the  rest  of  the  cheek  is  perfectly  smooth.  The 
intra-orbitar  ridges  are  little  marked,  and  are  not  terminated 
by  spinous  points  ;  the  middle  supra-orbitar  tooth,  though 
pretty  large,  is  depressed,  and  inclined  inwards.  The  cirrhi 
are  very  numerous,  but  none  of  them  are  large.  A 
bushy  one,  and  many  smaller  filaments,  rise  from  the  orbit, 
a  similar  one  from  the  anterior  nostril,  and  many  which  are 
more  or  less  fringed  or  lobed  from  almost  all  the  prominent 
corners  of  the  head.  One  of  the  most  conspicuous  is 
attached  to  the  posterior  corner  of  the  preorbitar.  The 
lateral  line,  and  the  body  throughout,  are  fringed  by  nu- 
merous simple  filaments.  The  colour  in  spirits  is  brown, 
deepening  into  dark  umber  on  the  cheek,  the  top  of  the 
head,  spots  on  the  gill-cover,  and  a  large  patch  under  the 
second  dorsal.  The  rest  of  the  body  is  of  a  lighter  brown, 
relieved  by  white  marks,  which  in  some  places  are  opaque 
milk-white,  such  as  the  rows  on  the  pectoral,  the  larger 
spots  on  the  anal,  the  axilla  of  the  pectoral,  and  along  the 
belly.  The  filaments  also  on  the  head  and  body  are  mostly 
opaque  white.  The  distribution  of  the  markings  elsewhere 


23 


will  be  best  understood  by  a  reference  to  the  figure.    There 
are  eleven  simple  rays  in  the  pectoral. 

Length,  280  inches. 

Hab.  North-west  coast  of  Australia. 

Sebastes  rERCOiDEs.     Richardson. 
Radii  :— Br.  7-7  ;  D.  12|12  vol  13  ;  A.3|5;  C.  1I|-:  P.  II 
et  viii. ;  V.  1|5. 

Scorpcena  perco'ides,  Solander,  MSS.  Parkinson,  Icon.  ined.  Bibl. 
Banks,  pi.  Hi.  Sebastes  nuiculatus,  Richai'dson,  Zoological  Transactions, 
iii.  p.  93.  Sebastes  perco'ides,  Solander,  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist,  for  July, 
1842,  p.  384. 

Plate  XV.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size. 

In  the  third  volume  of  the  Zoological  Transactions,  I 
described  this  species  at  length  as  to  form,  referring  it  to 
the  Cape  Sebastes  maculatiis,  which  at  that  time  1  knew 
only  from  the  short  notice  of  the  species  contained  in  the 
Histoire  des  Poissons.  A  well-preserved  specimen,  brought 
from  New  Zealand  by  Sir  James  Ross,  and  still  retaining 
much  of  its  proper  markings,  enables  me  to  identify  the  fish 
with  the  Scorpcena  percoides  of  Solander,  and  the  publica- 
tion of  Dr.  Andrew  Smith's  figure  of  Sebastes  maculatiis, 
in  his  '  Zoology  of  South  Africa'  (Plate  22,  upper  figure), 
has  shown  that  I  was  in  error,  in  supposing  that  the  Aus- 
tralian and  Cape  Sebastes  were  the  same.  I  have,  there- 
fore, the  pleasure  of  giving  a  correct  figure,  under  Solan- 
der's  original  specific  name.  Some  of  the  bands  of  dark 
colour,  especially  one  across  the  head,  and  another  in  the 
shoidder,  have  faded  in  the  spirits,  and  Solander's  account 
of  the  recent  tints  ought,  therefore,  to  be  referred  to  in  the 
'  Annals  of  Natural  History,'  as  above  quoted. 

Sebastes  maculatiis  has  a  much  lower  spinous  dorsal, 
and  smaller  veutrals,  a  smaller  eye,  and  less  acutely  spinous 
head,  than  S  percoides. 

Length,  9j  inches. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Van  Diemen's  Land,  and  Port 
Jackson. 

Platycephalus  tasmanius.     Richardson. 

Char.  Spec.  PL  osse  preorbitali  unidentato ;  orbitd  l<evi ; 

spina  preoperculi  inferiori,  longiori ;  corpore,  pinnisque 

pectoris,  dorsi  et  caudm  maculatis. 
Radii  :— B.  7  ;  D.  1-6|— 14  ;  A.  14  ;  C.  13|,  P.  12  et  vi. ; 
V.  1|5. 

Platycephalus  tasmanius,  Richardson,  Zool.  Trans.,  vol.  iii.  p.  97. 

Plate  XVHI.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size. 

This  fish  is  fully  described  in  the  Zoological  Transac- 
tions above  quoted.  I  there  noticed  its  near  approach  to 
Platycephalus  basscnsis,  characterised  in  the  Histoire  des 
Poissons,  and  figured  by  Quoy  and  Gaimard  in  the  '  Zoology 
of  the  Voyage  of  the  Astrolabe'  (Plate  10,  fig.  3).  It  agrees 
with  that  species  in  the  relative  size  of  the  preopercular 
spines,  but  differs  in  having  only  one  small  spinous  point 
on  the  preorbitar,  instead  of  two  ;  and  no  tooth  whatever  on 
the  margin  of  the  orbit.  In  the  skeleton  of  tasmanius,  a 
slight  rib  is  vi.sible  in  the  preorbitar  bone,  but  it  does  not 
project  beyond  the  edge.  These  minute  differences  of 
structure,  though  not  established  by  an  examination  of  an 


authentic  specimen  of  bassensis,  but  merely  gathered  from 
the  works  referred  to,  being  conjoined  with  considerable 
discrepancy  in  the  size  and  distribution  of  the  spots  of 
colour,  have  induced  me  to  keep  the  species  separate. 
With  the  exception  of  a  slight  variation  in  the  numbers  of 
the  rays,  the  characters  are  con.stant  in  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  examples  of  tasmanius. 

Size,  from  eight  to  eighteen  inches  in  length. 

Had.  Coasts  of  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

Trigla  pleuracanthica.     Richardson. 

Ch.  spec.  Tr.  fossa  dorsali  et  lined  laterali  validd  armatis; 
squamis  corporis,  bast  Jlabellatis,  latcribus  concavis, 
postice  cordatis,  apiculatis,  carinatis ;  orbitis  antice 
tridenlatis;  facie  parum  concavd. 

Radii  :— Br.  7  ;  D.  9|— 14  ;  A.  14  ;  C.  Oi  ;  P.  11  et  iii. ; 
V.  l|o. 

Plate  XVI.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size  ;   3,  4,  magnified. 

This  gurnard  belongs  to  the  same  group  with  Tr  if/la 
aspera,  or  the  CaviUone  of  the  Mediterranean  ;  and  of  the 
three  species  of  the  Indian  Ocean,  described  in  the  His- 
toire des  Poissons,  it  approaches  most  closely  to  the  Trigla 
papilio  (p.  80,  pi.  73).  It  has  the  same  kind  of  spinous 
armature  at  the  base  of  the  dorsal  fins  and  on  the  lateral 
line,  with  much  resemblance  in  the  shape  of  the  other  scales, 
and  agrees  with  it  in  the  numbers  of  the  rays.  It  differs 
fi-om  this  and  the  rest  of  the  group,  in  the  greater  size  of 
the  lateral  spines,  in  the  form  of  the  air-bladder,  and  in 
other  particulars,  which  are  mentioned  in  the  following 
description. 

The  face  is  not  so  even  as  that  of  papilio,  but  is  slightly 
concave,  and  has  a  greater  slope.  The  snout  is  rounded, 
with  a  scarcely  perceptible  notch  at  the  mesial  line,  antl 
no  other  points  or  teeth  than  the  roughness  of  the  bone, 
which,  on  the  head  generally,  is  produced  by  fine,  short, 
parallel  ridges.  The  membranous  space  over  the  inter- 
maxillary pedicles  is  very  small.  There  are  three  teeth  on 
the  upper  anterior  part  of  the  orbit ;  the  rest  of  the  super- 
ciliary ridge  is  rough,  and  just  behind  the  eye  the  rough 
points  are  more  crowded  and  bristling.  The  interorbital 
space  is  deeply  concave,  and  its  bottom,  less  rough  than 
the  other  parts  of  the  skull,  is  marked  by  rows  of  fine 
round  grains.  The  vault  of  each  orbit  is  longitudinally 
ridged.  There  is  a  deep  crevice  behind  each  eye,  con- 
nected by  a  cross  fuiTow  on  the  top  of  the  head.  The  small 
ridges  are  much  crowded  on  the  occiput  and  snout,  so 
that  no  definite  arrangement  can  be  traced ;  but  on  the 
cheek  and  gill-cover,  the  ridges  are  parallel  and  hori- 
zontal, with  various  irregular,  smooth,  nacry  lines  under 
the  eye,  and  elsewhere.  The  intcroperculum  has  a 
squarish  projecting  process  ;  the  ascending  limb  of  the 
preoperculum  is  slightly  concave  on  the  edge  ;  the  corner 
is  angular,  and  projects  slightly,  and  the  under  limb  is 
convex.  There  are  three  or  four  minute  teeth  on  the  cor- 
ner of  the  bone,  but  nothing  nearly  so  conspicuous  as  the 
four  preopercular  teeth,  represented  in  the  figure  of  Tr. 
papilio  {Hist,  des  Poiss.,  pi.  73),  and  the  whole  form  of  the 
preoperculum  and  suboperculum  differs  in  the  two  species. 
The  notch  between  the  angular  points  of  the  operculum  is 


24 


deeper  than  in  papilio,  and  the  under  point  only  is  spinous. 
The  supra-scapular  and  coracoid  bones  have  the  same 
form  as  in  papilio,  viz.,  they  have  a  central  ridge,  which 
ends  in  an  acute  point,  and  the  surface  is  rough,  as  in  the 
other  bones  of  the  head.  The  opercular  spines  have  no 
such  ridge  proceeding  from  them.  The  humeral  bone  is 
oval,  and  smoother  than  any  other  bones  about  the  gill- 
opening  or  head. 

The  spinous  tips  of  the  interosseous  bones  which  arm 
the  dorsal  furrow,  are  twenty-two  on  each  side,  and  are 
acute  and  trenchant,  e.Kcept  three  or  four  anterior  ones, 
which  are  more  or  less  compound.  The  sj^inous  scales  of 
the  lateral  line  corres])ond  with  the  description  given  of 
those  of  Tr.  papilio,  but  the  chief  spine  of  each  is  larger 
and  more  trenchant  than  the  lateral  si)inus  of  any  Trigla 
of  which  I  have  seen  specimens  or  representations.  In 
plate  XVI.,  figs.  3  and  4,  the  scales  are  turned  upside  down, 
and  they  belong  to  the  left  side  of  the  fish.  They  cor- 
respond in  number  with  those  of  papilio,  being  fifty- five. 
The  lateral  line  forks  on  the  caudal  fin  very  remarkably. 

The  scales  of  the  body,  when  in  situ,  present  small 
rhomboidal  or  nearly  rectangular  disks.  When  detached, 
they  have  generally  a  dilated,  fan-streaked,  five  or  six- 
lobed  base,  concavely  curved  sides,  and  a  heart-shaped, 
apiculaled  disk,  with  an  acute  line  or  ridge  from  the  apex 
to  the  centre.  In  some  parts,  near  the  lateral  line  for  in- 
stance, the  scales  are  oblique,  and  have  more  elongated 
tips,  and  on  the  back  some  have  two  points.  The  concen- 
tric lines  of  structure  are  very  indistinct,  especially  near 
the  edges  of  the  scale,  which  ai-e  not  toothed,  their  struc- 
ture being  apparently  ctenoid*  The  scales  of  Tr.  pa- 
pilio are  described  as  being  nearly  like  the  above,  but  with 
two  points  ;  those  of  phalatna  and  sphinx  have  rounded, 
not  hollow  sides.  Judging  from  the  figure  of  papilio,  in 
the  Hisloire  de.s  Poissons,  the  scales  on  the  flanks  of  pleura- 
cant  hi  ca  are  smaller  than  those  of  any  of  the  species  with 
which  we  have  compared  it. 

The  first  dorsal  is  less  rounded,  and  has  a  more  parabolic 
outline  than  that  of  papilio.  The  spinous  rays  are  not  so 
irregular  and  suddenly  bent.  The  third  spine  is  the  tall- 
est, and  the  first  two  are  serrated  in  front  by  a  single  row 
of  compressed  teeth.  The  last  rays  of  the  second  dorsal 
and  anal  are  divided  to  the  base. 

The  specimens  have  been  greatly  injured  by  the  deterio- 
ration of  the  spirit  in  which  they  were  immersed,  so  that 
the  fin-membranes  have  nearly  perished,  and  the  tints  of 
colour  are  quite  lost;  but  there  appear  to  be  some  traces 
left  of  a  black  spot  on  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  spines  of 
the  first  dorsal. 

The  air-bladder  is  of  an  oval  form,  and  of  the  size  of  a 
small  pea.  It  is  divided  for  nearly  a  third  of  its  length 
into  two  conical  lobes,  one  of  which  is  obtuse,  the  other 
more  pointed.  At  the  other  end  of  the  bladder  there  is  a 
short,  narrow,  cylindrical  projection,  which  divides  the  two 
lateral  muscles  that  fringe  the  viscus. 

The  specimens  are  six  inches  long,  of  which  the  head 
forms  exactly  one-fourth. 


*  By  mistake,  a  second  spinous  scale  from  the  liiteral  Hue  was  drawn, 
instead  of  one  of  the  smaller  ones  from  the  flanks. 


The  air-bladder  is  in  length  0'31  inches,  and  in  breadth, 
0.-22. 

Hab.  Sidney  Cove,  Port  Jackson. 

Datnia  .'  CAUDAViTTATA.     Richardson. 

Ch  Spec.  D.  dorse  lateribnsque  macnlis  parvis  crebris 
nigro-fuscis  aspersis ;  pimni  dorsi  guttata  et  antice  ad 
marginem  maculo  iiigro  noiatd  ;  pinna  c<iud<s  utrinque 
nigro  fascial  a. 

Radii:— Br.  6— 6:   D.  13|9  ;  A.  3|8;  C.  13|;  P.15;V.li5. 

PlateXVIIl.,  figs.  3,  4,  5. 

This  fish  differs  from  the  typical  Datnia  argentea,  in 
having  more  slender  dorsal  spines,  and  a  porous  lower 
jaw;  and  from  the  group  of  Therapon,  Datnia,  Pelaf.es 
and  Helotes,  in  its  air-bladder  being  simple,  and  not  di- 
vided by  a  narrow  neck  into  two  parts.  The  air-bladder 
of  our  specimen  is  an  inch  and  a  quarter  long,  very  obtuse 
at  one  end,  and  tapering  to  an  acute  point  at  the  other. 
Its  thick  end  is  marked  b}'  two  shallow  furrows,  producing 
three  slightly  jirominent  rounded  lobes.  Its  coats  are 
nacry,  and  very  distinctly  fibroins,  the  outer  layer  of  fibres 
encircling  the  viscus  transversely,  and  the  inner  one  longi- 
tudinally. In  the  condition  in  which  the  specimen  was, 
having  been  long  macerated  in  spirits,  these  fibres  sepa- 
rated by  a  touch.  The  anal  orifice  is  small,  with  plaited 
lips,  and  immediately  behind  it  there  is  a  minute  tumid 
papilla,  not  raised  above  the  neighbouring  level,  but 
bounded  posteriorly  by  a  deep  sinus.  This  papilla  is 
pierced  by  an  orifice,  which  permits  a  bristle  to  pass  into 
the  abdomen,  but  the  intestines  having  perished,  the  origin 
of  its  duct  could  not  be  ascertained. 

The  height  of  this  fish  is  equal  to  one-third  of  its  total 
length,  being  proportionably  less  than  in  D.  argentea. 
The  thickness  of  the  body  is  about  a  third  of  the  height, 
and  the  head  forms  about  a  fourth  of  the  whole  length. 
The  profile  ascends  obliquely,  from  the  rather  acute  snout, 
almost  in  a  straight  line  to  the  nape,  where  it  rounds  off 
into  the  dorsal  line,  whose  summit  is  at  the  fourth  or  filth 
dorsal  spine,  and  opjiosite  to  the  attachment  of  the  ven- 
trals.*  The  eyes  round,  moderately  large,  and  close  to 
the  profile,  without  interfering  with  it,  are  nearly  a 
diameter  of  the  orbit  apart  from  each  other.  The  jaws, 
gill-membrane,  preorbitar,  and  the  top  of  the  head,  back 
to  the  temples,  are  scaleless.  Two  acute,  smooth  ridges 
run  from  the  nostrils  to  the  scaly  surface  on  the  hind 
head,  about  as  distant  from  each  other  as  each  of  them  is 
from  the  edge  of  the  orbit  of  the  same  side.  A  mesial 
ridge  commences  anteriorly,  but  sinks  to  the  level  of  the 
skull  between  the  eyes,  reappearing  again  behind  these 
organs,  and  running  well  back  on  the  scaly  nape.  The 
posterior  frontal  is  marked  immediately  behind  the  eye  by 
some  short,  branching,  elevated  lines,  turning  obliquely 
outwards.  These  ridges  are  all  smooth,  and  are  nearly- 
concealed  by  the  integuments  in  the  recent  fish. 

The  intermaxillaries  are  scarcely  protractile  ;  but  the 
raaxillaries,  except  a  very  small  corner,  can  be  concealed 

*  In  Datnia  argentea,  the  ventrals  are  farther  forward. 


25 


beneath  the  preorbitav.  The  lower  jaw  is  perforated  by 
two  small  pores  on  each  side  of  the  cliiu  ;  and  three  clus- 
ters of  still  smaller  ones  on  cacli  limb  of  the  jaw,  con- 
taining from  five  to  eight  or  ten  in  each  cluster.  The  teeth 
are  disposed  in  pretty  broad,  densely  villiform  bands  on 
the  jaws,  divided  at  the  symphyses  by  a  fine  smooth  line. 
Those  of  the  outer  row  above  and  below  are  subulate, 
a  little  taller  than  the  rest,  incurved  at  the  tips,  and  pretty 
closely  set.  There  are  no  teeth  on  the  palate,  vomer,  or 
tongue.  A  few  very  minute  papillre  are  visible  on  the 
chevron  of  the  vomer,  but  the  roof  of  the  mouth  is  smooth, 
and  without  plaits. 

The  preorbitar,  preoperculum,  interoperculum,  suboper- 
culum,  and  supra-axillary  plate  of  the  coracoid  bone,  are 
all  regularly  serrated  on  their  edges.  The  cheek,  having  a 
squai-ish,  or  slightly  rhomboidal  form,  and  a  height  ex- 
ceeding the  diameter  of  the  orbit,  is  densely  covered  with 
small  scales.  The  scales  on  the  interoperculum  and  gill- 
cover  are  larger.  The  disk  of  the  preoperculum  is  a  nar- 
row crescent,  with  the  upper  limb  longer  than  the  lower 
one.  The  teeth  of  the  lower  limb  are  very  minute,  and 
incline  slightly  forwards ;  those  of  the  upper  one  point 
obliquely  upwards  ;  and  towards  the  middle  of  the  curve, 
they  become  sensibly  larger.  These  teeth,  as  well  as 
those  on  the  other  opercular  pieces,  have  intervening  acute 
furrows  running  a  short  way  on  the  surface  of  the  bone, 
but  all  this  is  concealed  in  the  recent  fisli,  by  the  nacry 
integument.  The  operculum  is  notched  at  its  apex  by  a 
crescentic  sinus,  with  acute  flat  tips,  the  lower  of  which  is 
the  largest.  There  are  from  seven  to  ten  or  more  teeth  on 
the  supra-axillary  plate  of  the  coracoid  bone,  the  number 
of  teeth  varying  in  different  individuals.  A  patch  of  scales 
exists  in  the  middle  of  the  plate,  the  rest  of  its  disk  being 
clothed  with  nacry  skin.  The  scapula  is  oblong,  smooth 
and  entire,  but  the  supra-scapular  bone  is  entirely  covered 
by  the  scales,  which  do  not  difler  from  the  others. 

The  scales  are  strongly  ciliated,  and  present,  when  in 
situ,  a  rhomboidal  disk.  The  lateral  line  is  traced  within 
the  upper  third  of  the  height,  and  parallel  to  the  back,  as 
far  as  the  end  of  the  dorsal,  where  it  makes  a  short  curve 
downwards,  and  pursues  its  course  along  the  middle  of 
the  tail.  It  is  composed  of  fifty-four  scales,  exclusive  of 
some  small  ones  on  the  base  of  the  caudal,  and  there  are 
about  twenty  rows  of  scales  in  the  vertical  height  of  the 
body.  A  fillet  of  scales  runs  along  the  base  of  the  dorsal 
and  anal  fins,  spreading  more  broadly  on  the  jointed  rays, 
but  not  concealing  the  spines  when  recumbent. 

The  spinous  part  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  much  arched,  the 
fifth  and  sixth  spines  being  the  tallest,  and  exceeding  half 
the  height  of  the  body.  Tlie  spines  are  alternately  right 
and  left,  and  diminish  in  height  from  the  sixth  to  the  last, 
which  is  as  short  as  the  third  one.  Their  height  and 
thickness  varies  a  little  in  different  individuals.  The 
soft  rays  are  even,  and  higher  than  the  posterior  spines, 
and  the  last  one  is  divided  to  the  base.  The  second 
and  third  anal  spines  are  equal  to  each  other,  and  nearly 
twice  the  height  of  the  first  one,  but  are  overtopped 
by  the  soft  part  of  the  fin,  which  is  shaped  like  the  corre- 
sponding part  of  the  dorsal.  The  ventrals  are  under  the 
middle  of  the  pectorals,  or  fourth  dorsal  spine.  The 
caudal  is  shallowly  crescentic  at  the  end. 


The  colours  of  the  fish  have,  doid)tless,  undergone  con- 
siderable alteration  from  maceration  in  spirits,  but  the 
scales  still  retain  a  bright  silvery  lustre,  with  lines  cor- 
resjjonding  to  the  number  of  rows.  This  silvery  hue  is 
unstained  on  the  belly.  The  top  of  the  head,  back,  and 
upper  part  of  the  sides,  have  a  brownish  tinge,  and  are 
thickly  speckled  with  darker  brown  spots,  which  become 
gradually  effaced  on  the  sides.  There  is  a  dark  mark  under 
the  eye,  and  two  or  three  rows  of  brown  spots  exist  on  the 
dorsal  and  base  of  the  caudal.  The  upper  edge  of  the 
soft  dorsal  is  marked  anteriorly  by  a  dark  patch,*  and  a 
broad  jet-black  bar  crosses  each  horn  of  the  crescent  of 
the  tail  obliquely.  There  are  also  two  brown  longitudinal 
bars  in  the  middle  of  the  tail. 

The  length  of  the  longest  specimen  is  six  inches. 

Hab.  Harvey  River  (fresh  water),  Western  Australia. 
Good  specimens  were  presented  to  the  Museum  at  Haslar, 
by  Mr.  Bynoe,  and  also  by  J.  Gould,  Esq.,  the  author  of 
the  Ornithology  of  Australia. 

Datnia  ?  AMBIGUA.     Richardsou. 

Radii:— Br.   6;    D.   lO;— 11  ;    A.   .3|'J ;    C.   15^;    P.   16; 
V.  1|5. 

Plate  XIX.,  natural  size. 

I  have  had  much  doubt  as  to  whether  this  fish  should  be 
placed  in  the  genus  Dules,  or  Dalnia.  It  agrees  with  the 
group  of  Dules  which  have  two  opercular  points,  in  the 
number  of  dorsal  rays,  and  in  the  presence  of  palatine 
teeth,  but  in  general  habit  it  is  more  like  Dnliiiit,  strongly 
resembling  it  in  the  strength  of  its  dorsal  and  anal  spines, 
and  in  the  number  of  rays  in  the  anal.  The  only  two 
specimens  that  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  examining 
are  dried,  and  are  both  mutilated  in  the  caudal  fin,  so  that 
I  am  unable  to  describe  the  form  of  that  member,  and  can 
give  no  anatomical  details. 

Form  compressed,  the  thickness  of  the  body  being 
about  half  the  height,  which  is  greatest  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  dorsal,  and  a  little  exceeds  one-third  of  the 
length  of  the  body,  caudal  excluded.  The  back  is  more 
acute  than  the  belly,  and  the  pelvic  region  is  flat.  In 
profile  the  upper  cui-ve  much  exceeds  the  ventral  one. 
The  shoulder  is  rounded,  the  face  concave,  and  the  descent 
of  the  profile,  from  the  dorsal  fin,  considerable,  the  mouth 
being  in  the  lower  third  of  the  height. 

The  length  of  the  head  equals  the  height  of  the  body, 
and  the  lip  of  the  gill-cover  is  in  the  line  of  mid-height. 
The  nape  is  considerably  elevated  above  the  scapular 
regions.  The  small  round  orbit,  having  a  diameter  of 
only  one-sixth  of  the  length  of  the  head,  is  close  to  the 
profile,  and  its  diameter  is  one-third  less  than  the  slightly 
convex  space  between  the  eyes.  The  anterior  and  smaller 
nostril  is  placed  midway  between  the  eye  and  the  tip  of 
the  snout.  The  top  of  the  head  is  scaleless,  and  the  bones 
of  the  cranium  show  through  the  dried  skin,  but  exhibit 
no  peculiar  sculpture.  The  maxillary  is  wide  and  tmn- 
cated  at  its  lower  end,  and  narrows  gradually  to  its  articu- 
lating extremity.     The  lips  fold  back  on  the  jaws,   and 


This  patch  is  omitted  in  the  figure. 


26 


do  not  appear  to  have  been  thick.  The  teeth  are  short, 
and  densely  villifonu  in  rather  broad  bands  on  the  jaws, 
vomer,  and  palate  bones,  without  canines. 

The  under  jaw  shows  a  small  pore  on  each  side  of  the 
symphysis,  and  three  larger  ones  on  each  limb.  This  bone, 
the  jaws,  the  preorbitar,  the  very  narrow  suborbitar  chain, 
and  the  top  of  the  head,  are  scaleless.  The  oblong  pre- 
orbitar is  rounded  anteriorly,  and  has  a  wide  shallow  curve 
on  its  lower  edge,  which  is  regularly  serrated.  The  cheek 
is  densely  scaly  forwards  to  the  maxillary,  having  thirteen 
rows  of  scales  between  the  eye  and  the  curve  of  the  pre- 
operculum,  and  there  is  a  cluster  of  small  scales  behind 
the  eye,  adjoining  the  naiTow  suborbitar  chain.  The  disk 
of  the  preoperculum  is  bounded  towards  the  cheek  by  a 
smooth  narrow  ridge,  or  line,  but  is  clothed  by  some 
minute  scales,  and  its  outer  edge  is  serrated.  The  teeth  of 
the  upper  limb  are  small  and  regular,  while  those  at  the 
slightly  rounded  corner,  and  on  the  under  limb,  ai-e  large, 
inclined  forwards,  and  divided  into  three  or  four  groups. 
Tlie  scales  on  the  gill-cover  are  larger  than  those  on  the 
cheek,  and  hide  the  union  of  the  operculum  and  suboper- 
culum.  The  spinous  point  of  the  operculum  is  flat  and 
acute,  and  does  not  reach  beyond  the  membranous  edging 
of  the  gill-cover.  The  bone  is  sloped  away  above  it  by  an 
oblique  shallow  notch,  which  ends  in  a  smaller  spinous 
point,  situated  further  forward  than  the  under  one.  There 
is  a  notch  at  the  meeting  of  the  interoperculum  and  sub- 
operculum.  The  scaly  supra-scapular  space  is  bounded 
by  a  smooth  line,  the  scapula  is  toothed  on  the  edge,  and 
the  octangular  disk  of  the  coracoid  bone  above  the  pec- 
toral is  scaly,  and  its  edge  toothed.  The  gill-membrane 
is  partially  scaly. 

The  scales  are  reticulated  on  the  exterior  border,  and 
finely  ciliated,  but  they  feel  only  slightly  rough  when  the 
finger  is  drawn  forwards  over  them.  Fifty-two  scales,  dis- 
tinguished by  a  small  tube  on  each,  compose  the  lateral 
line,  as  far  as  the  base  of  the  caudal,  but  smaller  scales 
extend  half  way  up  that  fin. 

The  strong  dorsal  and  anal  spines  are  alternately  right 
and  left.  The  third  anal  spine  is  rather  longer,  but  scarcely 
so  stout  as  the  second.  The  last  soft  rays  of  both  fins  are 
divided  to  the  base,  the  fins  move  in  scaly  grooves,  and  are 
also  clothed  with  scales  for  some  way  up.  The  base  of 
the  pectoral  is  also  scaly.  The  ventrals  end  in  filamentous 
tips,  and  have  an  elongated  scale  in  the  axilla. 

The  smaller  specimen  is  figured  of  the  natural  size  on 
the  plate,  and  has  the  following 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  tip  of  snout  to  base  of  caudal  fin    8'50  inches. 

„  „  anus  5-50      „ 

Greatest  height  of  body  330      „ 

The  larger  specimen  is  fourteen  inches  long,  has  a  more 
abruptly  notched  preorbitar,  a  proportionally  longer  face, 
stronger  dorsal  and  anal  spines,  and  a  ray  fewer  in  the 
pectoral,  but  does  not  seem  to  be  specifically  distinct. 

Hab.  Western  Australia. 


Djagramma  poi 


Richardson. 


Ch.  Spec.    D.  parte  piniKe  dorsi  spinosd  humili ;  pinna 
aiii  longd  ;  roslro  maxllldque  inferior i  porosis. 

Radii:— B.  7;  D.  9(20;  A.3|15;  C.  15| ;  P.  1|20;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  XVI.,  figs.  5,  6,  natural  size. 

This  fish  differs  from  the  typical  Diagrammte  in  several 
respects,  and  especially  in  the  lowness  of  the  spinous  part 
of  the  dorsal,  which,  when  contrasted  with  the  higher, 
even,  soft  rays,  almost  gives  it  a  claim  to  be  ranked  among 
the  Scisenoids,  with  two  dorsals.  The  rays  of  the  anal  are 
twice  as  numerous  as  those  of  any  species  of  Diagramina 
mentioned  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons.  Some  of  the 
PristipomcB  approach  it  in  this  respect,  but  in  that  genus 
there  are  no  scales  on  the  dorsal  or  anal. 

Form  compressed,  the  greatest  height,  which  is  at  the 
ventrals,  being  nearly  thrice  the  thickness.  The  profile, 
exclusive  of  the  trunk  of  the  tail,  is  luiequally  ovate,  the 
head  forming  the  obtuse  end,  and  the  belly  being  consider- 
ably less  arched  than  the  back.  The  head  makes  one- 
third  of  the  total  length,  caudal  excluded.  The  eye  is 
rather  large,  and  is  placed  high  up,  but  yet  a  little  removed 
from  the  profile,  one  diameter  of  the  orbit  distant  from  the 
end  of  the  snout,  and  two  fi-om  the  tip  of  the  gill-cover. 
The  mouth  has  a  moderately  large  vertical  gape,  but  is 
cleft  only  a  short  way  backwards.  The  teeth  are  very 
small,  setaceous,  of  irregular  height,  widely  set,  and  in  a 
single  row,  without  canines.  There  is  a  narrow  velum 
above  and  below,  which,  with  the  whole  inside  of  the 
mouth,  are  studded  with  glandular  points,  looking  like  rows 
of  teeth,  but  there  are,  in  fact,  no  teeth  on  the  vomer,  or 
palate.  The  integuments  on  the  roof  of  the  mouth  show  a 
deep  narrow  mesial  furrow,  boimded  on  each  side  by  an  acute 
membranous  ridge,  on  the  outside  of  which  there  is  a  shal- 
lower groove.  These  parts  are  fringed  with  glands.  The 
pharyngeal  teeth  are  villiform,  and  somewhat  acerose.  The 
outer  rakers  are  slender  and  setaceous,  the  others  narrow 
crests,  all  of  them  rough.  The  preorbitar  has  a  straight, 
inferior,  serrated  edge,  which  covers  a  little  of  the  maxil- 
lary. The  much  rounded  preoperculum,  and  the  inter- 
operculum and  suboperculum,  both  of  which  are  convex 
on  the  edge,  are  also  serrated.  The  operculum  has  two 
minute,  thin,  obtuse  points,  with  an  oblique  angular  notch 
between,  all  of  which  are  concealed  by  the  scales.  The 
gill-cover  is  triangular,  with  a  somewhat  obtuse  tip.  The 
gill-opening  is  large,  and  the  membrane  is  supported  by 
seven  strongish  rays.  The  cheek,  interoperculum,  gill- 
cover  and  supra-scapulars,  are  densely  covered  with  small 
scales  ;  the  disk  of  the  preoperculum,  ]5reorbitar,  lower  jaw 
and  rest  of  the  head,  including  the  lines  which  surround 
the  supra-scapular  patches,  are  covered  with  porous  inte- 
gument. The  two  small  pores  on  each  side  of  the  sym- 
physis, and  the  two  larger  ones  on  the  limb  of  the  lower 
jaw,  which  characterise  the  genus,  cannot  be  distinguished 
from  the  rest.  There  is  no  pit  under  the  chin,  as  in  Pris- 
tipoma. 

The  ventrals,  pectorals,  and  commencement  of  the  dor- 
sal, are  in  the  same  vertical  line.  The  fourth  dorsal  spine 
is  the  tallest,  and  the  penultiuiate  one  is  much  shorter  than 


27 


ihe  last   one.     The   soft  rays  are  longer  than  any  of  the 
spines,  and  the  difference  is  still  greater  in  the  anal,  which  ' 
has  also  small  spines.     The  fins  and  the  candal  are  scaly 
at  the  base,  and  there  is  a  patch  of  scales  on  the  pectoral. 
The  caudal  is  notched. 

The  lateral  line  curves  downwards  from  its  commence- 
ment, but  not  evenly,  and  becomes  horizontal  on  reaching 
the  end  of  the  dorsal.  The  scales  of  the  body  are  con- 
centrically ridged  on  the  uncovered  disk.  The  specimen 
has  entirely  lost  its  original  colours  during  its  immersion 
in  spirits,  and  no  markings  can  be  traced,  except  three 
rows  of  alternate  dark  and  light  specks  on  the  dorsal, 
which  are  not  shown  in  the  figure. 

Length,  5|-  inches. 

H.\B.  Coasts  of  Australia. 

GiAUCOsoMA  ?  HEBRAicuM.     Ricliardsou. 

Ch.  Spkc.    Gl.  nigro  varium,  facie  convexd  ;  radio  quarto 
articulato  pinrKe  dorsi  elongate. 

Radii:— Br.  7;  D.  8|11  ;  A.  3|9;  C.  17^;  P.  16;  V.  \\b. 

Plate  XVII.,  one-third  the  natural  size. 

The  ichtbyological  part  of  Siebold's  Fauna  Japonica, 
written  by  Messrs.  C.  J.  Temminck  and  H.  Schlegel 
(p.  62,  pi.  27),  contains  an  engraving,  with  a  short  notice, 
of  a  fish  of  which  they  had  seen  no  specimen,  and  knew 
only  from  a  drawing  and  description  forwarded  to  them  by 
Mr.  Burger.  They  stale  that  the  fish  is  taken  occasionally 
in  the  bays  of  the  south-west  coast  of  Japan,  and  is  much 
esteemed  for  its  excellent  flavour  as  an  article  of  food.  It 
attains  a  good  size,  the  individual  drawn  by  Mr.  Burger 
being  two  feet  in  length.  Thej'  name  it  Glaucosoma  from 
the  general  tint  of  the  body,  and  give  the  numbers  of  its 
rays  as  follows  :— Br.  7  ;  D.  gjll  ;  A.  3)9  ;  C.  18  ;  P.  18  ; 
V.  1|5.  The  western  coast  of  Australia  is  frequented  by 
a  fish  having  preciselj'  the  same  form  of  the  gill-cover, 
the  same  unusual  distribution  of  the  scales  on  the  snout, 
preorbitar,  maxillaries  and  lower  jaw,  and  a  similar  spinous 
dorsal,  remarkable  for  its  lowness  and  for  the  gradual  in- 
crease in  the  length  of  its  spines  from  the  first  to  the  last, 
which  is  much  overtopped  by  the  succeeding  soft  rays.* 
In  the  character  of  the  anal  spines,  the  shape  and  size  of 
the  scales  of  the  body,  and  in  general  aspect,  the  resem- 
blance between  the  Japanese  and  Australian  species  holds 
good,  and  we  have  therefore  referred  the  latter  also  to  the 
genus  Glaucosoma,  though  a  few  particulars  of  structure 
remain  to  be  determined  by  future  observation  before  this 

*  With  the  exception  of  Latilus,  and  a  few  other  genera,  most  of  the 
Percidm  and  Scitmid(E  with  single  dorsals  have  the  spinous  pavt  of  that 
fin  more  or  less  arched  by  a  gradual  shortening  of  the  posterior  ones 
either  to  the  last  one  or  to  the  penultimate  one,  thus  making  an  approach 
to  a  notched  dorsal.  Indeed  the  division  of  the  Percida  into  those 
having  double  or  deeply  notched  dorsals,  and  those  having  single  ones, 
would  be  artificial,  were  it  fully  carried  out,  which  it  is  not  in  the  His- 
taire  des  Poissnns,  greater  regard  being  generally  had  in  Cuvier's  ar- 
rangements to  the  assemblage  of  generic  characters,  than  to  any  isolated 
feature  in  a  fish.  Thus  we  have  some  DiagrammtE  with  a  dorsal  more 
deeply  notched,  than  in  Sciwnoids  which  are  ranked  with  those  having 
double  dorsals,  and  like  instances  mav  be  readily  adduced  from  the 
Percid^r. 


allocation  can  be  final.  The  .\ustralian  fish  has  two  flat 
bony  obtuse  points  in  the  ojierculum,  separated  by  a  deep 
notch,  and  so  buried  among  the  scales  that  they  are  not 
readily  seen.  No  such  points  are  shown  in  Mr.  Biirger's 
figure  of  Glaucoso7na,  nor  indeed  are  they  distinguished 
from  scales  in  our  plate.  A  still  greater  reason  for  doubt 
is  the  silence  of  Mr.  Burger  on  the  subject  of  teeth  on 
the  vomer  and  palate.  The  Australian  fish  has  even  a 
more  decidedly  Scisnoid  aspect  than  the  Japanese  one, 
and  it  may  be  that  Messrs.  Temminck  and  Schlegel 
ranked  Glaucosoma  in  that  family  more  from  general  cha- 
racter than  from  precise  information  of  the  palate  being 
toothless,  as  they  say  nothing  about  it  in  the  text.  Should 
it  eventually  prove  that  the  one  fish  has  the  roof  of  the 
mouth  smooth,  while  the  other  has  it  toothed,  it  will  either 
show  that  this  character  must  in  some  cases  be  dispensed 
with,  if  we  wish  to  make  families  natural  assemblages  of 
species,  or  we  must  admit  that  it  is  the  only  character  by 
which  some  Percidce  can  be  distinguished  from  ScicBuida, 
and  of  this  it  is  not  difficult  to  find  examples  among  the 
Mesopriones,  Diagramma:  and  their  allies.  Another  point 
on  which  we  lack  information  is  the  nature  of  the  pharyn- 
geal teeth  of  the  Australian  fish.  The  specimens  are 
merely  sections,  in  which  the  parts  about  the  throat  have 
been  "cut  away.  Mr.  Biirger  describes  the  pharyngeal 
teeth  of  his  fish  as  being  en  pave.  This  gentleman's 
drawing  shows  scales  between  the  rays  of  the  anal  fin,  but 
none  on  the  dorsal,  which  is  most  probably  an  omission. 
Both  fins  of  the  Australian  fish  are  scaly  at  the  base,  and 
it  is  rare  that  a  fish  has  the  anal  scaly,  and  the  dorsal 
smooth. 

No  specific  name  has  been  assigned  to  the  Japanese 
fish,  but  the  existence  of  a  second  species  renders  it  neces- 
sary to  supply  one,  for  the  convenience  of  reference,  and 
we  propose  to  do  so,  by  naming  it,  in  honour  of  its  dis- 
coverer, Glaucosoma  biirgeri.  The  appellation  of  the 
Australian  species,  Glaucosoma  hebraicum,  was  suggested 
by  its  colonial  designation  of  Jew-fish.  In  some  English 
possessions  fish  of  small  estimation  are  termed  Jew-fish ;  but 
we  do  not  know  that  this  is  the  origin  of  its  trivial  name 
in  Western  Australia,  as  we  have  not  received  any  account 
of  the  qualities  of  the  fish,  whose  size  gives  it  importance, 
our  specimen,  from  Houtman's  Abrolhos,  exceeding  two 
feet  and  a  half  in  length. 

According  to  Cuvier's  system  of  arrangement,  Glauco- 
soma hebraicum  being  a  percoid  fish  with  five  articulated 
ventral  rays,  seven  branchostegous  rays,  a  single  dorsal, 
villiform  teeth  without  canines,  and  a  serrated  preopercii- 
lum,  would  enter  the  genus  Centropristes,  but  its  habit  is 
totally  distinct  from  that  of  the  typical  species,  nor  does  it 
correspond  with  any  of  the  other  genera,  viz.  Grijstes, 
Polyprion,Pentaceros,  Acerina  and  Rliypticus  placedin  the 
same  grouj)  with  Centropristes  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons.* 

*  In  this  work  the  genus  Centropristes  presents  an  incongruous  assem- 
blage of  species.  The  Rev.  Leonard  Jenyns  has  properly  removed 
C.  yeorgianus  and  the  species  resembling  it  to  a  separate  genus,  which 
he  has  named  Arripis.  These  species  are  much  like  a  J/u</t7  with  a 
single  dorsal,  a  likeness  which  Solander  seized  when  he  named  one  of 
them  Mulloides.  The  Centropristes  scorpenmdes,  another  Australian  fish, 
is  also  vei-y  unlike  the  American  types  of  the  genus.  It  has  the  under 
limb  of  the  preopercuhnn  anned  with  three  strong  acute  spines,  curved 

E  2 


28 


The  following  genera]  characters  assigned  to  Glaucosoma 

lor  the  present,  may  be  amended  when  the  structure  of  the 

fish  shall  be  more  fully  ascertained. 

Aspectus  scicenoideus.  Circumscriptio  lateralis  oblongo- 
elliptica. 

Caput  satis  viagmim,  ohtusiusculum,  fere  totum  squamo- 
sum. Labia  membranaeque  branchiostegoi  laves.  Os 
modicum.     Fori  nulli  in  maxillA  inferiori. 

Dentes  breres,  carminiformes ;  exteriores  intermaxilla- 
riutn  et  interiores  maxillcB  inferioris  pauld  majores. 
Dentes  vomeris  et  palati  conformes  sed  adhuc  minores. 
Dentes  pltaryngis  paviti  ? 

Oculi  fnajusculi  later  ales,  ante  medium  caput. 

Nares  oculis  approximate,  aperturis  magnis  rotundis 
contiguis. 

Os  preorbitale  subgrande  genam  asquans,  margine  integer- 
rimo.  Preoperculum  obtuse  curvatum,  crenulatum. 
Suboperculum  margine  concavum.  Operculum  obtu- 
sissimum  apicibus  osseis  duobus  plants,  obtusis,  vix 
conspicuis.  Scapula  semi-rotundata  squamosa,  cre- 
tiulata. 

Squamae  corporis  majusculm  ctenoidea  minutissime  stri- 
ata :  rostri  et  verticis  parva;  maxillce  et  gence  majores; 
operculi  interoperculiqve  adhuc  majores,  nee  tumen 
squamas  corporis  cequantes. 

Linea  lateralis  fere  recta. 

Pinnae  pectorales  parrce.  Pinnae  ventrales  sub  axillis  pin- 
naruni  pectoralium  positic.  Pinna  dorsalis  lurica ; 
sjiincB  rudiis  arlicularibus  breviores  :  pars  articutaris 
ejus  pinnrnque  ani  ad  basin  squamosa.  Membrana 
branchiostega  radiis  septem  vel  interdum  octo  sustentata. 

The  profile  of  Glaucosoma  hebraicum  is  bounded  above 
and  below  bj-  nearly  similar  segments  of  a  Hat  elliptical 
curve  which  meet  in  a  bluntish  apex  at  the  mouth. 
These  curves  are  lost  posteriorly  in  the  trunk  of  the  tail. 
The  greatest  height  of  the  body  is  just  behind  the  ven- 
trals,  and  equals  a  third  of  the  entire  length,  caudal  in- 
cluded. The  height  of  the  trunk  of  the  tail  again,  where 
narrowest,  is  a  third  of  that  of  the  body,  and  its  length  is 
considerable,  forming  behind  the  dorsal  nearly  a  fifth  of 
the  whole  length,  but  behind  the  anal  scarcely  a  sixth. 

The  length  of  the  head  and  its  height  at  the  nape  are 
about  equal,  and  are  contained  upwards  of  three  times  in 
the  length  of  the  fish.  The  opening  of  the  mouth  scarcely 
extends  backwards  to  beneath  the  nostrils,  and  it  descends 
nearly  at  an  angle  of  45°  when  closed,  its  apex  then  being 
on  a  level  with  the  middle  height  of  the  head  and  body. 
The  maxillary,  which  is  densely  scaly,  dilates  gradually 
to  its  wide  and  truncated  lower  end.  Its  lower  corner 
reaches  to  beneath  the  posterior  third  of  the  eye.  The 
intermaxillaiies  are  but  slightly  protractile,  and  the  lower 
jaw,  when  depressed,  projects  beyond  them.     The  dental 


forwards,  as  in  some  species  of  Perco-labrax  or  Plectropoma,  and  lis  spi- 
nous dorsal  is  l)oldly  arclied,  forming  a  deep  notch  al  tlie  origin  of  tlie 
jointed  jiart,  so  that  it  might  with  m^re  propriety  be  rauged  with  Perca 
or  Perco-labrax  than  left  in  Centropristes.  Aulacorephalus  is  a  Japanese 
lormwliich  alsowould  technically] all  into  Centropristes,  bulwhich Messrs. 
Teniminck  and  Schlegel  have  kept  separate  ou  account  of  its  dissimilar 
aspect.     It  has  a  strong  resemblance  to  Serratms  or  Plectropoma. 


surface  is  broadest  towards  the  apex  of  the  jaws,  narrows 
at  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  and  is  interrupted  by  a  nar- 
row smooth  space  at  the  symphyses  above  and  below. 
The  dentition  may  be  described  as  card-like,  the  indivi- 
dual teeth  being  subulate,  curved  backwards,  and  short,  the 
exterior  rows  above  and  the  interior  ones  below  being  just 
perceptibly  larger.  On  the  limbs  of  the  jaws  the  dental 
surface  is  about  five  teeth  wide  above,  and  three  or  four 
below.  A  narrow  velum  exists  in  both  jaws.  The  vome- 
rine and  palatine  teeth  are  more  minute,  but  otherwise 
similar.  The  palatine  teeth  form  a  very  narrow  band  on 
the  edge  of  the  bone. 

The  nostrils  are  two  round  contiguous  openings  on  each 
side,  situated  close  before  the  eye  in  a  narrow  membranous 
space.  The  posterior  opening  is  the  largest,  and  is  of  con- 
siderable size. 

The  large,  round  eye  is  situated  high  on  the  cheek, 
but  does  not  touch  on  the  profile,  the  frontal  region 
above  it  being  convex  both  transversely  and  longitudinally. 
The  preorbitar  is  well  developed,  having  a  vertical  height 
equal  to  the  diameter  of  the  orbit,  and  a  length  two  and  a 
half  times  greater.  It  is  densely  scaly,  and  is  ou  a  level 
with  the  cheek,  so  that  its  posterior  boundary  cannot  be 
defined.  Its  anterior  edge  is  thin,  curved  with  a  slight 
convexity,  entire  and  slightly  free,  but  does  not  cover  more 
than  the  mere  edge  of  the  maxillary.  The  space  at  the 
corner  of  the  mouth,  over  which  the  limb  of  the  maxillary 
passes,  is  smooth  and  scaleless.  The  scales  of  the  cheek 
advance  to  the  edge  of  the  orbit,  and  completely  conceal 
the  suborbitar  chain  ;  and  they  extend  over  the  temples  to 
the  side  of  the  head,  and  cover  the  disk  of  the  preopercu- 
lum, without  any  change  in  their  character. 

The  preoperculum  has  its  upper  limb  slightly  inclined 
forwards,  and  is  greatly  rounded  off  at  the  corner,  the  curve 
extending  to  the  whole  under  limb,  which  is  shorter  than 
the  upper  one.  A  very  shallow  notch  at  the  corner  is 
filled  with  membrane,  the  upper  limb  is  minutely  serrated, 
and  the  lower  one  finely  gnawed,  or  irregularly  crenated. 
Fine  streaks  appear  obscurely  among  the  scales  which  end 
irregularly  close  to  the  edge  of  the  bone.* 

The  interoperculum  is  entire  on  the  edge,  and  covered  on 
the  surface  with  scales  larger  than  those  of  the  cheek. 
Near  its  articulation  with  the  lower  jaw  it  is  edged  by  a 
slip  of  membrane,  on  which  the  scales  are  much  smaller. 
At  its  junction  with  the  suboperculum,  opposite  to  the 
notch  of  the  preoperculum,  and  in  the  usual  site  of  the 
knob  of  Diacope,  it  swells  up  slightly.  The  under  edge  of 
the  suboperculum  is  curved  like  a  reversed  italic  /,  which 
produces  a  lobe  anteriorly,  that  is  wider  than  the  interoper- 
culum, and  has  its  margin  finely  streaked  or  plaited.  This 
bone  has  precisely  the  same  shape  in  Glaucosoma  biir- 
geri.  The  bony  operculum  ends  in  two  flat,  thin,  obtuse, 
striated  tips,  which  are  almost  lost  among  the  scales,  and 
are  separated  by  a  deep  angular  notch.  This  notch  is 
concealed  by  scales,  and  the  membrane  which  edges  the 
bone  is  covered  with  small  scales,  the  posterior  edge  of  the 
gill- cover  being  very  obtuse.  Above  the  upjrer  angle  of 
the    gill-opening    the   scapular  bone    exists  with    a   iiee, 

*  This  bone  makes  no  approach  in  form  to  that  of  Lobotes,  in  wliich 
the  preoperculum  has  an  angular,  serrated,  projecting  corner. 


scarcely  cvenated,  semicircular  edge,  and  a  disk  covered 
wilh  small  scales.  The  surface  of  the  coracoid  bone  is 
partially  scaly  above  the  pectoral  fin.  It  is  not  toothed. 
The  supra-scapular  is  not  visible,  nor  is  there  a  peculiar 
row  of  scales  crossing  the  nape,  as  in  most  of  the  Sparidai. 
There  is,  however,  a  sudden  transition  from  the  small 
scales  which  cover  the  hind  head  to  the  much  larger  ones 
of  the  body,  which  are  tiled  in  regular  oblique  rows.  The 
scales  of  the  head  are  smallest  on  the  snout.  They  are 
pretty  large  on  the  under  surface  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  on 
the  raaxillaries. 

The  scales  of  the  body  have  their  exposed  disks  minutely 
striated,  with  thin  slightly  undulated  edges.  They  are 
disposed  in  oblique  rows,  one  of  which  that  runs  from  the 
fifth  dorsal  spine  to  the  second  anal  ray,  contains  thirty 
scales  on  a  side,  eleven  of  them  above  the  lateral  line.  The 
lateral  line  is  very  slightly  arched,  or  almost  straight,  and 
traverses  forty-eight  scales  between  the  gill-opening  and 
the  base  of  the  caudal.  Each  of  these  scales  has  a  simple 
flat  tube  on  the  basal  half  of  its  disk,  and  many  of  them 
are  notched  at  the  tip.  The  size  of  the  scales  diminishes 
towards  the  top  of  the  back ;  there  is  a  large  patch  of 
smaller  scales  under  the  soft  dorsal,  and  fillets  of  small 
scales  run  up  between  the  rays  of  that  fin  and  of  the  anal. 
The  caudal  is  also  clothed  towards  the  base  with  small 
scales. 

The  gill-membrane  is  supported  by  seven  flattish  stout 
rays,  which  decrease  in  size  gradually  towards  the  isthmus. 
In  a  specimen  preserved  in  the  Haslar  Museum  tliere  is  a 
supplemental  eighth  ray,  which  does  not  exist  in  examples 
belonging  to  the  British  Museum.  In  the  allied  genus  of 
Grijsles  the  gill-rays  vary  in  number  from  six  to  seven. 
The  pectoral  fins  are  small,  obliquely  rounded,  and  are 
attached  far  beneath  the  lateral  line.  The  ventrals,  the 
axillaj  of  the  pectorals,  and  the  third  dorsal  spine,  are  in 
the  same  vertical  line.  The  spine  of  the  ventrals  is  half 
the  length  of  the  jointed  rays.  The  dorsal  spines  lengthen 
very  gradually  from  the  third  to  the  last,  the  two  first  are 
more  steeply  graduated.  Their  membrane  is  deeply 
notched.  The  fourth  articulated  ray  is  greatly  elongated, 
with  a  tapering,  almost  filamentous  tip.  The  third  anal 
spine,  which  is  the  longest,  is  much  shorter  than  the  soft 
rays.  This  fin  is  rounded,  and  is  considerably  nearer  to 
the  end  of  the  tail  than  the  dorsal.  The  caudal  fin  does 
not  spread  much,  and  is  truncated  or  slightly  convex  at 
the  end.  It  contains  seventeen  visible  rays,  and  there  are 
some  short  ones  above  and  below,  concealed  by  the  scales. 

The  specimen  being  a  dried  section,  much  of  the  ori- 
ginal markings  must  have  disappeared.  In  its  present 
state  many  of  the  scales  of  the  body  above  the  middle 
height  have  their  disks  partially,  rarely  wholly,  of  a  shining 
pitch-black  colour.  These  dark  disks  are  assembled  in  ill 
defined  patches,  or  bands,  particularly  beneath  the  spinous 
dorsal.  Lower  down  the  sides,  the  scales  are  dark  at  their 
bases,  but  not  so  black  as  the  ujiper  ones.  Similar  black 
bauds  appear  on  the  head  :  one  crossing  between  the  eyes, 
one  running  along  the  middle  of  the  crown,  another  run- 
ning forwards  from  the  supra- scapular  region  to  the  tem- 
ples, one  descending  the  preoperculum,  one  from  the  eye 
down  the  cheek,  one  filling  the  opercular  notch,  and  run- 
ning forward  to  the  temples ;  and  there  is,  in  addition,  a 


roundish  blotch  on  the  posterior  end  of  the  intcroper- 
culuui.  None  of  these  dark  blotches  have  definite  outlines. 
All  the  fins,  except  the  pectorals,  appear  to  have  been 
narrowly  edged  anteriorly  by  while  or  orange.  The  cau- 
dal is  edged  above  and  below  with  the  same  colour,  and 
in  the  dorsal  this  tint  includes  the  tops  of  the  s])ines, 
and  the  fore  edge  of  the  filamentous  soft  ray.*  The  lower 
parts  of  the  spines  and  their  membranes  are  black. 

DIMENSIONS. 
Lengtli  from  intermaxillary  symphysis  to  end  of  candal 

•i" •. 31-50  inches. 

„  „  hase  of  ditto. .  27-00      „ 

„         pill-opening   j-oo 

Height  behind  pectorals 10-25      „ 

Hab.  Houtmans  Abrolhos,  south-western  coast  of  Aus- 
tralia. 

Centropkistes  (Auripis)  s.-iLAR.     Richardson. 

Sciana  IriUta.  J.  R.  Forsler  apud  Bloch,  Schn.  ?  et  in  Descript.  ,\ii 
edit.  H.  Licht.  p.  147,279?  Tab.  211  Icon.  ined.  Georgio  I'orsterJ 
pict.  in  Bib.  Banks,  serv.  ? 

Centropristes  salar,  Richardson,  Zool.  Proceed,  for  Jnnc,  l.s.'Ji)  Meni 
Zool.  Trans,  iii."  p.  78. 

Radii  :— Br.  7  :  D.  9\16  aut  17  ;  A.  3110  ;  C  17^  :   P.  1«  • 

V.  1|5. 

Plate  XX.,  figs.  4,  -5,  6. 

The  naturalists  who  accompanied  Cook  on  his  first  and 
second  voyages,  procured  in  the  Australian  seas  one  or 
more  species  of  fish  closely  resembling  the  one  we  have 
figured.  Two  figures  of  these  were  executed  by  Parkin- 
son, and  two  by  George  Forster,  one  or  both  of  the  latter 
being  referred  to  by  J.  R.  Forster,  in  his  notes  on  Sciceiia 
trutta,  which  were  published  in  an  abridged  form  in 
Schneider's  edition  of  Bloch  (p.  542),  and  at  full  length  in 
the  present  year  by  Lichtenstein.f  In  the  second  volume 
of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  (p.  54),  the  species  is  briefly 
mentioned  under  the  designation  of  Perca  trutta,  by 
Cuvier,  who  then  knew  it  only  by  Forster's  notes,  and  a 
tracing  of  one  of  the  figures,  which  are  all  preserved  in 
the  Banksian  library.  Subsequently  MM.  Quoy  and  Gai- 
mard  procured  a  fish  in  Bass's  Straits,  which  is  described 
in  the  third  volume  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  by  the 
name  of  Centropristes  ?  truttaceus,  with  the  remark  that 
it  diff'ers  from  the  other  Centropristes  in  having  the  phy- 
siognomy of  a  Casio  or  Smarts,  and  may,  therefore,  be  one 
day  considered  as  the  type  of  a  peculiar  genus.  It  is  at 
the  same  time  conjectured  that  it  may  be  identical  witli 
the  Perca  trutta  of  the  former  volume,  which  in  such  ti 
case  ought  to  be  suppressed. 

In  the  description  of  a  collection  of  fish  made  at  Port 
Arthur,  in  Van  Diemen's  Land,  which  was  read  before  the 
Zoological  Society  in  June,  1839,  and  published  in  the 
third  volume  of  their  Transactions  in  1842,  I  gave  a  de- 
tailed account  of  Centropristes  salar,  which  I  ventured  to 
name  as  distinct  from  triitluceus,  almost  solely  because  the 
lower  pieces  of  the  gill-covers  were  scaly,  while  ot  tnitta- 

*  These  pale  edges  are  not  indicated  in  the  figure. 

f  Descrifliones  Animaiium  qua  in  Itinere  ad  Maris  Austratis  Terras  per 
a7inos  1772 — 1674  susceptn,  observavil  Joannes  Reinoldus  Forster,  curante 
Henrico  Lichtenstein.     Berolini.     1844, 


30 


ceiis  it  is  said  "  L'opercule  est  etroit,  et  il  y  a  quelques 
ecailles  sur  sa  surface,  tandis  que  le  sous-opercule  et  I'in- 
teropercule  en  sont  tout-a-fait  depourvus :"  [Hist,  des 
Poiss.  iii.  p.  52).  If  the  specimens  were  uninjured,  this 
seems  to  be  a  sufficient  distinctive  character,  but  there 
does  not  exist  an  equally  strong  reason  for  considering 
salar  as  specifically  distinct  from  Forster's  trutta,  though 
the  figures  are  not  sufficiently  detailed  to  prove  their  iden- 
tity. I  consider  it,  therefore,  safer  to  retain  the  name  of 
salar,  until  the  ichthyology  of  South  Australia  and  New 
Zealand  has  been  more  fully  investigated,  especially  as  the 
authority  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  has  consecrated  a  very 
similar  appellation  to  trutta,  to  a  distinct  species.  Of  G. 
Forster's  figures,  the  one  numbered  211  in  the  volume,  and 
marked  Scicena  trutta  (3,  closely  resembles  salar  in  form, 
and  in  the  spots  of  the  back  forming  transverse  bars. 
Number  210,  which,  like  the  preceding,  is  an  unfinished 
pencil  sketch,  was  executed  from  a  specimen  taken  in 
Queen  Charlotte's  Sound  on  the  7lh  of  November,  1774, 
and  represents  a  more  slender  fish  than  our  salar,  with  the 
spots  above  the  lateral  line  less  uniformly  round,  and  not 
disposed  in  transverse  rows.  It  shows  also  a  longer  soft 
dorsal,  with  its  last  ray  and  that  of  the  anal  more  ab- 
ruptly produced ;  the  latter  fin  also  is  longer  and  more 
even.  Parkinson's  figure,  number  67,  executed  at  Opoo- 
ragee,  in  New  Zealand,  and  68,  drawn  in  Queen  Char- 
lotte's Sound,  seem  to  have  been  taken  from  fishes  pre- 
cisely similar  in  form  to  Forster's  fig.  210,  and  therefore, 
it  may  be  concluded,  of  the  same  species,  but  differing  in 
the  characters  above-mentioned,  from  his  211.  The  names 
inscribed  on  Parkinson's  drawings  are  MuUoides  sapidis- 
simus,  and  Scicena  inulloides,  bestowed  upon  them  by 
Solander,  whose  notes  on  the  species  are  referred  to  and 
partly  quoted  in  the  Zoological  Transactions  (iii.  p.  79). 
Our  figure  of  salar,  which  is  very  correct,  will  enable  ich- 
thyologists who  may  have  an  opportunity  of  examining 
good  collections  of  Australian  fish,  to  clear  up  the  obscurity 
in  which  these  species  are  still  involved. 

We  have  elsewhere  (p.  27)  noticed  the  somewhat  incon- 
gruous assemblage  of  species  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons, 
under  the  generic  appellation  of  C'entropristes ;  and  the 
authors  of  that  work,  as  we  have  said  above,  mention  the 
Maenoid  aspect  of  truttaceus,  as  an  indicaUon  of  its  being 
the  type  of  a  distinct  genus.  Solander  terms  it,  or  a  very  simi- 
lar species,  MuUoides,  and  Forster  says  that  trutta  has  many 
claims  to  rank  with  the  Mugiles,  but  taking  the  whole  of 
its  characters  into  consideration,  he  was  induced  to  place 
it  in  the  genus  Scicena,  which,  in  his  time,  was  more  com- 
prehensive than  it  is  now.  The  Centropristes  georgianus, 
which  bears  a  close  affinity  to  salar,  has  been  chosen  by 
the  Rev.  Leonard  Jenyns  as  the  type  of  his  genus  Arripis, 
so  named  because  the  scales  of  the  body  are  destitute  of 
the  usual  fan-shaped  furrows  on  their  covered  bases.  In 
salar  the  scales  show  distinct  though  not  strong  traces  of 
these  furrows,  as  may  be  observed  in  the  magnified  figure 
of  a  lateral  scale  (Plate  XX.  fig.  6),  but  we  have,  neverthe- 
less, thought  it  right  to  place  it  in  the  same  group  with 
f/eorgiamis,  employing  the  word  Arripis  for  the  present, 
merely  as  the  name  of  a  subgenus,  from  not  being  able  to 
determme  satisfactorily  the  part  of  the  system  to  which 
the  group  ought  to  be  referred. 


The  form  of  Centropristes  salar  is  described  in  the 
Zoological  Transactions  as  quoted  above,  and  our  figures 
supply  ample  means  of  comparison  with  other  species. 
All  our  specimens  have  a  space  before  and  behind  the  eye 
covered  with  a  thick  mucous  deposit,  resembling,  in  that 
respect,  certain  states  of  the  common  mackarel,  and  the 
disk  of  the  preojjerculum  is  also  veined  in  a  manner  not 
very  dissimilar  to  the  same  part  in  that  fish.  The  speci- 
mens vary  from  six  inches  to  a  foot  in  length. 

Hab.  Bay  of  Islands,  New  Zealand  (Sir  James  Ross)  ; 
Port  Arthur,  Van  Diemen's  Land  (F.  J.  Lempriere,  Esq.) ; 
Queen  Charlotte's  Sound  and  Norfolk  Island  (J.  R.  Forster). 

Eleginds  falklandicus.     Richardson. 

Ch.   Spec.    El.  preoperculo  sub- an  g  id  at  o,  pinna  caudte 
margins  concavd. 

Radii:— Br.  6;    D.  7|— 1|25;  A.   1|2.3;  C.   15|;  P.  23; 

V.  ijs. 

Plate  XX.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size  ;  fig.  3  magnified. 

This  Eleginus  is  the  object  of  a  considerable  fishery  at 
the  Falkland  Islands,  whence  it  is  exported,  after  being 
cured,  to  South  America.  In  the  forward  position  of  the 
ventrals  and  the  pores  on  the  jaw  and  head,  this  fish  is 
analogous  to  Notothenia,  but  its  dentition  is  dissimilar, 
and  its  lateral  line  continuous.  The  characters  by  which 
the  genus  is  discriminated  from  the  other  Scitenidce, 
with  which  it  is  ranged  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  are 
there  stated  to  be, — the  entire  preoperculum,  small  mouth, 
long  anal,  very  large  pectorals,  and  jugular  ventrals.  Our 
fish  has  these  characters,  and  indeed  auswers  pretty  closely 
to  the  whole  description  of  Eleginus  niaclovinus,  in  the 
work  alluded  to,  but  it  differs  from  that  and  the  other  two 
described  species,  in  having  fewer  spines  in  the  first  dorsal. 
I  have  had  no  opportunity  of  examining  specimens  of  the 
known  species,  but  the  plate  of  E.  niaclovinus  in  the 
Voyage  de  la  Coquille  (No.  17),  fails  entirely  in  giving  the 
generic  aspect,  and  is  manifestly  inaccurate  in  the  lateral 
line,  and  in  other  particulars.  The  figure  of  the  same 
species,  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  (t.  115),  gives  the 
general  as])ect  with  more  success,  but  differs  from  falk- 
landicus in  the  distribution  of  the  scales  on  the  lower 
limb  of  the  preoperculum,  in  the  form  of  the  pectoral,  which 
does  not  coincide  with  the  description  in  the  text,  in  the 
first  three  ra_vs  of  each  of  the  vertical  fins  not  being  ap- 
proximated to  the  other,  and  in  the  want  of  pores  on  the 
head.  We  have  no  means  of  judging  whether  these  dis- 
crepancies be  specific,  or  merely  omissions  arising  from 
inattention  in  the  artist. 

Form  compressed,  fusiform,  snout  gibbous,  head  small. 
Eye  rather  small.  Posterior  nasal  opening  placed  nearer 
to  the  end  of  the  snout  than  to  the  eye.  Anterior  opening 
very  minute,  and  considerably  before  the  hinder  one. 
Jaws  moderately  protractile.  Maxillary  small,  and  capa- 
ble of  being  all  retracted  under  the  preorbitar,  except  the 
lower  corner.  Mouth  cleft  about  half  way  to  the  eye. 
Teeth  short,  slender,  rather  obtuse,  and  erect,  forming 
narrow,  not  crowded  villiform  plates  on  the  jaws.  Tongue 
and  roof   of  the  mouth  smooth.      Preorbitar    and  snout 


31 


scaleless,  as  are  also  the  corner  of  the  cheek  next  the 
mouth,  the  lower  limb  of  the  preoperculum,  the  interoper- 
culum,  fore  part  of  the  siiboperculum,  and  all  the  jaws. 
The  scales  on  the  top  of  the  head  are  small,  and  run  for- 
ward to  the  posterior  nostrils.  The  scaly  cheek  is  level 
with  the  upper  limb  of  the  preoperculum,  and  the  scales 
become  minute  inferiorly,  and  terniinat(!  very  unevenly. 
The  limbs  of  the  preoperculum  are  entire.  The  operculum 
ends  in  an  obtuse  flat  point,  beyond  which  the  membranous 
lobe  of  the  inleroperculum  extends.  A  wide  shallow  notch 
slopes  forwards  above  the  opercular  point,  having  its  ante- 
rior corner  also  rounded.  The  form  of  the  entire  gill- 
cover  is  triangular,  with  a  bluntish  tip.  The  gill-mem- 
branes are  united  beneath,  and  are  supported  by  six  rays 
on  each  side. 

The  scales  of  the  body  in  situ  show  concentric  folds  of 
cuticle,  and  have  strongly  toothed  edges.  The  lateral  line 
is  traced  in  the  upper  third  of  the  height,  and  is  nearly 
straight,  or  very  slightly  arched.  It  is  formed  by  a  simple 
tube  on  each  scale,  which,  when  the  specimen  is  removed 
from  the  spirits,  speedily  shrinks  into  a  narrow  furrow. 
There  are  fifty-eight  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  A  line  of 
similar  tubes  or  furrovrs  is  continued  forwards  from  the 
lateral  line  along  the  temples  to  the  eye,  and  there  are, 
as  in  Mufjil  macrolepidotus,  eight  tubiferous  scales  on  the 
cranium,  whose  arrangement  is  shown  in  fig.  2,  Plate  XX. 
A  series  of  pores  also  exists  along  each  limb  of  the  lower 
jaw,  and  round  the  edges  of  the  preopercula.  Small  scales 
are  densely  tiled  on  the  lower  half  of  the  caudal,  and  on 
one-third  of  the  pectoral.  A  clear  streak  coincides  with 
each  row  of  scales  on  the  body,  as  in  the  mullets. 

The  ventrals  are  attached  under  the  middle  of  the  sub- 
operculum,  before  the  pectorals.  The  form  of  the  pectoral 
is  triangular,  the  fifth  and  sixth  rays  being  the  longest, 
and  the  superior  ones  closely  incumbent.  The  tip  of  the 
fin,  when  turned  back,  reaches  to  the  eighth  dorsal  ray,  or 
sixth  anal  one.  The  caudal  is  slightly  crescentic  at  the 
end. 

The  specimens  in  the  collection  are  numerous,  and  vary 
in  length  from  five  to  fourteen  inches. 

Hab.  The  Falkland  Islands. 

Plotosus  miceoceps.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  PI.  pallide  gidtatus  marmoratusqtie,  macula 
uhloin/d  supra  pinuam  pcctoialpiH  ;  capite  octavam par- 
tiin  loiKjHudinis  iotiiis  ccqiianti. 

Radii  :— D.  1 16— 92  ;  A.  8G  ;  C.  8  ;  (=  186) ;  P.  1 19 ;  V.  9. 

Plate  XXL,  figs.  4,  5,  natural  size  ;  figs.  6,  7,  magnified. 

This  Plotosus,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  the  industry 
of  Mr.  Bynoe,  is  remarkable  for  the  smallness  of  its  head, 
which  does  not  exceed  the  eighth  part  of  the  entire  length 
of  the  fish.  The  breadth  of  the  head  is  superior  to  its 
height  at  the  nape,  and  about  one  quarter  shorter  than  its 
length  to  the  gill-opening.  The  body  is  highest  near  the 
middle  of  its  length,  and  there  its  thickness  is  only  half 
its  height.  The  tapering  from  thence  to  the  acute  point  of 
the  tail  is  gradual.  The  moulh  is  of  moderate  size,  the 
lips   thickish  and  granulated,  especially   the  lower    one. 


where  the  soft  grains  are  in  distinct  rows,  two  in  the  middle 
and  three  or  four  laterally.  The  teeth  on  the  jaws  arc 
conical,  with  the  tips  truncated,  and  stand  in  three  rows, 
of  which  the  outer  row  is  tallest.  There  is  a  narrow  tooth- 
less space  at  the  symphysis  of  the  lower  jaw,  but  in  the 
upper  one  the  dental  plates  are  contiguous.  The  vela  are 
very  narrow,  delicate,  and  waved  or  crenated  on  the  edge. 
The  teeth  on  the  vomer  are  in  five  or  six  rows,  more  worn 
generally  than  those  on  the  jaws,  and  the  middle  ones  are 
the  highest. 

The  barbels  are  in  four  pairs,  the  nasal  ones  being  the 
longest,  and  reaching  beyond  the  middle  of  the  jieclorals. 
The  maxillary  barbels  next  in  length  reach  to  th(;  gill- 
opening.  The  barbels  of  the  lower  jaw  are  shorter,  par- 
ticularly the  interior  pair.  The  posterior  nostril  on  the 
base  of  the  barbel  could  alone  be  made  out,  the  anterior 
one  being  imperceptible. 

The  top  of  the  head  is  studded  with  pores,  whose  tumid 
lips  form  little  round,  soft  grains.  The  lateral  line  is 
straight  and  fine,  but  very  conspicuous,  and  is  formed  of  a 
chain  of  small  pores  or  tubes  raised  above  the  surface. 
There  is  no  perforation  in  the  integuments  of  the  axilla  of 
the  pectoral.  The  specimen  has  the  genital  papilla  and 
cauliflower-like  appendage  usual  in  the  genus. 

The  rays  of  the  fins  are  enveloped  in  thick  membrane, 
and  were  reckoned  with  difficulty.  The  spines  of  the 
pectoral  and  first  dorsal  are  shorter  than  the  soft  rays,  and 
are  serrated,  the  ])ectoral  si^ine  on  one  side  only,  the  dorsal 
one  on  both.  They  are  enveloped  in  skin,  but  pierce  it 
when  handled  (figs.  6,  7).  The  first  dorsal  is  tall,  and 
tapers  to  a  filamentous  point. 

In  spirits  the  specimen  has  a  light  brownish  or  yellowish- 
grey  tint,  thickly  mottled,  fins  included,  with  round 
spots  and  indefinite  blotches  of  pale  lead-grey.  There  is 
an  oblong  mark  on  the  side  above  the  pectoral. 

The  liver  of  our  specimen  had  perished,  but  the  recesses 
on  each  side  of  the  first  vertebra  for  the  reception  of  its 
upper  lobes  exist.  The  peritoneum  has  a  silvery  lustre. 
The  gut,  small  for  the  size  of  the  fish,  is  gathered  in  folds 
round  the  margin  of  the  mesentery,  and  becomes  gradually 
of  less  caliber  from  the  oesophagus  to  near  the  anus.  Its 
upper  end  was  blackish,  having  been  probably  stained  by 
the  food.  A  small  quantity  of  very  soft  %vell-digested 
matter  was  contained  in  the  intestinal  canal. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  of  the  specimen 9"20  inches. 

„      fiom  snout  to  anus 'l-bd      „ 

Hab.  North-west  coast  of  Australia. 

Plotosus  megastomus.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  PI.  fuscus,  obscure parciterque  guttat us ;  capite 
quartam  partem  longitudinis  iotius  efficiente,  ore  la.vo, 
cirrhis  decent. 

Radii  :  —  Br.   11  ;    D.  1|4— 82  ;  C.  16  ;  A.  76.  (=  174)  ; 
P.  l|y;  V.  11. 

Plate  XXI.,  figs.  1,  2,  3,  half  the  natural  size. 

The  difference  of  aspect  between  this  fish  and  other  Plo- 
iosi  arises  chiefly  from  the  length  of  the  head,  and  the  large- 


32 


ness  of  the  orifice  of  the  mouth.  The  upper  lip  has  an 
additional  barbel,  and  the  lower  one  is  greatly  developed. 
The  collection  contains  but  one  specimen,  which  was 
procured  at  Sidney,  the  most  southern  locality  that  has 
been  named  for  a  Siluroid  fish.  This  individual  appears 
to  have  been  injured  on  the  end  of  the  tail  during  life, 
as  the  last  vertebrae  are  anchylosed,  uneven  and  not  sym- 
metrical. The  ordinary  form  of  the  tail  may,  therefore,  be 
difl'erent  from  our  figure,  and  most  probably  more  pointed. 
The  proportionally  large  head  constitutes  a  fourth  part 
of  the  total  length  of  the  fish.  Its  breadth  is  one  quarter 
less,  and  does  not  quite  equal  twice  its  height.  It  is  flat 
above,  with  a  wide  snout,  and  its  profile  does  not  descend 
much  below  the  level  of  the  back.  The  eyes  are  rather 
nearer  to  the  end  of  the  snout  than  to  the  gill-opening, 
and  the  distance  between  them  is  nearly  equal  to  that 
between  the  orbits  and  posterior  nostrils.  The  mouth  is 
very  wide,  the  gape  being  enlarged  at  the  sides  by  a  fold 
of  thick  dilatable  skin.  The  under  lip  is  broad,  has  a  free 
posterior  four-lobed  edge  between  the  interior  submaxillary 
barbels,  and  is  studded  on  its  inner  surface  by  rows  of 
minute,  soft,  brown,  fringed  eminences.  The  upper  lip  is 
minutely  crenated  on  the  edge,  and  there  is  a  row 
of  the  same  brown  papilla3  round  the  front  of  the  roof  of 
the  mouth,  before  the  vomerine  teeth.  These  are  probably 
organs  of  touch,  as  they  are  too  small  to  be  of  service  in 
retaining  the  food. 

The  somewhat  conical  but  obtuse  intermaxillary  teeth 
are  disposed  in  two  small  patches,  not  very  precise  in  out- 
line, being  oval  on  one  side  of  the  symphysis  and  quadran- 
gular on  the  other.  The  patches  of  teeth  on  the  lower 
jaw  are  much  larger,  and  of  a  triangular  form,  and  the 
leeth  of  the  outer  row  only  have  the  form  of  the  upper 
ones,  the  rest  being  closely  set,  flat  and  round,  in  fact 
pavement-like.  The  vomerine  teeth  are  wholly  of  this 
pavement  form,  and  constitute  a  pretty  large  heart-shaped 
patch,  with  the  apex  in  front.  The  much  smaller,  cylin- 
drical, and  blunt  pharyngeal  teeth  stand  in  three  rows 
above  and  below,  presenting  a  narrow  dental  surface.  The 
interior  rakers  are  subulate,  but  with  obtuse  tips,  and  the 
others  are  soft  crenated  ridges  lying  across  the  arches. 

The  nasal  barbel  reaches  just  past  the  eye.  One  nos- 
tril is  pierced  close  behind  its  base,  the  other  is  some 
way  before  it  on  the  extreme  edge  of  the  lip.  The  maxil- 
lary barbel  is  slightly  shorter,  and  beneath  it  is  a  still 
shorter  one,  springing  from  near  the  corner  of  the  mouth, 
above  the  jjale,  pendant  fold  of  the  lip;  making,  with  the 
four  submaxillary  barbels,  ten  in  all. 

The  integuments  of  the  head,  body  and  fins  arc  soft, 
smooth,  and  lax.  A  cluster  of  pores  exists  on  the  top  of 
the  head  posteriorly ;  there  is  another  on  each  supra-sca- 
pular region,  and  a  few  solitary  pores  may  be  detected 
elsewhere.  The  lateral  line  is  extremely  indistinct.  A 
round  hole,  opening  through  the  integuments  and  fascia, 
exists  in  the  upper  angle  of  the  axilla  of  each  pectoral  fin. 
It  leads  to  a  sac  of  some  size,  spreading  towards  the 
interparietal  bone,  the  hollow  of  the  humeral  chain,  and 
also  posteriorly ;  but  there  appears  to  be  no  communica- 
tion with  the  gills,  or  any  interior  cavity,  such  as  exists  in 
some  other  Siluroids.  The  conical  genital  papilla  over- 
tops the  cauliflower-looking  appendage  behind  it.     The 


latter  rises  by  a  slender  stem,  forming  a  deep  pit,  and 
spreads  out,  dividing  midway  into  many  blunt  processes, 
which  give  it  the  cauliflower  form.  A  small  frsenura  runs 
from  the  base  of  the  genital  papilla  to  the  root  of  the  ap- 
pendage, and  a  minute  pore  was  observed  on  the  posterior 
surface  of  the  papilla,  but  I  could  not  detect  the  orifice  in 
front. 

The  first  dorsal  is  less  lofty  and  tapering  than  in  the 
other  species,  and  is  connected  to  the  second  by  a  loose 
fold  of  skin.  Its  spine,  and  that  of  the  pectoral  fin,  are 
serrated,  as  usual,  but  they  are  enveloped  and  completely 
concealed  by  thick  integument. 

The  fish,  as  preserved  in  spirits,  has  a  dark  brown 
colour,  with  very  faint,  indications  of  small  spots  on  the 
body  and  fins. 

On  opening  the  belly,  two  lobes  only  of  the  liver  are 
seen  at  the  upper  part  of  the  cavity,  with  the  fundus  of  a 
large  gall-bladder  projecting  from  beneath  an  undulation 
of  the  right  lobe,  which  may  be  considered  as  a  lobiiliis 
Spigelu.  On  moving  the  intestine,  however,  a  long  nar- 
row process  of  the  right  lobe  is  discovered  running  down 
the  side  of  the  cavity  nearly  to  the  pelvis.  When  the  liver  is 
raised,  two  large  lobes  are  withdrawn  through  an  oval  open- 
ing, from  a  cavity  on  each  side  of  the  large  first  vertebra. 
This  cavity  is  lined  by  a  process  of  the  peritoneum,  and 
the  sides  of  the  opening  leading  to  it  are  strengthened  by 
an  almost  tendinous  thickening  of  the  peritoneum.  The 
septum  or  diaphragm,  which  separates  the  thorax  from  the 
belly,  is  unusually  strong,  with  a  shining  tendinous  lustre. 
The  liver  is  attached  to  it  by  a  coronary  membrane,  which 
is  pierced  in  the  centre  by  a  large  vessel,  leading  to  the 
heart.  Besides  the  four  principal  lobes,  which  form,  as  it 
were,  the  corners  of  the  liver,  there  is  a  smaller  lobe  on  its 
under  surface,  above  its  middle,  and  there  are  several  small 
projections  from  the  circumference  of  the  visciis.  The 
left  lower  lobe  is  tapering,  pointed,  but  is  not  so  long  as 
the  right  one.  The  liver  is  wholly  dotted  by  minute  black 
points.  The  gall-bladder  is  more  than  an  inch  and  a  half 
long  in  our  specimen. 

The  intestinal  canal  runs  from  the  oesophagus  to  the 
anus,  without  much  change  of  caliber,  and  without  caeca, 
or  stomachal  dilatation.  On  entering  the  cavity  of  the 
belly,  the  gut  is  rather  on  the  left  side  of  the  spine,  but 
it  crosses  over  to  the  right  directly,  and  in  its  course  to  the 
vent  being  thickly  puckered  on  the  margin  of  a  strong 
mesentery.  The  lower  half  of  the  gut  is  regularly  speckled 
on  its  peritoneal  surface  with  minute  black  dots,  and  within 
an  inch  and  a  half  of  the  anus  the  coats  of  the  gut  are 
thickened,  and  it  acquires  a  dark  colour  internally. 

When  the  intestines  are  removed,  two  long,  narrow,  un- 
divided bodies  {testes)  are  seen  lying  along  the  spine  in 
the  peritoneum,  and  between  them,  near  the  anus,  is  the 
urinary  bladder.  The  peritoneum  seemed  to  cover  a  cavity 
in  our  specimen,  and  on  raising  it,  much  brown  decayed 
matter  was  observed,  the  remains  evidently  of  the  broken 
down  kidneys,  mixed  with  fragments  of  a  very  thick  glis- 
tening membrane,  rcseuibling  patches  of  asbestos.  This 
must  have  been  the  broken  capsule  of  the  air-bladder. 
The  air-bladder  itself  was  entire,  but  collapsed,  and  being 
examined  under  water,  was  found  to  be  composed  of  four 
large  lobes,  two  of  which  lay  in  the   hollows  of  the  first 


33 


vertebra,  and  the  other  two  projected  downwards  nearly 
half  way  to  the  anus.  The  cavities  for  lodging  the  upper 
lobes  were  separated  from  those  which  contained  the  upper 
portions  of  the  liver  by  the  peritoneum,  and  were  lined  by 
pieces  of  the  thick  capsule,  showing  that  this  invested  all 
the  four  sections  of  the  air-bladder.  The  sides  of  the  large 
first  vertebra  are  concave,  with  an  acute  dividing  line  facing 
ventrad. 

No  information  was  furnished  to  us  as  to  the  habits  of 
the  fish,  or  how  it  was  captured.  A  small  quantity  of 
fi^agments  of  minute  Pinn<e  and  Crustacea  was  contained  in 
the  gut,  about  two  inches  from  the  oesophagus. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  of  the  specimen,  nearly    2000  inches. 

„        from  snout  to  vent    820      „ 

„        from  ventto  end  of  tail  lltjO      „ 

Hab.  Sidney  Cove  ;    Australia. 

Bagrus  VENATicus.     Richardsou. 

The  north-west  coasts  of  Australia  nourish  two  species 
of  Bagrus,  a  single  example  of  each  having  been  procured 
there  by  Benjamin  Bynoe,  Esq.,  surgeon  of  the  Beagle. 
Both  specimens  are  much  injured  by  the  spoiling  of  the 
spirits  in  which  they  were  immersed,  and  most  of  the 
barbels  have  perished,  but  many  of  their  characters  can 
still  be  made  out.  They  belong  to  the  same  group  with 
B.  bilineatus,  in  which  the  nasal  barbel  is  replaced  by  a 
small  lid.  In  general  form  they  approach  the  gogora  of 
Buchanan-Hamilton  pretty  closely,  but  the  upper  lip  is 
not  so  prominent  as  in  his  figure,  and  the  caudal  is  more 
deeply  forked.  The  rays  of  the  anal  fin  are  more  nu- 
merous than  in  any  species  of  the  group  described  in  the 
Histoire  des  Poissons. 

The  larger  specimen  is  8j  inches  long,  and  for  the  sake 
of  reference,  it  is  named  leitalicns,  in  allusion  to  the  Bea- 
gle, though  we  cannot,  fi-om  its  condition,  give  a  correct 
description  of  it.  Its  casque  is  strongly  granulated,  and 
has  the  form  of  that  oi gogora,  except  that  the  apex  of  the 
inteiparietal  process,  where  it  meets  the  small  crescentic 
buckler  of  the  dorsal  fin,  is  slightly  rounded.  The  width 
of  the  base  of  this  process  is  nearly  equal  to  its  length. 
The  granulations  of  the  casque  extend  forwards  to  the 
middle  of  the  orbit,  and  the  mesial  membranous  space  is 
very  narrow  and  tapering  behind,  having  its  greatest 
breadth  exactly  between  the  eyes.  The  lateral  process  of 
the  supra-scapular  is  broad  at  the  base  and  triangular,  and  is 
covered  with  a  granular  skin,  but  no  granulations  of  the 
bone  show  through  the  integument.  The  lateral  line  is 
distinctly  marked  from  the  apex  of  this  space  to  the  tail. 
The  triangular  plate  of  the  humeral  chain,  which  furnishes 
a  socket  for  the  head  of  the  pectoral  spine,  is  roughly  and 
deeply  sculptured,  and  its  posterior  corner  is  acute  and 
pungent.  A  part  of  the  operculum  at  its  articular  angle 
is  marked  by  radiating  rough  lines,  but  the  preoperculum 
and  interoperculum  are  smooth. 

The  two-edged  acute  dorsal  spine  is  in  height  equal  to 
the  length  of  the  granulated  casque,  including  its  inter- 
parietal process,  and  is  granulated  in  front  from  the  base 
to  its  middle,  and  acutely  serrated  from  thence  to  the  tip. 
It  is  a  little  undulated  posteriorly,  uear  the  tip.     The  pec- 


toral .spine  is  equal  in  length  to  the  dorsal  one,  and  is 
strongly  serrated  on  both  sides,  from  the  tip  downwards, 
the  serratures  ceasing  posteriorly  about  one-third  of  the 
length  from  the  base,  and  giving  ))lace  to  granulations 
near  the  base  anteriorly.  The  jointed  rays  of  the  fins  are 
considerably  injured,  and  cannot  be  correctly  made  out, 
but  the  numbers,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  are  as 
follows : — 

Radii:— D.  \\d,  or  more;  —0;  A.  about  30;  C.  17|; 
P.  1!I3;  V.  about  8. 

The  upper  lobe  of  the  caudal  is  rather  the  longest. 

The  teeth  are  short,  villiform.  The  front  of  the  vomer 
supports  two  small  roundish  dental  plates,  which  adhere 
to  each  other.  The  palatine  plates  are  both  broader  and 
longer. 

The  points  of  the  ribs  show  through  the  skin,  as  in  bili- 
neatus, and  the  allied  species. 

The  colours  are  dark  greyish-blue  on  the  back,  and 
white  on  the  belly, — the  tints  of  the  fins  are  totally  lost. 

Hab.  N.  W.  coast  of  Australia. 

Bagrus  veetagds.     Richardson. 
Radii:— B.  6;  D.  1|6  vel  7—0;  A.  28;  P.  I|9;  V.  9? 

This  fish  was  discovered  by  the  officers  of  the  same 
ship  who  found  the  preceding  one,  and  its  specific  name 
has  a  similar  origin.  The  only  specimen  we  have  received 
was  unfortunately  too  much  injured  to  admit  of  a  correct 
figure  being  drawn,  and  the  description  must  likewise  be 
considered  as  imperfect.  It  belongs  to  the  same  group 
of  Bagri  with  venaticus. 

The  dorsal  spine  is  proportionally  shorter  than  that  of 
the  species  just  named,  being  merely  equal  in  length  to 
the  space  between  its  base  and  the  orbit,  or  to  the  casque, 
excluding  the  interparietal  process.  The  pectoral  spine 
is  strongly  serrated  on  both  sides,  and  exceeds  the  dorsal 
one  in  length.  The  adipose  fin  is  rather  larger  than  that 
of  B.  gogora,  and  is  nearly  of  the  same  shape,  but  its  fore 
edge  is  a  little  waved,  at  the  spot  where  it  sinks  to  the 
level  of  the  back.     The  tail  is  deeply  forked. 

The  casque,  less  granulated  than  that  of  B.  venaticus, 
has  the  same  general  form.  It  is  shallowly  sculptured,  as 
far  forward  as  the  orbits,  in  a  pattern  similar  to  what  is 
named  rustic  work  by  builders.  The  apex  of  the  inter- 
parietal process  is  crescentic,  and  thus  fits  more  exactly  to 
the  curve  of  the  buckler  than  that  of  venaticus.  The 
subulate  process  of  the  supra-scapular  is  clothed  with 
smooth  integument.  The  surface  of  the  humeral  chain 
above  the  pectoral  is  more  smooth,  and  not  so  distinctly 
seen  as  that  of  venaticus,  nor  is  its  angle  so  pungent. 

The  vomerine  teeth  are  disposed  in  two  small  separate 
plates,  and  the  palatine  teeth  form  a  still  smaller  plate 
near  each  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  barbels  are  six  in 
number,  but  they  were  too  much  injured  in  the  specimen 
to  admit  of  their  length  being  ascertained. 

The  lints  of  the  specimen,  as  far  as  its  state  permits  us 
to  judge,  are  sky-blue  on  the  back,  with  silvery  sides  and 
belly.     No  spots  now  exist. 

Length,  three  inches. 

Hab.  North-west  coast  of  Australia. 

F 


34 


HisTioPTERUS  RECURViRosTKis.     Richardson. 
Plate  XXIL,  figs.  5,  6. 

Of  this  fish  I  have  received  merely  a  mutilated  head 
from  Dr.  W.  P.  Jones,  Surgeon  in  the  Royal  Navy,  to 
whom  it  was  presented  by  Mr.  Moriarty,  of  Hobart  Town. 
The  subopercula,  interopercula,  and  most  of  the  opercula 
have  been  broken  away,  but  the  parts  which  remain  agree 
so  perfectly  with  the  corresponding  parts  of  Histiopterus 
typus,  figured  in  the  forty-fifth  plate  of  the  Faima  Japo- 
nica,  that  I  have  no  hesitation  in  assigning  it  to  that  genus. 
It  is  a  very  distinct  species  from  typus,  having  a  much 
more  elongated  and  concave  muzzle.  In  typus,  the  pro- 
file ascends  fi-om  the  upper  lip  to  the  gibbous  orbital  plate 
of  the  frontal  bone,  at  an  angle  of  45°,  and  the  propor- 
tionally smaller  eye  is  directly  over  the  lower  limb  of  the 
preoperculum,  the  posterior  limb  of  that  bone  being  ver- 
tical, whereas  in  recurvirostris  it  slopes  greatly  forwards 
in  descending  from  the  temple.  The  relative  position  of 
the  nostrils  is  the  same  in  both,  as  are  also  the  bony  plates 
and  intermediate  cuticular,  or  scaly  spaces,  but  in  typus 
the  granulations  of  the  plates  run  in  coarse,  radiating, 
concentric,  or  parallel  ridges,  while  in  recurvirostris,  the 
rough  points  preserve  no  determinate  order,  except  on  the 
preoperculum,  where  they  are  obscurely  radiate,  and  on 
the  operculum,  where  their  course  appears  to  be  in  parallel 
lines,  but  the  patterns  are  very  different  from  those  of 
typus.  The  shagginess  of  the  tip  of  the  chin  of  the 
latter  is  not  perceptible  in  recurvirostris.  The  teeth  of 
our  species  are  coarsely  setaceous,  in  broad,  densely- 
crowded  bands,  and  are  easily  broken,  when  each  is  seen 
to  be  traversed  by  a  fine  central  canal.  I  received  no  other 
information  respecting  the  form  of  the  species,  except  that 
it  was  a  very  extraordinary  fish. 

Hab.  Coast  of  Van  Diemen's  Land ;  very  rare.  The 
specimen  was  caught  in  a  net  in  one  of  the  inlets  of  Storm 
Bay,  by  some  fishermen,  and  carried  by  them  to  Mr.  Mo- 
riarty, as  a  fish  which  they  had  never  seen  before. 

Alepisaurus.     Lowe. 
Plate  XXIL,  figs.  1,  2,  3,  4. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Lowe,  of  Madeira,  has  described  and 
figured  a  Scomberoid  fish,  taken  on  the  coasts  of  that 
island,  under  the  name  of  Alepisaurus  fero.v.  I  have  had 
an  opportunity  of  examining  the  head  of  one  of  his  spe- 
cimens, preserved  in  the  museum  of  the  Philosophical 
Institution  of  Cambridge,  and  have  been  thereby  enabled 
to  assign  to  the  same  genus  a  fragment  of  a  skull,  obtained 
by  Dr.  Hooker  from  Mr.  Gunn,  of  Van  Diemen's  Land, 
and  said  to  belong  to  a  fish  which  was  taken  on  the  coasts 
of  that  colony.  It  is  a  distinct  species  from  fero.v,  from 
which  it  differs  in  the  more  backward  position  of  the  eye, 
the  gibbosity  of  the  profile  before  the  orbit,  and  the  gene- 
rally greater  height  of  the  upper  jaw. 

The  bones  of  the  skull  are  thin,  transparent  and  papery, 
as  is  the  case  in  general  among  the  Scornberida.  The 
frontal  bone  looks  almost  membranaceous  from  its  delicacy 
and  transparency,  but  it  is  strengthened  by  acute  ribs, 
which  radiate  from  a  point  over  the  middle  of  the  orbit, 


and  near  to  its  edge.  The  shortest  rays  proceed  directly  to 
the  edge  of  the  orbit,  the  longest  run  forwards  towards  the 
nostrils,  while  those  of  medium  length  go  inwards  to  the 
mesial  line,  and  backwards  to  the  occiput.  The  two  frontals 
meet  in  a  straight  mesial  line  on  the  top  of  the  head,  and  the 
space  between  the  orbits  is  fiattish,  with  a  slight  declination 
of  the  edge  of  the  orbit.  The  other  bones  of  the  head  are 
similarly  formed  of  ribs  running  through  their  transparent 
plates.  Slender  intermaxillaries  form  the  whole  upper 
border  of  the  mouth,  and  are  armed  from  end  to  end  with 
small  subulate  teeth,  which  are  slightly  unequal  in  height, 
and  do  not  lie  exactly  in  one  line.  The  palate  bones 
sustain  long,  thin,  lancet-shaped  teeth,  slightly  curved 
backwards,  one  pair  on  each  bone  standing  well  forwards 
near  the  nostrils,  and  another  pair  farther  backwards,  but 
before  the  eye.  There  is  a  toothless  space  between  these 
pairs,  and  also  before  the  first  pair,  there  being  no  teeth  on 
the  chevron  of  the  vomer.  Behind  the  second  pair  there 
are  ten  shorter  lanceolate  teeth  on  each  palate  bone,  in- 
creasing a  little  in  size  towards  the  corner  of  the  mouth. 
The  lower  jaw  is  armed  with  a  pair  of  long  lanceolate 
teeth,  fitting  to  the  toothless  space  between  the  pairs  of 
the  upper  jaw,  and  behind,  by  twelve  short  ones.  Ante- 
riorly this  jaw  is  furnislied  with  subulate  teeth,  consi- 
derably larger  and  more  widely  set  than  those  of  the  inter- 
maxillaries. A  pair  of  still  taller  subulate  teeth  stands 
close  to  the  symphysis.  The  long  lanceolate  teeth  have 
slightly  convex  lateral  surfaces,  with  a  thin  border,  appa- 
rently of  more  compact  bone,  which  shows  a  feeble  crena- 
ture  on  the  edge,  when  examined  through  a  lens.  The 
surface  of  the  tooth,  except  the  extreme  edge,  seems  to  be 
reticulated.  All  these  teeth  are  at  first  recumbent  along 
the  jaw,  and  assume  the  erect  position  as  the  older  teeth 
are  broken,  and  require  to  be  replaced.  In  figure  2,  the  two 
anterior  subulate  teeth  are  represented  in  this  position,  as 
they  actually  existed  in  the  specimen,  while  in  figure  1 
they  are  shown  erect,  because  the  adjoining  ones  were 
broken.  Several  lanceolate  teeth,  both  long  and  short, 
were  also  laid  along  the  jaw  when  the  specimen  was  first 
examined.  The  preoperculum  is  vertical,  with  a  slight 
curve,  and  without  any  horizontal  limb.  Its  fore  edge  is 
a  strong,  ribbed  ridge,  its  disk  thin,  papery,  and  radiated, 
as  in  the  figure.  The  rest  of  the  opercular  bones  were 
broken  off.  The  gill-membrane  lies  between  the  limbs  of 
the  lower  jaw,  and  contains  seven  rays. 
Hab,  Coast  of  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

Raia  LEMPRIERI.     Richardson. 

Plate  XXIII.,  half  the  natural  size. 

This  ray  has  received  its  specific  name  in  compliment 
to  Deputy  Assistant  Commissary-General  F.  J.  Lempriere, 
to  whose  exertions  the  Ichthyology  of  Van  Diemen's  Land 
is  much  indebted.  It  is  nearly  allied  to  the  Raia  nasuta, 
of  which  a  figure  by  Parkinson  exists  in  the  collection 
of  drawings  formed  by  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  on  Cook's  first 
voyage,  and  now  in  the  British  Museum.  The  most  strik- 
ing difference  between  them  is  in  the  shorter  snout  of 
lemprieri,  forming  merely  the  apex  of  the  rhomboidal 
anterior  half  of  the  disk,  and  not  tapering  to  a  point,  as  in 
nasuta,  whose  disk  is  bounded  anteriorly  by  concave  lines. 


36 


In  this  also  the  lateral  caudal  spines  are  nearly  as  uniformly 
large  as  the  medial  ones,  thus  forming  three  rows,  which 
run  farther  up  the  back  than  in  lemprieri. 

Disk  rhomboido-ovate  :  the  snout  not  projecting  beyond 
the  angle  of  the  rhomb,  but  slightly  pointed  through  an 
undulation  in  the  foi'e  edge  of  the  disk,  which  rounds  off 
laterally  into  the  ovate  posterior  half  Its  breadth  is  in 
proportion  to  its  length,  exclusive  of  the  ventrals,  as  6  to 
55.  Tail  depressed,  flat  beneath,  rounded  above,  with  a 
faint  indication  of  a  blunt  mesial  ridge,  the  sides  sloping 
into  a  thin  cuticular  edge. 

The  dorsal  fins,  of  equal  size  and  height,  are  closely 
approximated  to  each  other,  and  to  the  lip  of  the  tail,  the 
posterior  one  being  joined  to  the  very  small  caudal  hy  a 
minute  fold  of  skin.  The  tip  of  the  tail  is  acute,  and  is 
rendered  three-edged  by  its  lajleral  cuticular  margins,  and 
the  scarely  more  developed  caudal  fin  on  its  upjjer  surface. 
This  fin  is  highest  in  the  middle,  but  even  there  its  height 
does  not  equal  the  breath  of  the  tip  of  the  tail.  The  ven- 
trals are  folded,  and  irregularly  toothed  on  the  edge  by 
cuticular  points  corresponding  with  the  rays.  A  narrow 
anterior  obtuse  lobe  is  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  fin 
by  a  notch,  which  penetrates  nearly  half  way  to  the  base; 
the  margin  of  the  posterior  portion  is  rounded,  with  a 
somewhat  acute  hinder  comer.  The  claspers  are  fusiform, 
and  are  overlapped  at  the  base,  together  with  part  of  the 
fore  lobe  of  the  ventrals,  by  tlie  posterior  corners  of  the 
pectorals. 

The  tip  of  the  snout,  a  patch  before  each  eye,  part  of 
the  cheeks,  the  anterior  borders  of  the  disk,  the  top  of  the 
head,  middle  line  of  the  back,  and  upper  surface  of  the 
tail,  with  the  dorsal  fins,  are  thickly  set  with  fine  prickles, 
which  point  backwards.  The  cuticular  space  between 
the  pectorals  and  snout,  the  flanks,  the  posterior  half  of 
pectorals,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  patch,  the  ventrals, 
and  the  whole  under  surface  of  the  fish,  are  smooth. 
About  seven  stronger  spines  arm  the  supra-orbitar  ridge, 
others  are  scattered  near  the  anterior  edge  of  the  disk,  op- 
posite to  the  eyes,  seven  or  eight  occupy  the  mesial  line 
between  the  head  and  humeral  cartilage,  and  a  row,  begin- 
ning at  the  pelvis,  runs  down  the  middle  of  the  tail,  having 
an  alternate  direction  to  right  and  left,  not  shown  in  the 
figure.  There  are  also  some  scattered  larger  .spines  on  the 
sides  of  the  tail  among  the  smaller  ones,  but  no  continuous 
lateral  rows,  such  as  appear  in  the  figure  of  Raia  nasuta, 
above  referred  to.  Our  specimen  exhibits  two  rows  of 
very  acute  spines,  each  enclosed  in  a  sheath  and  pointing 
niesiad,  situated  in  the  widest  part  of  the  disk,  a  little  way 
from  the  edge.  These  are  probably  peculiar  to  the  male 
in  the  spawning  season.  The  nasal  flap,  as  is  usual  in  the 
genus,  is  adnate  in  the  middle,  with  a  free  rounded  lobe  at 
each  nostril,  set  with  a  short  fringe.  The  nostril  is  capable 
of  being  closed  by  the  expansion  of  a  loose  fold  from  its 
outer  border.  Cleft  of  the  mouth  moderatelj'  arched  for- 
wards, and  pretty  wide.  The  teeth  are  round  disks,  with 
a  central  conical  cusp,  but  on  the  lower  jaw  many  of  the 
cusps  are  worn  away.  Both  these  forms  of  teeth  are 
shown  magnified  in  the  plate. 

The  tip  of  the  snout  above  and  below,  and  the  point  of 
the  tail  beneath,  are  black :  the  general  colour  of  the 
upper  surface  of   the   fish   is  blackish-grey  ;    the  lateral 


regions  of  the  snout  and  the  edges  of  the  pectorals  are 
flesh-coloured,  and  the  under  surface  is  almost  wholly 
white. 

Length  of  specimen,  nineteen  inches. 

Hab.  Port  Arthur,  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

Urolopiius  ephippiatus.     Richardson. 

Plate  XXIV.,  about  two-thirds  of  the  natural  size. 

Outline  of  the  disk  rhomboido-oval,  somewhat  broader 
than  long,  and  much  like  that  of  U.  aurantiacus,  but  less 
wide,  and  bounded  anteriorly,  not  by  convex  lines,  but  by 
straight  ones,  which  round  broadly  ofiF  into  the  oval  poste- 
rior portion  of  the  disk.  The  hinder  corner  of  the  pec- 
toral is  more  decided  than  in  aurantiacus,  being  nearly  as 
conspicuous  as  in  the  Torpedos.  The  tip  of  the  snout  is 
an  obtuse  angle,  without  the  apiculus  of  auranliacm. 
Ventrals  rounded,  united  beneath,  so  that  their  conjoined 
margins  form  a  dee\>  curve.  Caudal  fin  oval,  both  lobes 
nearly  equally  high,  and  the  under  one  scarcely  running 
farther  forward  than  the  upper  one.  About  thirty  carti- 
laginous rays  shine  through  the  integuments  of  each  lobe. 
The  caudal  spine  occupies  more  than  two-thirds  of  the 
width  of  the  tail  at  its  insertion,  tapers  to  a  very  acute 
point,  is  striated  on  its  anterior  surface,  and  strengthened 
behind  by  a  rounded  keel,  which  fits  a  depression  in  the 
tail.     Its  edges  are  serrated  by  very  acute  reverted  teeth. 

The  greatest  thickness  of  the  disk  is  at  the  junction  of 
the  shoulder-girdle  with  the  spine,  and  from  this  place  the 
vertical  diameter  lessens  both  longitudinally  and  laterally. 
The  eyes  are  of  moderate  size,  and  have  rather  a  lateral 
aspect.  Their  posterior  halves  are  embraced  externally  by 
the  spout  holes,  which  exceed  the  orbits  in  size,  and  are 
widest  behind.  A  small  valvular  fold  projects  within  the 
spout-hole  from  its  orbital  wall,  the  rest  of  its  lining  is 
smooth.  The  united  nasal  fla])  has  a  straight  free  edge, 
and  is  fringed  by  obtuse  cuticular  processes,  invisible  to 
the  naked  eye.  The  base  of  the  flap  is  slightly  narrower 
than  its  free  border,  and  its  bridle  springs  from  the  middle 
of  the  upper  lip.  In  the  plate  the  flap  is  shown  in  two 
positions,  when  hanging  down,  and  when  drawn  up.  A 
small  rounded  lobe  projects  into  the  nasal  opening  from 
its  under  border.  Folds  or  streaks  are  disposed  in  a 
doubly  pectinated  order  on  the  lining  of  the  nostrils. 

When  the  mouth  is  gently  open,  the  dental  plates  occupy 
the  entire  borders  of  the  transverse  or  slightly  arched 
rictus,  the  teeth  rolling  a  little  farther  out  in  the  middle  of 
the  lower  jaw.  Individually  the  teeth  are  rhomboidal, 
with  the  transverse  diameter  rather  exceeding  the  longi- 
tudinal one,  and  having  a  flat  or  slightly  tumid  disk,  with- 
out ridges.  Edge  of  the  upper  velum  straight,  and  finely 
fringed,  like  the  nasal  flap.  Lower  velum  furni.shed  with 
three  or  more  soft,  smooth,  conical  papilla;,  which  di.sap- 
pear  as  the  integuments  are  moved  or  stretched.  Many 
pores  which  exist  in  the  disk  and  tail  are  shown  in  their 
proper  positions  in  the  figure. 

Genital  canal  transversely  plaited,  the  tapering  cornua  of 
the  uterus  shaggy,  with  long,  filamentous,  crowded  villi. 
Liver  large,  and  when  the  belly  is  slit  up,  nearly  concealing 
the  intestines,  granular,  and  divided  into  two  oval  lobes  by 

F  2 


a  fissure  penetrating  through  three-fourths  of  its  depth. 
The  right  lobe  is  the  thickest  and  largest.  There  are  no 
lobules.  The  stomach  being  tender,  was  torn  in  the  exa- 
mination, but  appears  to  have  been  an  oblong  wide  sac, 
terminating  in  a  narrow  intestine,  somewhat  longer  than 
itself.  To  this  succeeds  a  valvular  colon,  which  is  about 
as  long  as  the  stomach,  but  rather  wider,  and  lastly,  a 
smooth  rectum,  a  little  shorter  than  the  valvular  part  of 
the  gut. 

The  specimen,  after  being  kept  in  spirits,  is  reddish- 
brown  on  the  upper  surface,  with  dark  lines,  disposed 
somewhat  like  the  harness  of  a  cart-horse,  whence  the 
specific  name  of  ephippiatus.  Their  exact  form  may  be 
ascertained  more  correctly  by  turning  to  the  figure,  than 
from  any  description. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  snout  to  tip  of  tail W7b  inches. 

„               „             base  of  caudal  spine     9'26  „ 

„               „             crescentic  edge  of  ventrals  be- 
neath   7-75  „ 

„               „             hinder  angles  of  pectorals  7-52  „ 

axilla  of  ditto 692  „ 

„               „             fore  point  of  vent     6-55  „ 

„               „             posterior  gill-opening  5'65  „ 

„               „             first  ditto 2-70  „ 

„               „             mouth    1'68  „ 

„               „             middle  of  nostrils    1'28  „ 

„               „             centres  of  spout-holes 2-25  „ 

„               „             centres  of  orbits 1'90  „ 

Width  of  free  edge  of  nasal  flap 075  „ 

„      between  anterior  pair  of  gill-openings    1*82  „ 

„      between  posterior  ditto 1"19  „ 

Longitudinal  diameter  of  eyes 0-45  „ 

„                 „              spout-holes     0-72  „ 

Distance  between  ditto 1"10  „ 

Breadth  of  disk 800  „ 

Hab.  Storm  Bay,  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

Zeus  australis.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— Br.  7  ;  D.  10|23  ;  A.  4l22 ;  C.  134- ;  P.  14  ;  V.  1 15. 

Plate  XXV.,  fig.  1. 

A  single  specimen  of  this  fish,  in  very  bad  condition, 
was  brought  home.  The  pectoral,  ventral  and  caudal  fins 
are  mutilated,  and  much  of  the  membrane  and  filaments 
of  the  spinous  dorsal  have  disappeared,  so  that  these  parts 
are  not  to  be  considered  as  exactly  represented  in  the 
figure. 

On  comparing  the  specimen  carefully  with  examples  of 
Zeusfaher,  the  resemblance  of  the  two  species  is  found  to 
be  very  great.  The  Australian  fish  has,  however,  propor- 
tionally shorter  and  stouter  dorsal  spines,  the  soft  part  of 
the  fin  occupying  rather  more  space.  The  fourth  spine  is 
the  tallest,  while  in  Zeus  faher  it  is  the  third.  The  shields 
at  the  bases  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  more  numerous, 
but  much  less  acutely  spinous  in  Zeus  austialis,  which 
possesses  seven  shields  under  the  soft  dorsal,  and  eight 
along  the  corresponding  part  of  the  anal,  besides  angular 
points  at  the  root  of  the  spines.  The  thoracic  and  abdo- 
minal shields  are  also  scarcely  spiniferous,  while  in  faher 
the  thoracic  shields  have  thin,  acute,  falcate  points,  and 
the  ventral  ones  support  acute  spines.  The  supra-scapular 
spine  is  nearly  obsolete  in  australis,  and  the  coracoid  pro- 


cess, above  the  pectoral,  as  well  as  the  other  angular  bones 
about  the  head,  are  less  acute. 

The  surfaces  of  the  preoperculuin,  and  of  the  frontal 
bones  are  flat  and  striated.  In  Z.  faber  the  former  of 
these  bones  is  strengthened  by  a  smooth,  elevated,  central 
rib,  and  the  frontal  bones  show  a  thin  edge  on  the  upper 
surface  of  the  head,  forming  keels,  which  end  in  a  small 
spine  on  each  side  of  the  occiput.  This  point  is  smooth 
and  flat  in  australis. 

Length,  fourteen  inches. 

The  specimen  is  too  much  decayed  to  possess  any  re- 
mains of  colour,  and  there  is  no  vestige  of  a  lateral  spot. 

In  the  third  volume  of  the  '  Zoological  Journal,'  I  de- 
scribed a  Van  Diemen's  Land  fish  under  the  name  of  Ca- 
pros  australis,  from  a  coloured  drawing,  executed  by  a 
convict  in  that  colony.  It  is  possible  that  he  had  the  spe- 
cies described  above  before  him,  in  which  case  he  has 
omitted  the  spinous  shields,  and  thrown  the  dorsal  fin  too 
far  back.  The  drawing  was  rose-coloured,  without  a  late- 
ral spot. 

Hab.  Port  Jackson,  Australia. 

Crenidens  triglyphus.     Richardson. 

Cu.  Spec.    Cr.  dentibus  tricuspidatis ;  radiis  articulari- 

bus  pinued  dorsi  spinas  altitudine  excedentibus. 

Radii:— Br.  6;  D.  15ll2;  A.  3|12  ;  C.  154;  P.  16  ;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  XXV.,  fig.  2. 

This  fish  has  the  physiognomy  of  Crenidens  forskalii, 
with  the  same  proportion  of  height  to  length,  but  with  a 
rather  less  convex  profile,  and  somewhat  thinner  jaws. 
The  outline  of  the  dorsal  fin,  and  the  number  of  rays  of 
the  two  species,  do  not  correspond,  and  there  are  other 
diff"erences. 

The  suborbitar  of  Cr.  triglyphus  is  square,  with  nearly 
straight  edges,  and  without  the  small  notch  at  the  head  of 
the  maxillary  which  forskalii  shows.  The  scales  of  the 
cheek  are  small,  and  disappear  on  the  disk  of  the  preoper- 
culuin and  upper  border  of  the  gill-cover;  the  suboper- 
culum,  interoperculum,  most  of  the  preoperculuin,  and 
lower  part  of  the  operculum,  are  covered  with  smooth 
skin,  thickly  sprinkled  with  minute  black  dots.  In  the 
figure  of  Cr.  forskalii,  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  (pi. 
162  quater),  the  whole  operculum,  suboperculum,  and  in- 
teroperculum, are  covered  with  pretty  large  scales.  The 
disk  of  the  preoperculum  is  smooth,  and  in  both  species 
the  edge  of  this  bone  is  transversely  furrowed,  producing 
wide,  obtuse  crenatures.  The  operculum  of  Cr.  trir/li/phus 
ends  in  a  thin,  flat,  acute  point,  above  which  the  bone 
slopes  away  with  a  slightly  concave  curve.  In  oiu-  figure, 
this  bony  point  is  represented  rather  too  much  like  a  spine. 
A  row  of  pretty  large  scales  crosses  the  supra-scapular 
region,  as  in  forskalii,  but  their  disks  are  covered  with 
smaller  scales,  so  that  they  are  rendered  inconspicuous. 

There  are  forty-six  scales  in  a  row,  between  the  gill- 
opening  and  caudal  fin, which  are  generally  oblong,  with  the 
base  truncated,  the  two  sides  parallel  to  each  other,  and  the 
apex  rounded.  A  meniscoid  segment  of  the  tip  of  the  scale 
is  rough  with  teeth,  the  outer  ones  very  acute,  and  ciliating 
the  edge.     Behind  this  there  is  a  small,  smooth  rectangle. 


37 


or  square,  from  which  the  fan-like  funows,  varying  in 
number  from  fifteen  to  twenty-two,  radiate  sharply,  and 
take  in  the  whole  basal  edge.  Fine  lines  of  structure  are 
visible  parallel  to  the  lateral  edges  of  the  scale,  ceasing  at 
the  flat  disk.  The  lateral  line  is  composed  of  scales 
traversed  by  a  simple  tube,  and  covered  by  the  scales 
above  and  below,  so  that,  comparatively,  little  of  their 
disk  is  seen.  Many  small  scales  are  crowded  on  the  shoul- 
der at  the  commencement  of  the  lateral  line,  mingling 
imperceptibly  with  the  small  ones  on  the  head.  The 
scales  behind  the  ventrals  on  the  under  surface  of  the 
belly  are  longer  and  naiTower.  The  dorsal  and  anal  fins 
are  embraced  at  the  base  by  scaly  fillets,  which  Forskal 
indicates  when  he  says  "fossuld  in  dorso ;"  the  soft  parts 
of  these  fins  are  scaly  between  the  rays,  half-way  up,  and 
there  are  also  scaly  fillets  at  the  base  of  the  spinous  rays, 
not  at  every  ra}',  nor  exactly  alternately.  No  scales  are 
shown  in  the  fins  of  Cr.  forskalii,  in  the  figure  above 
referred  to,  nor  is  mention  made  of  them  in  the  text  of  the 
Histoire  des  Puissons,  but  those  of  the  body  are  said  to  be 
"  tniiices  et  tisses,,'"  so  that  if  there  be  no  mistake,  they 
differ  widely  from  those  of  Cr.  triglyphus. 

The  branchiostegous  rays  are  six  in  number.*  The  first 
five  dorsal  spines  are  rather  abruptly  graduated,  the  five 
following  ones  are  all  of  one  length,  and  the  last  four  are 
again  graduated,  but  very  slightly,  the  last  one  being  as 
tall  as  the  fifth  one.  The  first  short  spine  touches  the 
second  at  its  base,  but  is  separated  from  it  by  membrane 
at  the  tip.  The  soft  part  of  the  fin  is  higher  than  the 
spines,  and  the  last  ray  is  divided  to  the  base.  The  se- 
cond and  third  anal  spines  are  equal  to  each  oilier,  and  in 
some  specimens,  are  as  tall  as  the  longest  dorsal  spines, 
but  in  the  one  from  which  our  figure  was  taken,  they  are  a 
little  shorter.  The  basal  half  of  the  caudal  is  scaly.  This 
fin  is  concave  on  the  edge,  especially  in  the  smaller  spe- 
cimens, but  in  the  larger  ones,  when  the  fin  is  stretched 
out  it  becomes  almost  even. 

In  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  the  dentition  of  Cr.  fors- 
kalii is  described  in  the  following  terms : — 

"  II  y  a  deu.v  rangees  de  dents  incisives  a  chaque  md- 
choire,  Ve.vteriie  de  di.v  dents,  Vinterne  de  vingt.  Ces 
dents  sont  larges,  aplaties,  inserees  terticalement  sur  la 
mdclioire ;  leur  bord  est  festonn6  et  denteU  par  cinq 
deniicides,  dont  les  trois  du  milieu  depassent  de  beancoup 
les  laterales.  Derriere  ces  incisives  il  y  a  de  petites  dents 
grenues  et  arrondies  sur  plusieurs  rangs.  Les  pharyn- 
giennes  sont  en  cardes  tres-Jines." 

The  outer  teeth  of  Cr.  triglyphus  are  arranged  nearly  as 
above-mentioned,  viz.,  about  twenty-two  on  each  limb  of 
each  jaw,  and  here  and  there  the  row  is  doubled,  or  even 
trebled,  but  not  in  a  regular  manner.  But  the  inner  teeth, 
though  much  shorter  than  the  outer  ones,  are  exactly 
alike  in  form,  pressed  closely  within  each  other  in  five  or 
six  rows,  so  that  only  the  extreme  tips  project  beyond  the 
gum,  and  give  the  appearance  of  a  close  villiform  surface, 
which  is  separated  by  a  furrow  from  the  longer  teeth  on 
the  edge  of  the  jaw,  produced  by  the  forward  inclination 
of  the  latter.     It  is  evident  that,  as  the  longer  teeth  wear 

*  The  text  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  mentions  five  gill-rays,  while 
the  formula,  a  few  lines  lower,  marks  six. 


away,  their  place  is  supplied  by  a  row  from  the  posterior 
ones.  Each  tooth  has  three  blunt  lips.  The  tongue  is 
soft  and  granular.     The  roof  of  the  mouth  is  toothless. 

The  specimens,  which  have  been  long  preserved  in 
spirits,  are  dark  coloured,  with  faint  lines  in  the  direction 
of  the  scales. 

Length,  from  five  to  sixteen  inches. 

Hab.  Port  Jackson,  Australia. 

Dajaus  diemensis.     Richardson. 

Dajaus  diemensis.     Bich.  Zool.  Tr.  iii.  p.  123. 

Radii:— Br.  6;  D.4]— 10;  A.31I2;  C.  14^;  P.  15;  V.  IjS. 

Plate  XXVI.,  figs.  1,  2. 

This  mullet  is  fully  described,  and  the  characters  which 
distinguish  it  from  the  previously  discovered  Australian 
mullets,  pointed  out  in  the  work  above  quoted.  It  was 
placed  in  the  genus  Dajaus,  on  account  of  its  vomerine 
and  palatine  teeth,  but  its  mouth  does  not  exactly  corre- 
spond with  that  of  Dajaus  monticola,  and  differs  little 
from  that  of  some  true  mullets.  The  greater  number  of 
its  anal  rays  distinguishes  it  readily  from  the  other  mullets 
of  the  Australian  seas.  Many  of  the  scales  had  dropped 
fi-om  the  operculum  of  our  specimens,  before  they  formed 
the  subject  of  the  artist's  skill,  so  that  their  exact  size  and 
distribution  on  that  part  may  not  be  quite  correctly  repre- 
sented ;  the  figure  is  excellent  in  other  parts. 

Length,  from  ten  to  fourteen  inches. 

Hab.  Van  Diemen's  Land  and  West  Australia  ;  King 
George's  Sound  ;  Port  Arthur. 

Latris  ciliaris. 

Ch.  Spec.  L.  capite  quintam  partem  longitudiiiis  piscis 
totius  ejfficiente  ;  radiis  sex  inferioribus  pinnai  pectoris 
indivisis  ;  caudd  emarginatd  lobis  inaqualibus. 

Radii:— B.  6;   D.  17|39;  A.  SjSS;  C.  13|;  V.UetG; 
A.  1|5.* 

Sciana  ciliaris,  Descr.  An.  J.  R.  Forsteri,  cura  H.  Licht.  p.  138,  pars 
descr. 

Icon  Ined.  Georg.  Forst.  No.  209  in  Bibl.  Banks,  serv. 

Plate  XXVI.,  fig.  6,  one-third  nat.  size,  fig.  7,  magnified. 

In  the  'Transactions  of  the  Zoological  Society'  (vol. iii. 
p.  106),  I  gave  an  account  of  the  characters  of  Latris, 
which  may  be  considered  either  as  a  subdivision  of  Chei- 
lodactylus,  or  as  a  proper  genus,  according  to  the  different 
views  of  systematic  writers.  A  detailed  account  of  a 
striped  species,  named  Latris  hecateia,  accompanied  by  a 
con-ect  figure,  is  there  given.  This  is  the  "  Trumpeter"  of 
Van  Diemen's  Land,  the  fish  w'hich  is  most  prized  in  the 
colony  lor  its  edible  qualities.  Fish  of  the  same  genus 
had  been  observed  on  the  coast  of  New  Zealand,  by  the 
naturalists  who  accompanied  Cook  on  his  first  and  second 
voyages.  One  species  was  taken  in  Queen  Charlotte's 
Sound,  and  named  by  Solander  Scixna  salmonea,  but  he 
left  no  description  of  it,  and  all  that  remains  for  its  identi- 


Thei 


represents  one  dorsal  spine  too  many. 


fication  is  an  unfinished  pencil  sketch  by  Parkinson,  pre- 
served in  the  Banksian  Library.  This  exhibits  only  fifteen 
dorsal  spines,  and  does  not  agree,  in  that  respect,  with  any 
specimen  we  have  seen.  Another  species,  procured  in 
Dusky  Bay,  was  named  by  J.  R.  Forster  Sciana  lineata, 
and  his  description  of  it  published  in  Schneider's  Bloch, 
under  the  appellation  of  Cichla  litieata,  and  also  in  the 
edition  of  his  notes,  brought  out  by  Lichtenstein  (p.  134). 
George  Forster's  sketch  of  the  fish,  No.  204,  in  the  Bank- 
sian Library,  differs  so  much  in  outline  from  Latris  he- 
cateia,  that  I  have  not  thought  it  expedient  to  refer  both 
to  the  same  species,  though  no  decided  character  is  no- 
ticed in  the  description  by  which  they  can  be  distinguished. 
A  comparison  of  Dusky  Bay  and  Van  Diemen's  Land  spe- 
cimens is  required  to  decide  the  point. 

There  are  two  other  figures  by  George  Forster,  which 
have  a  closer  bearing  on  the  subject  of  this  article  than  the 
preceding  ones.  One  numbered  205*  in  the  Banksian 
collection,  is  a  coloured  drawing  of  a  fish  taken  in  Dusky 
Bay,  and  named  by  the  natives  Moghee.  This  presents 
very  nearly  the  outline  of  Latris  hecateia,  but  wants  the 
lateral  stripes  of  that  species,  and  also  the  yellow  tail  of 
Latris  lineuta.  It  is  entitled  Latris  ciliaris.  The  other, 
also  inscribed  Latris  ciliaris,  is  a  pencil  sketch  of  a  fish, 
obtained  in  Queen  Charlotte's  Sound  on  the  25th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1774.  A  description  of  Latris  ciliaris  is  contained 
in  Lichtenstein's  edition  of  J.  R.  Forster's  notesf  (p.  137), 
and  reference  is  made  to  a  figure  by  George  Forster,  but  it 
is  not  said  which  of  the  two  is  meant,  and  the  exact  locality 
is  not  noted  in  this  work  as  it  is  generally  on  the  drawing, 
so  that  we  receive  no  assistance  from  that  consideration, + 
but  we  may  suppose  that  figure  (No.  205)  is  the  one  in- 
tended, since  its  dimensions  (nine  inches  in  total  length), 
correspond  with  those  given  in  the  text.  The  rays  of  the 
dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  stated  in  one  paragraph  to  be, 
D.  16|43;  A.  2,36;  and  in  another  to  be,  D.  16|38; 
A.  2|32.  Such  a  difference  in  numbers  rarely  occurs  in 
the  same  species,  and  I  think  it  probable  that  the  descrip- 
tion was  made  at  different  dates,  and  of  two  distinct  spe- 
cies. It  is  with  the  sketch  209,  and  the  rays  enumerated 
in  the  last  paragraph,  as  well  as  in  the  size,  which  is  stated 
to  be  thirty  inches,  that  Sir  James  Ross's  specimen,  figured 
in  Plate  26,  so  nearly  corresponds,  that  1  have  considered 
them  to  belong  to  one  species,  to  which  I  have  applied 
Forster's  name  of  ciliaris,  being  unwilling  to  add  to  the 
number  of  specific  names,  where  it  can  be  avoided.  If 
Forster  be  supposed  to  have  overlooked  the  first  short  and 
incumbent  spine  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  spines,  there  is  no 
material  discrepancy  between  the  rays  of  our  specimen 
and  those  enumerated  in  his  concluding  paragraph.  As 
to  George  Forster's  figures,  no  great  endeavour  at  accuracy 
of  numbers  has  been  made,  if  we  may  judge  by  com- 
paring them  with  his  father's  descriptions,"  but  they  render 


*  In  the  comments  I  made  on  this  figure  in  the  '  Zooh)};ical  Tran- 
sactions,' iii.  p.  115,  the  number  of  it  is  erroneously  printed  204  instead 
of  205. 

t  Anthias  ciliaris,  Schn.  Bl  p. 

X  In  Lichtenstein's  work,  the  pages  containing  Scicma  ciliaris  and 
hneata  are  headed  Nova  Hollandia,  though  in  the  text  the  species  are 
said  to  inhabit  the  sea  of  Nova  Zeelandia. 


the  generic  aspect  of  the  fish,  for   the   most  part,  very 
happily. 

One  sentence  in  J.  R.  Forster's  notes  occasioned  me 
some  difficulty,  "  Tubercula  bina  supra  oculos,  ciliaria," 
but  I  now  think  that  this  merely  refers  to  the  convexity 
of  the  anterior  frontal  producing  an  obtuse  superciliary 
ridge.  The  figiu-es  show  no  other  protuberance,  although 
fi-om  the  conical  supra-orbitar  projections  of  the  frontal 
bone,  observed  in  some  Cheilodactyli,  we  might  be  led  to 
look  for  something  similar  in  the  allied  group  of  Latris. 

Sir  James  Ross's  specimen,  measuring  thirty  inches  in 
length,  was  procured  at  Sidney,  and  being  put  into  brine, 
which  spoiled  during  the  voyage,  reached  this  country  in 
very  bad  condition.  On  this  account  our  figure  cannot 
pretend  to  perfect  accuracy  of  outline  or  markings,  but  in 
other  respects  it  may  be  relied  upon. 

The  head  forms  a  fifth  of  the  whole  length  to  the  tip  of 
the  lower  lobe  of  the  caudal-fin,  and  its  height  at  the  nape 
is  one-sixth  less  than  its  length.  The  ej'e  is  high  up,  and 
midway  between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  apex  of  the  gill- 
flap.  The  convex  space  between  the  two  eyes  is  less  than 
two  diameters  of  the  orbit.  The  anterior  frontal  is  convex 
and  bulging.  The  maxillaries  are  moderately  pi-otractile, 
their  pedicels  exceeding  their  dental  limbs  in  length.  The 
limbs  of  the  lower  jaw  are  unusuallj-  broad  and  short,  the 
jaw  being  articulated  oppo.site  to  the  fore  edge  of  the  rec- 
tangular preorbitar.  The  under  lip  folds  broadly  back 
laterally.  The  teeth,  small,  short,  and  slenderly  subidate, 
are  loosely  set  on  both  jaws,  to  the  depth  of  five  or  six 
at  the  symphysis,  diminishing  to  a  single  one  at  the  corners 
of  the  mouth.  Their  tips  are  black  in  the  specimen.  There 
are  none  on  the  roof  of  the  mouth. 

The  preoperculum  has  a  wide  smooth  disk,  and  its  outer 
edge  is  curved  parabolically.  The  upper  limb,  which  is 
slightly  concave,  is  finely  serrated,  the  teeth  becoming 
obsolete  on  the  rounded  corner.  The  operculum  is  large, 
and  permits  only  a  narrow  subopercidum  to  appear  beneath 
it.  The  disk  of  the  interoperculum  is  comparatively  broad. 
All  these  bones  have  entire  edges.  An  occipital  crest  runs 
back  on  the  nape,  rendering  it  acute.  The  distance  from 
its  ridge  to  the  ujjper  edge  of  the  gill-cover,  exceeds  a 
third  of  the  height  of  the  head.  The  belly  is  said  to  be 
keeled  in  Forster's  notes.  We  cannot  make  out  its  true 
form  from  the  specimen,  but  in  Latris  lineata  the  sides 
are  compressed,  and  the  belly  acute  behind  the  ventrals, 
yet  there  is  a  flattish  under  surface  before  these  fins,  and 
it  is  probable  that  ciliaris  resembles  it  in  these  respects. 

The  scales  are  arranged  much  as  in  the  Scicciiidee. 
Those  which  compose  the  lateral  line  are  traversed  by  a 
simple  slender  tube,  and  are  notched  at  the  tip.  They 
are  smaller  than  the  others,  and  being  overlapped  by  the 
adjoining  scales  both  above  and  below,  very  little  of  their 
disk  is  seen.  They  amount  to  about  eighty-four  in  num- 
ber, and  diminish  considerably  in  size  towards  the  base  of 
the  caudal  fin.  There  are  twenty-four  or  twenty-five  scales 
in  a  vertical  row  over  the  ventrals.  The  scaly  fillets  along 
the  bases  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  exist,  as  is  usual  in 
the  genus.  The  first  dorsal  .spine  is  incumbent  on  the 
lower  half  of  the  second  one,  and  when  invested  with  soft 
integument,  they  would  naturally  be  reckoned  only  as  a 
single  spine,  as  Forster  seems  to  have  done.     The  two 


posterior  articulated  rays  of  this  fin  are  approximated,  and 
might  also  be  enumerated  as  one.  The  first  anal  spine  is 
so  minute,  that  it  can  scarcely  be  found  without  dissection. 
The  second  one  is  also  very  short,  but  it  is  thicker,  and 
obtuse.  The  third  one  scarcely  exceeds  a  third  of  the 
height  of  the  succeeding  articulated  ray,  and  is  slender 
and  tapering.  The  last  anal  ray  is  divided  to  the  base, 
and  might  be  reckoned  as  two.  The  ventrals  are  placed 
under  the  fifth  and  sixth  dorsal  spines,  and  the  posterior 
third  of  the  pectorals.  The  lobes  of  the  caudal  are  une- 
qual, the  lower  one  being  largest.  This  form  of  the  caudal 
is  very  general  with  the  Cheilodactyll  and  Latres. 
Hab.  Sidney  Cove,  Australia. 

Myctophum  boops.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  Myct.  altitudine  corporis  vel  longitudine  ca- 
pitis quintam  partem  longitudinis  piscis  totius  tequaitte  ; 
oculo  mag)io  spatium  interocularem  e.vcedenti ;  appa- 
ratu  lucido,  cariiinto  f route  valde  conspicuo ;  pinnd 
dorsi  supra  veiitralcs  aiilepositas  incipienti  ;  pinnis 
pectoris  aitum  aitiiigevtibiis. 

Radii  :  — D.  U— 0;  A.  20  ;  C.  17| ;  P.  1.5  ;  V.  8. 

Plate  XXVII.,  figs.  6-12. 

Many  Mediterranean  fish  of  the  natural  family  of  Sal- 
tnonid<e,  and  heretofore  comprised  in  the  genus  Scopelus, 
have  been  investigated  by  Dr.  Cotto,  of  Messina,  and 
distributed  into  various  new  genera.  The  Prince  of  Mu- 
signano,  in  the  Fauna  Italica,  has  pursued  the  investiga- 
tion still  farther,  added  another  genus,  and  given  figures 
and  descriptions  of  the  several  species,  grouping  the  whole 
into  the  subfamily  of  Scopolin<B.  Fish  of  the  same  family 
exist  abundantly  in  the  ocean,  and  the  specimens  brought 
home  by  Sir  James  Ross  enable  us  to  describe  and  figure 
a  few  of  the  species.  If  sought  for,  many  more  might, 
doubtless,  be  added  to  the  list,  but  they  ought  to  be  fished 
for  with  a  gauze  net,  and  in  the  night  time,  when  they 
come  to  the  surface  in  search  of  the  small  Crustacea  on 
which  they  feed.  They  are  brilliant  objects,  their  large 
scales  being  resplendent  with  prismatic  colours,  and  they 
are,  moreover,  studded  with  rows  of  pearly  points,  situated 
in  the  integument  beneath  the  scales,  but  shining  through 
them.  Great  care  should  be  taken  in  their  preservation, 
as,  owing  to  their  scales  being  very  deciduous,  they  are 
injured  by  the  slightest  friction. 

The  first  species  we  have  to  notice  belongs  to  the  genus 
Myctophum  of  Cocco,  and  Dr.  Hooker's  sketch.  No.  89, 
presents  a  figure  of  it,  drawn  from  the  recent  fish,  cap- 
tured on  the  19th  of  January.  Unfortunately,  the  notes 
made  at  the  time  have  been  mislaid.  Examples  of  the 
same  species  were  collected  by  Sir  Edward  Belcher,  in  the 
China  seas,  but  no  note  was  taken  of  the  exact  place  of 
their  capture. 

The  genus  Myctophum  was  first  established  by  Ra- 
finesque,  but  he  assigned  to  it  erroneous  characters.  Cocco 
sums  up  its  generic  marks  as  consisting  of  "  the  minute 
clustered  or  bundled  teeth,*  a  claviform  body,  covered  by 

*  "  GH  sottUissimi  denti  si  dispomjenu  a   fascetti.'' —  Bon. 


large  scales,  among  which  those  of  the  lateral  line  are 
con.spicuous,  the  mouth  cleft  to  opposite  the  hinder  edge 
of  the  orbit,  the  first  dorsal  opposed  to  the  ventrals,  and  a 
shining  ajjparatus  on  the  forehead,  between  the  eyes." 
To  these  the  Prince  of  Musignano  adds—"  Very  oblique 
opercular  pieces,  short  pectoral  fins,  and  bluff'  snouts." 
The  Oceanic  species  which  we  have  to  describe,  do  not 
exhibit  any  clustering  in  the  distribution  of  their  teeth, 
and  their  pectorals  are  not  uniformly  short,  as  in  the 
Mediterranean  Myctophi. 

Myctophum  boops  received  its  specific  appellation  from 
its  large  round  eye,  which  fills  about  half  the  space  be- 
tween the  tip  of  the  snout  and  edge  of  the  gill-cover,  being, 
however,  greatly  nearer  to  the  former.  The  exact  extent 
of  the  shining  frontal  apparatus  cannot  be  ascertained  from 
our  specimens,  which  are  injured,  but  there  remains  a  soft 
yellowish  substance,  that  goes  as  far  back  between  the 
eyes  as  the  anterior  third  of  the  orbit,  and  forwards  round 
the  nostrils.  Thin  plates  from  the  frontal  and  the  edge 
of  the  narrow  preorbitar  rise  up  to  sustain  it.  A  fine  me- 
sial crest  of  bone  also  springs  from  between  the  fore  parts 
of  the  orbits,  and  runs  down  to  meet  the  thin  edge  of  the 
preorbitar,  which  curves  upwards  round  the  nostrils. 

Fig.  11,  in  plate  27,  is  executed  from  a  sketch  of  the 
recent  fish,  by  Dr.  Hooker,  and  shows  this  glandular  body 
in  a  more  entire  state  than  in  our  specimens.*  The  nos- 
trils are  well  developed  interiorly,  exhibiting  a  turbinate 
bone,  composed  of  ten  or  twelve  radiating  leaves. 

The  mouth  is  cleft  horizontally  backwards,  to  opposite 
the  posterior  border  of  the  orbit,  but  the  dental  surface  of 
the  intermaxillary  reaches  still  farther.  The  maxillary 
dilates  gradually  to  its  end,  which  is  obliquely  truncated, 
with  the  corners  slightly  rounded  ;  and  is  strengthened 
from  one  end  to  the  other  by  a  smooth  ridge.  It  is  covered 
nearly  to  its  end  by  the  preorbitar,  and  when  the  mouth  is 
shut,  it  reaches  almost  to  the  preoperculum.  The  inter- 
maxillary extends  to  the  extremity  of  the  maxillary,  so 
that  the  latter  forms  no  part  of  the  margin  of  the  mouth. 
An  even,  not  crowded,  row  of  fine,  short,  subulate  teeth, 
crowns  the  edge  of  the  intermaxillary  throughout.  They 
are  not  clustered,  and  appear  to  be  so  only  when  one  or 
two  are  broken  off"  here  and  there,  leaving  the  others  in 
small  groups.  These  teeth  are  visible  to  the  naked  eye, 
but  on  the  outside  of  the  row,  on  both  jaws,  there  is"  a 
nan-ow,  convex,  dental  surface,  composed  of  very  short, 
minute,  acute  teeth,  which  can  be  distinguished  only 
through  the  aid  of  a  microscope.  The  chevron  of  the 
vomer,  and  edges  of  the  palate  bones,  are  furnished  with 
teeth,  similar  to  the  principal  row  on  the  jaws  ;  there 
is  a  stripe  of  minute  ones  close  within  them  on  the  palate 
bones,  and  the  convex  disks  of  these  bones  are  covered 
with  very  minute  granular  teeth.  The  long,  subulate 
rakers  of  the  outer  branchial  arch  project  forward  into  the 
mouth,  over  the  base  of  the  very  short,  triangular  tongue, 
and  are  covered  with  minute,  acute  teeth. 

The  suborbitar  bones  are  thin,  papery,  and  smooth,  the 
second  one,  situated   directly   under  the   eye,    being    the 

*  In  figure  6,  the  small  eminence  behind  the  eye,  on  ihe  hiud  henil 
and  nape,  is  added  from  Dr.  Hooker's  figure,  there  being  no  remains  of 
any  glandular  matter  so  far  back  in  the  specimens. 


40 


largest.  The  pveopercnlutn  is  vertical,  curved  in  the  arc 
of  a  circle,  without  any  under  limb.  The  interoperculum, 
triangular  and  small,  lies  wholly  behind  the  limb  of  the 
preoperculum.  The  gill-cover  is  large.  The  operculum 
is  semi-orbicular,  approaching  to  heart-shaped,  and  is 
crossed  by  a  furrow  above  its  middle.  The  suboper- 
culum  is  not  quite  two-thirds  less,  and  forms,  as  usual,  the 
tip  of  the  gill-plate.  Its  apex  is  marked  by  five  minute 
teeth,  with  furrows  running  backward  from  between  them 
for  a  short  distance.  The  disk  of  the  gill-plate  is  covered 
by  large  scales,  but  some  appear  to  have  fallen  from  our 
specimens. 

The  head  makes  one-fourth  of  the  total  length  of  the 
fish,  and  the  height  of  the  head  measures  about  one-fifth 
of  the  same  distance.  The  thickness  of  the  body  is  equal 
to  about  two-thirds  of  its  height  anteriorly.  The  com- 
pression augments  posteriorly.  The  back  is  rounded  off, 
but  the  dorsal  stands  on  a  small  ridge.  There  is  a  flat 
space  behind  the  adipose  fin,  which  seems  to  have  been 
occupied  by  a  soft  glandular  substance,  like  that  on  the 
forehead.  The  belly  is  also  obtuse,  and  a  flattish  space 
exists  before  the  ventrals. 

The  pectoral  fins  reach  to  the  anus,  being  larger  than 
those  of  any  Mediterranean  Mijctophum  described  by  the 
Prince  of  Musignano.  The  ventrals  are  placed  midway 
between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  end  of  the  anal,  and  the 
first  dorsal  commences  immediately  over  them.  The  adi- 
pose fin  is  fibrous,  but  does  not  possess  the  rudiments  of 
true  rays. 

The  scales  composing  the  lateral  line  are  oval,  with  a 
short  projection  in  the  middle  of  one  edge,  and  a  simple 
tube  on  the  disk.  The  axis  of  the  oval  is  vertical,  and 
the  scales  are  conspicuous  among  the  others  ;  there  are 
about  thirty-five  in  all,  the  number  between  the  anus  and 
caudal  being  exactly  twenty-three.  The  other  scales  are 
irregularly  orbicular,  and  more  or  less  oblique,  according 
to  their  position.  Their  free  edges  are  entire,  and  their 
bases  show  two  or  three  slight  lobes,  with  a  coiTesponding 
number  of  faint  diverging  furrows. 

The  body  is  ornamented  with  many  spots,  each  of  which 
is  composed  of  a  round  opal-looking  dot,  set  in  a  black 
border,  and  they  shine  with  much  lustre  through  the 
scales  that  cover  them.  A  row,  containing  five  of  these 
spots,  crosses  the  najje  from  one  supra-scapular  to  the 
other.  There  is  one  solitary  spot  in  the  gill-plate,  where 
the  operculum  overlaps  the  suboperculum,  and  another  one 
on  the  interoperculum.  On  a  level  with  this  last  there 
follows  one  on  the  coracoid  bone,  another  on  the  base 
of  the  pectoral,  and  three  more  on  the  flanks  behind  that 
fin,  the  row  terminating  over  the  anus.  Two  spots  occur 
on  the  scales  of  the  lateral  line,  beneath  the  tubes,  one  of 
Ihem  over  the  anus,  and  the  other  over  the  middle  of  the 
anal  fin.  Twelve  exist  on  each  side  of  the  ventral  surface  of 
the  fish,  beginning  at  the  lower  jaw,  which  has  three  on 
each  limb,  and  ending  at  the  anus.  There  are  seventeen 
or  eighteen  in  a  row,  which  runs  along  the  base  of  the 
anal,  and  a  short  way  beyond  it.  Also  two  close  to  the  base 
of  the  lower  lobe  of  the  caudal  on  each  side.  Lastly,  there 
is  a  single  mesial  one  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  tail, 
contiguous  to  the  caudal. 

Four  species  are  described  in  the  Fauna  Italtca,  and 


with  none  of  these  is  this  species  likely  to  be  confounded. 
Its  pectorals  exceed  theirs  considerably  in  size.  The  eye 
is  likewise  much  larger,  and  the  dorsal  more  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  dorsal  curve  than  in  Myctophum  punctatum, 
while  the  forehead  is  much  less  high  and  precipitous  than 
the  faces  of  the  three  others. 

Length,  A^  inches. 

Hab.  The  sea  between  Australia  and  New  Zealand. 

Myctophum  coruscans.     Richardson. 

Ch.  spec.  Myct.  valde  compressum  ;  longitudine  capitis 
altiliidineque.  corporis  <equalibus  quartam  partem  longi- 
tudiuis  ad  inilium  pinncB  caiid<B  (Bqiiantibus ;  ocnlo 
modico  super  medium  rictum  oris  grandiuscidum  posito; 
apparatii  Iticido  fronlali  vix  iillo  vel  ad  regiones 
nariiim  restricio,  ibique  carina  ossed  mediand  diviso. 


Radii:  — D.  12;  A.  20;  C. 
Plate  XXVIL,  figs  1- 


17|;  P.  17;  V.  8. 
-5  inclusive. 


On  a  drawing  of  this  species,  by  Dr.  Hooker,  there  is  a 
note,  stating  that  it  was  taken,  at  intervals,  between  St. 
Helena  and  the  Island  of  Ascension,  in  the  evening,  or 
during  the  night ;  and  in  the  journal  of  the  same  observer, 
I  find  a  record  of  this,  and  Myctophntn  boops,  having  been 
taken  on  the  10th  of  August,  1841,  between  Australia  and 
New  Zealand,  in  the  night  time,  only  when  the  Entomos- 
traca  and  other  marine  Crustacea  on  which  they  feed 
come  most  abundantly  to  the  surface. 

The  Mediterranean  species  to  which  this  fish  bears  the 
nearest  resemblance,  is  the  Myctophum  puuctatum,  both 
in  general  form,  and  in  the  smallness  of  the  shining  frontal 
apparatus.  It  is  a  much  more  compressed  fish  than  the 
preceding,  particularly  posteriorly,  where  it  tapers  much 
into  the  very  slender  tail.  The  eye  is  a  little  removed 
from  the  profile,  and  is  placed  rather  before  the  middle  of 
the  cleft  of  the  mouth.  The  interorbital  space  is  convex, 
without  any  appearance  of  the  glandular  substance,  which 
seems  to  be  confined  to  the  immediate  border  of  each 
nostril.  An  elevated  acute  mesial  line  separates  one  nasal 
prominence  from  the  othei-.  The  preoperculum  slopes 
moderately  backwards.  The  ventrals  are  attached  at  the 
commencement  of  the  second  third  oi'  the  length  of  the 
fish,  caudal  excluded.  The  dorsal  commences  a  little 
behind  them  ;  and  the  upper  surface  of  the  tail,  behind  the 
adipose  fin,  is  covered  by  six  convex  scales,  without  the 
flat  surface  or  glandular  apparatus  of  the  preceding  spe- 
cies. The  posterior  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  divided 
to  the  base.  There  are  no  spines  at  the  base  of  the 
caudal,  nor  apparently  any  glandular  substance  on  the 
upper  edge  of  the  tail  between  the  adipose  and  caudal 
fins.  The  scales  are  undulated,  and  very  irregularly  and 
sparingly  toothed  on  the  free  edge,  and  have  about  three 
basal  furrows.  Those  which  compose  the  lateral  line,  being 
thirty-eight  in  number,  are  conspicuous,  from  their  different 
shape  {vide  figs.  3,  4,  5). 

The  spots  are  distributed  nearly  as  in  Myctophum  boops. 
There  are  eighteen  over  the  anal,  exclusive  of  the  two  at 
the  base  of  the  caudal. 

Only  a  single  row  of  minute  teeth  can  be  seen  on  the 


edge  of  the  jaws;  the  exterior  granular  or  short  villiform 
stripe,  if  it  exists,  being  invisible  to  the  eye,  aided  by  a 
good  lens.  The  teeth  on  the  chevron  of  the  vomer  and 
edges  of  the  palate  bones  are  more  distinct  than  those  on 
the  jaws,  and  form  a  broader  line,  as  if  there  were  two  or 
three  rows.  No  granular  patches  can  be  discovered  on  the 
disk  of  the  palate  bone. 

Length,  2|  inches. 

Hab.  The  Southern  Atlantic  and  Australian  Oceans. 


Myctophum  asperum.     Richardson, 

Cii.  Spec.  Mycl.  compressum,  caudd  gracili,  superne  post 
phniam  udiposam  plana  ;  rirtii  oris  grmidlusculo  pa- 
rum  ultra  ocuhiin  mo</nH)n  ^fisso  ;  apparatu  lucido 
e  narihus  in  medium  spatium  interocularein  extenso ; 
allitudine  corporis  quintam  partem  longitudinis  totius 
(squanti;  squamis  eroso-denticulatis. 

Radii:— D.  14;  A.  18;  C.  19|;  P.  16;  V.  8. 

Plate  XXVII.,  figs.  13,  14,  15. 

Profile  very  obtuse  in  front.  Shoulders  not  so  much 
compressed  as  those  of  Alyct.  coruscans ;  their  thickness 
is  about  half  their  height,  which  again  is  equal  to  about 
one-fifth  of  the  total  length.  The  length  of  the  head  is 
greater  than  the  height  of  the  body.  The  eye  is  large, 
and  is  more  than  its  own  diameter  removed  from  the  gill- 
opening,  being  near  the  profile  of  the  snout.  Its  diameter 
is  contained  two-and-a-half  times  in  the  length  of  the 
head.  The  large  gape  passes  a  little  beyond  the  eye,  and 
the  preoperculum  inclines  slightly  backwards. 

Minute  setaceous  teeth  form  an  even  row  on  the  margin 
of  both  jaws,  and  by  the  help  of  a  lens,  two  or  three  rows 
of  very  minute  acute  teeth  may  be  seen  on  the  conve.x 
surface,  exterior  to  the  principal  row.  The  same  micro- 
scopical teeth  are  seen,  but  much  less  distinctly,  on  the 
upper  jaw.  Several  rows  of  setaceous  teeth  are  visible  to 
the  naked  eye  on  the  chevron  of  the  vomer  and  edges  of 
the  palate  bones,  and  a  patch  of  granular  microscopical 
teeth  covers  the  convex  plate  of  the  palate  bones. 

The  shining  apparatus  reaches  from  the  middle  of  the 
orbits  forward  to  round  the  nostrils.  It  is  supported  by 
thin  plates  of  bone,  which  rise  from  the  os  frontis,  and  by 
others  which  form  cells  in  the  nasal  regions ;  there  is  also 
a  low  mesial  keel  between  the  nostrils. 

The  ventrals  are  attached  well  before  the  middle  of  the 
fish,  being  midway  between  the  snout  and  end  of  the  anal 
fin.     The  dorsal  commences  over  them. 

The  lateral  line  contains  thirty-seven  or  thirty-eight 
scales,  which  are  slightly  toothed  on  the  exterior  edge. 
The  other  scales  are  more  deeply  toothed,  the  teeth  being 
readily  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  and  rendering  the  fish 
rough  to  the  touch.     [Vide  figs.  14  and  15). 

The  opal  or  pearly  dots  are  distributed  as  in  the  two 
species  already  mentioned,  except  that  there  are  only  four- 
teen above  the  anal  fin,  exclusive  of  the  usual  two  on  the 
lower  base  of  the  caudal  fin. 

Length,  If  inch. 

Hab.  >. 


Myctophum  hians.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  Myct.  ore  laxissimo ;  pinnd  dorsi  post  ven- 
trales  incipienti ;  pinnd  ani  longd ;  allitudine  corporis 
quintam  partem  longitudinis  totius  aquanti ;  caudd 
gracillimd,  elongatd. 

Radii.  — D.  14;  A.  22;  C.  22;  P.  15;  V.  8. 

Plate  XXVJI.,  figs.  19,  20,  21. 

This  species  has  a  gape  as  wide  as  Lampanyclus,  and 
the  dorsal  placed  farther  back  than  is  usual  in  Myctophum, 
with  a  longer  anal.  It  possesses  the  common  clavate  out- 
line, with  an  obtuse  forehead,  and  very  slender  tail.  The 
height  of  the  body  equals  one-fifth  of  the  total  length, 
caudal  included.  The  short  dorsal  stands  between  the 
ventrals  and  anal,  and  the  top  of  the  tail,  behind  the 
minute  adipose  fin,  is  flattish,  and  exhibits  a  row  of  bright 
specks  laterally,  corresponding  to  the  number  of  the  scales 
that  cover  it.     The  anal  fin  is  proportionally  long. 

One  half  of  the  gape  is  behind  the  eye,  and  the  preoper- 
culum has  a  corresponding  inclination  backwards.  The 
maxillaries  are  very  slender,  with  merely  a  slight  oval 
dilatation  at  their  ends.  Teeth  on  the  jaws  subulate, 
slender,  and  acute;  three  rows  on  the  lower  jaw,  and  two 
on  the  intermaxillaries.  There  is  not  much  difference  in 
their  height,  but  the  row  which  is  on  the  edge  of  the  jaw 
appears  taller  when  held  up  to  the  light.  There  is  a  single 
row  on  the  edge  of  the  palate  bones,  like  those  of  the  jaw, 
and  two  or  three  irregular  rows  of  granular  teeth  at  its 
base.  None  were  discovered  on  the  chevron  of  the 
vomer. 

The  scales  of  the  lateral  line  are  narrower,  higher,  and 
more  numerous  than  in  the  other  species,  being  forty-one, 
and  there  is  only  one  complete  row  above  them,  while  in 
the  preceding  Myctophi  there  are  two.  The  rest  of  the 
scales  are  roundish,  with  the  base  less  curved,  and  crossed 
by  four  or  five  furrows.     (Fig.  20,  21.) 

I  am  unable  to  describe  the  shining  apparatus  on  the 
forehead,  the  jaws  having  come  away  while  the  specimen 
was  in  the  artist's  hands,  before  I  had  properly  examined 
them.  There  seemed  to  be,  however,  a  small  mesial  crest 
between  the  eyes,  and  anotlier  between  the  nostrils ;  and 
it  is  probable  that  the  glandular  matter  was  deposited  on 
each  side  of  them.  The  top  of  the  tail  between  the  adi- 
pose fin  and  caudal  is  flat,  and  is  covered  with  a  nacry 
matter. 

There  are  nineteen  bright  opal  dots  over  the  anal,  two, 
as  usual,  on  the  lower  base  of  the  caudal,  and  the  others 
which  we  observe  in  the  rest  of  the  Oceanic  Myctophi. 
Length,  two  inches. 

I  examined  the  intestines  of  one  of  the  small  specimens, 
but  it  was  too  much  decayed  for  me  to  ascertain  the  spe- 
cies. The  gullet  is  narrow,  below  which  a  wider  cyhn- 
drical  tube  descends,  to  unite  with  an  ascending  pyloric 
branch  of  equal  size.  More  than  half  the  length  of  the 
stomach  lies  beneath  their  junction,  in  form  of  a  conical 
sac,  which  was  very  dark-coloured,  from  its  contents. 
The  gut,  on  the  contrary,  is  thin,  delicate,  transparent, 
and  slightly  puckered,  but  not  convoluted.  There  are 
about  six  pyloric   caeca,  of  unequal  lengths.      The  air- 

G 


42 


bladder  had  broken  down,  and  appeared  to  be  small  and 
nacry.  The  vertebrae  of  this  species  are  thirty-nine  in 
number. 

Hab.  This  Myctophum  was  put  up  along  with  the 
others,  and  was  most  likely  taken  in  the  same  parts  of 
the  Ocean. 


Lampanyctus  eesplendens.     Richardson. 

Ch.  spec.  L.  pinna  pectorali  longd ;  pinndque  dorsi 
magna  ;  ossibus  preorbitalibus,  niandihularibusque 
lineis  scabris  percursis. 

Radii:— B.  6  vel  8  ;    D.  23—0;    A.  18;    C.  17|  +  | 
spines  ;  P.  13  ;  V.  8. 

Plate  XXVII,,  figs.  16,  17,18. 

The  Prince  of  Musignano  separated  this  genus  from 
Myctophum,  on  account  of  the  greater  length  of  the  pec- 
torals, and  the  somewhat  pike-like  depressed  snout,  giving 
the  fish  altogether  a  diff'erent  physiognomy.  The  species 
that  we  have  to  describe  differs  considerably  from  the 
Myctophi  in  the  profile  of  the  head,  and  in  the  size  of 
the  dorsal,  but  the  pectorals  are  more  like  those  of  that 
genus  than  of  Lampamjcius  bonapartii. 

Form  more  spindle-like,  and  less  clavate,  than  that  of 
IMyctoplmm.  Height  of  body  contained  five  or  six  times 
in  the  total  length,  while  the  length  of  the  head  is  con- 
tained only  four  times.  The  thickness  of  the  body  for- 
wards, and  the  height  of  the  tail  behind  the  adipose  fin, 
are  each  about  equal  to  half  the  height  of  the  shoulder. 
The  profile  slopes  with  a  slight  convexity  up  to  the  dorsal 
line,  which  is  very  moderately  arched ;  and  the  belly  is 
still  more  flat. 

The  rather  large  eye  is  placed  well  forwards  near  the 
snout,  and  the  preo])erculum,  consequently,  has  a  large 
backward  slope.  The  hinder  edge  of  the  preoperculum 
is  parallel  to  the  preoperculum,  but  has  a  wide,  shallow 
concavity  ;  while  the  suboperculum,  which  forms,  as  usual, 
the  apex  of  the  gill-cover,  slopes  in  the  opposite  direction, 
giving  to  the  entire  flap  a  very  difterent  form  to  the  nearly 
vertical  convex  edge  which  it  exhibits  in  the  Myctophi. 

The  nostrils  are  rather  peculiar,  one  orifice  being  a  short 
vertical  slit,  separated  from  the  orbit  by  a  thin,  vertical, 
cartilaginous  crest  or  valve.  The  other  orifice  is  a  round 
opening,  with  slightly  elevated  edges,  and  lies  conti- 
guously and  on  the  inside  of  the  other.  An  obtuse  me- 
sial ridge  separates  the  pairs  of  nostrils,  and  behind  the 
ridge,  between  the  eyes,  there  is  a  small  shallow  depres- 
sion. The  skin  lining  it  is  entire  and  granular,  but  whe- 
ther any  of  the  glandular  substance  seen  on  the  foreheads 
of  the  Myctophi  was  deposited  in  this  spot,  cannot  be 
made  out  from  the  specimens,  which  have  been  long  in 
spirits.  The  top  of  the  head  is  scaly  up  to  this  depression, 
which  does  not  go  farther  back  than  the  anterior  third  of 
the  orbit. 

The  circumference  of  the  nostrils  is  rough,  and  the 
suborbitar  bones  and  lower  jaw  are  crossed  by  parallel 
rough  lines.  The  cheeks  and  gill-plates  are  covered  by  a 
few  large  oblique  scales,  which  are  very  deciduous,  and  as 


the  specimens  were  all  more  or  less  injured,  their  exact 
number  and  disposition  could  not  be  ascertained.  They 
are  represented  in  fig.  16,  as  well  as  they  could  be  made 
out  from  the  inspection  of  six  examples.  The  preorbitar 
and  fore  part  of  the  operculum  and  suboperculum  are  mi- 
nutely grooved. 

The  large  dorsal  extends  from  before  the  ventrals  to  past 
the  middle  of  the  anal.  The  adipose  fin  is  small.  The 
tail  is  armed  on  its  upper  edge,  close  to  the  base  of  the 
caudal,  by  seven  short  spines,  and  below  by  nine,  which 
are  distinctly  visible  to  the  naked  eye.  All  the  fins  have 
been  more  or  less  injured  on  the  tips,  but  the  figure  is 
completed  from  the  aggregate  of  the  specimens.  The  nar- 
row scaly  gill-membranes  fringe  the  limbs  of  the  lower 
jaw,  and  are  supported  by  six  (or  perhaps  eight)  gill- 
rays.* 

An  even  band  of  very  short  villiform  teeth  arms  both 
jaws,  exterior  to  the  acute  edge.  The  row  which  crowns 
the  edge  is  not  actually  taller  than  the  others,  but  appears 
so  from  its  position.  A  similar  band  arms  the  edge  of 
each  palate  bone,  and  there  is  a  large  oval  patch  of  very 
minute  granular  teeth,  nearly  covering  the  convex  disk  of 
that  bone.  There  are  no  teeth  on  the  chevron  of  the 
vomer.  The  gills  come  forward  within  the  limbs  of  the 
jaw,  close  to  the  chin,  leaving  no  tongue,  except  the 
very  narrow  union  of  their  arches.  A  prominent  mesial 
ridge,  armed  with  minute  teeth,  separates  these  arches 
below,  and  it  is  flanked  on  each  side  by  slender  rough 
rakers,  whose  tips  project  into  the  cavity  of  the  mouth. 
The  upper  pharyngeals  make  two  distinct  prominent 
cushions  on  each  side,  bristling  with  minute,  acute  teeth. 
The  lower  pharyngeals  are  armed  with  still  finer  teeth. 

There  are  thirty-seven  scales  on  the  lateral  line,  all  of 
them  fissured  or  notched  in  the  middle  of  their  free  edge, 
and  furnished  with  a  wide  tube  towards  their  base.  The 
other  scales  are  suborbicular,  and  have  five  or  six  fan-like 
furrows  on  the  base,  with  a  few  faint  lines  radiating  from 
the  centre,  across  the  rest  of  their  disk. 

The  pearly  dots  are  distributed  nearly  as  in  the  Mycto- 
phi, there  being  fourteen  of  them  over  the  anal.  There 
is,  besides,  a  row  of  oblique,  orange-coloured  or  shining 
specks,  running  backwards  from  the  supra-scapulars  over 
the  shoulders.  The  row  is  interrupted,  and  recommences 
higher  up,  beneath  the  fourth  or  fifth  dorsal  rays,  and  is 
continued  to  the  end  of  that  fin.  There  are  similar  specks 
on  the  small  rays  at  the  base  of  the  caudal,  above  and 
below,  and  the  flat  upper  surface  of  the  tail,  behind  the 
adipose  fin,  is  covered  with  the  same  yellowish  matter. 
There  are  also  a  few  specks  of  it  on  the  flanks.  These 
pale  or  yellowish  specks  are  very  distinct  from  the  opal 
dots,  and  are  more  superficial. 

The  stomach  of  this  fish  is  a  pretty  large  cylindrical 
sac,  with  an  obtusely  conical  apex,  and  a  short,  ascending, 
pyloric  branch  springing  from  near  its  middle.  The  gullet 
is  more  contracted.  The  pyloric  creca  lie  in  two  clusters, 
one  of  four,  and  the  other  of  three,  unequal  in  length, 
the  longest  exceeding  that  of  the  pyloric  fork  of  the  sto- 
mach.   The  stomach  is  black,  like  the  inside  of  the  mouth, 

*  I  could  only  obsene  six,  but  it  may  be  that  one  or  two  escaped  ray 
search. 


43 


Ihe  gut  is  white,  thin,  and  delicate,  a  little  flexuosc,  but 
not  convoluted,  and  it  is  twice  the  length  of  the  stomach. 

Length,  four  inches. 

IIab.  The  exact  localities  where  this  fish  was  taken  are 
unknown  ;  but  it  is  supposed  to  be,  like  the  Myctophi,  an 
inhabitant  generally  of  the  warmer  parts  of  both  oceans. 

Hemiscyllium  trispeculaue.     Richardson. 

Plate  XXVIII. 

Hemiscyllium  trispeculare,  Richardsou,  Icones  Piscium.  Lond.  1843, 
p.  5,  Plale  I.,  fig.  3. 

This  species  was  first  made  known  in  the  work  above 
quoted,  wherein  a  coloured  figure  is  given  from  a  drawing 
by  Lieutenant  Emery,  of  Her  Majesty's  ship  Beagle,  of  a 
specimen  taken  at  Turtle  Island,  on  the  north-west  coast 
of  Australia.  A  specimen,  in  perfect  condition,  obtained 
by  Benjamin  Bynoe,  Esq.,  Surgeon  of  the  Royal  Navy, 
on  the  same  coast,  has  entirely  removed  the  doubts  I  en- 
tertained of  this  fish  being  a  variety  of  the  previously 
known  species  Hemiscyllium  ocellatum.  In  general  form 
the  two  differ  little  ;  but  in  trispeculare  the  pectoral, 
dorsal  and  anal  are  somewhat  more  distant  from  the  tip  of 
the  snout,  and  more  definite  discrepances  exist  in  the  shape 
of  the  scales,  and  the  form  and  distribution  of  the  spots 
on  the  body. 

H.  trispeculare  has  an  obtuse  snout,  from  whence  the 
profile  rises  in  a  convex  cun'e,  to  blend  with  the  dorsal 
line  opposite  to  the  pectorals.  It  then  descends  a  little 
to  the  first  dorsal,  and  runs  straight  from  thence  to  the 
caudal  fin,  whose  upper  border  is  slightly  arched.  The 
ventral  line  is  more  nearly  straight,  the  belly  being  only 
moderately  prominent.  Between  the  pectorals  and  ven- 
trals,  where  the  body  is  thickest,  the  vertical  and  trans- 
verse diameters  are  equal,  and  measure  two  inches  in  our 
specimen.  The  belly  is  wider  and  flatter  than  the  back, 
and  the  fish  tapers  gi'adnally  to  the  beginning  of  the  anal 
fin,  at  which  place  the  height  has  diminished  to  one-third. 
Behind  the  second  dorsal,  the  compression  of  the  tail  be- 
comes evident,  and  goes  on  increasing  to  the  tip. 

On  its  upper  surface  the  head  is  flatly  rounded  trans- 
versely, varied  by  a  slight  prominence  of  the  eyebrows. 
From  above  the  pectorals,  to  the  first  dorsal,  the  muscles, 
swelling  on  the  top  of  the  back,  produce  a  mesial  furrow, 
which  is  replaced  by  a  low,  rounded  ridge  between  the 
dorsals,  the  narrower  top  of  the  back  there  being  flatfish. 
The  same  form  extends  for  a  space  behind  the  second 
dorsal,  but  in  the  increased  compression  of  the  tail,  at  the 
origin  of  the  caudal  fin,  the  flatness  above  is  wholly  lost, 
and  the  blunt  upper  edge  of  the  fin  appears  as  a  continua- 
tion merely  of  the  mesial  ridge.  The  tip  of  the  caudal  is 
rounded,  with  a  minute  notch  at  the  point  of  the  spine, 
dividing  it  into  two  lobes,  the  lower  of  which  is  largest. 
In  our  specimen  of  ocellatum,  this  small  notch  is  wanting. 
The  belly  is  flattish  below,  and  the  swelling  of  the  side 
muscles  between  the  claspers  and  anal  forms  a  mesial 
furrow. 

The  spiracles,  which  are  curved  and  rather  oblique,  have 
the  same  relative  position  as  in  ocellatuui ,  and  the  folds 
about  the  nostrils  and  mouth  are  also  essentially  the  same 


as  in  that  species.  The  inner  nasal  flap  ends  squarely  on 
the  edge  of  the  mouth,  and  is  flanked  exteriorly  by  a 
thickish,  tapering  barbel,  which  originates  at  the  anterior 
end  of  the  nasal  furrow.  A  middle  .space  separates  the 
nasal  flap  of  one  nostril  from  that  of  the  other,  and  the 
outer  border  of  each  nostril  swells  into  a  thick  roll,  which 
also  reaches  the  orifice  of  the  mouth,  and  is  there  sepa- 
rated by  a  deep  scalcless  fissure  from  the  large  rolls  at  the 
corner  of  the  mouth,  or,  as  they  may  be  considered,  the  late- 
ral lips.  At  first  sight,  the  lower  lip  seems  to  consist  of  three 
lobes,  and  the  side  lobes  have  actually  free  edges,  and  are 
bounded  by  scaleless  membranous  fissures,  but  the  middle 
lobe  is  merely  a  pouting  of  the  part  continuous  with  the 
scaly  integument  of  the  throat.  The  surfaces  of  all  the 
flaps  or  lips  which  have  been  mentioned  are  scaly,  but  the 
fissures  are  smooth  and  membranous,  and  when  the  outer 
lobes  of  the  lower  lip  are  raised,  they  seem  to  be  retained 
by  a  membranous  bridle. 

The  teeth  are  three-lobed,  all  the  lobes  being  obtuse  in 
such  teeth  as  have  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  jaw,  but 
the  posterior  and  newer  ones  have  the  middle  or  hinder 
lobe  more  elongated  and  pointed.  In  the  upper  jaw,  be- 
hind the  dental  plates,  there  is  a  thickish,  plaited  velum, 
having  a  shaggy  surface.  In  the  lower  jaw,  a  central 
bridle  runs  to  the  tip  of  the  tongue,  dividing,  in  its  course, 
two  concentric  folds  of  membrane,  looking  like  two  rela, 
and,  when  the  tongue  is  raised,  forming  two  cells  on  each 
side  of  the  bridle. 

The  last  three  gill-openings  are  over  the  pectoral,  and 
the  last  two  are  nearer  to  one  another  than  any  other  pair, 
contrary  to  a  remark  of  Miiller  and  Henle,  that  in  this 
genus  the  last  two  openings  are  not  approximated.  We 
observe  the  same  thing  in  our  specimen  of  ocellatum. 

The  skin  has  a  peculiarly  neat,  smooth,  shining,  though 
granular  aspect,  and  feels  rough  only  when  the  finger  is 
drawn  towards  the  head.  Figure  7  represents  a  scale  of 
trispeculare,  and  figure  8,  one  of  ocellatum,  showing  their 
difl"erence  of  form. 

Although  there  is  a  general  resemblance  in  the  bands 
and  distribution  of  the  black  patches  on  the  fins  of  the 
two  species,  the  markings  on  the  body  differ  very  greatly. 
In  trispeculare,  the  spots,  having  a  dark  and  rich  brown 
colour,  are  in  clusters  of  three  or  four,  united  into  a  larger 
spot  by  a  lighter  brown  tint ;  while  in  ocellatum  they  are 
single,  fewer,  and  more  scattered.  The  black  spot  with 
a  pale  border,  behind  the  gill-opening,  is  oblong  in  ocel- 
latum ;  but  in  trispeculare  it  is  perfectly  round,  and  two 
of  the  compound  spots  behind  it  being  much  darker  than 
the  rest,  form,  as  it  were,  two  additional  ocelli,  but  not  so 
perfect  as  the  principal  one.  Much  smaller  spots  thickly 
cover  the  top  and  sides  of  the  head  of  trispeculare,  and 
the  ground-colour  of  the  fish  is  represented  in  Lieutenant 
Emery's  drawing  as  yellow.  The  belly  is  spotless  in  both 
species.  As  the  figure  gives  the  form  and  distriburion  of 
the  spots  and  bands  with  much  accuracy,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  describe  them  at  gi-cater  length. 

On  opening  the  belly,  the  liver  is  seen  hiding  the  intes- 
tines. A  deep  cleft  divides  it  into  two  lobes,  the  right  one, 
ending  in  an  acute  lanceolate  tip,  being  the  longest.  The 
left  lobe  is  broader,  and  from  beneath  its  obliquely  trun- 
cated end,  the  fundus  of  the  stomach  appears,  having  the 

G  2 


44 


spleen,  shaped  like  the  head  of  an  arrow,  attached  to  its 
beud.  These  parts  are  represented  in  the  first  woodcut, 
a  little  separated,  that  their  form  may  be  better  seen.  On 
removing  the  liver,  the  intestines  come  into  view,  as  in  the 
second  cut.  A  thick,  dark  purple,  muscular  oesophagus 
opens  into  a  wide,  white,  ovate  stomach,  with  a  narrow  gut 
passing  from  the  right  of  its  fundus,  making  a  short  sig- 
moid flexure,  and  entering  a  wide  colon,  which  is  traversed 
by  a  spiral  valve.  An  ample  rectum  completes  the  canal, 
and  is  shown  in  the  cut,  suspended  by  a  portion  of  the 
mesentery,  with  a  gland  close  to  it.  The  testes  are  drawn 
to  the  right,  that  they  may  be  seen,  and  above  them  there 
is  a  glandular  body,  composed  of  large  compressed  acini, 
which  separate  from  each  other  when  the  containing  cap- 
sule is  ruptured.  The  cuts  show  the  viscera  of  their 
proper  size,  and  we  have  used  the  terms  right  and  left  in 
reference  to  their  natural  position  in  the  fish,  with  its  belly 
downwards. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  the  end  of  the  suout  to  the  tip  of  the  tail  ...  22-50  inches. 

„                                    „                 first  dorsal     8-25  „ 

„                                 „                anus  6-88  „ 

,.                                 „                ventrals     6-40  „ 

n                                „                last  gill-opening..  3'50  „ 

„                                 „                first  ditto  2-50  „ 

1.                                   „                 pectorals    2-73  „ 

)t                                   „                 spiracles    1-50  „ 

eye     1-35  „ 

I)                                   „                 mouth    038  „ 

Distance  between  the  anus  and  tail  fin 11-35  „ 

Length  of  claspers  along  their  interior  edges  270  „ 

„         tail  fin,  two  under  lobes   3-80 


AcANTHiAS.     Miiller  and  Henle. 

Plate  XXVIII.,  fig.  -5. 

This  figure  is  copied  from  a  drawing  of  a  foetal  shark  by 
Dr.  Hooker,  executed  on  the  Australian  coast.  Miiller 
and  Henle  state  that  the  Acanthias  vulgaris  is  an  inha- 
bitant of  the  southern  seas,  and  that  the  young  are  spotted 
with  white.  They  say  nothing,  however,  of  the  black 
patches  on  the  fins,  and  we  have,  therefore,  introduced  the 
figure,  that  it  may  be  compared  with  equally  young  exam- 
ples of  that  species. 

Rynch.\na  greyi.     Richardson. 

Species  nnica  adhuc  detecta. 

Radii:  — Br.  3;  D.  3|11  ;  A.  21?;  C.  19| ;  P.  11;  V.  9. 
Plate  XXIX.,  figs.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6. 

We  owe  this  remarkable  Cyprinoid  to  His  Excellency 
Captain  George  Grey,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  West  Aus- 
tralia, whose  exertions  in  the  cause  of  Zoology  have  been 
productive  of  several  important  discoveries.  One  Cypri- 
noid [Ptycholepis)  had  been  previously  detected  at  the 
northern  extremity  of  Australia,  and  the  existence  of 
another  in  the  south-western  corner  of  that  land,  now  as- 
certained, is  an  important  fact  in  the  history  of  the  geo- 
graphical distribution  of  fish.  Further  researches  will 
probably  show,  that  the  absence,  or  even  rarity  of  mem- 


45 


bers  of  this  family  in  that  district  of  the  world,  has  been 
erroneously  asserted ;  and  when  one  reflects  that  the  Cy- 
prinidie  are  numerous  in  Java,  and  the  adjoining  chain  of 
islands,  a  reasonable  hope  is  naturally  excited,  of  the 
existence  of  similar  species  on  the  opposite,  and  not  far 
distant  north-western  coasts  of  Australia.  A  family  which 
is  almost  wholly  located  in  fresh  waters,  cannot  be  very 
abundant  in  the  small  islands  of  Polynesia ;  but  the  ma- 
rine species  above  alluded  to  traverses  Torres  Straits  to 
the  island  of  Tanna.  The  rivers  of  the  southern  parts  of 
Australia,  being  more  like  morasses,  or  strings  of  ponds  of 
impure  water,  than  healthy  streams,  are  unsuitable  for  the 
nourishment  of  many  kinds  of  fish  ;  but  within  the  tro- 
jncs,  where  periodical  and  abundant  rains  fall,  the  rivers, 
whether  small  or  large,  are  likely  to  be  of  a  very  different 
character,  and  to  nourish  many  kinds  of  fish.  Ichthyology 
has  hitherto  been  considered  as  so  secondary  an  object, 
that  few  or  none  of  our  surveying  officers  have  pursued 
the  search  for  fish  with  proper  nets,  and  in  a  suitable 
manner ;  yet,  in  a  new  colony  especially,  a  knowledge  of 
the  neighbouring  fishing-banks  is  of  the  first  importance, 
and  may  be  turned  to  good  account. 

Sir  James  Ross's  success  in  the  discovery  of  novel  and 
interesting  forms  offish,  may  be  attributed  to  the  constant 
employment  of  a  towing  net,  and  to  his  use  of  a  dredge 
whenever  practicable.  The  stomachs  of  seals  and  sea- 
birds  were  explored  with  success  by  him  and  Dr.  Hooker. 

The  Cypriuoid  we  have  at  present  to  describe,  is  quite 
a  new  form,  and  when  the  figures  in  Plate  29  were  drawn, 
our  only  materials  were  two  dried  specimens  from  West 
Australia  ;  but  within  a  few  days  we  have  had,  through  the 
kindness  of  Professor  Owen,  an  opportunity  of  inspecting 
a  specimen,  very  perfectly  preserved  in  spirits,  sent  from 
New  Zealand  by  Captain  Sir  Everard  Home,  of  the  North 
Star.  We  are  thereby  enabled  to  give  some  anatomical 
particulars,  and  to  amend  the  description  of  the  lips,  which 
is  not  quite  correctly  given  in  fig.  .3,  owing  to  the  contrac- 
tion of  the  parts  in  drying.  This  is  remedied  by  the  intro- 
duction nt   I  wo  il  tut  (  \liiliiting the  mouth,  when  closed.* 


e 


^^""f^ 


The  stninadi  cniitained  some  blackish  matter,  mixed 
with  grains  of  sand,  and  between  the  gills  were  fragments 
of  a  turbinated  shell,  old  and  worn,  which  had  been  long 
dead  and  evidently  taken  into  the  mouth  along  with  the 
matters  on  which  the  fish  preyed.  The  fragments  were 
much  too  large  to  pass  the  oesophagus.  Tins  seems  to  be 
evidence  of  the  fish  finding  its  food  among  the  sand  or 
mud  of  the  bottom,  as  indeed  its  form  and  position,  so 
similar  to  the  mouths  of  the  sturgeons,  would  lead  us 
naturally  to  infer. 

*  Even  this  cut  does  not  exhibit  the  rostral  barbel  and  the  labial 
papillee  so  clearly  as  I  could  have  wished. 


The  following  is  a  summary  of  its  most  remarkable 
external  characters. 

Rynchana,  i.  p.  ^i^vxava,  vasuia. 

Forma  elotigala,  inter  C'yprinidas  lovf/issima. 

Caput  cotiinini  i)hi(/iie  jira'tcr  iit1>ia  .siiiuniiosiin). 

Rostrum  vlha  osrii/in/i  iiroduci inn,  co/iirin/i,  nriilum,  infrit 
cirrho  parvido,  wediaiio,  so/ihirio  .sitp/x'dilii/uni. 

Osculum  in/eruin,  ad  suyeiidum  apt  ion,  riclii  palulo  semi- 
rotmido.  Labia  trnnsrcrsini  .sulcata  papulosa  ciliata. 
Lahiinn  siiperiiin  ad  angulum  oris  lobulatuni .  Labium 
infer  inn  tri-lohiilatinn. 

Dentes  pharyngei,  hreres,  gracilenti,  cylitidrici,  iruncati, 
siihpavimentnti. 

Radii  branchiostegi  Ires.  Membrana  branchiostega  cum 
ijiilo  coalescens  et  aperturam  solummodo  verticalem 
iimitans. 

Pinna  dorsi  brevis,  ventrales  valde  reiropositas  oppo- 
nens  :  spinis  validis  nullis.  Pinna  ani  in  medio  inter 
pinnas  dorsi  caudmqne  posita.  Pinna  omnes  inter 
radios  squamosa.  Appendices  long<B  acuminata  squa- 
mosa supra  pinnas  pectorales  et  ventrales  protenste. 

Squamae  parva  lalide  ciliata. 

Linea  lateralis  recta,  dorso  parallela. 

Caeca  pylorica  circiier  quinque.  Vesica  pneuniatica 
nulla  Y 

Form  linear,  sub-quadrilateral,  with  the  corners  much 
rounded,  the  tail  behind  the  dorsal  tapering,  and  at  the 
same  time  becoming  compressed,  and  quite  thin  at  the 
origin  of  the  caudal.  At  the  base  of  this  fin,  above  and 
below,  there  is  a  short  acute  keel.  The  height  anteriorly 
and  the  thickness  are  equal  to  one  another,  and  to  one- 
twelfth  part  of  the  whole  length. 

The  head  forms  a  seventh  of  the  length,  is  conical, 
much  rounded  above  and  flattish  beneath,  and  on  the  gill- 
plates.  It  tapers  gradually  to  the  tip  of  the  acute  snout. 
The  eye,  oval  and  rather  large,  is  situated  midway  beween 
the  tip  of  the  snout  and  the  gill-opening,  and  its  axis 
equals  a  fourth  of  the  length  of  the  head.  It  encroaches 
on  the  profile,  and  the  space  between  the  orbits  exceeds 
the  vertical  diameter  of  the  eye.  Before  the  eye,  and  at  a 
greater  distance  from  it  than  from  the  tip  of  the  snout,  are 
the  two  small  and  quite  contiguous  openings  of  the  nos- 
tril, on  each  side.  A  small  barbel  depends  from  the 
middle  line  of  the  snout  beneath,  before  the  nostrils. 

Midway  between  the  eye  and  rip  of  the  snout  is  the 
mouth,  enrirely  on  the  under  surface  of  the  head,  and 
opening  downwards.  Its  small  orifice,  when  fully  ex- 
tended, is  semi-oval,  approaching  to  a  semicircle,  the  upper 
lip  being  vaulted  and  the  lower  one  transverse.  The  lips 
are  thick,  and  softly  granular,  or  papillose,  and  are  ciliated. 
On  the  upper  lip  the  soft  grains  are  in  rows,  and  the 
cirrhi  are  merely  the  papilla3  in  an  elongated,  tapering 
form,  being  longest  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  where  the 
lip  ends  in  a  loose  lobe,  or  lappet.  Except  at  this  place, 
the  cirrhi  of  the  upper  lip  arc  on  its  interior  edge,  and 
somewhat  resemble  a  row  of  teeth,  as  in  the  genus  Nandina 
of  Gray,  {Cirrhinus,  McLellan  ;  Rohita,  Valenciennes). 
On  the  lower  lip,  the  cirrhi  are  a  minute  fringe  to  its 


46 


posterior  or  outer  edge,  and  form  three  small  tapering 
lobes,  of  which  the  middle  one  is  the  smallest.  The  gra- 
nulations of  the  surface  of  this  lip  extend  inwards  to  the 
cavity  of  the  mouth,  without  any  defined  edge  of  tennina- 
tiou.  Figure  3,  Plate  29,  shows  the  orifice  of  the  mouth 
too  round,  the  lobes  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth  too  small, 
and  without  fringes,  and  the  lower  lip  also  incorrect  in  out- 
line. The  wood-cut  is  introduced  to  remedy  these  defects, 
and  exhibits  the  mouth  nearly  closed.  The  mouth  opens 
simply  by  the  depression  of  the  lower  jaw,  bringing  forward 
the  lowerend  of  the  maxillaries.  The  intermaxillaries,being 
slender,  straight  bones,  without  pedicles,  are  incapable  of 
protraction.  Their  length  corresponds  to  the  breadth  of  the 
lip,  which  they  cross  with  some  obliquity,  and  they  are 
articulated  to  a  small  bony  tubercle,  posterior  to  the  nasal 
barbel.  The  maxillary  descends  from  near  the  tip  of  the 
snout,  concealed  by  the  integuments,  to  the  articulation  of 
the  intermaxillary,  and  there  makes  a  bend,  when  its  slen- 
der limb  becomes  visible,  and  gradually  widens  into  a  flat, 
yet  nanow  disk,  which  reaches  the  corner  of  the  mouth. 
Between  the  rostral  barbel  and  the  middle  of  the  upper  lip 
there  is  a  a  smooth  mesial  furrow,  and  on  each  side  of  it, 
inclining  towards  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  a  short, 
rounded,  scaly  ridge.  A  deep  fold  runs  back  from  the 
snout  along  the  under  edge  of  the  preorbitar  and  cheek, 
to  the  articulation  of  the  lower  jaw,  under  the  middle  of 
the  orbit.  This  fold  entirely  covers  the  retracted  maxil- 
lary. It  is  scaly,  as  are  all  the  parts  on  the  head,  except 
the  lips  and  the  angles  of  the  mouth  and  lower  jaw,  which 
fold  inwards  when  the  orifice  is  shut.  Within  the  upper 
lip  there  is  a  broad  thick  velum  ;  the  inside  of  the  mouth 
is  lined  with  purplish-black  smooth  membrane  ;  the  vomer 
shows  a  narrow,  smooth  surface,  running  to  the  end  of  the 
snout,  and  on  each  side  of  it  is  the  vaulted  palate-bone.  The 
basilar  bone  joins  the  vomer  evenly,  and  there  is  no  thick 
cushion  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  fauces,  such  as  may 
be  observed  in  the  Carps,  neither  does  the  gorget-shaped 
basilar  process  of  the  Catastomi  exist,  its  office  being  per- 
formed by  a  group  of  teeth  on  each  side  of  the  mesial 
line,  connected  to  the  basilar  bone  by  the  intervention  of 
soft  parts.  These  teeth  aie  short,  cylindrical,  and  trun- 
cated or  worn  on  the  tips,  nineteen  in  each  group  above, 
and  twenty-four  in  the  single  mesial  cluster  below.  Four 
branchial  arches  lie  entirely  behind  these  teeth,  remote 
from  the  orifice  of  the  mouth,  and  furaished  with  long, 
slenderly  subulate,  interior  rakers. 

The  three  gill-rays  are  inserted  contiguously  into  the 
extremity  of  the  os  hyoides,  the  upper  one,  which  lies  be- 
neath the  suboperculum,  being  much  broader  than  the 
other  two,  particularly  towards  its  end.  The  gill-mem- 
brane is  scaly,  with  smooth,  longitudinal  lines  on  the 
throat  where  it  folds,  and,  in  fact,  the  whole  head  is  densely 
scaly,  except  the  few  smooth  parts  that  have  been  men- 
tioned. The  hinder  edge  of  the  operculum  is  curved  in 
the  segment  of  a  circle,  but  a  small  scaly  flap  attached  to 
the  round  of  the  suboperculum  renders  the  opening  verti- 
cal, the  gill-membrane  being  blended  with  the  throat  un- 
derneath. In  the  dried  specimen,  the  preopercuhnn  shows 
a  horizontal  under  limb,  considerably  longer  than  the  ver- 
tical one,  which  it  meets  at  a  right  angle.  The  inner  edge 
of  the  disk  is  more  prominent  than  the  outer  one,  and  lies 


in  the  same  horizontal  line  with  the  lower  edge  of  the  pre- 
orbitar. The  corner  of  the  bone  is  shortly  rounded.  In 
the  recent  fish  the  scaly  integument  entirely  conceals  the 
bones. 

The  pectorals,  about  equal  to  the  head  in  length,  are 
attached  beneath  the  middle  height,  close  to  the  gill- 
opening,  and  are  oblique  on  the  margin,  their  lower  rays 
becoming  gradually  shorter.  All  the  rays,  eleven  in  num- 
ber, are  much  branched,  except  the  uppermost  and  lower- 
most, which  are  nearly  simple,  but  jointed  like  the  rest, 
and  they  are  all  scaly  for  more  than  half  their  length. 
Above  the  fin  there  is  a  long,  triangular,  tapering,  acute, 
scaly  appendage.  There  is  no  free  appendage  beneath 
the  fin,  but  the  lower  ray  is  edged  by  a  slip  of  scaly  inte- 
gument. The  truncated  ventrals,  containing  nine  rays, 
the  last  one  deeply  divided,  are  placed  fully  one-half  of 
the  entire  length  of  the  fish  behind  the  attachment  of  the 
pectorals.  They  are  scaly  to  an  equal  extent  with  these 
fins,  and  have  a  similar  appendage  above,  and  none  below. 
The  dorsal  is  opposite  to  the  ventrals,  and  contains  eleven 
jointed  rays,  which  decrease  in  length  from  the  second  one 
backwards.  The  first,  which  is  as  tall  as  the  second  one, 
is  the  only  unbranched  one;  and  incumbent  on  its  base 
there  are  three  very  short,  thin,  unjointed  rays.  This  fin 
is  covered  at  the  base  by  small  scales,  which  rise  from  the 
back  with  the  forward  movement  of  the  rays,  leaving  a 
smooth  line  underneath  posteriorly.  Minute  scales  also 
run  up  between  the  rays  beyond  the  middle  of  the  fin. 
The  anal,  placed  midway  between  the  caudal  and  dorsal, 
is  smaller  than  the  latter  fin,  but  of  similar  form,  and  con- 
tains seven  jointed  rays,  all  branched  but  the  first  one, 
before  the  base  of  which  there  are  two  tapering  rays,  with- 
out joints,  but  apparently  with  flexible  tips.  The  scales 
are  disposed  on  this  fin  in  the  same  way  as  on  the  dorsal. 
The  caudal  does  not  exceed  a  tenth  of  the  length  of  the 
fish,  is  nearly  even  at  the  end  when  fully  extended,  and  is 
composed  of  nineteen  rays,  with  thi'ee  short  ones  above 
and  below. 

The  scales  are  oblong,  with  nearly  parallel  sides,  a 
truncated  base,  and  the  free  end  curved  in  the  segment  of 
a  circle,  and  strongly  ciliated.  The  basal  part  is  marked 
by  fan-like  furrows,  which  radiate  from  a  point  considera- 
bly beyond  the  middle  of  the  scale.  When  in  s/lii,  a 
large  part  of  the  scale  is  covered,  the  circular  tip  only 
being  exposed.  There  are  about  178  scales  between  the 
gill-opening  and  caudal  fin,  and  twenty-eight  or  thirty  in 
a  vertical  line. 

The  upper  part  of  the  specimens  have  a  glaucous-grey 
hue,  the  lower  part  being  reddish,  and  the  two  tints  meet 
without  mixing  in  a  straight  line  below  the  middle.  The 
lateral  line  is  straight,  with  a  scarcely  perceptible  bend 
over  the  ventrals.  When  examined  with  a  lens,  the  unco- 
vered disk  of  a  scale  appears  to  be  lead  grey,  studded  with 
black  dots. 

There  are  large  black  patches  on  all  the  fins,  except 
the  anal,  in  which  the  posterior  coj-ner  merely  of  the  fin 
appears  to  have  been  darkish. 

The  intestinal  canal  descends  in  form  of  a  slender  tube 
for  an  inch  and  three  quarters  in  the  specimen  we  exa- 
mined, and  then  joins  an  oval  muscular  stomach  of  the 
size  of  a  kidney-bean,  close  to  its  fundus,  or  lower  end. 


47 


The  pylorus  is  at  the  eud  of  the  stomach,  next  the  head, 
and  the  gut  runs  from  thence  straight  to  the  anus,  slender, 
and  without  dilatations.  Five  caeca  are  clustered  round 
the  pylorus,  and  tied  down  to  that  end  of  the  stomach  by 
membrane.  They  are  unequal  in  length,  and  the  tip  of 
the  longest  passes  the  fundus  of  the  stomach  by  half  its 
length.  The  whole  intestinal  canal  is  blackish.  The  liver, 
on  the  contrary,  is  pale,  and  is  divided  transversely  on  the 
surface,  which  is  exposed,  when  the  belly  is  opened,  for 
two-thirds  of  its  thickness,  into  three  unequal  slices,  that 
lie  upon  each  other  like  the  leaves  of  a  book.  It  covers 
the  stomach  in  that  position,  but  not  the  tip  of  the  long 
caecum. 

DIMENSIONS 

OF    THE    SPECIMEN    IN    SPIRITS. 

Length  from  lip  of  snout  to  eud  of  caudal-fin  12-45  inches. 

„                        „            edge  of  gill-flap 2-22  „ 

„                         „             mouth 0'52  „ 

„                         „             eye  OSo  „ 

„                         „             vent 8!'2  „ 

„                         „             base  of  caudal   11-20  „ 

Thickness,  and  also  height  of  body 1-00  „ 

Height  of  tail    0.50  „ 

Distance  between  ventrals 0-25  „ 

Length  of  stomach    0-80  „ 

Width  of  ditto  0-40  „ 

The  other  specimens  are  a  few  inches  longer. 
Hab.  West  Australia  and  Port  Nicholson,  Cook's  Strait, 
New  Zealand. 

Emmelichthys  NiTiDUS.     Richardson. 

Radii:  — B.   7;    D.    13j  — 9  vel   10;    A.  SjlO;    C.   17| ; 
P.  19et  3;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  XXIX.,  figs.  7,  8. 

This  fish  is  also  a  discovery  of  Sir  George  Grey's,  in 
West  Australia.  I  feel  at  a  loss  as  to  the  genus,  or  even 
family,  to  which  it  properlj'  belongs  ;  and  the  specimens 
being  merely  dried  skins,  furnish  external  characters  only. 
Judging  from  these,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  it  has  the 
nearest  affinity  with  the  Mtenidce,  and  with  Ccesio  particu- 
larly ;  but  from  this  it  differs  in  having  seven  gill-rays,  a 
deeply  and  widely-notched  dorsal,  scaly  sheaths  to  the 
fins  of  a  different  character,  and  the  snout,  gill-pieces,  and 
maxillaries,  more  extensively  and  closely  scaly.  It  is  not 
without  a  general  resemblance  to  some  Ceniropristes  of 
the  Arripis  group,  but  here  again  the  toothless  roof  of  the 
mouth,  and  the  very  peculiar  arrangement  of  the  scales  on 
the  head,  are  sufficient  to  keep  it  distinct.  It  has  little 
resemblance  to  the  true  ScicBnidce,  with  double  dorsals 
and  cancellated,  convex  skulls,  while  the  absence  of  pores 
on  the  lower  jaw  dissevers  it  from  Hcemiilon,  Prislipotna, 
Diac/ramma,  &c.  In  the  extent  of  the  scales  of  the 
head,  and  some  other  characters,  it  resembles  Glauco- 
soMia,  but  diflers  from  it  widely  in  general  aspect,  in 
dentition,  the  protractile  mouth,  and  many  other  particvi- 
lars.  The  want  of  teeth  is  a  significant  character,  which 
it  has  in  common  with  Maquaria,  but  the  latter  has  only 
five  gill-rays.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  have  distin- 
guished the  fish  by  a  new  generic  name,  constructed,  in 
allusion  to  its  peculiarly  neat  aspect,  from  e/^iUeXus  concin- 


nu.s,  and  tx^u;.  The  three  short,  slender,  lower  rays  of  the 
pectoral  are  not  branched,  but  it  differs  in  aspect,  as  well 
as  in  the  nature  of  its  scales,  from  Latris,  in  which  this 
peculiarity  in  the  form  of  the  pectoral  extends  to  a  greater 
number  of  rays. 

Emmelichthys. 

Forma  corporis  Smaris  rel  Caesionis. 

Os  terminale,  rede  antrorsum  protractile  onmino  eden- 
tatum.  Denies  pharyngei  setacei.  Maxillae  dense 
squamoscB.     Intermaxillaria  labiaque  nuda. 

Preorbitale  disco  undo,  iiKeqiiali,  semiovali,  margine  infe- 
riori  concavo  vi.v  creiiiilaio. 

Preopercidum  paraholicum  margine  gracillimo  tenuiter 
sulcato  rix  crenulato.  Suboperculum  margine  arcto, 
submembranaceo  tenuissimd  costaio,  hinc  eiliato-den- 
tato.     Operculum  emarginatum,  anguUs  planis  acutis. 

Scapula  squamiformis,  eroso-deutata,  sqitamis  parvis 
tecta. 

Apertiua  branchialis  ampla  infra  ante  medios  oculosjissa. 
Radii  branchiostegi  septem. 

Pinnas  ventrales  sub  anticd  parte  pinnm  pectoris  affixes. 
Pinna  dorsi  langa  eeque  ac  pinna  ani  in  sulco  squamoso 
movens.  Pars  ejus  spinosa  esquamosa.  In  parte  altera 
et  in  pinna  ani,  tlieca  squamosa  fere  ad  apices  poste- 
riores  altcnuatos  excurrit.  Pinnm  omnes  alicB  usque 
ad  viedias  squamosee. 

Anus  pone  medium  piscem. 

Squamre  clenoidetc,  viediocres,  caput  undique  prater  dis- 
cuin  preurhilalix,  labia,  partes  memhranaceas  oris  et 
membranam  hranchiostegam  tegentes.  Squamee  genw 
temporum  operculorumque  ordine  quodam  peculiari, 
circulari  concinniter  itistructa. 

In  general  form  this  fish  has  much  of  the  neat  aspect  of 
a  Smaris.  The  body  tapers  gradually  to  the  base  of  the 
caudal,  the  profile  of  the  tail  being  merely  a  continuation 
of  the  curve  of  the  dorsal  line,  and  the  lateral  line,  which 
is  traced  at  three  quarters  of  the  height,  runs  parallel  to 
the  back  in  a  very  flat  arc,  without  the  usual  change  to  a 
horizontal  direction  after  passing  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins.* 
The  profile  descends  considerably  in  a  very  slightly  con- 
vex line  from  the  front  of  the  dorsal  to  the  end  of  the 
snout,  which  is  opposite  to  the  pectoral  fin,  and  below  the 
middle  height  of  the  fish.  The  head,  when  the  jaws  are 
retracted,  forms  less  than  a  fourth  of  the  whole  length  of 
the  fish.  Its  height  at  the  nape  is  between  one-fourth  and 
one-fifth  less  than  its  length,  and  its  thickness  at  the  gill- 
covers,  where  it  is  greatest,  is  equal  to  half  its  length.  The 
nape  and  hind  head  are  much  rounded  transversely.  The 
large  and  perfectly  circular  eye  is  situated  high  up,  without 
touching  the  profile,  one  diameter  of  the  orbit  distant  from 
the  upper  lip  and  two  from  the  gill-opening.  The  space 
between  the  eyes  is  equal  to  one  diameter,  and  is  flattish. 
The  circumference  of  the  orbit  is  scaly  close  to  the  ball,  the 
scales  concealing  the  whole  suborbitar  chain,  and  covering 
the  base  of  the  preorbitar.   But  the  anterior  disk  of  this  bone 

*  The  specimens,  being  merely  dried  skins,  do  not  show  the  thickness 
of  the  body  correctly,  nor  the  comparative  acuteness  of  the  back  and 
belly,  but  the  profile  "seems  to  be  completely  preserved. 


48 


is  naked  and  uneven,  from  the  prominence  of  canals  in  tlie 
bone,  whose  apertures  show  through  the  integument  as  it 
dries.  The  fore  part  of  the  bone  is  semi-oval,andits  infe- 
rior edge,  where  it  joins  the  fest  of  the  suborbitar  chain, 
is  widely  concave,  with  a  slight  waving,  or  crenature. 
The  nostrils  are  two  small,  round,  approximated  openings, 
in  a  short  and  naiTow  scaleless  space  above  and  near  to 
the  anterior  canthus  of  the  eye. 

The  mouth  is  situated  at  the  extremity  of  the  head,  and, 
though  differently  constructed,  has  much  resemblance  to 
that  of  a  Coregoniis.  Its  orifice,  moderately  open  when 
viewed  in  front,  is  semi-ovate,  the  horizontal  lower  jaw 
being  narrower  at  the  tip  than  the  arch  of  the  intermaxil- 
laries.  The  latter  bones  are  protractile,  their  pedicles 
being  longer  than  their  oral  limbs,  and  reaching,  when 
retracted,  nearly  to  the  posterior  part  of  the  orbits.  The 
maxillaries  have  a  broad  disk,  rounded  at  the  end,  and 
densely  covered  with  scales,  nearly  equalling  those  of  the 
cheek  in  size.  The  end  of  the  bone  passes  the  corner  of 
the  mouth,  plays  over  the  broad,  scaleless  coracoid  process 
of  the  post-mandibularbone,  and  reaches  under  the  anterior 
third  of  the  eye.  The  narrow,  sloping,  posterior  edge  of 
the  maxillary  only  is  received  under  the  preorbitar.  The 
imder  surface  of  the  lower  jaw  is  closely  covered  with 
minute  scales.  The  jaws  and  roof  of  the  mouth  are 
wholly  destitute  of  teeth,  and  the  narrow,  but  rather  free 
tongue  is  also  quite  smooth.  The  pharyngeal  teeth,  above 
and  below,  are  fine,  setaceous,  and  crowded,  and  the  outer 
branchial  arch  is  fringed  with  a  single  row  of  long,  com- 
pressed, subulate  rakers  ;  the  other  rakers  are  short,  semi- 
lanceolate,  and  all  are  rough,  with  very  minute  teeth. 

The  side  of  the  head  is  convex,  the  summit  of  the  con- 
vexity being  at  the  temples.  It  is  densely  scaly,  so  that 
no  bone  is  seen.  The  edge  of  the  preoperculum  is  curved 
parabolicallj',  and  its  border  is  faintly  furrowed,  producing 
slight  crenatures,  but  the  scales  come  to  the  very  edge, 
concealing  the  inequalities.  The  disk  of  the  bone  is  broad, 
exceeding  the  width  of  the  cheek,  and  being  inclined  in 
a  different  direction,  its  inner  edge  shows  through  the 
scales.  The  interoperculum  is  also  broad,  being  widest 
opposite  the  bend  of  the  preoperculum,  where  it  is  rounded, 
and  it  also  is  scaly  to  the  edge.*  There  are  eighteen  or 
twenty  rows  of  scales  between  the  orbit  and  corner  of  the 
preoperculum,  and  half  as  many  on  the  disk  of  the  inter- 
operculum. 

The  gill-cover  is  very  obtuse,  with  scarcely  any  soft 
border.  The  operculum  is  situated  high  up,  in  respect  of 
the  curve  of  the  preoperculum,  and  is  indented  by  a  semi- 
elliptical  notch,  with  acute  corners.  This  notch  is  filled 
with  integument,  clothed  with  small  scales.  The  suboper- 
culum  slopes  downwards,  and  a  little  forwards,  to  meet  the 
interoperculum,  but  not  being  so  broad,  there  is  a  slight 
notch  at  the  point  of  junction.  Its  edge  is  rather  con- 
cave, and  is  bordered  by  a  narrow  membrane,  which  is 
crossed  by  fine  ribs  in  a  pectinated  manner.  These  are 
scarcely  perceptible  to  the  naked  eye,  and  the  very  narrow, 
transparent  edge  is  the  only  part  of  the  gill-cover  which  is 
not  scaly.     The  scapula  is  visible  at  the  upper  angle  of 

*  111  Casio,  the  circumference  of  the  orbit,  the  suborbitars,  the  snout, 
interval  Lelween  the  eyes,  and  disk  of  the  pvcopercuhim,  are  scaleless. 


the  gill-opening,  in  form  of  a  large  scale,  witii  a  toothed 
edge,  and  its  disk  is  covered  by  scales,  smaller  than  the 
others  in  the  neighbourhood.  A  row  of  scales,  having 
their  disks  strongly  impressed  by  five  or  six  furrows, 
crosses  the  nape  in  the  same  way  as  the  unctial  circle  of 
Cmfsio ;  but  in  Emmelichthi/s  these  scales  are  not  very  ob- 
vious to  the  eye,  and  the  smaller  scales  of  the  top  of  the 
head  pass  gradually  into  the  larger  ones  of  the  body. 
The  gill-opening  is  large,  and  extends  from  the  scapula 
perpendicularly,  to  near  the  ventral  line,  and  then  hori- 
zontally forwards  to  opposite  the  middle  of  the  orbit.  The 
membrane  is  sustained  by  seven  thin  flat  rays,  of  which 
the  three  lower  ones  are  shorter,  and  graduated.  The 
fourth  ray  projects  as  far  back  as  the  remaining  three, 
which  are  more  curved  upwai-ds,  an  arrangement  that 
gives  a  peculiar  squareness  to  the  posterior  edge  of  the 
membrane.  The  humeral  chain  of  bones  is  clothed  with 
scales  up  to  the  inner  edge. 

The  lateral  line  is  composed  of  ninety-six  scales  up  to 
the  base  of  the  caudal,  there  being  a  forked  patch  of 
smaller  scales  covering  the  middle  rays  to  near  their  tips, 
not  included  in  the  reckoning.  Each  of  the  scales  of  the 
lateral  row  is  marked  with  two  little  pits  at  the  end  of  a 
short  tube.  A  vertical  line  contains  about  thirty  scales,  of 
which  only  eight  are  above  the  lateral  line,  and  they  are 
of  rather  smaller  size  than  those  lower  on  the  sides.  The 
scales  are  truncated  at  tlie  base,  furrowed  and  crenated, 
and  ciliated  at  the  tip,  and  roughened  by  radiating  rows  of 
grains  or  woi-n  teeth  to  near  the  middle  of  the  disk.  Fi- 
gure 8  shows  a  scale  from  below  the  lateral  line.  A  patch 
of  small  scales  covers  the  bones  which  support  the  pectoral 
rays,  extending  in  a  semi-circular  manner  over  part  of  the 
fin,  and  delicate  scales  extend  half  way  up  these  fins,  as 
well  as  up  the  ventrals.  A  long  tapering  scale  lies  over 
the  ventrals,  and  there  probably  existed  one  between  these 
fins,  but  if  so,  it  has  been  destroyed  in  the  preparation  of 
the  specimen.  The  spinous  part  of  the  dorsal  moves  in  a 
furrow,  composed  of  a  single  row  of  oblique  narrow  scales, 
and  a  dense  patch  of  scales  runs  obliquely  over  the  base 
of  the  soft  rays,  up  nearly  to  the  ti}3s  of  the  posterior  ones. 
A  similar  scaly  band  covers  the  anal  fin  to  an  equal  extent. 
On  the  caudal  the  scales  extend  between  the  rays  to  two- 
thirds  of  their  length,  and  a  more  dense  scaly  patch,  al- 
ready noticed,  covers  part  of  the  middle  rays,  as  well  as 
their  membrane. 

The  pectorals,  triangular  and  pointed,  but  not  falcate, 
nor  so  large  as  is  usual  with  the  Sparoids,  are  attached 
obliquely  below  the  middle  of  the  height.  The  fifth  ray 
is  the  longest,  and  the  lowest  three,  which  are  very  short, 
are  not  branched  like  the  others.  The  ventrals,  attached 
under  the  fore  third  of  the  pectorals,  have  a  slender  spine, 
two-thirds  of  the  length  of  the  branched  rays.  They  do 
not  reach  beyond  the  pectorals.  The  dorsal  spines  are 
slender.  The  first  one  stands  a  little  posterior  to  the 
axilla  of  the  ventrals,  or  over  the  middle  of  the  pectorals, 
and,  with  the  two  following  ones,  is  graduated.  The 
fourth  is  the  tallest,  being  about  half  as  high  as  the  body, 
the  next  five  decrease  rapidly  in  height,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  beconie  more  remote  from  each  other  than  the  ante- 
rior ones.  The  remaining  four  also  become  shorter  in 
succession,  but  much  more  gradually,  and  in  our  speci- 


49 


mens,  are  detached,  having  a  triangular  piece  of  mem- 
brane, as  is  represented  in  the  figure,  but  in  the  recent 
fish  the  membrane  may  have  been  continuous.  The  last 
ray  of  the  soft  part  of  the  fin  has  its  posterior  branch  ta- 
pering out  into  a  fine  point.  The  anal  is  similar  in  form 
to  the  jointed  part  of  the  dorsal.  Its  spines  are  slender, 
graduated,  and  comparatively  short.  The  caudal  is  forked, 
with  acute  tips.  Its  middle  rays  are  much  branched  to 
the  base. 

The  whole  fish  appears  to  have  had  considerable  silvery 
lustre,  with  little  or  no  colour  on  the  inferior  parts,  but  with 
a  bluish  or  grey  tinge  above  the  lateral  line,  reticulated, 
perhaps,  by  the  paler  edges  of  the  scales.  T?here  are  no 
remains  of  spots,  or  other  markings,  either  on  the  head, 
body,  or  fins,  except  that  the  membrane  between  the  limbs 
of  the  lower  jaw  lias  a  sooty  colour, 

Length  of  one  specimen,  lOj  inches ;  of  the  other, 
fourteen. 

Hab.  West  Australia. 


Synbranchus  gdtturalis.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  S.  cylindricus,  caudd  compressa  attenuatd  ; 
colore  hepatico-hrunneo  subtus  paulo  dilutiore,  facie 
gutiureque  griseis,  brunneo  marmoratis ;  dentibus 
acerosis. 


Radii  ; 


■C.  7. 


Plate  XXX.,  figs.  14—17. 

This  small  fish  evidently  appertains  to  the  genus  Syn- 
branchus of  Bloch,  and  Cuvier's  Regne  Animal  (ii.  p.  .364). 
It  is  truly  monopterigian,  a  few  rays  being  perceptible  in 
the  caudal  only,  while  the  anal  and  dorsal  are  merely 
low,  cutaneous  seams,  or,  as  Cuvier  says,  adipose  fins. 
The  Dondoo-paum  of  Russell,  pi.  85,  wants  even  these 
seams,  and  has  a  still  more  tapering  tail.  It  is  further 
distinguished  by  being  universally  black,  and  the  furrows 
of  the  lateral  line,  if  they  actually  exist,  are  not  shown 
in  the  figure.  The  Unibranc/iaperiiira  cuchia  of  Bu- 
chanan-Hamilton (p.  16  and  363,  pi.  16,  fig.  4)  is  dotted  all 
over  with  black,  and  is  marked  on  the  shoulders  and  pec- 
toral regions  of  each  side,  by  three  pale  lines  of  difi'erent 
lengths.  A  fish  so  coloured  can  scarcely  be  the  same  with 
the  uniformly  black  one  of  Russell,  and  indeed  there  is  a 
well  marked  difference  in  their  forms,  as  represented  in 
the  plates  we  have  quoted,  yet  if  there  be  not  an  error  in 
the  pointing  of  a  paragraph  in  the  Regne  Animal  (ii.  p.  3-54, 
foot-note  2),  Cuvier  considers  both  these  figures  as  being 
referrible  to  the  Synbranchus  immaculatus  of  Bloch.  In 
his  characters  of  the  genus,  he  states  the  teeth  to  be  ob- 
tuse, but  in  our  species  the  teeth  are  decidedly  acute,  and 
under  a  lens  appear  subulate.  They  are  disposed  in  a 
single  row  on  tlie  limbs  of  the  jaws,  but  crowded  together 
for  some  breadth  on  the  tip  of  the  lower  one,  and  being 
continued  from  the  limbs  of  the  lower  one,  along  the  tip 
of  the  upper  jaw,  they  become  parallel  and  almost  con- 
tiguous, and  in  that  form  run  forwards  for  a  short  space. 
This  kind  of  dentition  is  similar  to  what  is  represented  in 
the  'Calcutta  Journal  of  Natural  History'  (iv.  p.  411, 
a.d.  1844),  by  J.  McClelland,  Esq.,  in  his  account  of  a 


Chinese  species,  named  by  him  Pneumabranchus  cinereus. 
In  that  the  palatine  teeth  are  in  a  single  row,  but  in  ours 
they  form  two  or  more  rows;  The  species  are  further  dis- 
tinguished by  their  colour,  and  by  the  Chinese  one  having 
the  membranous  edge  of  the  tail,  or  the  adipose  dorsal,  not 
extending  so  far  forwards. 

Synbranchus  gutturalis  is  slender  and  cylindrical  from 
the  head  to  the  anus,  it  then  becomes  sensibly  compressed, 
and  gradually  terminates  in  a  thin  tapering  tail,  almost 
filiform  at  the  tip.  The  head  swells  out  a  little,  the  snout 
is  depressed  and  obtuse,  being  terminated  by  a  thicki.sh, 
reverted  lip,  which  projects  very  sliglitly  beyond  the  lower 
jaw,  also  obtuse,  and  edged  by  a  thick  lip.  Tlie  mouth  is 
cleft  more  than  half  its  length  beyond  the  small  eye.  The 
posterior  aperture  of  the  nostrils  is  immediately  above  the 
middle  of  the  eye,  and  the  anterior  one,  which  is  smaller, 
is  over  the  inner  angle  of  the  eye,  but  it  is  not  easy  to  dis- 
tinguish the  nostril  of  so  small  a  fish  from  some  pores  on 
the  snout.     None  of  the  openings  have  tubular  margins. 

A  transverse  slit  on  the  throat,  without  a  septum,  and 
distant  nearly  an  eleventh  part  of  the  whole  length  of  the 
fish  from  the  snout,  is  the  only  branchial  opening.  Its 
hinder  edge  is  smooth  and  even  with  the  adjoining  integu- 
ment. The  thin  gill-membranes,  united  evenly  in  the 
middle,  form  the  anterior  lip  of  the  opening,  and  are  tra- 
versed longitudinally  by  nine  furrows.  Their  rays  cannot 
be  traced  without  dissection. 

A  deep  even  furrow  marks  out  the  lateral  line  at  the 
middle  of  the  height,  and  there  is  a  fainter  mesial  furrow 
on  the  top  of  the  fore  part  of  the  back,  extending  to  the 
hind  head,  both  being  the  effect  of  the  swelling  of  the 
muscles.  The  anus  is  less  than  a  third  of  the  whole 
length  distant  fi'om  the  tip  of  the  tail. 

The  dorsal  is  a  mere  skinny  hem,  without  rays,  com- 
mencing about  midway  between  the  gill-opening  and  anus, 
at  first  very  low,  but  rising  a  little  as  the  tail  becomes 
more  slender,  and  reaching  to  the  extremity  of  the  caudal 
rays.  The  anal,  beginning  close  to  the  anus,  is  similar  to 
the  dorsal,  and  also  reaches  to  the  end  of  the  caudal.  lu 
the  caudal  fin,  seven  unbranched  jointed  rays  can  be  per- 
ceived with  the  aid  of  a  lens.  There  is  not  the  slightest 
vestige  of  pectorals. 

In  colour  the  fish  is  uniformly  liver-brown,  slightlj- 
paler  along  the  ventral  line,  and  darker  towards  the  tip  of 
the  tail.  The  throat  and  cheeks,  with  the  snout,  are  bluish- 
grey,  mottled  thickly  with  brown  spots  and  lines.  I  have 
been  unable  to  detect  scales  with  a  lens,  but  very  minute 
ones  may  nevertheless  exist,  as^  Mr.  McClelland  states 
that  his  China  species  is  covered  with  minute  scales.  This 
fish  being,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  figure,  13|^  inches 
long,  may  be  expected  to  show  the  scales  more  distinctly 
than  our  small  one,  which  is  little  more  than  a  third  of  that 
length. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  end  of  snout  to  tip  of  tail  5-22  incLes. 

„  „  anus    3-60  „ 

dorsal  fin 2  85  „ 

„  „  gill-opening    0'60  „ 

Length  of  cleft  of  mouth  0-14  „ 

Distance  between  anus  and  tip  of  tail  1'58  „ 

Hab.  Dampier's  Archipelago. 

H 


50 


Cheilobranchus  dorsalis.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.   Ch.  nigrescenU-fuscus,  lined  mediand  dorsali, 
pinnisque  dorsi  et  ani  pallidis. 

Radii:  — Br.  3;  C.  9. 

Plate  XXX.,  figs.  1—5. 

The  Synhranchi  hitherto  described  have  the  anal  aper- 
ture situated  at  the  distance  of  more  than  two-thirds  of  the 
whole  length  of  the  fish,  from  the  end  of  the  snout;  cvlin- 
dvical,  or  round  and  slightly  tapering  bodies,  compressed 
only  at  the  tail;  a  swelling  head;  a  mouth  cleft  beyond 
the  eye  ;  and  they  inhabit  the  warmer  parts  of  the  ocean. 
We  have  now  to  desci'ibe  a  fish,  possessing  many  of  the 
technical  characters  of  Synhranchus,  but  with  a  head 
almost  as  small  as  Leptocephalus,  the  body  compressed 
throughout,  and  the  vent  before  the  middle.  Such  a  dif- 
ference in  form  from  that  of  the  typical  Synhranchi,  can- 
not but  be  attended  with  some  dissimilarity  in  the  habits 
of  the  fish,  and  seems  to  justify  the  imposition  of  a  new 
generic  or  sub-generic  name,  though  from  the  want  of  a 
sufficient  number  of  specimens,  I  am  unable  to  describe 
the  anatomical  structure  with  suflicient  fulness  and  correct- 
ness. The  term  Cheilohranchus  is  derived  from  xf'^"", 
labruni  in  ambitum  diico,  and  Ppayxta,  and  has  reference  to 
a  small  peculiarity  in  .structure,  which  we  have  not  ob- 
served in  the  Synhranchi,  viz.,  the  existence  of  a  little 
roll  or  lip  on  the  hinder  edge  of  the  gill-opening. 

Cheilobranchus. 

Forma  compressa  postice  lineari-laiiceolata. 

Caput  minimum  ;  rostro  ohtusiusculo,  maxillis  (Bqualihus. 

Radii  branchiostegi  Ires.     Apertura  branchiarum  unica, 

mediana,  suh  gutture. 
Osculum  terminale,  rictu  ante  oculos  desinenti. 
Denies  suhulati  acuti  vel  ohlusi,  una  serie  dispositi. 
Pinnae   dorsi  et  ani  humiles,   memhranaceoR  non  radiis 

sustentatcB    cum    pinnd   caudcd   radiatd    coalescentes. 

PinncB  pectoris  nulla. 
Linea  lateralis  porosa.     Papilla  genitahs  minuta  (fig.  5). 
Squamaj  minima  vix  oculo  armato  dignoscendee. 
Intestina  cceco  parvulo  munita. 

A  very  small  head,  sloping  upwards  from  the  rounded 
snout,  attains  an  equal  width  and  height  posteriorly,  but  is 
still  inferior  in  both  these  dimensions  to  the  fore  part  of 
the  body.  The  thickness  is  greatest  at  the  shoulder,  from 
whence  it  diminishes  gradually  to  the  extremity  of  the 
tail ;  the  height  of  the  body  increases  to  a  little  behind 
the  anus,  where  it  exceeds  twice  the  thickness  of  the  same 
part.  The  hinder  part  is  linear-lanceolate  in  profile,  and 
acute. 

Mouth  tcrmhial,  with  equal  jaws,  and  a  very  small  gape, 
not  extending  so  far  back  as  the  eye.  The  upper  jaw  is, 
perhaps,  somewhat  protractile,  but  this  could  not  be  clearly 
made  out.  A  single  row  of  teeth  runs  round  each  jaw  ; 
eight  on  each  limb.  In  very  young  specimens  they  are 
subulate,  and  incurved  at  the  tips,  but  in  the  largest,  which 
IS  the  one  that  is  figured,  they  are  obtuse,  and  nearly  cy- 


lindrical.    They  are  covered  by  the  rather  loose,  but  not 
tumid  lips. 

The  nostrils  are  close  above  the  tumid,  lateral  eyes ; 
one  immediately  over  the  centre  of  the  orbit,  and  the  other, 
which  has  a  tubular  orifice,  over  the  anterior  angle  of  the 
eye. 

The  gill-opening  is  a  small  transverse  slit  on  the  middle 
of  the  throat,  and  distant  from  the  tip  of  the  lower  jaw, 
exactly  a  tenth  of  the  entire  length  of  the  fish.  There  is 
no  division  in  the  opening,  and  three  slender  gill-rays 
support  the  membrane  on  each  side.  A  transverse  lip, 
which  rises  above  the  adjoining  integument,  and  has  its 
outer  ends  free,  forms  the  posterior  edge  of  the  orifice,  and 
appears  to  be  capable  of  closing  it  very  completely,  when 
the  inflected  edge  of  the  membrane  is  pressed  against  it.  A 
little  more  than  a  third  of  the  whole  length  of  the  fish  is 
anterior  to  the  anus.  The  dorsal  and  anal  fins  show  more 
conspicuously,  from  being  much  paler  than  the  rest  of  the 
fin.  The  anal  reaches  from  the  vent  to  the  tip  of  the  caudal, 
and  is  broadest  at  about  two-thirds  of  its  length  from  the 
vent.  The  dorsal  is  also  highest  in  the  same  quarter,  but 
sinks  to  the  level  of  the  back  before  it  comes  opposite  to 
the  anus,  though  a  pale  stripe  is  continued  from  it  along 
the  middle  of  the  back  to  the  head.  Not  a  vestige  of  a  ray 
can  be  discovered  in  these  fins,  nor  did  I,  in  making  the  ske- 
leton of  a  small  specimen,  observe  any  traces  of  interspinous 
bones,  excejjt  a  single,  flat,  triangular  one  at  the  tip  of  the 
tail.  This  supports  nine  jointed  rays,  which  are  not 
branched.  The  united  caudal,  dorsal,  and  anal,  form  an 
acute  tip  to  the  tail. 

A  straight  furrow  runs  from  the  head  to  the  base  of  the 
caudal,  coincident  with  the  spine,  and  pale  lines  sloping 
backwards,  ascend  and  descend  from  it  to  the  margins  of 
the  body,  being  apparently  the  tendinous  divisions  of  the 
muscles,  as  in  Leptocephalus,  the  body  being  otherwise  of 
an  uniformly  dark  liver-brown  colour  in  the  specimens, 
whicli  have  been  kept  in  spirits.  The  fins  are  of  a  much 
paler  brown.  I  have  not  been  able  to  make  out  scales 
satisfactorily,  with  a  microscope  of  considerable  power,  but 
with  a  single  lens,  of  half  an  inch  focus,  the  skin  is  seen 
to  be  closely  studded  with  little  round  pits,  which,  iiom 
the  way  that  they  reflect  prismatic  rays  of  light,  are  most 
probably  formed  by  depressed,  but  extremely  minute 
scales. 

The  skeleton  of  a  small  specimen  contains  seventy- 
three  vertebrae,  of  which  twenty-one  are  abdominal.  The 
superior  spinous  processes  increase  very  gradually  in 
length  from  the  head  to  halfway  between  the  vent  and  the 
end  of  the  tail,  where  they  are  tallest,  after  which  they 
diminish,  giving  the  lanceolate  form  to  the  tail.  The  last 
vertebra,  small  and  conical,  turns  up  a  little  at  its  tip,  to 
which  an  obcuneate  interspinous  bone  is  attached,  for  the 
support  of  the  caudal  rays.  The  under  spinous  processes 
posterior  to  the  vent  are  similar  to  the  upper  ones.  Each 
of  the  abdominal  vertebrae  has  two  transverse  processes, 
which  diminish  in  length  as  they  recede  from  the  head, 
and  all  the  vertebraj  have  a  short  acute  process  inclining 
forwards  from  the  upper  anteriorpart  of  their  bodies  before 
the  origin  of  the  upper  spinous  processes.  The  vertebrae 
are  of  the  usual  hour-glass  shape,  and  are  fully  ossified. 
No  interspinous  bones  were  discovered,  except  the  caudal 


51 


one.  The  examination  of  the  intestines  was  not  satisfac- 
tory, but  the  intestinal  canal  a])peared  to  be  straight,  with 
a  stomachal  dilatation,  and  a  small  obtnse  cajcum  issuing 
fiom  the  upper  third  or  fourth  of  the  canal.  The  orifice 
of  the  anus  is  wrinkled  anteriorly,  and  has  a  minute 
papilla  on  its  hinder  border. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  end  of  snout  to  tip  of  tail    3-50  inches. 

„  „  anus     1-38      „ 

„  „  gill-openiiig    035      „ 

Some  specimens  do  not  measure  above  half  this  length. 

Hab.  North-west  coast  of  Australia. 


Cheilobuanchus  aptenodytum.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  Ch.  concolor. 

Radii:  — C.  7. 

This  species  possesses  much  interest,  from  its  high 
southern  habitat,  having  been  found  above  high-water 
mark  on  Penguin  Island,  in  seventy-two  degrees  of  South 
latitude.  It  has  an  uniform  pale  reddish-brown  colour, 
and  its  true  tint  may  be,  perhaps,  changed,  by  the  action 
of  the  dung  of  the  Penguins.  It  is,  however,  in  a  very 
perfect  state,  and  does  not  appear  to  have  been  submitted 
to  the  process  of  digestion  in  the  stomach  of  anj^  of  these 
birds.  It  is  very  similar  in  form  to  the  preceding  species, 
and  the  vent  has  the  same  relative  position.  The  body  is, 
however,  less  compressed,  and  is  highest  midway  between 
the  tip  of  the  snout  and  anus.  The  upper  profile  slopes 
gradually  from  thence  to  the  end  of  the  snout,  the  top  of 
the  head  being  broadish,  and  flatly  rounded.  Both  the 
back  and  belly  are  more  obtuse  than  in  the  preceding  spe- 
cies, particularly  the  belly,  whose  thickness  exceeds  half 
the  height.  The  nostrils  are  situated  as  described  above, 
and  the  opening,  which  is  over  the  angle  of  the  eye,  has  a 
tubular  \\^. 

The  gill-opening  is  more  distant  from  the  snout  than  in 
the  preceding  species,  and  has  a  crescentic  form,  with  the 
curve  forwards.  Its  hinder  lip  approaches  to  the  head  of 
an  arrow  in  form,  its  free  ends  forming  the  barbs.  A  thin 
fold  of  the  gill-membrane  fits  closely  within,  so  as  to  close 
the  orifice  perfectly. 

The  little  pits  or  scales  are  more  readily  seen  in  this 
than  in  the  other,  being  easily  discovered  by  aid  of  a  lens 
with  an  inch  focus.  The  teeth,  disposed  in  a  single  row, 
are  truncated,  and  somewhat  compressed  or  incisorial,  and 
a  velum  spreads  over  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  from  behind 
the  upper  ones. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  end  of  snout  to  tip  of  tail    1-54  inches. 

„  „  anus 0-98       „ 

„  „  gill-opening 0'29      „ 

Height  of  body  0-28      „ 


PiiYMNOTnoNus  HOOKERi.     Richardson. 

Plate  XXX.,  figs.  6,  7. 

The  figure  here  introduced  is  copied  from  a  pencil  draw- 
ing (No.  217)  by  Dr.  Hooker,  and  we  can  give  little  more 
information  than  the  sketch  conveys,  the  notes  made  at  the 
time  by  Dr.  Hooker  having  been  mislaid.  The  specimen 
measured  an  inch  and  a  quarter  in  length,  but  it  has  pe- 
rished, not  having  been  found  in  the  collection.  It  is  evi- 
dently a  Muraanoid  fish,  closely  allied  to  the  Congers,  but 
is  remarkable  in  that  family  for  the  shortness  of  the  belly, 
the  vent  being  only  a  fourth  of  the  whole  length  distant 
from  the  snout.  The  gill-oi^enings  are  lateral,  but  their 
position  will  be  unusual,  if  the  oblong  white  mark  before 
and  below  them  be  meant  to  represent  a  pectoral  fin.  It 
seems  to  be  placed  too  far  forward  for  that  member.  The 
generic  name  is  derived  from  the  backward  position  of  the 
dorsal,  from  Trpuf^va,  puppis,  and  oSovn,  velum,  i.  e.  mizen- 
sail.  The  caudal  and  part  of  the  anal  are  marked  as 
rayed,  and  a  note  subjoined  to  the  drawing,  states  that 
rays  were  not  perceptible  in  other  parts  of  the  fins.  It 
would  be  unwise  to  attempt  drawing  up  a  generic  charac- 
ter, without  further  information,  but  it  appeared  advisable 
to  give  the  figure  a  name,  for  the  sake  of  reference.  Seve- 
ral other  variations  in  the  distributions  of  the  fins  of  the 
Muranidai  have  been  published  since  the  appearance  of 
Cuvier's  arrangement  of  the  family  in  the  Regne  Animal, 
among  the  most  remarkable  of  which  are  the  Rataiboura 
of  Gray,  in  Hardwicke's  '  Illustrations  of  Indian  Zoology,' 
and  the  Uraptera  of  Riippell  [Neue  Wirblethiere). 

Leptocephalus  altus.     Richardson. 

Plate  XXX.,  figs.  8—10. 

This  figure  is  in  the  same  predicament  with  the  last- 
mentioned,  the  specimen  not  having  been  found  in  the 
collection.  There  can  be  no  doubt  about  the  genus,  I 
think,  though  the  species  differs  from  the  European  one, 
in  the  greater  depth  of  its  body,  and  the  verj'  backward 
position  of  its  vent.  When  the  fish  was  caught,  it  was 
transparent,  so  that  the  course  of  the  intestine  along  the 
under  edge  of  the  body  could  be  readily  seen,  and  a  sto- 
machal dilatation  was  perceived  at  about  a  sixth  of  the 
whole  length  behind  the  head ;  but  as  soon  as  it  was  put 
in  spirits  it  changed  throughout  into  opake  white,  and 
rolled  into  a  ball.  Another  species  of  the  same  relative 
height  with  Leptocephalus  morisii  was  taken  by  the  Expe- 
dition to  the  North  of  St.  Helena ;  and  Cuvier  mentions,  in 
the  Regue  Animal,  that  he  is  acquainted  with  several 
species  from  the  tropical  seas,  but  we  are  not  aware  of 
figures  having  been  published  of  any  but  the  European 
one,  which  is  common  to  the  English  Channel  and  to  the 
Mediterranean.  We  received  a  .specimen  of  it  from  the 
temporary  volcanic  island  off  Sicily,  named  Graham's 
Island,  on  which  it  was  found  dead. 

Hab.  Dr.  Hooker's  drawing  is  numbered  166,  and  dated 
April  11,  but  neither  the  year  nor  locality  are  noted. 


52 


Xystophords.     Richardson. 

Plate  XXX.,  fig.  22. 

We  here  exhibit  another  of  Dr.  Hooker's  drawings 
(No.  90),  representing  a  small  fish  taken  at  sea.  It  ap- 
pears to  be  a  fish  of  the  Cottoid  family,  and  is  named  from 
the  armature  of  its  head.  Judging  from  the  figure,  the 
formula  for  the  fin-rays  appears  to  be  D.  5]24  ;  A.  3|16, 
&c.,  and  the  fish  would  seem  to  be  scaleless,  from  the  way 
in  which  the  muscular  fibres  are  shown. 

OsTKACiON  Boops.     Richardson. 

Radii:  — C.  12;  A.  14;  P.  14.   (Dr.  Hooker). 

Plate  XXX.,  figs.  18—21. 

Being  unwilling  that  any  of  the  novel  forms  of  fish 
sketched  by  Dr.  Hooker  should  be  altogether  lost  to  sci- 
ence, though  the  specimens  from  which  they  were  designed 
have  perished,  we  here  present  an  Ostracion,  in  which  the 
chief  novelty  appears  to  be  the  want  of  a  dorsal  fin.  Dr. 
Hooker  has  given  four  views  of  this  little  fish  in  different 
positions,  viz.,  18,  a  lateral  view,  19,  a  view  of  the  back, 
terminated  at  each  end  by  a  long  spine,  and  with  tsvo 
smaller  intermediate  eminences,  which  seem  to  replace  the 
dorsal  fin.  Fig.  20  shows  the  under  surface,  when  the  fish 
is  turned,  so  as  to  bring  the  mouth  and  frontal  spine  into 
view  ;  and  21,  the  posterior  surface,  looking  from  the  vent 
over  the  anal  and  caudal  fin  to  the  long  caudal  spine. 
The  drawings  are  numbered  34  by  Dr.  Hooker. 

Hab.  Taken  in  the  South  Atlantic,  in  a  tow  net. 

Syngnathus  hymenolomus.     Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  Syvgn.  corpore  valde  compresso,  superne  iii- 
/erneque  memhrand  lata  marginato  ;  caudd  quoque 
superne  antice  marginatd. 

Radii  :— D.  41 ;  C.  8.    Scutelli  i— corporis  30  ;  cauda;  67. 
Plate  XXX.,  figs.  11,  12,  13. 

Baron  Cuvier,  in  the  Regne  Animal,  divides  the  Syn- 
gnathi  into  four  groups,  characterized  by  the  number  of  fins 
they  possess.  The  species  we  have  figured  having  merely 
a  dorsal  and  anal,  would  enter  the  third  group,  of  which 
Syngn.  ccquoreus  of  Montagu  (Trans,  of  the  Wern.  Soc. 
i.  pi.  4,  fig.  1)  is  the  type,  but  it  has  also  a  broad,  thickish, 
membranous  border,  or  adipose  fin,  not  noticed  in  any 
described  member  of  the  genus,  which  may  be  considei-ed 
as  giving  it  a  claim  to  be  ranked  as  the  type  of  a  separate 
group.  It  is  not,  however,  advisable  to  attempt  giving  its 
distinctive  characters  in  this  point  of  view,  until  the  whole 
fainily  shall  have  been  revised,  for  the  purpose  of  fully 
discriminating  the  various  groups  which  it  comprises,  and 
arranging  the  known  species,  now  become  numerous.  My 
friend  Mr.  Gray  has  made  some  progress  in  this  task,  which 
coidd  not  be  in  better  hands ;  in  the  meantime,  I  have 
given  the  fish  a  specific  name,  indicating  its  most  sticking 
pecidiarity,   and  which   may  be   employed   as  a  generic 


appellation  hereafter,  if  need  be.  It  is  compiled  from  uix-tv, 
membrana,  and  xaiMoi,  margo.  The  British  Museum  pos- 
sesses many  specimens  brought  from  the  Falklands,  by 
Mr.  Wright,  which  Mr.  Gray  has  kindly  permitted  me  to 
examine,  and  they  would  appear  to  be  all  females,  or  at 
least  they  show  no  traces  of  pits  on  the  belly,  for  the  re- 
ception of  the  eggs,  such  as  we  observe  in  the  male  Syngn. 
(Bquoreus,  nor  of  a  pouch  under  the  tail,  as  in  the  gi-oups 
which  have  four  or  five  fins. 

In  this  Syngnalhus,  the  vent  is  a  very  little  posterior  to 
the  middle,  and  the  body  is  much  compressed,  with  flatly 
convex  sides,  edged  on  the  dorsal  and  ventral  line  by 
broad,  thickish,  opake  folds  of  skin,  which  double  its 
height.  The  shields  by  which  the  body  is  protected, 
show  very  slightly  through  the  integument,  and  are  not 
angular.  The  upper  cutaneous  border  is  interrupted  on 
the  twenty-first  shield,  on  the  hinder  part  of  which  the 
dorsal  begins,  and  is  continued  to  the  thirty-third  shield. 
On  the  thirty-fourth  shield  the  border  again  appears,  but 
not  so  broad,  and  it  goes  on  decreasing  in  height  to  the 
eighty-eighth,  where  it  ends,  the  tail  at  the  same  time 
growing  more  and  more  slender,  and  ending  in  a  narrow 
point,  but  supporting  a  very  small  caudal,  with  eight  sim- 
ple jointed  rays.  The  under  cutaneous  border  ends  just 
before  the  anus,  around  which  there  is  a  dense  patch  of 
villi,  which  conceal  the  orifice,  and  cover  a  space  of  the 
length  of  a  shield  and  a  half. 

The  snout,  measured  to  the  fore  part  of  the  orbit,  is 
one  twenty-fourth  part  of  the  entire  length  of  the  fish,  and 
the  head,  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  to  the  end  of  the  oper- 
culum, forms  between  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  part.  The 
snout  is  compressed,  obtuse  above,  and  more  acute  below. 
A  flattish  space,  with  a  faint  mesial  ridge  equal  to  a  dia- 
meter of  the  orbit,  separates  the  eyes  above.  A  smooth, 
somewhat  elevated,  superciliary  ridge  on  each  side  of  this 
space,  and  extending  to  the  nostrils,  renders  it  concave. 
The  opercidum  is  obtusely  oval,  and  it  shows  little  pits  on 
its  surface,  disposed  in  lines.  Other  parts  of  the  head 
and  snout  show  similar  pits  as  the  fish  dries,  but  in  the 
recent  stale,  the  bones  must  be  tolerably  well  covered  by 
the  integuments,  and  there  are  no  rough  ridges,  or  angular 
points,  except  a  projection,  apparently  of  the  subopercu- 
lum,  which  is  joined  to  its  fellow  underneath,  and  points 
directly  downwards,  below  the  short  vertical  limb  of  the 
preoperculum.  The  gill-opening  is  very  minute,  and  is 
pierced  over  the  posterior  quarter  of  the  operculum. 

All  the  specimens  have  been  kept  long  in  spirits,  and 
have  a  dull  brownish  tint,  without  spots. 

DIMENSIONS. 

Length  from  end  of  snout  to  tip  of  iLiil 12-05  inches. 

vent  6-15       „ 

„  „  end  of  gill-plale  095      „ 

„  ,,  gill-opening 0'9I       „ 

eye 050      „ 

Length  from  vent  to  tip  of  tail    5-90      „ 

Some  specimens  measure  five  or  six  inches  more  in 
length. 

Hab.  The  harbours  of  the  Falkland  Islands. 


53 


Labrus  celidotus.    Forster. 
Radii:— D.  9110;   A.  3|10;   C.l^■,   P.  12;  V.  IjS. 

Labrus  celidotus.  Forster,  apud  Schneid.  p.  265.  Id.  Dese.  Anim. 
curA  Licht.x>.  133. 

Plate  XXXI.,  fig.  1,  2,  3,  5,  natural  size.,  fig.  4  magnified. 

The  form  of  this  fish  is  pretty  regular,  the  central  and 
dorsal  curves  differing  but  little  from  each  other.  The 
slope  from  the  upper  lip  to  the  dorsal  is  gradual,  and  simi- 
lar to  the  posterior  curve  of  the  back,  and  the  height  of  the 
body,  which  is  greatest  under  the  fifth  dorsal  spine,  is  equal 
to  the  length  of  the  head,  and  is  contained  three  times  and 
a  half  in  the  total  length  of  the  fish.  Forster  makes  the 
head  one-sixth  of  the  total  length,  but  his  measurement  is 
evidently  made  on  the  crown  of  the  head,  and  not  to  the 
tip  of  the  gill-cover.  The  thickness  of  the  body  is  inferior 
to  half  its  height. 

A  small  canine  tooth  stands  forward  at  the  angle  of  the 
mouth,  being  implanted  in  the  upper  jaw  ;  and  behind  the 
single  visible  row  of  teeth  in  both  jaws  there  are  much  small- 
er ones  similar  to  them  in  form  nearly  hidden  by  the  soft 
parts.  Other  Lahri  have  also  these  interior  teeth,  and  the 
dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  quite  destitute  of  the  scaly  sheaths 
of  the  Cosyphi,  neither  is  there  any  enlargement  of  the 
jaws.  There  are  many  pores  on  the  preorbitar,  the  subor- 
bitar  bones,  the  preoperculura,  temples,  upper  surface  of 
the  cranium,  and  first  row  of  nuchal  scales.  The  cheeks 
are  covered  by  five  or  six  rows  of  small  scales,  but  on  the 
gill-cover  the  scales  are  as  large  as  those  of  the  body.  The 
lateral  line  is  traced  on  twenty- eight  scales,  and  descends 
suddenly  behind  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  for  the  breadth  of 
a  scale.  Its  muciferous  canals  on  the  anterior  scales  make 
a  single  fork  like  the  letter  Y,  but  are  more  branched  on  the 
posterior  ones.  Each  scale  is  obscurely  three-lobed  at 
the  base,  with  numerous  fan-like  furrows,  and  there  are 
also  some  less  regular  diverging  lines  on  the  exposed  part 
of  the  disk.  The  spines  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  rather 
slender,  and  the  caudal  is  even  at  the  end. 

Forster  describes  the  colours  as  follows  :  forehead  and 
back  deep  reddish  brown,  the  sides  green,  and  the  belly 
silvery  white.  Caudal  fin  and  gill-covers  greenish  brown, 
a  roundish  black  spot  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  high 
on  the  side  opposite  to  the  anus,  and  three  obsolete  brown- 
ish black  streaks  towards  the  tail.  The  pectoral,  ventral, 
and  anal  fins  are  yellow ;  the  latter  being  marked  by 
two  or  three  black  spots,  and  the  dorsal  by  more  scattered 
ones.  Our  specimens  have  lost  their  original  tints  by  long 
maceration  in  spirits,  but  the  lateral  spot  is  still  con- 
spicuous, though  of  a  smaller  size  than  it  is  described  to 
be  by  Forster.  It  is  crossed  by  the  lateral  line.  The  disks 
of  the  scales  are  much  darker  than  their  margins,  especially 
on  the  flanks ;  there  are  two  dark  streaks  on  the  temples, 
a  few  spots  on  the  anal,  and  the  dorsal  is  clouded  by  ill-de- 
fined spots. 

Obs.  The  Spams  notatus  of  Solander  (Mss.  Pise.  Austr. ; 
Parkinson  37,  Icon  ined.  Bibl.  Banks  ;  Richardson,  Ann. 
and  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist.  xi.  p.  425),  has  considerable  re- 


semblance to  this  species  in  the  distribution  of  its  dark 
tints,  as  well  as  in  its  external  form,  but  the  large,  oval, 
black  spot  is  situated  some  distance  below  the  lateral  line. 
The  Labrus  pcecilopleura  of  New  Zealand,  as  far  as  we 
can  judge  from  the  description  of  it  in  the  '  Histoire  des 
Poissons,'  (p.  13,  95),  does  not  differ  specifically  from 
Solander's  notatus.  These  species,  and  several  other  Aus- 
tralian Lahri,  viz.  L.  tetricus,  fucicola,  laticlavius,  and 
psittaculus  (Richardson,  Zool.  Trans.)  ;  and  also  the  L. 
ephippiuni  and  gayi  of  the  '  Histoire  des  Poissons,'  agree 
with  celidotus  in  the  numbers  of  the  dorsal  and  anal 
spines,  and  differ  widely  in  that  character  from  the  Eu- 
ropean Lahri. 

Hab.  Seas  of  New  Zealand  and  Australia,  Southern  Is- 
land of  New  Zealand,  (Forster) ;  Woosung,  North  of  China, 
(Sir  Everard  Home). 

Labrus  botryocosmus.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— D.  9|11  ;  A.  3|10  ;  C.  12| ;  P.  12  ;   V.  1|5. 

Plate  XXXI.,  figs.  C,  7,  8,  &  10.  natural  size  ;  9  magnified. 

This  Labrus  is  very  much  like  the  preceding  one,  the 
most  palpable  difference  being  the  existence  of  a  cluster  of 
black  dots  above  the  lateral  line  and  under  the  posterior 
dorsal  spines,  with  a  longitudinal  bar  on  the  dorsal  and 
another  on  the  anal,  in  place  of  the  lateral  s])ot  and  other 
markings  of  celidotus.  There  is  also  a  pale  blue  streak 
running  up  the  posterior  border  of  the  preorbitar  and  along 
the  suborbitar  chain.  The  dentition  does  not  differ  from 
that  of  celidotus,  and  there  is  a  similar  minute  canine  at  the 
angle  of  the  mouth.  On  comparing  the  specimens  closely 
with  one  another,  the  following  differences  were  detected  in 
form.  The  profile  of  the  snout  of  botryocosmus  is  gibbous, 
its  snout  is  wider,  and  the  curve  formed  by  the  junction  of 
the  cranium  with  the  scaly  nape  is  more  contracted  than  in 
celidotus.  The  posterior  limb  of  the  preoperculum  is 
nearly  erect,  and  meets  the  lower  limb  at  a  right  angle, 
while  in  celidotus  the  angle  is  much  more  open.  The 
scales  of  botryocosmus  are  in  general  more  elongated,  and 
the  tubes  which  mark  out  the  lateral  line  are  simply  forked 
in  the  tail,  and  move  branched  anteriorly,  contrary  to  what 
is  observed  in  celidotus. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  South  Australia  and  Van  Diemen's 
Land. 

Macrourus,  vel  Lepidorhynchus  denticolatus. 
Richardson. 

Ch.  Spec.  M.  squamis  ovalibus  rotundatisve  nan  carina- 
tis  postice  spinuloso-hirtis  ;  radio  pinnte  dorsi  antico 
submutico  ;  piiitid  dorsi  secundd  lonyius  pone  anum 
incipienti. 

Radii:  — D.  12—?    A.—?    P.  18. 

Plate  XXXII.,  fig.  1.  natural  size  ;  2,  3,  magnified. 

About  eight  species  of  this  genus  are  now  known  ;  viz. 
two  which  inhabit  the  Greenland  seas,  two  belonging  to 


54 


the  Mediterranean  and  adjoining  districts  of  the  Atlantic, 
one  to  the  Canaries,  one  to  the  sea  of  Japan,  and  two  to 
the  seas  of  Australia.  The  chief  peculiarities  of  the  spe- 
cies now  first  named  are  indicated  in  the  specific  character 
given  above.  It  agrees  with  M.  stromii  of  E,heinhardt,  and 
the  M.calorrhynchus  of  the  Mediterranean  and  Madeira,  in 
the  scales  being  armed  on  the  exposed  part  of  their  disk 
by  slender  subulate  or  setaceous  spines,  not  disposed  in  any 
definite  order.  M.  fabricii  (Sundevall),  M.  sclerorhynchus 
(Valenciennes),  and  M.  australis  (Richai'dson,  Zool.  iii.  p. 
151,  pi.  8,  &  1)  have  the  scales  armed  with  spines  ranged 
in  rows  and  incumbent  on  each  other,  forming  toothed 
ridges.  The  trachyrhynchus  of  the  Mediterranean,  and 
japonicus  (Temni.  et  Schleg;  Krusenstern,  t.  60,  f.  8,  9), 
differ  from  the  others,  in  having  tapering  acute  snouts. 

Our  specimen  of  M.  detiticukitus  was  thrown  up  on  the 
beach  of  South  Australia,  and  has  lost  the  end  of  its  tail. 
It  was  dried,  and  the  soft  parts  about  the  snout  have  shri- 
velled away,  so  that  the  true  form  of  that  part  is  still 
unknown.  The  mouth  appears  to  be  more  nearly  terminal 
than  in  the  other  species,  and  is  certainly  much  more  so 
than  in  M.  amiralis.  The  eye  also  is  larger,  and  the  flat 
cheek  and  sloping  disk  of  the  preoperculum  do  not  taper  to 
a  point  as  in  that  species.  There  is  a  thin  temporal  ridge ; 
the  first  dorsal  is  tall,  the  second  one  low,  and  commen- 
cing a  good  way  behind  the  anus.  The  first  ventral  ray  ter- 
minates in  a  slender  filament,  and  the  upper  jaw  is  armed 
by  longer  and  more  widely  set  teeth  than  that  of  aus- 
tralis. A  scale  from  the  lateral  line  is  shown  in  pi.  32,  fig. 
3,  and  one  from  another  place  on  the  side  in  fig.  4. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  South  Australia. 


NoTACANTHUS  SEXSPiNis.     RichardsoH. 

Ch.  Spec.  N.  capite  conico,  rostra  obtnso  ;  apicibus  den- 
iium  lanceolatis ;  pinnis  pectoris  ad  aperturam  bran- 
chiarum  approximatis. 

Radii  :  —  D.  6|1 ;  A.  ]4|— ?    P.  13  vel  14  ;   V.  2'{J,  cum 
pari  suo  coiijuyatd. 

Plate  XXXII.,  figs.  4,  5,  7,  8, 9,  nat.  size ;  6, 10,  11,  magn. 

The  specimen  from  which  our  figure  was  made,  was 
thrown  ashore  in  King  George's  Sound,  and  has  lost  part 
of  its  tail.  It  was  prepared  simply  by  drying,  and  on  soak- 
ing it  well  in  water  it  resumed  its  former  dimensions,  in 
which  state  it  was  drawn  by  the  artist.  In  general  form  it 
resembles  A^.  nasus,*  but  the  snout,  though  blunt  at  the 
point,  is  more  exactly  conical,  and  the  profile,  instead  of 
being  gibbous  just  behind  the  eye,  has  a  gentle  straight 
declivity  which  unites  imperceptibly  with  the  dorsal  line. 
The  mouth  is  farther  back  than  in  nasus,  the  front  part  of 
the  cleft  being  under  the  nostrils  and  the  posterior  corner 
opposite  to  the  middle  of  the  eye.  The  maxillary  forks  at 
the  lower  end,  its  upper  prong  being  an  acute  subulate 

Not.  nasus  ;   fronte  yibho ;   dentibits  subulatis  parum   compressis ; 
pinnis  pectoris  ub  aperturd  branchiarum  remolis. 

Radii  ;— D.  11—;   A.  C.  13  136  ;  P.  16  ;  V.  3l8. 


spine,  and  the  lower  one  a  thin  linear  slip  of  bone  which 
curves  slightly  round  the  corner  of  the  mouth,  and  is  con- 
cealed in  the  thickness  of  the  lip.  In  N.  nasus,  the  upper 
lip  forms  an  obtuse  pendulous  lobe  at  the  corner  of  the 
mouth,  and  the  maxillary  has  also  a  spinous  point,  which  is 
represented  in  pi.  55,  fig.  2  of  the  new  French  edition  of  the 
'  Regne  Animal,'  but  omitted  by  Bloch.  Judging  from  the 
French  figure,  the  naked  parts  about  the  mouth  seem  to  be 
more  extensive  in  nasus.  In  se.vspiiiis  the  scaly  integu- 
ment comes  close  to  the  upper  teeth,  but  the  lower  lip  is 
naked  :  the  rest  of  the  head  is  densely  scaly,  so  that  the 
forms  of  the  bones  cannot  be  made  out. 

The  upper  teeth  (fig.  10)  are  compressed,  with  lanceolate, 
acute  tips,  which  point  obliquely  backwards.  The  under 
ones  (fig.  11)  are  closely  set,  and  have  hair-like  erect  stems 
with  acute  slightly  incurved  tips.  The  palatine  and  vo- 
merine teeth  ai'e  smaller  and  more  subulate  than  those  of 
the  lower  jaw,  and  are  ranged  in  a  single  series,  forming 
an  arc  within  those  of  the  upper  jaw.  There  are  about 
twenty  or  twenty-one  on  each  side  of  the  upper  jaw,  and 
twenty-four  on  each  limb  of  the  lower  one.  The  scales  are 
small,  oval,  and  impressed  by  fine  furrows,  which  radiate 
from  an  eccentric  point.  The  lateral  line  is  nearly  straight 
and  runs  above  the  middle  of  the  height. 

The  first  dorsal  spine  stands  opposite  to  the  posterior 
third  of  the  ventrals,  as  in  nasus,  and  the  third  one  is  op- 
posite to  the  first  anal  spine.  A  small,  forked,  jointed  ray 
stands  in  the  axilla  of  the  last  dorsal  spine.  Both  the  ven- 
tral spines  and  the  last  two  dorsal  ones  are  obsoletely 
jointed,  though  they  are  stiff  and  pungent.  The  ventrals 
are  completely  united  to  each  other,  so  as  to  form  but  one 
fin,  as  represented  by  fig.  5.  The  anal  commences  with 
fourteen  acute,  pungent  spines,  but  joints  are  distinctly 
perceptible  in  three  or  four  of  the  ]50sterior  ones.  The  tail 
being  mutilated,  we  cannot  state  the  number  of  the  soft 
anal  rays,  but  the  form  of  the  portion  of  fin  which  remains 
is  much  like  that  of  nasus.  The  series  of  glandular  points 
represented  as  running  along  the  base  of  the  anal,  in  the  fi- 
gure of  nasus,  published  in  the  '  Regne  Animal,'  were  not 
apparent  in  the  specimen  of  sexspiiiis.  Our  fish,  when  en- 
tire, must  have  been  upwards  of  thirteen  inches  long. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound,  Australia. 


Uranoscopus  maculatus.     Forster. 


Radii:— D.  18  vel  19;    A.  17  vel  18;     C. 

V.  1|5. 


P.  1( 


Uranoscopus  maculosus,  Solander,  Pise.  AusU.  MSS.,  p.  21,  An. 
1770.  Ur.  maculatus,  J.  R.  Forster,  apud  Schn.  p.  49,  An.  1801.  Icon, 
G.  Forster,  176,  177,  Bib.  Banks.  ;  Richardson,  An.  and  Mag.  of  Nat. 
Hist.  ix.  p.  207,  An.  1842  ;  Forster,  Descript.  Anim.  cura  Lioht.  p.  118, 
1844.  I7r.  monopteri/gius,  Schn.  Ur.  cirrhosus,  C.  et  V.  iii.  p.  314, 
An.  1829.  Ur.  Forsteri,  Id.  iii.  p.  318.  Ur.  Kouripouia,  Less.  Voy.  par 
M.  Duperry,  pi.  18,  An.  1830. 

Plate  XXXIII.,  figs.  1—3,  natural  size. 

Solander  detected  and  described  this  fish,  but  his  notes 
remaining  in  manuscript,  the  species  was  first  made  known 
by  Schneider  from  the  papers  of  Forster.  As  there  are 
several  Uranoscopcs  with  single  dorsals,   Cuvier  hasjustly 


65 


objected  to  the  specific  name  of  tnonopterygitis,  as  not  be- 
ing discriminative,  but  as  this  fault  is  common  to  very 
man}'  of  the  scientific  appellations  given  to  fish,  the  rule  of 
adhering  to  the  earliest  published  name,  if  not  preoccupied, 
seems  to  be  preferable  to  the  introduction  of  the  very  nu- 
merous changes  which  would  result  from  an  attempt  to  rec- 
tify all  objectionable  names,  and  we  have,  therefore,  ad- 
hered to  Forster's  name  of  macitlatns,  which  was  published 
by  Schneider  simultaneously  with  the  newer  and  even  less 
distinctive  appellation  invented  by  himself,  especially  as 
Forster's  differs  little  from  that  of  maculosus  bestowed  on 
the  fish  by  Solander,  its  first  describer.  We  have  seen 
several  specimens,  both  from  New  Zealand  and  Van  Die- 
men's  Land,  and  have  figured  one  of  them,  because  Lesson's 
plate  does  not  appear  to  us  to  be  a  satisfactory  representa- 
tion of  the  species. 

The  top  of  the  head  is  quite  flat,  from  the  occiput  to  the 
end  of  the  snout,  and  transversely  as  far  as  the  temples 
and  outer  edges  of  the  orbits.  A  square  membranous 
space  is  bounded  laterally  by  the  rough  borders  of  the 
orbits,  and  behind  by  a  cross  ridge  of  bone  connecting 
these  borders  ;  the  fore  edge  of  the  membrane  that  crosses 
the  pedicles  of  the  intermaxillaries  is  cut  away  in  a  shal- 
low curve,  and  is  the  anterior  boundary  of  the  square 
space.  The  intermaxillaries  lie  in  the  same  plane  with 
the  snout,  and  descend  very  slightly  when  protruded. 
Cuvier  describes  the  granulations  of  the  cranial  plates,  as 
being  arranged  in  lines  radiating  from  nine  centres  like  so 
many  stars,  viz.,  in  two  rows  of  four  each,  and  a  single 
roundish  occipital  plate  on  the  mesial  line.  It  is  not  easy 
to  make  out  the  nine  centres  here  mentioned.  The  exact 
forms  of  the  plates  are  shown  in  fig.  2,  and  most  of  them 
are  roughened  by  minute  points  crowded  without  order. 
The  outermost  posterior  plates,  however,  and  two  middle 
pairs,  show  some  radiating  lines.  The  borders  of  the  orbits 
are  very  slightly  raised,  and  the  granulations  of  the  super- 
ciliary plates  show  a  tendency  to  run  in  lines.  The  preor- 
bitar  projects  two  acute  points  over  the  limb  of  the  maxil- 
lary ;  and  the  three  suborbitars  which  follow  occupy  but  a 
small  part  of  the  cheek,  and  are  all  irregularly  gi-anulated. 
The  preoperculum  is  curved  in  the  arc  of  a  circle,  is  coarsely 
granulated  at  its  upper  end,  and  covered  elsewhere  with 
smooth  integument,  which  is  perforated  by  a  double  row  of 
pores.  Vertical  granular  lines  mark  the  operculum,  with 
a  few  coarser  grains  at  its  upper  angle,  but  in  the  recent 
fish  these  rough  parts  are  mostly  concealed  by  the  integu- 
ment. The  supra-scapulars  are  densely  granulated  oblong 
plates,  which  in  conjunction  with  the  mesial  occipital  plate 
form  the  boundary  of  the  nape.  The  scapular  (or  humeral) 
bone  emits  a  strong  spine  over  the  upper  angle  of  the  gill- 
opening  ;  it  is  slightly  curved  at  the  point,  and  half  an 
inch  long  in  a  fish  which  measures  seven  inches,  though 
the  tips  only  protrude  through  the  skin.  Forster  describes 
it  as  ^^  spina  valida  horizontalis,  apice  extrorsum  fiexd, 
polUcaris"  in  a  specimen  which  measured  twenty-two 
inches.  The  lips  are  closely  fringed  with  very  short  slen- 
der cirrhi,  just  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  and  there  is  a  short 
thick  barbel  on  the  chin,  which  seems  to  have  escaped 
Forster's  notice,  and  is  not  indeed  very  readily  discovered 
unless  it  be  looked  for.  A  slender  filament  protrudes  from 
within  the  velum  of  the  lower  jaw.     The  dental  plates  are 


coarsely  and  thinly  villiform  at  the  symphyses  and  taper 
away  on  the  limbs  of  the  jaws.  The  vomerine  teeth  are 
minutely  villiform,  being  scarcely  visible  to  the  naked  eye, 
and  a  cluster  of  three  or  four  somewhat  larger  ones,  crowded 
together,  exists  on  the  fore  part  of  each  palate  bone,  these 
bones  being  otherwise  toothless.  A  row  of  pores  runs 
along  the  limb  of  tlie  lower  jaw  to  the  preoperculum.  The 
eye  is  fringed  by  a  narrow  toothed  membrane,  which  is  not 
easily  seen  unless  the  eyeball  be  protruded.  The  lateral 
line  curves  gradually  from  the  outer  end  of  the  suprasca- 
pular towards  the  beginning  of  the  dorsal,  and  then  runs 
near  the  base  of  that  fin,  approaching  it  gradually  and 
slightly  in  its  course ;  when  it  arrives  at  the  base  of  the 
caudal  it  bends  suddenly  downwards  to  pass  between  the 
middle  rays  of  the  fin.  Throughout  its  length  short  lateral 
branches  fringe  it  beneath,  each  ending  in  a  muciferous 
pore.  The  scales  of  the  body  are  similar  and  of  an  oblong 
shape.  None  exist  above  the  lateral  lines,  nor  on  the 
other  parts  mentioned  as  being  naked  in  the  '  Histoire  des 
Poissons.'  All  the  rays  of  the  dorsal  are  jointed,  the  spi- 
nous fin  being  deficient,  but  in  the  dried  specimen  four  ob- 
tuse points  press  up  the  skin,  like  so  many  interspinous 
bones  before  the  first  ray. 

The  markings  are  represented  in  the  figure  as  they  exist 
in  a  specimen  which  has  been  long  macerated  in  spirits, 
but  the  following  is  Solander's  desciuption  of  a  recent  fish. 
"  Piscis  superiie  virescenti-griseus  maculis  rotundis  dilute 
et  sordide  Jlavicantibus ;  subtus  e  virescente  albus.  Ca- 
put supra  cavernosum,  pallide  ejlavicante  et  griseo  nebu- 
losum.  Oculi  parvi.  Iris  griseo  et  albido  inarmorata. 
Pupilla  nigra,  superne  et  inferne  lobulo  griseo  uotata. 
Pinna  dorsalis  subglauca :  vittd  infra  medium  lata,  al- 
bidcl :  radiis  supra  vittam  fuscis,  apicibus  rubicundis. 
PinncB  pectorales  extus  olivacea;,  maculis  rotundis  e  vires- 
cente albidis  fulvo  marmoratis,  interne  obscuriores ;  basi 
colore  pectoris  ;  margines  anteriores  et  posteriores  albidce. 
PinncB  ventrales  et  anales  colore  pectoris.  Pinna  caudaiis 
e  rubicundo  griscescens,  fascia  ante  medium  sub-inter- 
ruptd,  lata,  sordide  ex  albido  virescenti  ;  margo  posticus 
Tubescitr  Forster  merely  says  in  regard  to  colour,  "  Cor- 
pus supra  pallide  fuscum,  maculis  pallidioribus  [in  qui- 
busdam  albis  seu  arge7iteis),  subtus  candicanti  argenteumP 
"  Pupilla  nigra,  iride  aurea ;  membrand  nictilante  in- 
tegrd."* 

Forster's  specimens  measured  twenty-two  inches,  and 
are  mostly  about  seven  or  eight  inches  long. 

Hab.  Seas  of  New  Zealand  and  Australia.  (Also  Ota- 
heiti,   Forster). 


Uranoscopds   macropygus.     Richardson. 

R.\Dii :— D.  30  ;    A.  37;    C.  8| ;   P.  19  ;    V.  1|5. 

Ch.  Spec.  U.  capite  laevi  inermi  ;  ano  sub  axilla  pinnce 
pectoris  magnm  posilo  ;  pinnd  ani  longissimd  ante  pin- 
nam   dorsi  unicam  incipienti   et   ad  pinnam    caudte 


*  This  seems  to  have  been  an  oversight,  arising  from  the  eye  being 
examined  wlien  retracted,  for  the  eye-ball  is  surrounded  by  a  denticulated 
fringe. 


56 


usque   exlensd ;   squamis  mediocriius ;    lined  lateralis 
mediand  recta,  squamis  majusculis  tectd. 

Plate  XXXIII.,  figs.  4—6,  natural  size. 

This  Uranoscope  differs  widely  from  others  of  the  genus 
in  aspect  and  several  well  marked  characters.  The  for- 
ward position  of  its  vent,  under  the  lower  pectoral  rays, 
and  at  the  beginning  of  the  second  quarter  of  the 
length  of  the  fish,  is  remarkable,  and  distinguishes  it  at 
once  from  maculosus  and  Icevis,  the  other  two  Australian 
Uranoscopes  with  one  dorsal.  It  has  a  genital  papilla  like 
the  other  species.  The  head  is  covered  with  smooth  skin, 
through  v^'hich  the  form  of  the  bones,  similar  to  those  of 
mnciilattis,  can  be  made  out,  but  no  granulations  are  visible. 
The  lips  are  finely  fimbriated,  and  the  teeth  are  villiforni. 

The  eye-ball,  which  is  not  ciliated,  is  retractile,  as  is 
usual  in  the  genus.  A  row  of  pores  traverses  the  lower 
jaw  and  disk  of  the  preojjerculum  ;  the  operculum  is  tri- 
angular and  ciliated  on  its  upper  edge  and  round  its  point. 
There  is  no  scapular  spine.  The  pelvic  bones  are  each 
terminated  anteriorly  by  a  spinous  point  which  penetrates 
the  skin.  The  straight  lateral  line  is  traced  in  the  middle 
of  the  height  on  a  series  of  scales  larger  than  the  others, 
which  are  of  moderate  size,  but  much  larger  than  those  of 
maculosus.  There  is  no  vestige  of  a  spinous  dorsal,  and  the 
soft  fin  commences  over  the  space  between  the  sixth  and 
seventh  anal  rays.  Its  rays  and  those  of  the  anal  are 
all  jointed  and  unbranched.  The  membranes  of  the  fins 
generally  are  more  delicate  than  in  the  other  Uranoscopes, 
and  the  rays,  especially  of  the  pectorals,  have  more  slender 
tips.  The  dorsal  and  anal  terminate  by  a  point  of  membrane 
exactly  at  the  base  of  the  caudal,  which  is  rounded  at  its 
extremity.  Pectoral  large,  and  supported  by  rays  which 
are  all  forked  except  the  upper  one.  No  barbel  on 
the  chin,  nor  any  filament  from  within  the  lower  jaw. 
Length  of  the  specimen  9^  inches.  The  original  tints  of 
colour  have  perished  in  the  spirits,  but  the  dark  markings 
which  remain  may  be  ascertained  by  consulting  the  figure. 
The  caudal  has  a  rather  remarkable  distribution  of  colour, 
the  upper  and  lower  parts  being  black  and  the  middle 
third  pale  or  whitish. 

Hab.  Port  Jackson. 


BovicTHYS  VARiEGATDS.     Richardsou. 

Radii:— B.  7;    D.  8]— 18^/19;   A.  13  re/ 14;   C.  115; 
P.  lOetV. ;   V.  1|5. 

Plate  XXXIV.,  fig.  1—4,  natural  size. 

Except  in  a  few  particulars  noted  below,  this  fish  an- 
swers exactly  to  the  description  of  Bovichthys  diacanthus 
in  the  '  Histoire  des  Poissons,'  but  it  agrees  less  perfectly 
with  the  figure  in  that  work  (pi.  244).  In  general  form  it 
approaches  nearer  to  Captain  Carmichael's  representation 
of  his  CaUionymus  diacaiif/ius  (Lin.  Trans,  xii.  p.  501, 
pi.  26),  which  is  considered  to  be  the  same  species  with 
the  Chili  fish  described  in  the  '  Histoire  des  Poissons'.  It 
may  indeed  be  merely  a  more  perfect  example  of  diacaii- 


thtis,  or  a  variety,  but  as  it  differs  a  little  in  the  numbers  of 
the  rays,*  and  to  all  appearance,  considerably  in  the  mark- 
ings, I  have  thought  it  expedient  to  figure  and  name  it  as 
a  new  sjiecies. 

On  reading  over  the  description  of  diacanthus,  with  the 
specimens  of  variegatus  before  me,  the  only  discrepancies 
I  could  detect  were  the  following.  The  preoperculum  did 
not  appear  through  the  integuments  to  be  either  remarkably 
large  or  cavernous,  but  a  series  of  open  ]jores  runs  round 
its  border.  Its  edge  is  even  and  not  undulated.  The  pec- 
toral overlaps  the  anal  more  than  in  the  figures  in  the  Lin- 
nean  Transactions  or  '  Histoire  des  Poissons,'  the  penulti- 
mate anal  ray  is  not  so  abruptly  larger  than  the  preceding 
ones,  and  the  pectorals  and  ventrals  are  more  approxi- 
mated. Five  porous  lines  with  short  transverse  branches 
are  disposed  on  the  gill  covers,  temples,  and  scapular  re- 
gion of  each  side.  They  are  probably  what  Carmichael 
denominates  "  tortuous  streaks."  The  lateral  line  is  com- 
posed of  a  series  of  raised,  flat,  triangular  eminences,  turned 
alternately  upwards  and  downwards.  They  appear  to  be 
composed  of  soft  integument,  and  there  are  no  scales  on 
the  body,  but  the  skin  is  studded  with  microscopical  pores 
which  give  it  a  rough  appearance,  even  to  the  naked  eye, 
yet  are  not  perceptible  to  the  finger.  The  markings  will  be 
best  understood  from  an  examination  of  the  figure,  with 
the  explanation  that  after  long  maceration  in  spirits  the 
dark  portions  are  blackish  brown,  and  the  lighter  ones 
dingy,  little  or  no  pure  white  being  visible,  except  on  the 
throat.  One  specimen  is  eight  inches  long  and  another 
five  inches. 

Hab.  Port  Jackson. 


Centriscus  humerosus.     Richardson. 

Radii:— D.  6|— 17;   A.  18  ;   C.9|;   P.  16;   V.  1|5. 

Plate  XXXIV.,  figs.  5,  6,  natural  size. 

We  have  seen  only  a  dried  specimen  of  this  fish,  which 
differs  from  the  common  MediteiTanean  species,  chiefly  in 
its  high  and  gibbous  shoulder.  It  has  eight  radiated  plates 
en  each  side  of  the  humeral  apparatus  which  supports  the 
large  dorsal  spine,  besides  a  mesial  row  of  smaller  ones ; 
also  three  rows  of  plates  on  the  thorax  between  the  gill- 
opening  and  ventrals,  and  some  smaller  plates  between  the 
ventrals  and  anal  fin.  A  radiated  plate  also  exists  above 
the  posterior  half  of  the  orbit.  The  scales  are  small.  The 
dorsal  spine  is  stout,  and  has  several  acute  curved  teeth  at 
its  base  in  front,  and  many  serratures  and  denticulations 
throughout  its  length  on  its  posterior  face.  It  is  followed 
by  five  short  spines  not  connected  by  membrane  ;  the  last 
of  these  spines  is  at  the  base  of  the  second  dorsal,  which 
has  an  obliquely  conical  outline.  The  anal  is  less  high, 
but  has  a  longer  base  than  the  dorsal. 

The  height  of  the  shoulder  is  contained  twice  and  one 
half  in  the  total  length,  and  the  thickness  there  is  one- 
sixth  of  the  height.     The  length  of  the  head  and  snout  ex- 

*  Bovichthys  diacanthus,  D.  8! — 20  ;  A.  14  {Hist,  des  Poissons).  Cal- 
lionymus  diacanthus,  D.  81 — 20 ;  A.  16.  (Carmich.) 


ceeds  the  height  at  the  shouhler.  The  height  between  the 
vent  and  base  of  the  dorsal  is  one-tenth  less  than  the 
height  at  the  shoulder. 

Hab.  Sea  of  South  Australia.     Specimen  in  the  British 
Museum. 


PsETTUS  AEGENTEUs.     Linn.    {C/icctodon). 

Chtrtndnn  nrijenteus,  Linn.  Cbinens.  Lagerstrffim.  Anioen.  Acad. 
Dec.  17.')  1,  iv.  p.  4-2!>.  ;  Foist.  Faun.  Sin.;  Bloch.  Sclin.  p.  230.  Icon. 
Keeves,  J 10;  Hanlw.  Acanth.  226.  Chinese  name,  Yin  Win  tsang, 
"  Silver  scale  Imni/,''  (Birch) ;  Yen  lin  tsong,  "  Silver  scaled  tsang," 
(Reeves). 

Radii:— B.  6;  D.  8|29;  A.  3|29;  C.  17|;  P.  17;    V.  1|5. 
(Spec.  Hasl.  Museum). 

Plate  XXXV.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size  ;  3,  magnified. 

This  fish  was  first  described  by  Linnaeus  as  a  Chcetodon, 
and  its  true  position  in  the  genus  Psettus  is  pointed  out  in 
the  '  Histoire  des  Poissons,'  (vii.  p.  2-31),  where  all  that  is 
said  of  it  in  the  '  Amcenitates  Academica: '  is  transcribed. 
Its  agreement  in  many  characters  \vith  Psettus  commer- 
sonii  is  there  shown,  but  the  height  of  the  body,  it  is  justly 
remarked,  brings  it  nearer  to  Psettus  rhonibeus.  We  are 
inclined,  however,  to  keep  it  separate  on  account  of  its  pro- 
portionally larger  eye,  taller  and  more  obtuse  dorsal  and 
anal  fins,  and  from  its  wanting  the  black  lines  which  de- 
scend from  the  fore  part  of  the  dorsal  to  the  face  in  rhom- 
beus.  We  possess  two  specimens,  which  were  taken  at 
Sidney,  and  which  agree  closely  with  Mr.  Reeves's  drawing, 
though  the  latter  is  a  representation  of  a  larger  individual. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  equal  to  the  distance  between 
the  fore  part  of  the  orbit  and  the  end  of  the  dorsal  and  anal 
fins ;  and  is  in  proportion  to  the  total  length  as  27  to  46. 
The  distance  between  the  tips  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  rather 
exceeds  the  total  length  when  the  fins  are  fully  spread  out  ;* 
and  the  thickness  of  the  body  is  about  a  sixth  of  its  height, 
or  less  than  a  tenth  of  the  height,  fins  included.  The 
scales  are  small,  and  cover  the  whole  head  and  dorsal  and 
anal  fins  up  to  the  tips  of  the  rays.  They  are  either  very 
deciduous  on  the  caudal,  or  they  only  clothe  its  base.  The 
scales  are  delicate  and  feel  smoothish  to  the  finger,  even 
when  drawn  backwards,  but  under  the  microscope,  the  pos- 
terior triangular  portion  of  their  disks  is  seen  to  be  studded 
with  minute  teeth.  A  magnified  representation  of  a  scale 
from  the  lateral  line  is  given  in  fig.  3.  The  caudal  is 
nearly  even  at  the  end  when  fully  expanded,  but  seems 
crescentic  when  suffered  to  collapse  a  little.  The  spines 
of  the  dorsal  are  drawn  in  the  figure  as  they  appear  when 
elevated  ;  when  lying  flatly  against  the  front  of  the  fin  the 
anterior  ones  are  scarcely  perceptible,  and  the  summits 
both  of  the  soft  dorsal  and  anal  appear  more  acute  and 
stand  out  more  abruptly  from  the  posterior  rays  when  suf- 
fered to  fall  back  a  little.    The  teeth  are  those  of  a  Chato- 

*  In  the  figure  of  Psettus  rhombeus  in  the  new  edition  of  '  Kegne 
Animal,'  ii.  pi.  XLIT.,  fig.  2,  the  height  between  the  tips  of  the  dorsal 
and  anal  fins  does  not  exceed  the  length  from  the  snout  to  the  trunk  of  the 
tail,  and  the  eye  is  less,  and  further  from  the  profile  than  in  argenteus. 


don,  and  the  eye  is  larger  and  nearer  the  profile  than  that 
of  Psettus  sebcc  or  rhombeus.  The  orbit  is  only  its  own 
diameter  distant  from  the  gill-opening,  excluding  the  small 
peak  of  the  gill-cover. 

Mr.  Reeves's  drawing  is  eight  inches  long,  and  is  colored 
duck-green  on  the  back,  fading  away  at  the  lateral  line  into 
the  silvery  and  very  slightly  rosaceous  scales.  The  verti- 
cal fins  are  duck-green  at  the  base,  and  pass  into  oil-green 
and  sulphur-yellow  towai-ds  the  ends,  the  anterior  summits 
of  the  dorsal  and  anal  being  dark  purplish  brown,  shaded 
off  in  the  latter  by  crimson.  The  upper  parts  of  the  head 
and  gill-cover  are  blackish  green  mixed  with  crimson  ;  and 
the  pectoral  is  straw-yellow,  with  an  aurora-red  tint  at  its 
base.     Iris  silvery  and  brown. 

Hab.    Seas  of  Australia  and  China. 


ScATOPHAGUS  MULTIFASCIATUS.     Richaxdson. 

Ch.  Spec.  Sc.  fronte  concavd  ad  nares  gibbd  ;  dorsofas- 
ciis  plurimis,  nigris,  transversis  notato  ;  lateribus  ma- 
culatis  ;  post  singulas  spinas  pimi(B  dorsi  unique  vitto 
nigra. 


Radii  ; 


-B.  6;    D.  111-1116;    A.  4|16;    C.  15|;    P.  17  ; 
V.  IjS. 


Plate  XXXV., 


4,  5,  natural  size ;    6,  magnified. 


The  body  is  much  compressed,  with  a  short,  oblate-oval 
outline,  beyond  which  the  .snout  and  trunk  of  the  tail  pro- 
ject. The  summit  of  the  back,  which  is  occupied  by  the  spi- 
nous dorsal,  and  the  opposite  part  of  the  belly,  are  bounded 
by  nearly  horizontal  lines.  The  soft  dorsal  and  anal 
occupy  the  whole  of  the  posterior  curves.  The  head  foims 
nearly  one-fourth  of  the  whole  length,  caudal  included,  and 
the  diameter  of  the  orbit  rather  exceeds  the  fourth  part  of 
the  length  of  the  head.  The  border  of  the  orbit  is  obtusely 
prominent  at  the  upper  anterior  angle  behind  the  nostril. 
The  preorbitar  is  considerably  wider  than  the  rest  of  the 
suborbitar  chain,  and  an  obtuse  notch  is  formed  by  their 
junction.  The  upper  limb  of  the  preoperculum  is  vertical, 
the  corner  shortly  rounded,  and  the  lower  one  completely 
overlies  the  interoperculum,  only  a  small  crescentic  part  of 
that  bone  showing  behind  the  angle  of  the  preoperculum. 
The  edge  of  the  gill-cover  is  nearly  an  arc  of  a  circle 
without  any  notch,  but  the  upper  comer  of  the  operculum 
makes  a  scarcely  visible  prominence.  It  is  rough  with 
microscopical  teeth. 

The  fine  brush-like  dental  plates  on  the  jaws  are  com- 
posed of  closely  set  slender  teeth,  each  of  which  is  tiicus- 
pid,  with  the  middle  cusp  taller  than  the  lateral  ones. 
There  are  no  teeth  on  the  roof  of  the  mouth. 

The  scales  are  small  and  densely  tiled,  only  a  small  ob- 
lique rhomboidal  segment  of  the  disk  being  visible,  which 
is  armed  with  several  parallel  acutely  toothed  ridges. 
The  base  is  undulated,  producing  three  or  four  indistinct 
lobes.  The  general  form  of  the  scales  is  semi-oval  with 
one  side  shorter.  The  lateral  line  runs  in  the  upper 
quarter  of  the  height  until  it  reaches  the  posterior  third  of 


53 


the  dorsal,  when  it  takes  a  straight  course  through  the  mid- 
dle of  the  tail. 

Tlie  dorsal  spines  have  their  broad  sides  turned  alter- 
nately to  the  right  and  left ;  the  first  two  spines  are  short, 
and  the  third  and  fourth  are  the  longest,  the  succeeding  ones 
decreasing  rapidly  in  height.  The  spine  of  the  second  dor- 
sal is  buried  in  its  front,  so  that  only  its  tip  shows.  The 
first  and  second  anal  spines  arc  longer  than  the  following 
two.  The  soft  dorsal  and  anal  are  alike,  both  having 
a  rounded  lobe  in  front  higher  than  the  rest  of  the  fin,  and 
the  posterior  corner  also  rounded.  The  caudal  is  slightly 
crescentic.  This  fin  and  the  soft  dorsal  and  anal  are 
rough  with  minute  scales. 

The  specimen  here  described  is  a  dried  one,  and  the  co- 
lours have  consequently  perished,  but  the  scales  retain  a 
peculiar  satiny  lustre,  and  sixteen  or  eighteen  narrow  black 
bands  remain  visible  on  the  back,  descending  a  little  below 
the  lateral  line,  together  with  many  roundish  spots  lower  on 
the  sides.  The  top  of  the  head  and  nape  are  dark,  and 
there  is  a  broad  black  stripe  behind  each  dorsal  spine,  and 
also,  but  more  faint,  behind  each  anal  spine.  The  soft 
dorsal  and  anal  are  also  very  finely  edged  with  black,  but 
the  rest  of  the  fins  appear  to  be  colourless. 

This  species  differs  in  profile  from  the  Chfstodon  ietra- 
cantlms  of  Lacepede  (iii.  pi.  XXV.,  fig.  2,  et  iv.  p.  727),  or 
Scatophagus  fasciatus,  C.  et  V.  vii.  p.  144.  The  vertical 
bands  are  of  a  different  description,  and  th-jre  is  no  trace 
of  the  pectorals  having  been  black. 

Length  of  the  specimen  \Q\  inches. 

Hai3.  King  George's  Sound,  Australia. 


LuTODEiRA  SALMONEA.    J.  R.  Forster,  {Mugll). 

Mugil  salmoneus,  J.  R.  Forster,  apud  Bl.  Schneid.  p.  121.  Leuciscus 
(Ptycholepis)  salinoneus,  Richardson,  Ann.  and  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist.  xi.  p. 
489,  July,  1843.  Mugil  salmoneus,  Forst.  Descr.  An.  cura  Lichtenst. 
p.  299.  An.  1844-  Icon.  Georg.  Forster,  in  Bib.  Banks.  No.  237.  Mu- 
gil lavaretoides,  Solander,  Pise.  Austr.  p.  15  ?  Names  given  to  it  by 
the  native  tribes  near  Port  Essington,  Mirle-mirle,  and  Orgurkhud. 
Genus,  Lutodeira,  Van  Hasselt,  Riippell. 

Radii:— B.  4;    D.  15;   A.  11  ;  C.  19f ;   P.  17  ;    V.  11. 

Plate  XXXVI.,  fig.  1,  natural  size  ;  2,  magnified. 

The  synomyms  above  quoted,  show  that  much  difference 
of  opinion  has  been  entertained  respecting  the  proper  place 
of  this  fish  in  the  system.  Cuvier,  and  subsequently 
M.  Valenciennes,  considered  it  to  be  the  same  with  the 
Elops  machnata.  This  mistake  is  well  exposed  by  Dr. 
Riippell  in  his  Atlas,  p.  18,  and  Neue  Wirlbethiere,  p.  80, 
but  he  also  is  in  error  in  supposing  that  the  species  is  the 
same  with  the  Mugil  chanos  of  Forskal.  Van  Hasselt  in 
the  year  1822  noticed  the  Magil  chanos  in  Ferussac's 
'  Bulletin  des  Sciences,'  (ii.  p.  92),  under  the  appellation  of 
Lutodeira,  and  Riippell  in  his  Atlas  gives  the  generic  cha- 
racters at  length,  with  a  full  description  and  figure  of  the 
species,  identifying  it  with  the  palah-bontah  of  Russell, 
207.  The  toolelo,  No.  208,  of  the  latter  author  is  a  second 
species  of  Lutodeira,  and  Forster's  fish  is  a  third  one.     In 


the  '  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History  '  I  gave  a 
full  description  of  Forster's  species  from  the  dried  skin  of 
an  individual  which  was  taken  in  the  harbour  of  Port  Es- 
sington. Having  overlooked  Dr.  RuppelFs  able  exposition 
of  the  genus,  I  fell  into  the  error  of  taking  the  fish  for  a 
Cyprinoid,  and  named  it  Leuciscus  (Ptgcholepis*)  salmo- 
neus. This  mistake  is  strongly  animadverted  upon  in  a 
note  appended  to  page  300  of  Forster's  '  Descriptiones 
Auimalium,'  recently  published  by  Lichtenstein,  which  I 
refer  to  chiefly  because  Mr.  Gray's  name  is  there  associated 
with  my  own,  but  the  error  was  wholly  mine.t 

If  great  authorities  can  excuse  a  mistake  of  the  kind,  the 
first  of  modern  ichthyologists  may  be  adduced  in  the  fol- 
lowing sentence,  "  le  Alugil  chanos  de  Forskal  est  de 
la  famille  des  Cyprins."  (Cuv.  Reg.  An.  ii.  p.  23-3) :  and  in 
recognising  the  connexion  between  Forster's  fish  and  Rus- 
sell's palah-bontah  and  toolelo,  which  he  considers  to  be 
Cyprini,  I  followed  him  without  due  consideration.  I  could 
not  ascertain  the  form  of  the  pharyngeals  from  the  dried 
specimen,  the  back  part  of  the  skull  having  been  cut  away, 
but  the  head  exteriorly  exhibits  none  of  the  characters 
which  have  been  indicated  by  M.  Agassiz,  as  characteriz- 
ing the  skull  of  a  Clupeoid.  The  parietal  crests  do  not 
show  at  all,  and  are  not  prolonged,  nor  is  there  a  deep 
notch  in  which  the  occipital  crest  stands.  No  crests  run 
from  this  notch  to  the  middle  of  the  orbit,  there  are  no  tem- 
poral grooves,  nor  does  the  triangular  depression  of  the 
forehead,  so  conspicuous  in  most  Clupeoids,  appear.  It  is 
possible  that  some  indications  of  these  generic  peculiarities 
might  be  traced  in  a  properlj'  prepared  skull,  but  they  do 
not  show  through  the  dried  integument.  The  composition 
of  the  orifice  of  the  mouth,  however,  is  clupeoid. 

This  Lutodeira  has  the  general  aspect  and  neat  appear- 
ance of  a  Coregouus.  The  length  of  the  head,  which  some- 
what exceeds  the  height  of  the  body  under  the  dorsal,  is 
contained  five  times  and  a  half  in  the  total  length  of  the 
fish,  caudal  included.  The  profile  is  a  narrow  ellipse,  the 
back  and  belly  being  bounded  by  equal  curves,  rising  re- 
gularly from  the  mouth  to  the  front  of  the  dorsal,  which  is 
the  middle  of  the  length,  caudal  excluded.  At  the  base  of 
the  caudal  the  height  is  less  than  one-third  of  that  before 
the  dorsal.  The  head  is  covered  with  a  smooth  nacry  skin, 
which  is  continued  evenly  over  the  cheeks  and  gill-covers, 
so  that  the  limits  of  the  opercular  pieces  can  scarcely  be 
distinguished  even  in  the  dried  specimens,  the  under  bor- 
der of  the  preoperculum  alone  being  marked  out  by  a  fold 
of  skin.  The  disk  of  this  bone  is  acutely  crescentic,  with 
an  obtuse  notch  on  its  edge  beneath  the  curve,  and  its  un- 


*  The  name  of  Pti/cholepis  could  not  in  any  case  have  stood,  as  it 
had,  togetliev  with  almost  every  Greek  compound  that  can  be  devised  to 
signify  sculpture  of  the  scales,  been  appropriated  by  M.  Agassiz  to  fossil 
genera,  though  I  was  not  aware  of  that  fact  when  in  search  of  a  charac- 
teristic generic  name. 

:J;  The  passage  is  "  Maxime  autem  Graij  us  et  Richardsonius  nobis  viden- 
tur  vituperandi,  qui  eundem  piscem  Leuciscuui  (Ptycholepin)  salmoneum 
nuncupant,  priini  inter  omiies  Cypnnmn  in  Oceana  piscaturi."  On  this  I 
would  further  observe  that  the  Cyprini  are  not  absolutely  confined  to 
fresh  waters,  some  of  the  Caiastomi  frequent  the  salt  estuaries  of  the  nor- 
thern rivers  of  America,  and  in  page  44  of  this  work  I  have  described  a 
purely  marine  fish,  the  Rliynchana  greyi,  which,  if  it  be  not  a  Cyprinoid, 
seems  to  be  more  nearly  related  to  that  family  than  to  any  other. 


59 


der  limb,  which  is  very  long  and  narrow,  is  obscurely  marked 
by  a  series  of  pores.  The  suboperculum  shows  a  smooth, 
shining,  slightly  convex  linear  disk,  seven  or  eight  times 
less  in  height  than  the  operculum.  The  eye  is  large,  near 
the  profile,  half  the  diameter  of  the  orbit  from  the  orifice 
of  the  mouth,  and  a  diameter  and  a  half  from  the  edge  of 
the  gill-cover.  The  mouth  is  small  and  terminal ;  the  in- 
termaxillary thickish,  convex,  and  without  protractility. 
The  maxillary  is  stout  and  semi-oval,  its  upper  end  fits  in- 
to a  notch  in  the  intermaxillary,  its  lower  and  wider  end 
plays  on  the  limb  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  only  a  small  part 
of  its  shoulder  enters  into  the  composition  of  the  orifice  of 
the  mouth.  There  is  a  slight  fold  of  skin  on  the  edge  of 
the  lower  jaw,  but  on  the  upper  jaw  the  integuments 
adhere  closely  to  the  bones.  The  four  gill-rays  are  strap- 
shaped,  very  thin  and  flat.  There  are  no  scales  on  the 
head,  which  is  flatfish  above  and  gi-adually  narrows  from  the 
nape  to  the  snout.  On  the  occiput  the  sides  of  the  head 
are  much  rounded  off  laterally,  but  the  upper  border  of  the 
orbit  is  prominent  and  rounded. 

The  scales  are  of  moderate  size,  there  being  eighty-seven 
on  the  lateral  line,  and  about  twenty-three  or  twenty-four 
rows  in  the  height.  They  are  suborbicular,  of  a  delicate 
texture,  and  are  divided  at  the  base  into  two  or  three  lobes 
by  shallow  obtuse  notches,  and  have  none  of  the  usual  fur- 
rows. The  exposed  disk  is  marked  by  fi-om  twenty  to 
forty  slightly  divergent  grooves,  producing  a  corresponding 
number  of  rounded  ridges,  which  terminate  on  the  edge  in 
acute  points. 

A  long,  pointed  scale  lies  above,  and  another  below  the 
pectoral,  which  is  small  and  placed  low  down.  The  dorsal 
fin  commences  exactly  midway  between  the  tip  of  the 
snout  and  end  of  the  scales  on  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin ; 
its  three  anterior  rays  are  short,  graduated,  and  closely  in- 
cumbent, without  visible  joints  ;  and  the  margin  of  the  fin 
is  crescentic  with  acute  points,  the  anterior  point  being 
much  higher  than  the  posterior  one.  A  scaly  fillet  em- 
braces the  base  of  the  fin  like  a  sheath,  and  nearlj^  covers 
the  rays,  when  they  are  recumbent.  The  ventrals  are  at- 
tached opposite  to  the  middle  of  the  dorsal.  A  long  acute 
scale  exists  above  the  fin,  and  a  broader  and  shorter  one 
between  it  and  its  fellow.  The  anal  is  shaped  like  the  dor- 
sal, but  is  smaller,  and  it  has  a  similar  scaly  sheath  which 
nearly  conceals  the  rays  when  they  are  laid  flatly  back. 
The  caudal  fin  is  very  deeply  forked,  with  acute  lobes,  of 
which  the  upper  one  is  rather  the  longest.  Two  scaly  fil- 
lets separate  the  four  central  rays  from  the  lobes. 

Forster  describes  the  colour  as  bluish  on  the  back  and 
silvery  on  the  body,  the  head  also  shining  and  silvery,  with 
an  ultramarine  tint  round  the  eyes  and  on  the  fore  part  of 
the  gill-cover. 

The  specimen  from  which  our  figure  is  taken  was  pro- 
cured in  a  brackish  lagoon  near  Point  Smith,  Port  Essing- 
ton,  in  November,  1844.  The  one  described  in  the 
'  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History'  was  speared 
near  the  same  point,  but  the  natives  state  that  it  generally 
inhabits  deep  water,  and  rarely  approaches  the  shore. 
Length  19  inches. 

Hab.  Noi-th  and  west  coasts  of  Australia,  Torres  Straits, 
Island  of  Tanna. 


Elops  machnata.     Forskal,  No.  100. 

Elops  machnata,  Riippell.  Neue  Wirlb.  80—84  ;  Richardson,  Report 
on  the  Ichth.  of  the  seas  of  China  and  Japan  made  to  the  Brit.  Assoc, 
vol.  xiv.  p.  310.  An.  1845.   Jinagoiv,  Rnssell,  179. 

Radii:— B.  .32;   D.  24;    A.  17;    C.  19|;    P.  17;    V.  14. 
Plate  XXXVI.,  fig.  3,  natural  size  ;    4,  5,  magnified. 

This  fish  has  already  been  well  represented  by  Russell, 
and  the  specimen  from  which  our  figure  is  taken  being  a 
Chinese  one,  has  no  direct  claim  for  admission  into  a  work 
devoted  to  the  publication  of  Sir  James  Ross's  collection, 
but  when  the  plate  was  executed  some  months  ago,  I  was 
desirous,  by  directly  contrasting  the  Elops  with  Forster's 
Muffil  salmo)ieus,  of  placing  beyond  doubt  Cuvier's  mis- 
take, in  considering  the  two  fish  to  be  one  species,  not  be- 
ing then  aware  that  this  task  had  previously  been  per- 
formed by  Riippell  in  his  '  Neue  Wirlbethiere,'  as  has  been 
stated  above. 

The  figure  is  drawn  from  a  dried  specimen,  which  has 
lost  most  of  its  original  tints  of  colour.  The  suborbitar 
chain  including  the  preorbitar  is  narrow  and  linear  beneath 
the  eyes,  and  its  upper  edge  is  raised  in  form  of  a  smooth 
even  ridge,  which  becomes  more  distinctly  tubular,  and  un- 
even on  the  posterior  margin  of  the  orbit.  The  cheek, 
which  is  moderately  large,  is  wholly  behind  the  orbit,  and 
the  disk  of  the  preoperculum,  which  is  thin,  wide,  and 
smooth,  has  a  parabolic  outline.  One  third  part  of  the 
maxillary  passes  the  orbit,  and  its  whole  fi-ont  edge  up  to 
the  rounded  tip,  and  the  edges  also  of  the  intermaxillaries 
and  lower  jaw,  are  rough  with  small  granular  teeth  ;  the 
dental  plates  widening  towards  the  symphyses,  and  the  in- 
terior row  of  teeth  '  being  there  rather  longer  and  more 
acute,  since  less  worn.  The  teeth  on  the  vomer  and  palate 
bones  are  disposed  in  considerably  broader  brush-like 
plates  with  a  more  even  flat  surface.  A  smooth  low  ridge 
running  from  the  nostrils  traverses  the  anterior  frontal  bone 
and  disappears  on  the  upper  border  of  the  orbit.  Another 
(the  lateral  ridge)  rising  also  at  the  nostrils,  runs  directly 
backwards  in  the  intra-orbital  space,  but  sinks  again  to  the 
level  of  the  skull  op])osite  the  posterior  part  of  the  orbit. 
The  space  between  this  ridge  and  its  fellow  is  concave ; 
outside  of  it  the  skull  is  convex  and  rises  above  it,  so  that 
it  must  be  wholly  concealed  in  the  recent  fish.  The  tem- 
poral ridge  is  smooth  and  slightly  elevated,  though  con- 
spicuous enough  in  the  dried  specimen.  The  occiput  is 
convex. 

The  scales  are  tolerably  large,  but  being  much  tiled  only 
a  small  rhomboidal  portion  of  the  disk  is  visible.  Their 
exterior  edges  are  thin,  delicate,  and  being  easily  tora,  are 
for  the  most  part  irregular.  These  edges  are  undulated,  pro- 
ducing when  ill  situ  the  semblance  of  fine  teeth  or  streaks, 
but  when  the  scales  are  wet  and  placed  in  the  microscope 
the  streaks  disappear,  hence  they  are  not  shown  in  the 
drawing  of  the  magnified  scale,  fig.  4.  Russell  indicates 
them  in  his  plate,  but  such  fine  lines  not  being  suited  for 
lithography,  they  could  not  be  introduced  into  our  figure 
without  rendering  it  darker  than  it  ought  to  be.    There  are 


60 


ninety-two  scales  in  a  longitudinal  row  between  the  gill- 
opening  and  caudal  fin,  and  eighteen  or  twenty  rows  in  the 
vertical  height  under  the  dorsal.  The  lateral  line  is  com- 
posed of  a  series  of  simple  tubes,  and  with  a  very  slight  de- 
curvature  at  its  commencement  runs  nearly  straight  a  little 
above  the  middle  of  the  height  of  the  body.  The  ventrals 
are  attached  under  the  beginning  of  the  dorsal,  and  in  the 
middle  of  the  length  between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  ex- 
tremities of  the  central  caudal  rays.  The  first  five  dorsal 
rays  are  closely  incumbent  and  graduated,  and  the  upper 
joints  of  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  are  oblique.  The  first 
three  anal  rays  are  also  short  and  closely  incumbent,  and 
two  or  three  of  the  following  ones  have  oblique  joints.  This 
peculiar  obliquity  of  the  joints  is  well  seen  in  the  longest 
upper  and  under  caudal  rays,  which  are  much  compressed 
and  broader  than  the  others.  Several  of  the  adjacent  rays 
are  compressed,  with  oblique  joints  in  a  less  degree,  and 
the  first  of  the  incumbent  basal  ones  both  above  and  below 
is  thin,  white  and  bony,  with  a  lanceolate  outline  and  very 
acute  tip.  It  is  not  jointed,  but  several  which  immediately 
follow  it,  though  less  broad  and  shewing  vestiges  of  joints, 
have  similarly  acute  tips. 

In  Mr.  Reeves's  drawing  the  scales  of  the  body  are  re- 
presented as  brightly  silvery,  with  leek-green  shadings  from 
their  bases  above  the  lateral  line,  and  pale  pearl-gray  be- 
low. The  membranes  of  the  dorsal  and  caudal  are  moun- 
tain-green with  darker  rays,  a  bar  along  the  base  of 
the  caudal  being  also  darker ;  and  the  central  part  of  the 
caudal  is  light  bluish  gray,  without  any  indication  of  the 
black  stripe  exhibited  in  Bloch's  figure  of  Elops  saurus, 
493.  The  upper  parts  of  the  head  are  sap-green  mixed 
with  oil-green ;  the  lower  parts  silvery.  The  pectoral  is 
gamboge-yellow  with  a  blackish  tip  ;  the  ventrals  and  anal 
dull  saffron-yellow  in  front  and  colourless  posteriorly. 

Mr.  Reeves  figures  another  Chinese  Elops  [purpurascens), 
which  is  briefly  noticed  in  the  '  Report  on  the  Ichthy- 
ology of  the  Seas  of  China  and  Japan,'  quoted  above. 

Hab.   Seas  of  China  and  India.     The  Red  Sea. 


Gasterochisma  melampus.     Richardson. 

Gasterochisma  melampiis,  Richardson,  Anu.  and  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist. 
XV.  p.  346.  May,  1845. 

Radii:— B.  5;    D.  17|— 1|10  et  VI ;    A.  2|10etVI; 
C.  174^;  P.  20;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  XXXVIT.,  figs.  1—3,  natural  size. 

This  fish  is  most  closely  allied  to  Notneus,  of  which  it 
possesses  many  of  the  characters,  but  its  larger  mouth,  the 
form  of  the  jaws  approaching  much  more  nearly  to  that  of 
Scomber,  the  great  compression  of  the  body,  and  above  all, 
the  free  pinnules  of  the  dorsal  and  anal,  justify  its  being 
placed  in  a  separate  genus,  in  accordance  with  the  manner 
in  which  the  Scomheridce  have  been  hitherto  subdivided. 

The  profile  bears  considerable  resemblance  to  that  of  a 
common  mackerel,  and  the  tail  at  the  base  of  the  caudal  is 
very  slender,  but  has  no  vestige  of  a  keel.  The  length  of 
the  head,  which  equals  the  height  of  the  body,  is  contained 
four  times  and  a  half  in  the  total  length,  and  the  thickness 


of  the  body  is  less  than  one-third  of  its  height,  the  back  and 
belly  being  both  acute.  The  nape  is  more  broadly  round- 
ed, but  the  top  of  the  head  is  traversed  by  a  smooth,  acute, 
mesial  keel,  which  is  continued  to  the  tip  of  the  narrow, 
acute  snout.  The  lower  jaw  is  also  acute,  and  the  cleft  of 
the  mouth  is  half  the  length  of  the  head.  The  maxillary 
reaches  rather  beyond  the  middle  of  the  eye,  and  its  slen- 
der middle  part  only  is  covered  by  the  preorbitar  when  the 
mouth  is  closed.  The  jaw-teeth  are  finely  subulate,  acute, 
slightly  curved,  and  rather  widely  set  in  a  single  row.  The 
vomerine  and  palatine  teeth  are  more  delicate  and  not 
so  evenly  set. 

The  cheek  is  scaly,  and  there  is  a  scaly  patch  on  the  su- 
pra-scapulars  ;  but  the  top  of  the  head,  jaws,  preorbitar, 
disk  of  the  preoperculum,  and  gill-membranes  are  smooth. 
There  are  no  scales  on  the  gill-covers  in  the  specimen,  but 
as  the  integument  clothing  these  bones  is  injured,  it  is  pos- 
sible that  they  may  be  more  or  less  scaly  in  the  recent  fish. 
The  lateral  line  is  moderately  arched  till  it  comes  opposite 
to  the  first  separate  pinnule,  when  it  takes  a  straight  course 
through  the  tail.  The  scales  are  moderately  large.  The 
belly  is  deeply  fissured  to  form  a  sheath  for  the  reception 
of  the  large  ventrals,  in  which  they  can  be  completely  con- 
cealed. The  inside  of  this  sheath  is  lined  with  delicate 
membrane,  and  the  small  tubular  orifice  of  the  anus  is 
situated  near  its  posterior  end.  The  ventral,  equal  in  length 
to  one-third  of  the  whole  fish,  is  attached  under  the  base 
of  the  pectoral  as  in  Nomeus.  It  is  probable  that  their 
last  ray  is  attached  throughout  to  the  mesial  line  of  the 
sheath  by  a  wide  membrane,  as  in  the  genus  just  named, 
but  if  so,  the  membrane  has  been  torn  away  in  our  speci- 
men. The  pectorals  are  in  proportion  considerably  smaller 
than  in  Nomeus  mauritii.  The  first  dorsal  is  arched,  and  is 
supported  by  slender,  brittle  rays,  which  are  half  the  height 
of  the  body.  The  membrane  of  the  posterior  part  of  the 
dorsal  and  anal  is  either  altogether  wanting  or  perishes 
early,  leaving  six  or  seven  detached  pinnules  behind  each 
fin.  There  is  no  vestige  of  any  separate  spines  before  the 
anal,  and  the  first  spine  of  this  fin  is  a  mere  point.  The 
ventrals  retain  their  intense  black  colour,  but  the  original 
tints  of  the  other  fins  and  rest  of  the  fish  cannot  be  traced 
in  the  specimen,  which  has  suffered  froiu  long  maceration 
in  spirits. 

Length  8  inches. 

Hab.  Port  Nicholson,  New  Zealand. 


Ageiopus  LEUCOP.ECILUS.     Richardsou. 

Ch.  Spec.  Agr.  cute  Imvissimo  ;  corpora  maculis  irregu- 
larihiis  castanets  cum  labecuUs  purpurascenti-albidis  in 
humero  linedque  laterali  alternantibus  variegato  ;  parte 
spinosd  pinncB  dorsi  nigra  marginatd,  parte  articulatd 
fascid  nigra  percursd. 

Radii:— D.  17|  13;   A.  9;C.  12|;    P.  8  ;   V.  1|5. 

Plate  XXXVII.,  figs.  4,  5,  natural  size. 

The  genus  Agriopus  presents  the  peculiar  character  from 
which  the  Joues  cuirass6es  of  Cuvier  derive  their  appella- 


61 


tion,  in  a  less  marked  degree  than  most  of  the  other  form  s 
included  in  the  group.  The  inlia-orbitar  chain  abuts 
against  the  upper  end  of  the  preoperculum  only,  instead  of 
sending  a  strong  branch  across  the  middle  of  the  cheek  to 
the  bend  of  the  bone.  Trachinus  lipera, retained  by  Cuvier 
among  the  Perciihe,  shows  a  more  distinct  bony  extension 
of  the  suborbitars  which  crosses  the  temples  to  the  tip  of 
the  preoperculum,  and  in  the  Uranoscopi  the  cheeks  are 
largely  covered  by  the  suborbitar  plates.  In  fact  the  Tra- 
chini  and  Uranoscopi  associate  more  naturally  with  the 
family  to  which  Agrioptis  belongs  than  with  the  Perciche. 
Most  of  the  Joues  cuimssees  live  habitually  at  the  bottom 
of  the  sea  and  travel  over  the  sand  or  mud  in  search  of  their 
food.  The  Trighe  possess  simple,  free  rays  under  the  pec- 
torals, which  they  use  as  feet,  and  perhaps  also  as  organs 
of  touch.  The  projecting  thick  tips  of  the  lower  rays  of 
the  pectorals,  and  frequently  also  of  the  ventrals  and  anals, 
so  evident  in  the  majority  of  the  members  of  the  group,  are 
most  likely  formed  for  similar  uses,  and  in  this  structure  the 
Trachini  and  Uranoscopi  agree,  as  well  as  in  the  copious- 
ness of  their  mucigenous  glands.  Most  of  the  tish  that 
dwell  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea  and  burrow^  in  the  sand  re- 
quire to  have  their  skins  well  lubricated,  a  fact  which  may 
be  gathered  from  an  examination  of  the  Batrac/iid<e,  Mu- 
r<Bnid(e,  Siluridw,  Gohiidce,  and  of  the  family  now  under 
consideration. 

As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  the  Agriopi  exist 
in  the  southern  hemisphere  only  ;  and  of  the  five  species 
that  have  been  described,  three  frequent  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  and  two  the  coasts  of  Chili  and  Peru.  Three  have 
bristly  or  warty  skins,  viz.  Ag.  verrucosus  (Cuv.),  Agr. 
spinifer,  (Smith,  South  Afr.  Zool.),  and  Agr.  hispidus, 
(Jenyns,  Zool.  of  Voy.  of  Beagle) ;  while  two,  Agr.  torvus 
and  Agr.  peruvianus  have  smooth  skins  :  Agr.  leucopcecilus 
being  also  quite  smooth,  brings  the  numbers  of  the  smooth 
and  rough-skinned  species  that  are  known,  to  an  equality. 

This  fish  differs  from  other  species,  in  being  rather  less 
tapering  posteriorly.  The  height  of  the  body  is  one-third 
of  the  total  length,  and  is  greatest  at  the  attachment  of  the 
ventrals,  where  the  thickness  is  less  than  half  the  height. 
The  head  forms  one-fourth  of  the  entire  length.  The  pel- 
vic bones  being  depressed,  makes  the  height  at  the  nape 
considerable,  and  brings  not  only  the  ventrals,  but  even 
the  pectorals  beneath  the  level  of  the  under  part  of  the 
bead.  The  small  terminal  mouth  is  rather  above  the  level 
of  the  lower  third  of  the  body.  The  orbit  having  a  some- 
what ovate  fonn  and  encroaching  upon  the  profile,  is  mid- 
way between  the  orifice  of  the  mouth  and  gill-opening,  be- 
ing rather  more  than  the  length  of  its  own  diameter  from 
each.  Its  upper  border  being  a  little  elevated,  renders  the 
interorbital  .space  slightly  concave.  This  space  is  broadest 
behind,  where  it  equals  the  vertical  diameter  of  the  eye. 
There  are  no  spinous  points  whatever  on  the  head,  but  the 
bony  surfaces  are  granidated,  the  grains  being  ranged  on 
the  disks  of  the  preoperculum  and  parietal  bones  in  radiat- 
ing lines,  and  in  two  parallel  lines  in  the  interorbital  space. 
Faint  streaks  not  gi'anular  are  perceptible  on  the  opercu- 
lum, which  is  clothed  with  smooth  integument.  An 
elevated,  linear,  granulated  disk  of  one  of  the  bones  of  the 
humeral  chain  lies  behind  the  small  vertical  gill-opening. 
The  gill-membrane  is  continuous  with  the  adjoining  inte- 


gument, and  only  three  gill-rays  shew  through  it  in  the 
dried  specimen.  The  teeth  on  the  jaws  are  crowded  and 
setaceous,  higher  on  the  lower  jaw,  and  not  forming  broad 
dental  plates  on  either.  The  vomer  appears  to  be  quite 
smooth. 

The  dorsal  is  shaped  like  that  of  the  rest  of  the  genus, 
but  is  not  so  steeply  arched  as  in  some  species.  The  fifth 
spine  is  the  highest,  and  considerably  exceeds  half  the 
height  of  the  body.  The  last  spine  is  considerably  taller 
than  the  penultimate  one,  and  the  soft  part  of  the  fin  rises 
above  the  nine  posterior  spines.  The  ventrals  arc  attached 
a  little  posterior  to  the  pectorals  and  opposite  to  the 
seventh  dorsal  spine.  This  spine  is  striated,  stout,  and 
one-third  shorter  than  the  jointed  rays  which  are  un- 
branched.  The  pectoral  rays,  eight  in  number,  are  also 
unbranched,  and  the  lower  four  have  the  membrane  deeply 
notched  between  their  tips.  There  is  no  vestige  of  a  spine 
in  the  anal  fin.  Length  of  the  specimen  about  nine  and  a 
half  inches. 

Hab.  South-.Australian  Sea. 


Lota  breviuscula.     Richardson. 

Radii:— B.  7;   D.  8— 48;   A.  50;    C.  ]7|;    V.-2-2;   V.  6. 

Plate  XXXVIII.,  figs.  1,  2,  natural  size. 

This  small  ling  approaches  the  Lota  bacchus  of  Forster, 
[rubiginosa,  Solauder?)  in  its  form  and  characters,  and  in  a 
less  degree  the  L.  magellanica  and  rhacina  of  the  same 
naturalist,  but  we  cannot  venture  to  refer  it  to  any  of  these 
species  on  account  of  the  difference  in  the  numbers  of  its 
rays.* 

The  length  of  the  head,  which  scarcely  equals  the  height 
of  the  body,  forms  a  fourth  of  the  whole  length  of  the  fish, 
and  the  thickness  before  the  first  dorsal  is  equal  to  two- 
thirds  of  the  height.  The  profile  rises  gently  with  a  slight 
convexity  from  the  obtuse  snout  to  the  first  dorsal.  The 
eyes  are  a  diameter  of  the  orbit  apart,  and  are  placed  at  the 
same  distance  from  the  tip  of  the  snout,  but  fully  two  dia- 
meters from  the  edge  of  the  gill-cover.  The  mouth  is  be- 
neath and  rather  behind  the  end  of  the  snout.  The  jaws 
are  armed  by  villifonn  bands  of  teeth  of  even  height,  and 
the  pharyngeals  are  rough  with  minute  teeth,  but  the  front 
of  the  vomer,  the  palate-bones,  and  rest  of  the  mouth  are 
covered  with  smooth  white  integument.  The  scales  ai-e  of 
moderate  size  compared  with  those  of  other  Gadida,  there 
being  only  seventy-two  rows  between  the  gill-opening  and 
caudal  fin.  They  cover  all  the  head  except  the  preorbitar, 
jaws,  inter-operculura  and  gill-membrane.  The  first  dor- 
sal, having  a  triangular  form,  stands  as  high  as  the  second 
one  and  contiguous  to  it.  The  vent  is  under  its  posterior 
rays.  The  ventrals  are  slender  and  are  split  at  the  tip  into 
two  unequal  filaments.  Caudal  rounded.  Length  of  spe- 
cimen nearly  seven  inches  ;  its  colour  faded. 

Hab.  Bay  of  Islands  in  New  Zealand. 

*  Gadw  rubigimms,  Sol.  B.  7 ;   D.  10—      A.—   C—  P.—  V.— 

„       6acp/jMS,  Forst.  7;         10—42;     40;     26;     22;     6. 

„       magellanicns,Yoxii.     6;  5—31;     25;     14;      17;     6. 

„      rAacint/i,  Fovst.  7;  5—68;    62;    28;    22;     6. 

L 


62 


Petromyzon  moedax.     Richardson. 

Radii:— D.  53—80;  C  ? 

Plate  XXXVIII.,  figs.  3—5  natural  size  ;  6  magnified. 

In  this  lamprey  the  vent  is  one-seventh  of  the  whole 
length  of  the  fish  distant  from  the  tip  of  the  tail,  and 
the  first  gill-opening  is  at  an  equal  distance  from  the  end 
of  the  snout.  The  first  dorsal,  short  and  rounded,  is  con- 
siderably behind  the  middle  of  the  fish,  and  is  widely  sepa- 
rated from  the  second  one,  which  is  much  longer  and 
passes  the  vent  by  a  quarter  of  its  length.  The  caudal 
is  divided  into  an  upper  and  under  lobe,  which  vanish  at  the 
lip  of  the  tail.  Delicate  rays  support  these  fins,  but  the 
thickness  of  the  skin  prevented  me  from  reckoning  them. 
None  exist  at  the  extreme  tip  of  the  tail,  nor  in  a  low  mem- 
brane which  connects  the  upper  caudal  lobe  with  the  second 
dorsal.  There  is  also  a  short  membrane  destitute  of  rays 
before  the  under  lobe,  and  a  pale  mesial  stripe  extends  from 
it  to  the  vent.  The  rest  of  the  fi.sh  is  coloured  dark  umber 
brown,  paler  on  the  belly,  and  there  is  a  pale  spot  between 
the  eyes,  behind  the  solitary  nasal  tube. 

The  orifice  of  the  mouth  is  a  longitudinal  slit,  armed  on 
the  edges  by  acute  teeth  set  altei'uately  in  two  rows,  as  re- 
presented in  figure  5.  Figure  6  exhibits  the  inside  of  the 
mouth  with  the  lips  shaved  off,  and  shows  a  circle  of  about 
thirty  small  acute  teeth,  with  a  solitary  one  in  front.  More 
within  before  the  oesophagus  there  is  a  horny  plate  on  each 
side  of  the  mesial  line,  having  three  conical,  acute  cusps  ; 
and  beneath  the  oesophagus  there  are  five  teeth  ranged  in 
a  transverse  curve  terminated  at  each,  end  by  a  larger  tooth 
having  two  acute  cusps.  The  tongue  is  represented  by  the 
artist  as  projecting  forwards  and  nearly  concealing  the  ori- 
fice of  the  gullet,  but  the  exact  form  of  the  two  large 
teeth  on  its  fore  edge  is  not  well  shown.  Though  these 
teeth  appear  conical  when  viewed  in  front,  they  have,  in 
fact,  a  crescentic,  serrated,  cutting  edge,  and  they  are 
inclined  to  each  other,  so  as  to  meet  on  the  mesial  line  in 
an  acute  angle  :  behind  them  there  is  a  row  of  small  teeth 
like  a  saw,  on  each  side  of  the  tongue,  which  are  not  shown 
in  the  figure.  The  P.  tridentifer  of  the  Fauna  Boreali- 
Amerivana,  another  species  from  the  Pacific  Ocean,  has 
the  teeth  very  difierently  arranged. 

Length  of  the  only  specimen  of  P.  mordax  in  the  collec- 
tion, lOj  inches. 

Hab.  Seas  of  Van  Diemen's  Land. 


viduals  of  the  same  species  in  this  genus,  I  have  not  ven- 
tured to  consider  them  as  distinct.  The  Clupea  nastts  of 
Bloch  (429,  fig.  I.),  is  a  more  slender  fish,  whose  height,  if 
we  may  judge  from  the  drawing,  does  not  exceed  one- 
fourth  of  the  total  length.  Cuvier  considers  come  and  na- 
sus  as  the  same  species,  and  Russell  on  the  other  hand 
refers  come  to  the  Clupea  thrissa  of  Bloch,  but  we  do  not 
think  that  either  of  these  approximations  can  be  supported 
by  the  figures. 

This  fish  is  greatly  compressed,  its  thickness  being  little 
more  than  one-fifth  of  its  greatest  height,  which  again 
is  equal  to  one-third  of  the  length  including  the  tips  of  the 
caudal  fin.  The  profile  excluding  the  tail  is  a  regular  oval. 
The  belly  is  serrated  and  very  acute,  and  the  edge  of  the 
shoulder  from  the  fin  to  the  cranial  plate  is  also  very 
acute.  The  head  forms  about  one-fifth  or  rather  more  of 
the  total  length,  and  it  has  the  usual  cranial  plate,  covered 
with  smooth  skin.  This  plate  has  an  almost  obsolete  cen- 
tral ridge,  from  whence  it  slopes  very  gently  to  each  side. 
It  is  bounded  laterally  by  the  orbit,  and  a  groove  running 
backward  and  tenninating  on  the  side  of  the  occiput  in  six 
or  seven  short  fuiTows,  as  shown  in  figure  8.  The  nose 
projects  a  little  beyond  the  small,  toothless  mouth,  whose 
orifice  when  viewed  in  front  is  triangular,  and  the  tip  of 
the  lower  jaw  fits  into  a  smooth  notch  in  the  middle  of  the 
upper  one.  The  small,  slender,  linear  maxillary  is  not  con- 
cealed by  the  preorbitar  when  the  mouth  is  closed.  There 
are  about  forty  scales  in  a  longitudinal  row  and  fifteen 
or  sixteen  rows  in  height.  Faint  impressions  on  the 
scales,  give  the  appearance  of  as  many  lateral  lines  as 
there  are  rows,  but  there  is  no  well-marked  lateral  line. 
The  exposed  disks  of  the  scales  are  narrow,  vertical  rhombs 
with  sharp  angles.  A  detached  scale  is  transversely  oval 
with  obtuse  ends,  without  fan-like  streaks  on  the  base,  and 
having  the  uncovered  edge  rather  deeply  crenated.  Scaly 
sheaths  exist  at  the  bottom  of  the  dorsal  and  anal ;  and 
long  scales  lie  over  the  pectoral  and  ventrals  and  also  be- 
tween the  latter  fins.  The  caudal  is  deeply  forked,  with 
acute  lobes.  The  ventrals  are  under  the  middle  of  the  dor- 
sal. The  colour  of  the  fish  in  spirits  is  silvery  with  a 
bluish  gray  tint  on  the  back. 

Length  of  specimen  4j  inches. 

Hab.  Western  Australia.     Indian  Ocean. 


Tetrodon  virgatus.     Richardson. 
Radii  :— D.  9  :  A.  10  ;    C.  9  ;  P.  16. 


Chatoesus  come.    Russell. 

Clupea  thrissa,  Russell,  Coromand.  Fishes,  ii.  p.  76,  pi.  196.  (Kome). 

Radii:— B.  4;    D.  17;  A.  22;   C.  19|;   P.  15;  V.  8. 

Plate  XXXVIII.,  figs.  7—10,  natural  size. 

Our  specimen  of  this  fish  is  rather  higher  in  proportion 
to  its  length  than  Russell's  figure,  but  as  in  other  respects 
there  is  no  marked  discrejjancy,  and  the  numbers  of  the 
rays   do  not  differ  more  than  often  happens  among  indi- 


Plate  XXXIX.,  figs.  8—9,  natural  size. 

This  Tetrodon  seems  to  be  nearly  allied  in  form  and 
markings  to  T.  Uneatus  of  Linnaeus  and  Bl.  141,  but  there 
is  some  difference  in  the  distribution  of  the  stripes  as  well 
as  in  their  breadth,  so  that  we  can  scarcely  venture  to  con- 
sider them  as  belonging  to  the  same  species,  and  their  very 
distant  habitats  is  a  further  presumption  against  uniting 
them.  The  form  of  this  fish  when  distended  is  ovate,  with- 
out a  beak,  the  teeth  only  and  edges  of  the  lips  projecting 
out  of  the  general  profile.  The  nasal  orifices  are  at  the  ex- 
tremities of  a  pair  of  tubes  on  each  side,  resembling  bifid 


63 


barbels.  Slender  acute  spines  stud  the  whole  integument 
except  the  lips,  a  narrow  ring  round  the  eye,  the  fins  and 
their  bases,  with  the  greater  part  of  the  trunk  of  the  tail. 
The  ground  colour  is  blackish  gray  on  the  back,  and  paler 
on  the  sides  and  belly,  and  nine  or  ten  blackish  longitudi- 
nal streaks  traverse  the  whole  body.  The  caudal  is  dark- 
ish, and  there  are  some  dark  shades  on  the  dorsal  and  anal, 
but  the  original  tints  of  colour  have  perished  through  the 
long  immersion  of  the  specimen  in  spirits. 

Length  4i^  inches. 

Hab.  Port  Jackson. 

Tetrodon  hamiltoni.     Hichardsou. 

Radii  :— D.  9  ;  A.  6  ;   C.  7|  ;  P.  15. 

Tetrodon  hamiltoni,  Ricliardson,  MS.  Cat.  of  Hasl.  Mus. ;  List  of 
New  Zealand  Fishes,  DieiFenbach's  Travels,  &c.  Appendix. 

Plate  XXXIX.,  figs.  10  and  11,  natural  size. 

Specimens  of  this  Tetrodon  have  long  existed  in  the 
Museum  of  Haslar,  to  which  they  were  presented  by  Sur- 
geon Hamilton  of  the  Royal  Navy,  who  procured  them  in 
Port  Jackson.  It  appears  to  be  an  abundant  species  iu 
that  locality,  as  the  examples  of  it  are  numerous  in  Sir 
James  Ross's  collection. 

The  belly  is  capable  of  moderate  distention,  so  as  to  ac- 
quire a  considerably  greater  convexity  than  the  back,  but 
so  that  the  height  and  width  of  the  body  are  equal,  and 
then  the  profile  is  oblong-oval,  the  height  being  one-third 
of  the  total  length.  The  nasal  orifices  are  seated  in  a  pout- 
ing papilla,  and  the  inner  surface  of  the  lips  is  fringed  by- 
short  skinny  processes.  The  skin  is  rough  with  short  sim- 
ple spines  on  the  back  from  the  nostrils  to  the  caudal,  and 
also  on  the  under  surface  for  the  same  distance.  The 
flanks  are  partially  rough,  minute  spines  existing  on  the 
cheeks,  a  space  behind  the  pectorals  connecting  the  upper 
and  under  spinous  surfaces,  and  also  an  arch  of  the  tail. 
The  smooth  parts  are,  all  the  fins  and  a  circle  round  their 
bases,  including  the  axilla  of  the  pectoral,  the  lips  and 
snout  back  to  the  nostrils,  the  chin,  circle  round  the  or- 
bit, margin  of  the  gill-opeuing  and  the  middle  of  the  flanks 
back  to  the  caudal  fin, — the  smooth  space  naiTovving  consi- 
derably posterior  to  the  anus,  and  being  bounded  beneath 
on  the  tail  by  a  kind  of  raised  porous  seam  or  lateral  line. 
The  back  is  thickly  mottled  with  round  spots  and  minute 
specks  in  the  interstices.  The  larger  spots  on  the  fore  part 
of  the  back  are  ranged  in  transverse  rows,  more  distinctly 
in  some  individuals  than  in  others.  The  flanks  are 
marked  by  a  series  of  oval  black  blotches  from  the  mouth 
to  the  tail ;  and  the  under  surface  is  white. 

The  specimens  vary  from  three  to  five  inches  in  size. 

Mrs.  Meredith  in  her  '  Notes  of  New  South  Wales,'* 
speaks  of  this  Tetrodon  in  the  following  terms.  "  A  dis- 
gusting tenant  of  most  of  the  shores  around  Sydney,  is  the 
toad-fish  :  most  admirably  named  ;  it  looks  precisely  like 
a  toad  elongated  into  a  fish,  with  a  tough,  leathery,  scale- 
less  skin,  and  a  bloated  body,  dark  mottled  brown  above, 

*  London,  Murray,  1844. 


and  white  beneath.  It  is  usually  about  five  inches  long, 
and  disproportionately  broad,  but  swims  very  swiftly,  and 
is  for  its  size,  as  bold  and  voracious  as  the  shark.  When 
I  said  Mr.  Meredith  did  not  fish  with  the  rod,  I  might  have 
added  that  he  could  not,  for  the  toad-fish,  which  swarm 
everywhere,  no  sooner  see  anything  dropped  in  the  water, 
than  they  dart  towards  it  by  dozens,  and  fight  among 
themselves  for  the  honour  of  swallowing  your  hook,  gene- 
rally taking  the  precaution  to  bite  off  your  line  at  the  same 
time.  This  extreme  anxiety  to  be  caught  might  perhaps 
be  pardoned,  were  the  greedy  little  wretches  fit  to  eat,  but 
they  are  highly  poisonous ;  and  although  I  should  have 
thought  their  disgusting  appearance  sufficient  to  prevent 
their  being  tried,  I  know  one  instance  at  least,  of  their  fatal 
effects  ;  a  lady  with  whose  family  I  am  intimate  having 
died  in  consequence  of  eating  them.  As  they  thus  effectu- 
ally put  a  stop  to  our  angling  by  biting  off  every  hook 
drop]3ed  in  the  water  before  any  other  fish  had  time  to  look 
at  it,  they  especially  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  the  fishing 
spear,  upon  which  many  hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  must 
have  been  impaled  in  succession.  This  sounds  very  wan- 
tonly cruel,  but  let  no  one  pronounce  it  so  who  is  not  well 
acquainted  with  the  toad-fish ;  from  those  who  are,  I  fear 
no  reproof.  When  speared,  they  directly  inflate  their 
leathery  skins  like  a  balloon,  and  eject  a  stream  of  liquid 
from  their  mouths,  with  a  report  as  if  they  had  burst.  If 
flung  again  into  the  water,  however  wounded,  they  instantly 
swim  about  and  begin  eating ;  and  should  one  be  a  little 
less  active  than  his  fellows,  they  forthwith  attack  and  eat 
him  up.  Even  my  poor  little  harmless  friends,  the  crabs, 
become  their  victims ;  when  those  usually  well-armed 
troops  have  just  got  their  soft  new  coats  on,  and  are  almost 
defenceless,  then  come  the  cowardly,  ravenous  toad-fish, 
and  make  terrible  onslaughts  among  them,  an  attention 
which  I  believe  the  crabs  eventually  repay  with  interest." 
(p.  15.5). 

Hab.  Sea-coasts  of  Austraha,  Van  Diemen's  Land,  and 
New  Zealand. 

MoxACANTHUs  GRANULATUs.     White  [BaUstes). 

Radii  :— D.  2|— 30  ;  A.  28  ;  C.  12  ;  P.  11. 

BaUstes  granulatus,  White,  Voy.  New  South  Wales,  p.  295,  pi.  at  p. 
254,  lower  figure. 

Plate  XL.,  fig.  1,  natural  size  ;  2,  magnified. 

Mr.  White's  figures  of  fish  are  in  general  rudely  drawn, 
and  in  this  one  there  is  a  want  of  detail  for  the  proper  dis- 
crimination of  tlie  species.  We  are,  however,  induced  to 
consider  a  Monacanthus  obtained  by  Sir  James  Ross  at 
Sydney  as  the  same  with  White's,  because  the  ground  co- 
lour, the  grains  by  which  the  body  appears  to  be  studded, 
the  profile  and  the  place  of  capture  are  the  same. 

All  that  White  says  of  his  fish  is  included  in  the  follow- 
ing sentences.  "  Batistes  pinna  dorsali  anteriore  bira- 
diatd,  corpore  granoso.  Valde  affinis  B.  papilloso  Linnaii. 
Corpus  albido-cinerascens,  papillis  parvulis  aspersum. 
Thorax  relut  in  sacculum  productns." 

Schneider  refers  White's  fish  to  the  BaUstes  papillosus 


64 


of  Linnaeus ;  and  Cuvier  in  the '  Regne  Animal '  has  inadver- 
tently retained  the  specific  name  oi  papillosus  for  the  Port 
Jackson  fish,  though  he  separates  it  from  the  species  de- 
scribed by  Linna3us,  which  he  considers  to  be  the  same  with 
the  B.  monoceros  of  Lacepede,  i.  pp.  336,  386,  pi.  17, 
fig.  3.  In  this,  the  rays  are  as  follows  :  D.  1| — 48  ;  A.  51 ; 
C. 12;  P. 15. 

Sir  James  Ross's  specimen  of  granulatus  has  suffered 
considerable  injury  from  maceration  in  deteriorated  spirit, 
and  perhaps  some  of  the  dark  patches  represented  in  the 
figure  arise  from  this,  and  may  not  exist  in  the  recent 
fish.  The  profile  rises  to  the  dorsal  spine  at  an  angle  of 
30°,  with  a  slight  concavity  behind  the  lips,  giving  a 
somewhat  beaked  appearance  to  the  fish.  The  space  be- 
tween the  dorsals  has  a  horizontal  or  slightly  concave  pro- 
file, and  the  slopes  on  which  the  second  dorsal  and  anal 
are  imposed  are  slightly  convex  and  similar  to  each  other. 
When  the  pelvic  bone  is  extended  forward  to  the  utmost, 
the  dewlap  has  a  conical  bag-like  form,  and  the  height  of 
the  body,  from  its  apex  to  the  dorsal  line,  is  but  little  less 
than  half  the  total  length,  while  the  height  at  the  anus  is 
just  equal  to  a  third  of  that  length,  caudal  included.  The 
dorsal  spine  stands  over  the  posterior  third  of  the  eye  and 
the  gill-opening,  and  its  length  is  equal  nearly  to  half  the 
extreme  height  of  the  body  and  dewlap.  It  is  roundish 
in  front,  finely  granulated,  and  armed  by  two  rows  of 
.short  depressed  teeth.  Behind,  it  is  armed  by  two  rows  of 
stronger  acute  recurved  spinous  teeth,  with  the  interval  be- 
tween the  rows  flat  and  furrowed.  The  trigger  ray  in  its 
axilla  is  short  and  bluntish.  The  second  dorsal  commences 
rather  before  the  anus.  The  point  of  the  pelvic  bone  is  a 
small  knob,  studded  with  twelve  or  fourteen  spinous  points 
diverging  in  all  directions  There  are  no  rays  in  the 
dewlap  behind  it. 

The  whole  skin  is  studded  with  spines,  enveloped  in  soft 
integument,  and  looking  to  the  naked  eye  like  tubercles  or 
papillae,  which  are  fully  better  represented  in  White's  figure 
than  in  ours.  With  a  common  lens,  however,  and  even  when 
examined  with  a  good  light  by  the  naked  eye,  each  little 
tubercle  is  seen  to  contain  a  spine  shaped  as  represented 
in  fig.  2,  the  angular  shoulder  being  as  sharp  as  a  lancet. 
On  the  edge  of  the  dewlap  the  spines  are  subulate,  and  not 
larger  than  the  others,  but  they  might  be  mistaken  as  shown 
in  our  figure  for  points  of  rays.  The  skin  between  the 
spines  has  a  bluish  gray  colour  after  maceration  in  spirits. 
The  dark  markings  existing  in  the  specimen  may  be  best 
learnt  by  consulting  the  figure.  There  is  a  faint  appear- 
ance of  bars  on  the  caudal.  Length,  74  inches. 
Hab.  Port  Jackson. 

Among  Dep.  Assistant  Commissary  General  Neill's  draw- 
ings of  King  George's  Sound  fish,  No.  51,  having  the  native 
name  of  "  Tabaduck,"  much  resembles  M.  granulatvs  in 
profile,  and  also  in  the  stellate  point  of  the  pelvic  bone, 
nor  does  it  differ  much  in  the  numbers  of  the  rays,  which 
are  reckoned  by  Mr.  Neill  as  follows:  D.  I|— 28  ;  A.  26 ;  C. 
12  ;  P.  12.  It  is  tinted  of  a  mountain-green  colour,  with  the 
top  of  the  head  darker,  and  the  caudal  almost  blackish 
green,  especially  near  its  extremity,  but  no  spots  are  indi- 
cated nor  is  the  roughness  of  the  integument  shown,  yet  I 
am  inclined  to  attribute  the  absence  of  these,  merely 
to  want  of  finish  in  the  drawing,  and  to  consider  the 


Tabaduck  of  King  George's  Sound  as  the  same  species  with 
Mo)iacanthus  grctnulatus  of  Sidney  Cove. 

The  Bag  Balistes  of  Latham  may  be  intended  for  this 
species,  but  it  is  too  rudely  drawn  for  identification. 
It  differs,  also,  in  two  short  rays  following  the  dorsal  spine. 

MoN.\CANTHrs  CHiNENSis.     Osbeck,  [Balistes). 

Radii:— D.  1|— 32;    A.  30;  C.  12;  P.  1-3. 

Balistes  chlnensis,  Osbeck,  Voy.  i.  p.  177,  Eng.  tr. ;  Bl.  152.  fig.  1  ; 
Schu.  p.  4(58  ;  Mon.  megalurus,  Richardson,  Icon.  Pise.  p.  5,  pi.  1,  fig.3  ; 
Icon.  Reeves,  89  ;  Hardw.  Cartil.  31,  et  ab  India,  28?  Richardson,  Ichth. 
of  China,  Report  to  B.  Ass.  in  1845,  p.  201.  Chinese  name,  Hih  pe  yang, 
"  Black-skinned  goat,"  (Birch) ;  "  Black-skinned  sheep,"  (Reeves) ;  Hah 
pe  yeang,  (Bridgem.  Chrestomathy,  50). 

Plate  XL.,  fig.  3,  natural  size ;  4  magnified. 

A  characteristic  figure  of  this  species  is  given  by  Bloch, 
and  it  is  well  described  by  Schneider,  but  we  have 
thought  it  desirable  to  figure  Sir  James  Ross's  specimen, 
that  naturalists  may  be  enabled  to  judge  of  the  identity  of 
the  Australian  and  Chinese  fish,  and  also  to  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  correcting  an  error,  that  I  fell  into,  in  describing 
Lieutenant  Emery's  drawings  of  Australian  fish,  when  I 
named  this  Monacanthus  as  a  new  species.  The  proportions 
are  not  exactly  kept  in  the  drawing,  and  the  caudal  fin  is 
much  exaggerated  in  size,  but  the  general  profile  leaves 
little  doubt  of  Lieutenant  Emery's  having  had  a  specimen 
of  M.  chhiensis  before  him.  The  profile  of  the  face  in 
chinemis  is  concave,  giving  a  more  beaked  form  to 
the  muzzle  than  in  gra)ntlafus,  and  the  dorsal  line  inclines 
upwards  to  the  commencement  of  the  second  dorsal,  which 
is  the  highest  point  of  the  back,  from  whence  it  descends 
in  a  slope  to  the  tail.  The  ascending  slope  to  which  the 
anal  is  attached  has  a  corresponding  form  and  inclination. 
The  dewlap  is  thin,  with  a  membranous  edge,  which  is 
supported  by  fine  rays,  mostly  simple,  but  occasionally 
forked.  The  tips  of  many  of  these  rays  project  beyond 
the  margin  of  the  membrane,  which  has  a  rounded  outline. 
At  the  extremity  of  the  pelvic  bone  there  is  a  cylindrical 
process,  ribbed  and  granulated  on  the  surface,  and  armed 
at  each  end  by  about  four  small,  acute  spines.  The  mem- 
brane of  the  dewlap  descends  beyond  this  process.  The 
height  from  the  first  dorsal  to  the  lowest  part  of  the  dew- 
lap is  contained  once  and  a  half  in  the  total  length  of  the 
fish.  The  dorsal  spine  stands  over  the  posterior  half  of  the 
orbit,  and  is  ribbed  and  granulated  or  hispid  in  front,  and 
armed  on  each  side  behind,  by  a  row  of  strong  spines.  The 
small  trigger  ray  does  not  rise  above  the  margin  of  the  ax- 
illary pit  of  the  spine.  This  pit  is  small,  and  becoming 
obsolete  in  the  dried  specimen,  or  being  filled  by  mem- 
brane in  the  wet  one,  its  existence  is  denied  by  Schneider. 
The  lower  end  of  the  gill-opening  is  even  with  the  upper 
edge  of  the  base  of  the  pectoral.  The  skin  is  thickly  stud- 
ded by  acute  spines,  which  curve  backwards  and  spring 
from  a  swelling  base.  The  curved  and  flexuose  lateral 
line  is  marked  by  a  series  of  geminate  spines,  as  noticed  by 
Schneider.  There  are  six  and  sometimes  more  larger 
spines  disposed  in  two  rows  on  each  side  of  the  tail,  which 
is  also  studded  with  small  ones. 


65 


Mv.  Emery's  drawing  is  colourcd  chestnut-brou'ii,  with 
darker  blotches  of  umber  and  minute  specks  of  orange- 
brown.  The  dewlap  is  surrounded  by  three  rows  of  flax- 
flower  blue  dots,  behind  which  are  three  rows  of  brown 
spots.  The  dorsal  and  anal  have  two  orange-coloured 
stripes  near  their  edges,  two  rows  of  pale  dots  beneath  them, 
and  three  rows  of  brown  spots  towards  the  bases  of  the 
fins.  On  the  caudal  there  are  three  blue  stripes  across  the 
end  of  the  fin,  and  four  or  five  brown  spotted  bands  be- 
tween them  and  the  base.  In  Mr.  Reeves's  figure  of  the 
Chinese  fish,  the  colours  and  aiTangement  of  the  spots  are 
similar,  though  not  quite  the  same,  and  there  is  a  differ- 
ence in  the  rings  of  colour  on  the  caudal.  The  extreme 
edge  of  this  fin  is  yellow,  then  follow  two  brownish-black 
bands,  next  two  orange-brown  ones,  then  two  black  ones, 
succeeded  again  by  two  brown  ones,  and  lastly  two  black 
ones  which  are  on  the  base  of  the  fin.  The  spots  on  the 
dorsal  and  anal  are  only  partially  shown. 

Hab.  Australian  seas.  Port  Jackson,  Houtman's  Abrol- 
hos,  Chinese  Sea,  Canton,  Indian  Ocean. 

MoNACANTHUS  EUDis.    Richardson. 


R.\Dii :— D. 


-35;  A.  34;  C.  12;  P.  14. 


M.  rudis,  Richardson,  Zool.  Tr.  iii.  p.  166,  An.  1841.  Zool.  Proceed. 
March  10th,  1840. 

Plate  XL.,  fig.  7,  half  the  natural  size ;  6,  magnified. 

In  describing  this  Monacanthus  in  the  Zoological  Tran- 
sactions, I  remarked  its  agreement  in  general  aspect  with 
G.  Forster's  figure  of  Balistes  scaber,  preserved  in  the 
Banksian  Library,  but  I  was  deten-ed  from  referring  it  to 
that  species,  because  the  figure  showed  some  spinous  ser- 
ratures  behind  the  pelvic  bone  on  the  edge  of  the  abdomen, 
which  do  not  exist  in  the  specimen  of  rudis,  but  now  that 
1  have  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  a  greater  number 
of  Australian  Monacanthi,  I  feel  more  inclined  than  before 
to  consider  rudis  and  scaber  as  one  species.  Forster's  de- 
scription is  unfortunately  mostly  confined  to  generic  cha- 
racters, and  gives  little  assistance  in  clearing  up  the  mat- 
ter. The  only  points  of  discrepancy  that  I  can  detect,  are 
his  stating  scaber  to  be  "  beaked,"  which  rudis  can  scarcely 
be  said  to  be,  and  his  describing  the  branchial  opening  as 
very  small  and  situated  above  the  pectoral  fin,  whereas  in 
rudis  the  inferior  end  of  the  aperture  descends  lower  in 
front  of  the  base  of  the  fin  than  in  most  of  the  Australian 
Monacauthi  which  we  have  seen.  It  ought  to  be  stated  in 
regard  to  this,  that  in  figures  1  and  3  of  Plate  40,  the  ar- 
tist has  brought  the  gill-opeuings  further  down  than  they 
actually  are  in  the  specimens.  The  diff"erences  I  have  in- 
dicated are  too  slight  to  form  grounds  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  second  species,  but  the  evil  of  a  superfluous 
name  having  been  already  peqjetrated,  I  have  allowed  it 
to  remain  attached  to  a  figure  of  the  Van  Diemen's  Land 
Monacautlius  until  specimens  from  Queen  Charlotte's 
Sound,  New  Zealand,  of  Forster's  fish,  shall  place  the 
necessity  of  merging  rudis  in  the  prior  appellation  of 
scaber  beyond  a  doubt. 


In  rudis,  the  profile  of  the  face  is  straight  or  very  slightly 
convex.  It  reaches  its  summit  at  the  dorsal  spine,  from 
whence  the  back  is  horizontal  to  the  second  dorsal,  and 
then  descends  obliquely  to  the  tail.  The  height  measured 
from  the  point  of  the  pelvic  bone  is  contained  twice  and  a 
half  in  the  total  length,  and  the  thickness  is  equal  to  one- 
third  of  the  height.  The  dorsal  spine  stands  over  the  pos- 
terior half  of  the  eye  and  above  the  gill-opening.  It  is 
rounded,  tapering,  and  acute,  with  a  groove  behind,  on 
each  edge  of  which  there  is  a  row  of  spinous  teeth  inclined 
downwards ;  its  sides  are  thickly  studded  with  minute 
rounded  tubercles,  and  on  the  front  are  two  rows  of  larger, 
smooth  tubercles  resembling  spines  worn  down.  The  trig- 
ger ray  is  very  short  and  inconspicuous.  The  point  of  the 
pelvic  bone  is  a  small  knob  studded  with  obtuse  grains ;  the 
integuments  of  the  belly  behind  it,  are  lax  enough  to  allow  of 
a  little  play,  but  there  is  no  thin  dewlap  supported  by  rays 
as  in  71/.  chiiiensis.  The  rays  of  all  the  fins  are  rough  at 
the  base,  but  less  so  in  the  pectorals  than  in  the  others. 

The  whole  of  the  integument  is  studded  with  short  ob- 
tuse bristles  (fig.  8),  which,  when  examined  by  a  lens,  ajipear 
to  be  ranged  on  the  sides  in  short,  oblique  rows,  five  or  six 
in  a  row  or  scale,  with  a  few  solitary  ones  between.  In  some 
places  these  groups  are  more  easily  made  out,  owing  to  the 
inter\  als  being  wider  ;  but  round  the  eye,  the  gill-o])enings, 
and  on  the  head  generally,  the  bristles  are  shorter,  more  ob- 
tuse, and  either  solitary,  or  so  closely  set,  that  their  distri- 
bution in  separate  groups  or  scales  cannot  be  discerned. 
To  the  naked  eye,  the  skin  appears  to  be  finely  gra- 
nulated. 

The  upper  jaw  is  armed  by  ten  broad  chisel-shaped  teeth, 
more  or  less  acuminated,  and  the  posterior  one  on  each 
side  having  a  thin  rounded  edge  which  overlaps  the  lower 
tooth  opposed  to  it.  On  the  under  jaw  the  teeth  have 
crescentic  cutting  edges,  and  are  six  in  number.  The  cen- 
tral pair,  both  above   and  below,   converge  at  their  tips. 

Forster  mentions  that  scaber  has  eight  teeth  in  each  jaw, 
and  he  enumerates  the  fin  rays  as  follows,  D.2| — 34 ;  A.  34  ; 
C.  12;  P.  12.  (Forster's  Descript.  An.  p.  152). 

We  have  no  certain  information  respecting  the  colours 
of  rudis,  when  recent. 

Length  of  the  specimen,  10  inches  ;  height  at  the  pelvis, 
4*4  inches  ;  vertebrae,  18. 

Hab.  Port  Arthur,  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

Solander  describes  a  New  Zealand  Monacanthus  as  fol- 
lows. "  Balistes  scabrosus,  cinereus  pintut  dorsali  pos- 
teriori, pectoralibus  et  aiiali  luteis  immaculatis ;  piund 
caudali  cinered  in  medio  e  virescente Jiavescenti.  Pinna 
dorsalis  antica  2-radiaia,  cinerea  :  radio  postico  minuto. 
Apertura  branchiarum,  pallide  violacea.  Labium  supe- 
rius  griseo-pluinbeum.  Dentium  maxillarum  apices  fus- 
ca.  Habitat  in  oceano  Australia  prope  Motuaro  {Norm 
Zelandi(c)r  Solander  MSS.  p.  36.  It  is  noted  as  the 
same  with  Batistes  unicornu  totus  e  cinereo  plumbeus,  sub- 
tits  palUdior  sub-Jlavicans.  Habitat  in  oceano  prope  Cap 
Kidnappers."  Solander,  MSS.,  p.  9.  These  colours  agree 
with  those  of  Forster's  B.  scaber  as  far  as  he  has  described 
them.  There  are  no  particulars  of  form  recorded,  by 
which  we  can  identify  Solander's  fish  with  M.  rudis. 


66 


MoNACANTHUs  viTTATUs.     Solauder,  {Balistes). 


Aleuterius  paragaudatus.     Richardson. 


Radii  :  —  D.  Qj— 32  ;    A.  31  ;    C.  12  ;    P.  13  ;    V.  1 1. 

(Solander). 

Ch.  Spec.  M.  cute  temiisshne  scabrd,  capite  longo  obtitso, 
octilis  supra  pinnas  pectoris ;  spina  dorsi  transversim 
ancipiti,  lateribus  retrorsum  aculeatis  ;  pinnis  dorsi 
unique  antice  acuminatis  ;  corpore  quadrivittato,  vittis 
alhescentibus. 


Radii  :— B.  6 ;  D.  2|— 30  ad  34  ;   A.  28  ad  32 ;    C.  12  ; 
P.  10  ad  12. 

Aleuterius  paragaudatus,  Kichardson,  Zool.   Proceed.  March  lOth, 
1840.  Zool.  Trans,  iii.  p.  172. 

Plate  XXXIX.,  fig.  1,  natural  size  ;  2 — 4,  magnified. 


Balistes  vittatus,  Solander,  Pisces  Novae  Hollandije,  MSS.,  p.  1 ; 
Icon.  48,  Fish  of  King  George's  Sound,  drawn  by  Dept.  Assist.  Coram. 
Gen.  Neill,  in  Mus.  Brit. 

Various  Australian  BalisfidcB  were  named  by  Solander, 
Forster,  and  others,  but  owing  to  the  descriptions  they 
have  left  being  confined  to  colour  or  to  the  generic 
characters,  the  determination  of  the  species  they  allude  to 
is  difficult.  The  figures  we  have  given  in  the  present  fasci- 
culus will  facilitate  this  task  to  future  ichthyologists,  and 
as  a  further  assistance,  we  subjoin  Solander's  account  of  a 
well-marked  species,  which  is  sketched  in  Mr.  Neill's 
book. 

"  Corpus  ovato-lanceolatum,  compressum,  cute  tenuis- 
sime  retrorsum  scabra  tectum.  Totus  piscis  pallide  cine- 
reus,  vittis  quatuor  albescentibus :  dtice  inJimcB  obsoletcB. 
Caput  longius  quam  in  plurimis,  obtusum,  latere  et  in- 
ferne  sordide  lutescens.  Anus  valde  magnus.  Oculi  su- 
pra pinnas  pectorales.  Iris  alba.  Pupilla  nigra.  Carina 
abdominis  ad  unum  ducta,  radio  unico  scabriusculo  termi- 
nata.  Pinna  dorsalis  prima  e  radio  unico  magno  trans- 
versim ancipiti,  lateribus  retrorsum  aculeatis,  sesquiun- 
ciali  [in  pisce  18  unciarum)  luteo  et  altero  minuto  albido, 
vi.v  nisi  oculis  attentioribus  perceptibili.  Pinna  dorsalis 
posterior  lutea,  pone  medium,  antice  alitor.  PinncB  pec- 
torales lutecB,  parv(B  oblique  ovatcB,  sursum  seu  angulo  su- 
periori  parum  acuminata.  Pinna  ventrales  e  carina 
descriptd  abdomine  vix  coloratior.  Pinna  analis  lutea, 
similis  pinna  dorsali  secundd.  Pinna  caudalis  a  basi  ex- 
tra medium  cinerea,  apice  lutescens,  truncata,  radii 
extimi  cmteris  pauld  longiores.  Os  parvum.  Denies  va- 
lidi  acuti." 

"  Villa  prima  prope  dorsum  ;  secunda  ab  oculis  ad 
initium  caudce  paulb  supra  medium  ;  tertia  a  pitinis  pec- 
toralibus  infra  medium  ad Jinem  cauda  ducta;  quarta 
obsoleta  in  abdomine.^''     (Solander,  1.  c). 

Mr.  Neill's  drawing  exhibits  the  profile  of  the  fish  as  a 
pretty  regular  ellipse,  of  which  the  vertical  diameter  is  con- 
tained thrice  and  a  half  in  the  total  length.  The  anterior 
apex  is  foi-med  by  the  lower  jaw  and  is  acute,  and  the 
length  of  the  head  to  the  pectoral,  equals  the  greatest  height 
of  the  body.  The  dorsal  spine  is  shorter  than  one-third  of 
the  height.  The  third  white  band  is  the  broadest  and 
brightest,  and  the  fourth,  agreeable  to  the  description,  is  lost 
in  the  pale  tint  of  the  belly. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound,  rare.  (Neill).  In  sinu—} 
Novce  Hollandite,  Aprilis  iSl/i,  1770,  (Solander). 


This  gaily  ornamented  Aleuterius  is  common  in  the  har- 
bours of  Van  Diemen's  Land  and  the  southern  coasts  of 
New  South  Wales  up  to  Port  Jackson.  Its  form  is 
elliptic-oblong,  the  greatest  height  of  the  body  being  con- 
tained thrice  and  one-third  in  the  total  length ;  and 
the  thickness  being  a  fourth  of  the  height.  The  mouth 
turns  obliquely  upwards,  as  is  usual  in  the  genus,  the  chin 
being  more  prominent  than  the  upper  jaw.  The  cutting 
edges  of  the  teeth  are  even,  not  lunated.  The  dorsal  spine 
stands  over  the  hinder  third  of  the  orbit  and  the  gill-open- 
ing ;  and  when  depressed,  is  received  completely  into  the 
furrow  behind  it,  which  reaches  only  half  way  to  the 
second  dorsal.  It  is  four-sided,  tapering,  and  acute,  and 
is  armed  by  acute  teeth  on  each  angle.  Figure  2  is  an  en- 
larged front  view  of  the  spine  ;  3  a  posterior  view  ;  and  4 
a  lateral  one.  The  whole  body  is  densely  covered  with 
very  short,  acute  bristles,  springing  from  globular  bases. 
They  are  invisible  to  the  naked  eye,  and  feel  rough  only 
when  the  finger  is  drawn  forwards.  The  original  tints  of 
colour  have  been  effaced  by  long  maceration  of  the  speci- 
mens in  spirits,  but  the  following  markings  remain.  The 
general  hue  is  olive-brown,  becoming  silvery  towards  the 
belly.  A  black  streak  runs  from  the  eye  along  the  side  of 
the  nose  and  encircles  the  mouth.  A  pale  stripe  com- 
mences further  back  on  the  lower  jaw,  and  ascending  to 
the  lower  third  of  the  orbit,  is  continued  from  behind  the 
eye  to  the  middle  of  the  flank  where  it  terminates.  It  has 
a  bluish  silvery  hue  in  spirits,  and  is  edged  above  and  be- 
low with  black.  A  similar  stripe  rises  close  to  the  pre- 
ceding one  on  the  chin,  and  running  backwards  under  the 
edge  of  the  pectoral  ends  in  a  row  of  spots.  Above  it,  is  a 
broader  stripe,  retaining  a  yellowish  tinge  which  may  be 
traced  over  the  pectoral  and  some  way  along  the  flank. 
These  stripes  vary  slightly  in  their  course  in  different  spe- 
cimens. Roimd  greyish-blue,  or  pearly  spots  ornament  all 
the  body  below  the  inferior  stripe,  also  the  tail  as  far  for- 
ward as  the  middle  of  the  dorsal  and  the  side  of  the  back 
to  the  front  of  that  fin.  These  spots  are  elongated  into 
short  bars  along  the  pelvic  bone.  In  some  specimens 
there  are  a  few  spots  in  the  space,  which  is  destitute 
of  them  in  the  specimen  which  is  figured.  A  dark  bar 
crosses  the  caudal  near  its  end,  and  there  are  some  dark 
blotches  on  the  back  under  the  second  dorsal.  These  spe- 
cimens vary  in  length  from  5  to  6  inches.  Vertebrae  20. 
Hab.  Port  Arthur,  Van  Diemen's  Land.  Port  Jackson, 
Australia. 


67 


Aleuterius  maculosus.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— D.  2|— 30  ad  34  ;    A.  29  ad  32  ;    C.  12 ; 
P.  10  ad  12. 

Aleuterius  maculosus,  Richardson,  Zool.  Proceed.,  March  lOth,  1840. 
Zool.  Trans,  iii.  p.  170. 

Plate  XXIX.,  fig.  5,  natural  size  ;  G,  7,  magnified. 

This  Aleuterius  has  a  higher  body  than  paragaudatus, 
and  its  face  is  slightly  concave  in  profile,  not  flatly  arched. 
The  greatest  height  is  nearly  a  third  of  the  total  length. 
The  dorsal  spine  is  similarly  placed  to  that  of  paragmida- 
tus,  but  is  proportionally  taller,  and  is  somewhat  curved  at 
its  base.  It  has,  in  like  manner,  four  angles  which  are 
armed  by  rougher  stronger  teeth.  Figure  6  is  a  lateral 
view  of  the  spine,  and  7  a  front  view,  which  does  not  differ 
fi'om  the  posterior  one.  The  dermal  bristles  resemble  those 
of  paragaudatus,  and  when  examined  through  a  lens,  the 
integument  between  them  is  seen  to  be  finely  spotted. 

The  ground  colour  of  the  specimens  in  spirits  is  olive- 
brown,  densely  spotted,  and  clouded  by  darker  tints.  The 
under  parts  are  more  silvery,  and  the  caudal  fin  is  crossed 
by  a  bar  near  its  end.     Length,  4  or  5  inches. 

Hab.   Harbours  of  Van  Diemen's  Land  and  New  South 


Dep.  Assist.  Commissary  General  Neill  has  drawn  a 
King  George's  Sound  Aleuterius,  which  we  are  inclined  to 
consider  as  the  same  with  maculosus,  though,  as  occurs  in 
some  others  of  his  sketches,  the  peculiar  mottling  of 
the  body  is  omitted.  It  is  number  15  of  his  collection,  and 
is  named  "  Candiey  "  by  the  Aborigines,  some  of  them  call- 
ing it  also  "  Tabaduck,"  which  seems  to  be  a  generic  appel- 
lation. He  says  that  it  inhabits  deep  water,  where  the  bot- 
tom is  rocky,  and  is  good  to  eat. 

Aleuterius  variabilis.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— D.  2|— 35  ;  A.  33  ;  P.  13  ;   V.  0  ;   C.  12,  rounded. 
(Spec.  Br.  Mus.) 

/(■on.  31,  Neill's  drawings  of  King  George's  Sound  Fishes  in  Brit. 
Mus.  (unpublished).  Native  name,  Tabaduck. 


Plate  LIII.,  figs.  1,  2  and  5,  natural  size  : 
magnified. 


3,7, 


Mr.  Neill  informs  us  that  this  fish  is  very  common  in 
deep  water  on  the  rocky  coasts  of  King  George's  Sound, 
and  is  much  esteemed  by  the  Aborigines  as  an  article  of 
food.  Like  the  Aleuteres,  it  is  infested  by  Isopoda,  and 
Mr.  Neill  states  that  the  fish,  which  are  suffering  from  the 
attacks  of  that  crustacean,  are  bright  yellow  on  the  lower 
parts,  while  the  others  are  of  a  beautiful  purple  colour.  The 
specimen  figured  by  Mr.  Neill  has  the  yellow  colour,  and  a 
large  Isopode  has  burrowed  in  the  side  of  the  belly  near 
the  vent. 

The  top  of  the  back,  the  dorsal,  and  anal  fins  are  moun- 
tain-green, the  sides  and  belly  are  bright  gamboge-yellow. 
There  are  eight  or  nine  flax-flower  streaks  on  the  lower  lip 


and  chin,  one  of  them  encircling  the  muzzle  behind  the 
lips ;  also  five  or  six  of  the  same  tint  on  each  side  of  tlie 
pelvic  bone,  the  three  lowest  of  which  unite  on  the  mesial 
line  with  the  corresponding  streaks  of  the  o]jposite  side. 
A  blue  stripe  runs  beneatli  the  base  of  Uie  second  dorsal, 
and  another  extends  from  the  anus  to  the  caudal,  running 
near  the  anal.  The  bases  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  also 
marked  by  a  row  of  blue  spots.  The  rays  of  the  caudal  are 
yellowisli,  and  the  membrane  between  them  is  striped 
with  blue.  The  fin  is  crossed  by  two  black  bars,  one 
on  the  base  of  the  rays,  and  the  other  which  is  broader  near 
their  extremities. 

The  specimen  is  nine  inclies  long,  including  the  caudal 
fin,  and  its  height  at  the  point  of  the  pelvis  exceeds  a  third 
of  the  length.  Its  profile  is  an  irregular  ellipse,  obtuse 
before  and  more  tapering  behind,  with  the  ventral  curve 
more  prominent  than  the  dorsal  one.  The  mouth  is  tunied 
a  little  upwards,  and  the  lips  project  somewhat,  but  the 
snout  has  not  a  beaked  form.  The  facial  line  rises  with  a 
slight  convexity  at  an  angle  of  40°  to  the  dorsal  spine,  whicli 
stands  over  the  posterior  half  of  the  orbit :  from  thence  to 
the  second  dorsal,  the  outline  of  the  back  is  horizontal. 
The  eye,  placed  high  on  the  cheek,  is  three  diameters  and 
a  half  of  the  orbit  distant  from  the  edge  of  the  upper  lip ; 
and  the  oblique  gill-opening  commencing  a  diameter  of  tlie 
orbit  lower  down,  and  exactly  beneath  its  hinder  edge  de- 
scends to  opposite  the  middle  of  the  pectoral,  its  lengtli 
being  equal  to  a  diameter  and  a  half  of  the  orbit.  The 
skin  is  studded  every  where  with  short,  recurved  subulate 
bristles,  and  when  examined  through  a  lens,  it  appears  to  be 
divided  into  narrow  rhomboidal  compartments  or  scales, 
each  of  them  armed  b}',  from  one  to  four  bristles  united  to 
one  another  at  the  base  (fig.  4).  On  looking  at  the  inte- 
rior surface  of  the  skin,  the  scales  have  the  ordinary  tiled 
appearance  represented  in  figure  5.  The  point  of  the  pelvic 
bone  is  a  small,  convex  knob  scarcely  rising  above  the 
level  of  the  surrounding  skin,  granulated  on  the  disk  ;  and 
armed  by  a  circle  of  incumbent  spines,  (fig.  7,  magnified). 
The  side  of  the  tail  is  armed  by  four  short,  lanceolate 
spines,  disposed  in  two  rows,  and  round  their  bases  the  fine 
bristles  of  the  integument  are  a  little  longer  and  more  slen- 
der than  elsewhere.  The  dorsal  spine  is  equal  in  height  to 
the  space  between  its  base  and  the  upper  angle  of  the  gill- 
opening.  It  is  convex  and  granulated  in  front  with  two 
rows  of  blunt  incumbent  teeth,  which  become  pungent  at 
the  tip  only  of  the  ray.  Posteriorly  the  dorsal  spine  is  flat, 
and  furrowed  with  a  row  of  strong,  acute,  reverted  sjjinous 
teeth  on  each  edge.  The  trigger  ray  is  minute.  The  in- 
terval between  the  first  and  second  dorsal  fins  is  greater 
than  the  length  of  the  dorsal  spine.  The  rays  of  the  dor- 
sal, anal,  and  pectorals  are  compressed  in  one  direction  at 
the  base,  and  in  another  towards  their  tips.  They  are  rough 
on  the  lower  third  of  their  height,  but  not  quite  down  to 
their  bases,  which  are  smootli.  The  caudal  rays  are  rough 
to  near  their  tips.  The  markings  of  the  dried  specimen  are 
shown  in  the  figure  and  are  black,  though  many  of  the  cor- 
responding lines  in  Mr.  Neill's  drawing  are  light  blue.  The 
dark  colour  is  more  intense  in  the  spines  than  in  the  sub- 
jacent skin  of  the  part. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound. 


68 


Aleuterius?  brownii.     Richardson. 


Aleuterius  trossulus.     Richardson. 


Radii:— D.  2]— 33;    A.30;    C.  11  ;    P.  11. 
(Bauer's  drawing). 

Daring  Captain  Flinder's  voyage  of  discovery  round 
Australia,  Mr.  Ferdinand  Bauer  made  highly  finished  co- 
loured drawings  of  fish  which  are  now  in  the  possession  of 
Dr.  Robert  Brown,  and  which  this  gentleman  has  kindly 
permitted  me  repeatedly  to  examine.  One  of  thera  repre- 
sents a  very  handsome  species,  having  entirely  the  aspect  of 
a  Monncanthus,  except  that  there  is  no  indication  of  the 
protrusion  of  the  point  of  the  pelvic  bone  through  the  in- 
tegument. In  Monacanthus  variabilis  described  above, 
the  rough  point  of  the  pelvic  bone  might,  by  a  less  correct 
observer  than  Mr.  Bauer,  have  been  overlooked,  as  being 
merely  a  part  of  the  common  scabrous  surface,  it  is 
conceivable  that  this  point  may  be  even  less  perceptible  in 
other  species,  and  some  doubt  must  therefore  exist,  until 
the  fish  be  again  discovered,  as  to  whether  it  ought  to  be 
considered  as  a  Monacanthus,  having  a  minute  tip  to  the 
pelvic  bone,  or  an  Aleuterius,  with  the  coarse  coat  and  ex- 
ternal aspect  of  a  Monacanthus.  The  specific  name  is  in- 
tended as  a  small  tribute  of  respect  to  the  distinguished 
naturalist,  who  laid  the  foundation  of  his  fame  by  his  re- 
searches on  the  voyage  on  which  this  fish  was  discovered. 

The  drawing  is  12|-  inches  long,  and  represents  an  oval 
fish,  blunt  in  front  without  any  projecting  snout,  and 
the  height  contained  rather  more  than  thrice  in  the  total 
lengtli,  caudal  included.  The  integuments  are  covered 
with  lanceolate,  apiculate  spines  or  bristles,  mixed  with 
much  more  minute  asperities  represented  in  a  magnified 
drawing  of  a  portion  of  the  skin.  The  sides  of  the  tail  are 
also  armed  by  four  long,  curved,  cylindrical  spines,  placed 
one  pair  over  the  other.  The  teeth,  similar  to  those  oi Mo- 
nacanthus, are  more  conical  and  acute  than  usual,  with  deep 
notches  between  the  cusps.  The  dorsal  spine  is  toothed 
behind  and  before ;  the  anterior  teeth  ranged  in  two  rows, 
being  shorter  than  those  which  arm  the  hinder  edges  of  the 
spine.  The  gill  opening  is  oblique,  and  is  eight-tenths  of 
an  inch  long. 

The  ground  tint  of  the  fish  is  pistachio,  or  sap-green, 
and  azure-blue  dots  are  scattered  over  the  whole  body. 
The  spots  are  replaced  by  blue  lines  on  the  top  of  the  back 
anteriorly,  round  the  mouth,  between  the  pectorals,  on  the 
temples  and  under  part  of  the  cheek.  The  scaly  fillets 
along  the  bases  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  blue,  and  there 
is  a  blue  line  near  to  the  anal,  parallel  to  its  base.  Six 
short  blue  bars  radiate  from  the  eye,  and  the  nasal  region 
is  spotted  with  blue.  The  side  of  the  tail  is  a  bright  saf- 
fron-yellow, shading  off  towards  its  middle  into  a  rich 
orange-brown.  The  four  lateral  spines  of  the  tail  are 
placed  in  this  orange  patch,  each  having  a  green  circle 
round  its  base.  The  anal  and  dorsal  fins  and  the  rays  of 
the  caudal  are  sap-green.  The  iris  is  prussian-blue, 
encircled  by  yellow. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  Austraha. 


Radii:— D.  1|— 28;  A.  26;  C.  12  ;   P.  11. 
Plate  XL.,  fig.  5,  natural  size  ;  6,  magnified. 

This  fish  has  the  aspect  of  a  Monacanthus,  but  if  the 
total  concealment  of  the  pelvic  bone  by  the  integuments 
without  any  vestige  of  a  protruding  point  be  held,  with 
Cuvier,  as  the  essential  character  of  Aleuterius,  it  must  be 
ranked  in  this  genus. 

It  differs  from  the  known  species  of  Aleuteres  in  the 
high  and  short  form  of  the  body.  The  highest  part  of  the 
profile  is  at  the  commencement  of  the  second  dorsal,  fi-om 
whence  it  descends  to  the  mouth,  with  a  curvature  resem- 
bling the  italic y reversed.  The  abdomen  hangs  down  like 
a  dewlap,  but  it  is  filled  to  the  lowest  point  with  the  intes- 
tines, and  has  no  thin  membranous  edge,  being  as  thick 
before  the  anus  as  the  back  is.  The  height  from  the  second 
dorsal  to  the  point  of  the  pelvic  bone  is  equal  to  the  length 
from  the  mouth  to  the  tail.  The  dorsal  spine  stands  over 
the  middle  of  the  orbit,  and  is  roundish,  with  the  tips 
scarcely  pungent.  Its  height  is  not  above  one-fourth  of 
the  extreme  height  of  the  body,  and  it  is  densely  covered 
with  minute  grains,  which  lengthen  into  very  fine  acicular 
bristles  near  the  membrane.  There  is  no  vestige  of  a  trig- 
ger ray  to  be  detected  externally.  Both  the  dorsal  spine 
and  pelvic  bone  are  flexible  in  our  specimen.  The  gill- 
opening  is  exactly  over  the  base  of  the  pectoral.  The  skin 
is  densely  covered  with  slender,  flexible,  acute  bristles, 
(fig.  6)  which  are  so  delicate  as  to  give  a  velvety  feel  to  the 
finger.  The  colour  of  the  specimen,  which  has  been  long 
in  spirits,  is  blackish-green,  with  some  minute  darker 
specks  and  dots  of  a  pale  colour  scattered  over  the  body, 
and  most  crowded  on  the  face  and  flanks.  Along  the  pel- 
vic bone,  and  near  the  belly  the  dots  run  into  streaks.  The 
rays  of  the  caudal  are  also  speckled  with  black,  the  other 
colours  are  effaced.     Length  of  specimen,  2j  inches. 

Hab.  Sea-coasts  of  Western  Australia. 


Aleuterius  ?  baceri.     Richardson. 


Radii  :— D.  1 1 


-26  vel  27  ;    A.  21  ;  C.  9  : 
(Bauer's  drawing). 


P.  6  vel  7. 


This  species  is  named  in  honour  of  Mr.  Ferdinand 
Bauer,  being  founded  on  one  of  his  admirable  drawings  in 
Dr.  Brown's  possession.  The  figure  presents  the  careful 
execution  and  felicity  of  touch  which  characterize  Mr. 
Bauer's  pencil,  and  looking  to  his  known  scrupulous  accu- 
racy in  details,  it  may  be  considered  as  the  representation 
of  a  generic  form  not  yet  described,  in  which  the  charac- 
ters of  several  groups  of  Plectognathi  are  combined.  It 
exhibits  the  undivided  dental  plate  of  Diodon,  the  in- 
flated body  and  dermal  spines  of  Tetrodon,  and  the  fins 
of  Aleuterius.  We  shall  not  venture  upon  the  formation 
of  a  new  generic  name  without  having  seen  a  specimen  of 
the  fish,  and  it  is  therefore  placed  provisionally  in  Aleute- 
rius, with  which,  on  the  whole,  it  best  agrees. 


69 


Two  magnified  views  of  the  jaws  are  sketched  in  out- 
line on  a  separate  piece  of  paper,  in  which  each  jaw  is  re- 
presented as  forming  only  one  piece,  as  in  Diodon,  but  the 
cutting  edge  instead  of  being  even  or  only  slightly  crenated, 
is  deeply  notched,  producing  conical  cusps  resembling  those 
of  the  Balistkl(e.  Two  rounded  notches  in  the  upper  jaw 
form  one  mesial  cusp,  and  an  angular  point  on  each  side. 
On  the  lower  jaw  there  are  three  conical  cusps,  slightly 
blunted.  The  body  is  inflated  like  that  of  one  of  the  most 
distensible  Tetrodoiites,  and  the  snout  is  short  and  slen- 
der. The  belly  is  rounded  and  prominent,  without  any 
indication  of  a  pelvic  keel  or  projecting  point  of  the  bone. 
The  dorsal  spine  stands  as  is  usual  in  Aleiderius  over  the 
orbit,  and  has  the  common  triangular  slip  of  membrane  be- 
hind it.  The  second  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  highest  an- 
teriorly, but  with  rounded  summits,  and  terminate  so  as  to 
leave  a  rather  slender  trunk  of  the  tail  between  them  and 
the  caudal,  which  is  convex  at  the  end.  The  branchial 
opening  is  a  little  above  the  base  of  tlie  pectoral.  An  en- 
larged view  is  given  of  the  spines,  which  cover  the  body 
thickly,  in  which  they  are  represented  as  having  semi-lan- 
ceolate bases  with  slender  hair-like  tips,  and  as  being  closely 
tiled  on  each  other  in  a  quincuncial  manner.  The  length 
of  the  figure  is  4  inches,  and  the  height  of  the  body 
2-|  inches. 

The  ground  colour  is  emerald-green  or  bright  grass- 
green,  which  is  traversed  longitudinally  by  seven  inter- 
rupted dark  brown  stripes,  two  of  which  unite  anteriorly  ; 
nine  short  bars  radiate  from  all  sides  of  the  orbit,  and  on 
the  belly  and  flanks  beneath  the  lowest  lateral  stripe  there 
are  many  white  specks.  The  rays  of  the  caudal  are  grass- 
green,  spotted  in  cross  rows  with  umber-brown ;  the  pecto- 
rals have  a  neutral  tint.  The  dorsal  and  anal  are  yellow, 
with  three  rows  of  black  specks  between  the  bases  of  the 
rays,  and  four  rows  of  pale  specks  disposed  in  pairs  be- 
tween the  tips  of  the  rays. 

Hab.  Coast  of  Australia. 


ScARUS  ACROPTILUS.     Richardson. 
Radii:— D.  24;  A.  13;  C.  12.    (Bauer's  drawing). 

For  the  knowledge  of  this  very  handsome  fish  we  are  in- 
debted to  the  pencil  of  Mr.  Bauer,  not  having  seen  any 
account  of  it  in  the  ichthyological  works  we  have  con- 
sulted. It  differs  from  other  Scari,  in  the  first  three  rays 
of  the  dorsal  being  higher  than  the  rest,  and  the  second 
ray  taller  than  the  other  two.  The  rays  of  the  dorsal  and 
anal  are  also  more  numerous  than  in  the  other  Scari,  and 
they  are  all  represented  as  tapering  to  a  point,  no  distinction 
being  shown  between  the  spinous  and  articulated  rays,  the 
thickness  of  the  membrane  probably  having  prevented  the 
difference  from  being  evident.  The  last  rays  of  both  fins 
are  divided  to  the  base.  The  jaws  have  the  usual  form  of 
Scariis,  with  a  slight,  in-egular  crenature  on  the  edge  and 
without  any  spinous  or  tiled  teeth. 

The  body  has  a  very  regular  elliptic  form,  its  height  be- 
ing contained  thrice  and  one-third  in  the  length,  caudal 


included.  The  upper  and  under  profile  of  the  head  are  alike 
and  enter  regularly  into  the  curves  of  the  ellipse,  the  head 
being  moderately  blunt.  The  ground  colour  of  the  body 
is  green,  with  two  rows  of  oblong  purplish  black  blotches 
forming  interrupted  bars  on  the  sides.  The  cheek  is  lilac, 
and  a  stripe  of  the  same  hue,  with  yellow  and  blue  edges, 
passes  over  the  gill-cover.  Three  azure  stripes  cross 
the  temples.  The  under  jaw  is  yellow,  with  a  broad  black 
mark  which  extends  under  the  green  pectoral.  The  dor- 
sal is  orange-yellow,  traversed  by  a  lake-red  stripe  with 
carmine  edges,  the  extreme  edge  of  the  fin  being  green ; 
an  oval  bluish  black  spot  reaches  from  the  third  to 
the  sixth  ray.  The  ventrals  are  yellow,  with  green  rays, 
and  have  each  a  large  violaceous  mark  with  blue  edges  in 
the  centre.  The  anal  is  green  at  the  base,  then  yellow  tra- 
versed by  a  red  stripe  and  marked  by  oblique  lake  bars 
near  the  edge,  which  is  yellow.  The  caudal,  which  is  even 
or  slightly  convex  at  the  end,  has  a  lake-coloured  mem- 
brane marked  with  red  bars  or  spots  and  green  rays.  The 
eye  is  green,  with  a  black  pupil  and  yellow  iris. 
Hab.  Coasts  of  Australia. 


Crenidens  tephe^ops.     Richardson. 

Radii:— B.6;  D.14|13;  A.  3|11;  C.15f ;  P.  17;  V.l|5. 

Kowelany,  Aboriginal  appellation  at  King  George's  Sound.  Icon. 
Drawings  of  Fish  of  King  George's  Sound,  by  D.  Assist.  Comm.  Gen. 
Neill,  in  Br.  Mas.  No.  10.     Drawing  lOj  inches  long. 

Plate  XLI.,  fig.  1,  half  natural  size  ;  2,  magnified. 

One  member  of  this  genus  [Cr.  triglyphus),  has  been  al- 
ready described  at  page  36,  and  represented  on  plate  35, 
fig.  2.  The  species  now  under  consideration,  has  less  of 
the  physiognomy  of  Cr.forskalii,  and  more  resembles  the 
Melauichthys  of  the  '  Fauna  Japonica'  (tab.  39),*  which  does 
not  appear  to  me  to  be  a  distinct  generic  form  from  Creiii- 
dens.  Cr.  tephra-ops  is  stated  by  Mr.  Neill  to  be  an  inha- 
bitant of  rocky  places  in  King  George's  Sound,  where  it  is 
occasionally  taken  by  the  hook.  Our  figure  and  the  follow- 
ing description  are  executed  from  a  dried  specimen,  which 
is  11  inches  long. 

Form  elliptical,  with  the  profile  of  the  face  arched  and 
gibbous  before  the  nostrils.  The  head  foi-ms  one  quarter 
of  the  length,  excluding  the  caudal,  and  is  equal  to  three 
diameters  and  a  quarter  of  the  round  bony  orbit.  The  eye, 
placed  near  the  profile,  is  equi-distant  from  the  upper  lip 
and  tip  of  the  gill-cover.  The  nostrils  are  pierced  imme- 
diately before  the  anterior  angle  of  the  orbit.  The  cleft  of 
the  mouth,  which  is  moderately  wide  transversely  and 
arched,  does  not  reach  so  far  back  as  the  nostrils.  When 
viewed  in  front,  the  upper  jaw  has  somewhat  of  a  horse- 
shoe fonn,  which  is  imparted  to  it  by  a  foi-ward  curvature 
of  the  limbs  of  tlie  intermaxillaries.  These  bones  are  to- 
lerably stout  and  convex  at  the  symphysis,  and  their  tips 
move  on  the  outside  of  the  post-mandibulars,  completely 

*  Crenidens  melanichlhys,  Richardson  on  the  Ichlh.  of  the  Seas  of 
China  and  Japan,  Report  of  Brit.  Assoc,  for  1845,  p.  243. 

N 


70 


excluding  the  raaxillavies  from  any  share  in  the  composi- 
tion of  the  mouth.  Their  pedicles  are  about  half  as  long 
as  the  limbs,  but  give  sufficient  protractility  to  the  jaw  to 
produce  a  deep,  narrow  furrow  betwixt  it  and  the  preorbi- 
tar.  In  the  bottom  of  this  iiirrow  is  the  maxillary,  which 
glides  in  part  under  the  edge  of  the  preorbitar  and  cheek, 
and  is  completely  shut  in  and  concealed  when  the  jaw  is 
retracted.  The  intermaxillaries,  up  to  their  extreme  tips, 
and  the  lower  jaw,  are  armed  on  their  edges  by  a  single  se- 
ries of  vertical,  incurved,  chisel-shaped  teeth,  with  rounded 
tricuspid  points,  the  side  cusps  being  smaller,  and  consider- 
ably shorter  than  the  middle  one.  Twenty-one  or  twenty- 
two  of  these  teeth  belong  to  each  intermaxillary,  and  a 
smaller  number  to  the  opposing  limbs  of  the  lower  jaw. 
The  side  cusps  of  the  teeth  implanted  in  the  extremities  of 
the  intermaxillaries  are  obsolete.  Separated  from  the 
outer  row  by  a  narrow  furrow  or  interval,  is  a  dense  brush- 
like band  on  each  jaw,  composed  of  teeth  of  similar  form, 
but  much  finer  and  shorter.  The  vomer  and  palate  bone 
are  toothless.  Cr.  forskalii  has  five  cusps  to  the  teeth, 
and  in  triglyphus  and  melanichthys,  which  have  tricuspid 
teeth,  the  cusps  are  equal. 

In  tephraops  the  length  of  the  preorbitar  is  equal  to  the 
diameter  of  the  bony  orbit,  its  height  is  one-third  less,  and 
its  surface  is  scaleless ;  as  are  also  the  circumference  of  the 
orbit  and  the  top  of  the  head  back  to  the  posterior  third  of 
the  orbits.  In  the  dried  specimen  the  skin  of  these  parts 
and  of  the  lips  and  lower  jaw  is  crowded  with  minute  pits. 
The  cheek  is  entirely  covered  with  scales,  which  spread 
over  the  temples  and  upper  quarter  of  the  gill-cover ;  the 
remaining  part  of  the  gill-cover,  the  interoperculum,  and 
disk  of  the  preoperculum  are  covered  with  smooth  skin. 
Nearly  the  same  distribution  of  scales  on  the  head  occurs 
in  Cr.  triglyphus,  but  in  the  hgure  of  melaiiicht/iys  in  plate 
39  of  the  '  Fauna  Japonica,'  the  upper  limb  of  the  preoper- 
culum and  the  whole  operculum  are  represented  as  scaly. 
In  tephrwops  the  disk  of  the  preoperculum  is  wide  and 
rounded  at  the  angle,  and  becomes  gradually  narrow  as  it 
ascends  the  upper  limb.  It  is  crenated  on  the  edge,  and  in 
the  dried  specimen  presents  an  uneven  surface.  The  inter- 
operculum and  suboperculum  are  entire  and  even,  and  the 
operculum  is  cut  by  a  shallow  lunate  notch,  having  a  round- 
ed upper  corner  and  more  acute  inferior  one.  A  smooth 
membrane  fills  up  the  notch  and  forms  a  narrow  edging  to 
the  bone. 

The  scales  are  small  and  oblong,  with  parallel  sides, 
truncated  bases,  and  rounded  ciliated  extremities.  An  ob- 
long central  portion  of  the  disk  is  smooth,  the  lines  of 
structure  are  parallel  to  the  sides,  about  thirteen  furrows 
impress  the  base,  and  a  small  part  of  the  tip  adjoining  the 
marginal  teeth  is  rough.  The  number  of  scales  in  a  row 
between  the  gill-opening  and  caudal  fin  is  about  116,  but 
their  exact  number  could  not  be  determined  owing  to  the 
specimen  having  been  varnished.  Minute,  closely  ap- 
pressed  scales  cover  the  membranes  of  the  vertical  fins  al- 
most to  their  extreme  edges,  a  triangular  slip  behind  the 
tip  of  each  of  the  dorsal  spines  being  the  only  smooth  part. 
The  spinous  dorsal  of  triglyphua  has  merely  a  small  fillet 
of  scales  before  the  spines  on  alternate  sides  of  the  mem- 
brane. In  melnniclithys  the  scales  generally  are  much 
larger. 


The  dorsal  of  tephraops  commences  over  the  axilla  of 
the  pectorals,  opposite  to  the  ventrals,  and  occupies  most 
of  the  back.  Its  anterior  spines  are  graduated,  the  first  be- 
ing half  as  high  as  the  seventh  ;  the  remaining  seven  are 
equal  in  height  to  each  other  and  to  the  soft  part  of  the  fin, 
which  is  rounded  posteriorly.  The  anal  differs  from  that 
of  melanichthys,  in  being  somewhat  pointed  and  highest 
in  its  anterior  third,  while  the  posterior  part  is  rounded  like 
the  end  of  the  dorsal.  Its  spines  are  slender,  and  the  third 
one  is  considerably  taller  than  the  second,  being  equal  to 
half  the  length  of  the  longest  soft  ray.  The  second  anal 
spine  of  Cr.  triglyphus  is  rather  taller  than  the  third  one. 
The  caudal  of  tephraiops  is  lunate  at  the  end  with  acute 
tips. 

Mr.  Neill's  drawing  is  black,  deeper  on  the  back  and 
fins,  and  more  dilute  towards  the  belly.  A  very  dark  speck 
is  placed  behind  the  tip  of  the  last  dorsal  spine.  The  eye 
is  stated  to  be  gray,  and  it  is  on  this  account  that  we  have 
given  the  species  the  name  of  tephrcBops,  as  the  others 
have  for  the  most  part  green  or  blue  eyes. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound,  Australia. 

Crenidens  zebra  is  another  species  named  by  the  Abori- 
gines Kgnmmul  or  Karraway,  "The  Striped,"  and  by  the 
sealers  the  "  Zebra-fish."  It  differs  from  tephrwops,  in  hav- 
ing nine  blackish  brown  bars  descending  from  the  back, 
and  tapering  off  to  a  point  on  the  whitish  bell}'.  The  fore- 
most stripe  descends  behind  the  pectorals,  and  the  last  one 
crossses  the  trunk  of  the  tail.  The  anal  is  not  peaked  an- 
teriorly, and  the  three  spines  of  that  fin  are  nearly  equal  in 
length  to  the  soft  rays.  A  single  scale  attached  to  Mr. 
Neill's  drawing  of  this  fish  (number  8),  is  even  smaller  than 
the  scales  in  general  of  tephrceops,  and  has  a  narrower 
rounded  base,  but  is  otherwise  similar.  The  drawing  is 
nearly  a  foot  long.  Mr.  Neill  reckons  the  rays  as  follow  : 
D.  11|15;  A.  3|11;  V.  Ijo.  He  also  states  that  the  fish 
has  a  bluish  gray  eye,  that  it  inhabits  rocky  places,  is  a 
gross  feeder,  and  bad  eating.     It  takes  a  baited  hook. 


Sebastes  pandus.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— B.  6 ;  D.  12|— IjS  ;   A.  3|5  ;  C.  13^ ;   P.  16  et 
IV;  V.  Ii5. 

Scorpxna  panda,  Richardson,  Annals  and  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist.  ix.  p. 
216.  An.  1842.  Tylyuck  or  Teluck,  "  Big-head,"  Native  Australian 
names.  Icon.  Drawings  of  the  Fish  of  King  George's  Sound,  by  De- 
puty Asst.  Comin.  Gen.  Neill,  No.  53,  Br.  Mus.  Length  of  drawing,  13 
inches.     Length  of  specimen  13  inches. 

Plate  XLI.,  figs.  3,  4,  natural  size. 

This  species  was  first  described  in  the  Annals  of  Natural 
History,  quoted  above,  from  a  drawing  of  the  recent  fish 
made  at  Houtman's  Abrolhos,  by  Lieut.  Emery  of  the  Royal 
Navy.  The  transverse  depression  of  the  skull  behind  the 
orbits  is  somewhat  exaggerated  in  his  figure,  but  it  is, 
nevertheless,  deep  enough  to  make  the  appellation  oi  pan- 
das appropriate.  In  this  character  it  resembles  the  Scor- 
paina  nova:  guinea;,  but  it  differs  from  that  fish  in  the  ab- 
sence   of   cutaneous    filaments    on    the   head   and   body, 


71 


the  form  of  the  spines  of  the  head,  the  height  of  the  dorsal 
spines,  and  in  other  characters.  The  existence  of  scales  on 
almost  all  parts  of  the  head  is  introduced  into  the  '  Histoire 
des  Poissons,'  as  one  of  the  marks  by  which  Seha-ttes  may 
be  distinguished  from  Scorpmna,  but  the  figure  of  .S'.  nooa 
guinece,  published  in  the  '  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  L' As- 
trolabe,' represents  it  as  scaly  round  the  eye,  on  the  tem- 
ples, gill-cover,  the  whole  cheek,  and  the  maxillary  :  the 
snout,  lower  jaw,  and  gill-membrane,  being  in  fact  the  only 
naked  parts.  It  would,  therefore,  appear  that  the  presence 
of  cutaneous  filaments  in  Scorpwiia  is  the  only  character 
by  which  it  is  separated  fi-om  Sehastes. 

Our  figure  and  the  following  description  of  S.  pandus 
are  dependant  upon  a  single  dried  specimen  which  was 
prepared  at  King  George's  Sound,  and  corresponds  closely 
with  Mr.  Neill's  drawing  which  we  have  quoted.  The 
length  of  the  head  is  contained  three  times  and  nearly  a 
half  in  the  total  length,  caudal  included.  The  back  is 
moderately  arched,  and  the  tail  is  more  slender  than 
is  usual  in  the  genus.  The  edge  of  the  orbit  rises  boldly 
above  the  profile,  producing  a  deep,  acute  furrow  on  the 
summit  of  the  cranium,  (fig.  4).  The  usual  intraorbital 
ridges  are  quite  obsolete,  and  the  orbital  plates  are  scaly. 
One  small  tooth  exists  on  the  anterior  quarter  of  the  edge 
of  the  orbit,  and  four  on  the  posterior  quarter.  They  are 
much  less  prominent  and  acute  than  the  corresponding 
teeth  of  S.  novce  guinea;.  The  diameter  of  the  orbit  is  equal 
to  one-third  of  the  length  of  the  head.  A  deep,  rounded, 
transverse  furrow  separates  the  orbits  from  the  supra-scapu- 
lar region.  The  bony  projections  on  the  head  generally, 
are  short  thin  crests  ending  in  a  posterior  corner,  more  or 
less  acute,  not  in  rounded  spinous  points.  Such  is 
the  character  of  the  short  nasal  points.  The  preorbitar  has 
four  acute  teeth  on  its  under  edge,  the  first  being  higher  up 
than  the  other  three  ;  its  upper  edge  is  thin,  elevated  and 
undulating.  The  suborbitar  ridge  which  crosses  the  cheek 
close  to  the  orbit  has  four  thin  crest-like  prominences  ;  this 
ridge  abuts  against  the  preoperculum  high  on  the  upper 
limb,  and  not  as  usual  against  the  curve  of  the  bone  oppo- 
site to  the  principal  spine.  The  disk  of  the  preoperculum 
is  granulated  by  little  bony  eminences,  and  there  is  a  flat 
triangular  projection  at  its  angle,  which  is  crested  by  two 
small  spines,  one  incumbent  on  the  other.  Three  acute 
spinous  points  exist  on  the  lower  limb  of  the  bone,  being 
fewer  than  usual.  A  thin  ridge  armed  by  two  acute  points 
crosses  the  middle  of  the  operculum,  and  a  flat  spine  ter- 
minates the  upper  curve  of  the  bone,  and  overlies  the  base 
of  the  scaly  tip  of  the  gill-cover.  The  temporal  groove  is 
marked  by  two  bony  points  at  its  anterior  end,  standing 
crossvvays,  with  their  flat  surfaces  turned  towards  the  orbit, 
and  a  short  indented  crest  lying  longitudinally  a  little  far- 
ther back.  The  supra-scapular  and  scapular  have  each  a 
thin  crest  similar  to  the  temporal  one.  The  maxillaries, 
preorbitars,  snout,  orbital  plates,  cheeks,  preoperculum,  in- 
teroperculuin,  and  whole  gill-covei-,  with  the  temples  and 
nape  are  scaly.  No  vestiges  of  filaments  can  be  detected 
on  the  head  or  body,  nor  are  any  represented  in  Mr.  Neill's 
or  Lieutenant  Emery's  drawings.  The  scales  are  ciliato- 
dentate,  and  rough  to  the  touch.  About  fifty-eight  exist  in 
a  row  between  the  scapular  bone  and  caudal  fin.     The 


lateral  line  is  arched  and  acutely  keeled,  but  not  spinous  at 
its  commencement.  It  approaches  close  to  the  base  of  the 
fourth  dorsal  spine,  but  descends  again  opposite  the  tentli 
to  the  upper  quarter  of  the  height,  and  in  the  tail  to  a  little 
above  the  middle.  The  keel  is  confined  to  the  anterior 
arched  part.  The  dorsal  spines  are  tall,  the  third  one  be- 
ing nearly  equal  in  height  to  the  body.  The  anterior  ones 
have  a  considerable  curvature.  The  spinous  part  of  the 
fin  is  joined  to  the  base  of  the  spine  of  the  soft  part 
by  membrane.  The  second  anal  spine  is  strong  and  fully  a 
third  longer  than  the  following  one,  which  is  but  a  Utile  taller 
than  the  first.  The  pectoral  fin  is  large,  its  tip  when  laid 
back  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  anal.  The  pectoral  of 
Sc.  novce  guinece  falls  short  of  the  anus.  The  rays  of  the 
pectoral  are  more  divided  than  usual,  and  even  the  inferior 
ones  are  spHt  at  the  point.  Judging  solely  fiom  the  dried 
specimen,  it  does  not  appear  that  more  than  four  could 
have  shown  the  thick,  simple  tips  in  the  recent  state  which 
are  common  to  the  inferior  pectoral  rays  of  the  Scorptc/tcv 
and  Sebnstes.  There  is  httle  or  no  emargination  of 
the  membrane.  The  inferior  rays  of  the  gill-membrane  are 
much  concealed,  so  that  only  five  are  apparent.  Fine  vil- 
liform  teeth  arm  the  jaws  and  chevron  of  the  vomer. 

The  markings  which  remain  on  the  dried  specimen  have 
been  transferred  to  the  figure.  In  Mr.  Neill's  drawing,  the 
lips,  maxillary,  ventral  spines,  and  some  spots  on  the  anal 
are  orange,  and  the  pectoral  region  has  a  yellow  hue.  The 
dark  parts  are  coloured  with  neutral  tint,  and  the  pale  band 
which  crosses  the  caudal  is  omitted.  In  Lieutenant 
Emery's  figure,  the  head  and  body  have  a  vermilion  color, 
with  "a  tapering,  hyacinth-red  band,  descending  from 
the  spinous  dorsal  behind  the  pectoral,  and  a  narrower  one 
extending  from  the  soft  dorsal  nearly  to  the  anal.  Round 
drops  of  dark  orange-brown  are  spread  regulariy  over  the 
body  but  do  not  extend  to  the  belly.  Smaller  drops  of  the 
same  hue  are  scattered  on  the  sides  of  the  head,  lower  jaw 
and  gill-membrane,  being  intermixed  in  the  latter  localities 
with  whitish  spots.  All  the  fins  except  the  ventrals  and 
spinous  dorsal  are  reddish  brown,  and  are  spotted  like  the 

Hab.  West  coasts  of  Australia,  King  George's  Sound. 
Houtman's  Abrolhos. 


Lepadogaster  puniceus.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— D.  10  ;  A.  4 ;  C.  10|  ;  P.  19  et  IV  ;  V.-- 

Plate  XLIII.,  figs.  1—4,  natural  size  ;  5—7,  magnified. 

Body  considerably  arched,  both  transversely  and  in  pro- 
file, flat  underneath.  A  groove  runs  along  the  middle  of 
the  back  from  the  hind  head  to  the  dorsal  fin  ;  the  sides 
are  strongly  furrowed  vertically  from  the  contraction  of  the 
muscles,  and  on  each  side  of  the  tail  at  the  middle  height 
there  is  a  furrow  at  the  insertion  of  the  muscles.  The 
snout  is  rather  shorter  and  steeper  in  profile  than  the  ar- 
rist  has  shown  it  in  figure  1 ;  its  length  being  somewhat 
less  than  the  diameter  of  the  orbit.     The  eyes  are  scarcely 


72 


a  diameter  apart,  and  as  they  are  tumid,  they  interfere 
slightly  with  the  arch  of  the  profile.  Viewed  from  above, 
the  fish  seems  to  be  composed  of  the  sections  of  two  cones 
joined  by  their  bases  ;  the  head  being  a  shorter  and  wider 
one,  with  a  truncated  apex,  and  the  body  more  slender  and 
tapering  acutely  into  the  caudal  fin.  At  the  point  of  the 
gill-cover  the  height  is  one-fifth  of  the  total  length,  and  the 
width  is  rather  less  than  twice  the  height,  or  it  is  contained 
twice  and  two-thirds  in  the  total  length,  caudal  included. 
The  sliin  is  quite  smooth  and  scaleless,  but  when  examined 
by  a  lens,  it  exhibits  a  minutely  reticulated  surface.  There 
are  a  few  scattered  pores  on  the  snout  and  temples.  The 
nostrils  are  two  small  orifices  with  tumid  lips,  which  swell 
into  a  little  flap  on  one  side  of  the  anterior  opening;  the 
posterior  aperture  is  contiguous  to  the  eye.  There  are  no 
furrows  on  the  head.  The  orifice  of  the  mouth  is  small,  and 
placed  beneath  and  slightly  behind  the  extreme  end  of  the 
snout;  it  is  not  cleft  quite  so  far  back  as  the  fore  part  of 
the  eye.  The  jaws  are  armed  by  truncated  incisor  teeth, 
four  or  five  deep  in  front,  but  thinning  off"  to  a  single  row 
towards  the  angle  of  the  mouth  ;  the  exterior  ones  are 
taller,  and  are  ranged  in  an  even,  pectinated  series,  as  re- 
presented in  figures  4  and  5.  Figure  6  shows  the  teeth  of 
the  lower  jaw,  in  which  the  interior  ones  are  more  con- 
spicuous than  in  the  upper  jaw.  The  suboperculum  ends 
in  an  acute,  spinous  point,  which  is  enveloped  in  soft  inte- 
gument. The  form  of  the  operculum  does  not  show 
through  the  soft  parts,  and  it  has  no  prominent  bony  cor- 
ners, but  its  soft  membranous  ti]>  forms  a  kind  of  lid  to  the 
gill-opening,  which  is  restricted  below  by  an  inward  turn  of 
the  gill-membrane. 

The  sucking  apparatus  is  divided  into  two  concave  disks 
by  a  deep,  transverse  depression.  Tlie  anterior  or  pectoral 
disk  is  wider,  has  a  semilunate  shape,  and  is  completed  on 
the  sides  by  four  enlarged  rays  of  the  pectoral.  The  rest 
of  the  pectoral  has  a  rounded  outline,  with  fine  rays,  and 
the  usual  position  of  that  fin.  On  the  base  of  the  fin,  in 
the  angle  between  its  vertical  and  horizontal  parts,  there  is 
a  prominent  and  somewhat  loose  fleshy  lobe.  The  pos- 
terior or  ventral  disk  is  transversely  oval,  and  is  saiTounded 
by  a  membranous  border,  which  is  free  throughout,  and 
anteriorly  overlies  and  conceals  the  depression  behind  the 
pectoral  disk.  No  rays  can  be  delected  in  this  border,  but 
its  posterior  half  is  furnished  with  a  single  row  of  flat  emi- 
nences such  as  stud  the  surface  of  both  disks.  The  ven- 
trals  are  small,  and  a])plied  to  the  sides  behind  the 
pectorals.  Their  i-ays  are  so  fine  that  they  can  scarcely  be 
perceived  with  the  aid  of  a  lens,  through  the  thick 
membrane.  The  dorsal  commences  behind  the  anus,  and 
its  last  ray  is  bound  to  the  back  by  membrane  through- 
out its  length,  but  is  not  joined  to  the  caudal.  The 
anal  is  smaller,  and  reaches  a  little  further  back,  but 
neither  is  it  joined  to  the  caudal.  The  front  ray  of  both 
these  fins  is  very  slender  and  cannot  be  seen  by  the  naked 
eye.  The  caudal  is  enlarged  at  the  base  by  a  narrow 
membranous  edge,  which  embraces  the  end  of  the  tail,  and 
approaches  close  to  the  dorsal  and  anal.  Three  short 
rays  in  tliis  membrane  above,  and  as  many  below,  are  as 
fine  as  hairs.  The  anus  is  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  mid- 
dle   of  the  total   length,    and  behind  it  there  is  a  small 


genital  papilla  on  the  verge  of  another  opening.  The  co- 
lour of  the  specimen,  after  long  maceration  in  spirits,  is  a 
pure  red,  very  pale  on  some  parts,  and  more  intense 
in  others.  There  is  a  mottling  of  darker  red  patches  on 
the  back,  but  it  -is  not  easy  to  determine  whether  it  be 
caused  by  original  markings,  or  be  merely  the  remains  of 
the  general  tint  which  has  faded  less  on  those  spots.  The 
eye  is  a  bright  carmine.     Length  2j  inches. 

Hab.    New    Zealand,    where    it   was    detected  by    Dr. 
Hooker. 


Mach^eidm  subducens.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— B.  6  ;  D.  72  ;  A.  60 ;  C.  9 ;  P.  10  ;  V.  0. 

Marh<Brium  sui(iuce»s,Richardson,  Annals  and  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist,  for 
September,  1843,  xii.  p.  175,  pi.  6. 

Plate  XLIV.,  figs.  1 — 4,  natural  size  ;  5,  6,  magnified. 

This  fish  was  originally  described  from  a  dried  specimen 
in  the  work  above  quoted,  and  the  figure  being  indiff'erent, 
another  is  now  given  of  a  specimen  which  has  been  kept  in 
spirits,  and  has  lost  much  of  its  original  colour.  We  shall 
transcribe  the  general  characters  of  the  fish  as  recorded  in 
that  work,  making  such  slight  alterations  and  additions  as 
we  are  enabled  to  do  fiom  the  more  perfect  state  of  the 
specimens  now  before  us. 

Ch.  Gen.  Piscis  malacopterygius,  apodus,  ensiformis, 
squamosus.  Caput  antice  compressum.  Os  modice  exten- 
sivum.  Labia  amjyla,  tumida.  Denies  parvi,  uiiiser tales, 
pectinati,  incisores  in  acuta  acie  intermaxillarinm  max- 
illceque  inferior  is  ordinati.  Denies  pJiarync/ei  acerosi, 
stipaii.  Apertura  hranchialis  satis  magna.  Radii  hran- 
chiosiegee  ieretes  memhranam  largiusculam  siisicntanies. 
Gena  et  regiones  suprascapulares  sqnamosce.  Pinna  ver- 
iicales  coaliiie,  spinis  nullis.  Pinna  dorsi  per  maximam 
dorsi partem  regnans.  Anus  ante  medium piscem.  Linea 
lateralis  brevis  ante  anum  desinens.  Squama  cycloidem 
parvte. 

Form  elongated  and  compressed,  like  that  of  a  Gunnel- 
lus  or  Ophidium,  and  similar  to  a  straight  sword  or 
butcher's  knife,  whence  its  generic  appellation.  The  height 
of  the  body  is  one-tenth  of  the  total  length,  and  its  thick- 
ness one-fifteenth.  The  compression  is  much  greater  be- 
hind the  anus,  and  augments  up  to  the  tip  of  the  tail,  which 
is  not  acute.  The  head,  which  forms  a  seventh  of  the  total 
length,  is  also  compressed,  especially  before  the  eyes,  the 
snout  being  acute  when  viewed  from  above  but  the  swell- 
ing of  the  lips  renders  it  less  sharp  than  it  would  otherwise 
be.  The  cranium  is  rounded  and  smooth  traversely,  but 
appears  straight  and  horizontal  in  profile  up  to  the  eye, 
and  a  little  concave  in  front  of  it.  The  eye,  moderately 
large,  is  near  the  profile,  and  is  one  diameter  of  the  orbit 
nearer  to  the  tip  of  the  snout  than  to  the  posterior  edge  of 
the  gill-opening.  The  nostrils  lie  immediately  before  it, 
the  hinder  opening  being  larger  than  the  anterior  one.  The 
cleft  of  the  mouth  descends  obliquely  as  it  runs  backwards, 
and  does  not  reach  to  the  fore  edge  of  the  orbit.  The  in- 
termaxillaries  and  lower  jaw  having  their  edges,  which  are 


73 


very  acute,  set  with  a  single,  compact,  even  series  of  com- 
pressed cutting  teeth,  of  which  there  arc  ahout  forty-six 
on  each  limb  of  each  jaw,  and  though  they  are  suffi- 
ciently compressed  to  give  them  an  incisorial  character, 
their  tips  are  a  little  rounded.  The  jaws,  of  equal  length, 
have  internal  semi-elliptical  areas,  which  are  bounded  by 
the  teeth.  The  chevron  of  the  vomer,  rather  prominent, 
acute-edged,  and  having  a  concave  disk,  is  perfectly  tooth- 
less, and  the  palate  bones  are  also  smooth.  Two  pharyn- 
geal bones  on  each  side  above  the  gullet  are  densely 
crowded  with  short,  conical,  acute  teeth,  the  outer  row  on 
each  bone  being  taller  than  the  rest  of  the  dental  surface. 
No  teeth  were  detected  on  the  lower  union  of  the  branchial 
arches.  Each  of  the  four  arches  is  furnished  with  two 
rows  of  rather  widely  set,  subulate,  soft,  cartilaginous  pro- 
cesses, but  with  no  rigid  teeth.  The  tongue,  narrow,  long 
and  free,  has  a  dilated,  spoon-shaped  tip,  formed  by  thin, 
membranous  edges. 

Both  jaws  have  a  broad,  crescentic  velum,  and  the  ex- 
terior lips  above  and  below  are  much  developed.  The 
horizontal  extent  of  the  upper  lip  when  expanded  is 
shown,  but  not  fully,  by  dotted  lines  in  figure  2.  The  ex- 
act form  of  the  lip  in  this  position  is  truncated  on  a  line 
with  the  apex  of  the  intermaxillaries,  where  it  is  broadest, 
and  from  tlience  it  gradually  narrows  to  the  angle  of  the 
mouth,  its  outline  being  triangular.  The  under  lips  are 
similar  in  form  and  extent;  and  both  fold  back  above  and 
below  on  their  respective  jaws.  The  intermaxillary  pedi- 
cles equal  the  dental  limb  of  the  bone  in  length,  and  reach 
back  over  the  centre  of  the  orbit,  but  are  not  protractile 
beyond  one-third  of  their  length.  The  maxillary  bone 
forms  no  part  of  the  circumference  of  the  mouth,  though  its 
lower  end  descends  a  little  below  the  angle  of  the  mouth, 
passing  close  to  it.  The  articulation  of  the  lower  jaw  is 
far  back,  posterior  to  tlie  eye  and  contiguous  to  the  lower 
end  of  the  preoperculum.  The  very  narrow  suborbitar 
chain  is  perforated  b^-  a  row  of  small  pores,  which  reaches 
from  the  nostrils  round  two-thirds  of  the  orbit  to  the 
temples.  The  large  cheek  is  covered  with  small  oblong 
tiled  scales,  eleven  or  twelve  rows  in  height ;  the 
scaly  surface  being  bounded  ])osteriorl\'  by  the  mode- 
rately curved,  narrow,  smooth  disk  of  the  preoperculum. 
This  bone  inclines  but  slightly  forward  as  it  descends,  and 
its  upper  end  is  separated  from  the  orbit  by  a  scaly  space 
equal  to  the  height  of  the  cheek.  The  interoperculum  lies 
wholly  behind  the  preoperculum,  and  the  projecting  heel 
of  the  lower  jaw  moves  against  its  inferior  angle.  The 
operculum  having  an  area  scarcely  equal  to  that  of  the  in- 
teroperculum, is  triangular,  its  ))osterior  angle  being  acute, 
but  not  pungent.  It  is  equalled  in  size  by  the  subopercu- 
lura,  which  has  a  curved  edge,  and  gives  a  blunt  form  to 
the  gill-flap.  All  the  gill-pieces  are  covered  wilh  Smooth 
skin,  as  is  also  the  top  of  the  head  backwards  to  the  occi- 
put, the  only  scaly  parts  being  the  cheek  and  supra-sca- 
pular region.  The  gill-0])enings  do  not  reach  above  the 
point  of  the  operculum,  and  curve  a  little  forwards  as  they 
descend  to  the  isthnuis.  The  gill-membranes  are  united 
to  each  other  beneath,  and  are  supported  on  each  side  by 
six  cylindrical,  slightly  curved  rays. 

The  scales  of  the  body,  elliptical  or  oval,  are  firmly  im- 


bedded in  the  skin,  and  jiresent  a  roundish  disk  when  in 
situ.  There  are  about  200  in  a  longitudinal  row,  and  be- 
tween 40  and  50  in  height.  Their  structure  is  cycloid. 
The  lateral  line  runs  backwards  to  beneath  the  tenth 
dorsal  ray,  where  it  terminates.*  It  is  composed  of  a 
transparent,  small  elevation  or  tube  on  each  scale. 
The  anus  terminates  the  first  third  of  the  length  of  the 
fish. 

Rays:— Br.  6;  P.  10;  D.  71;  CIO;  A.  60.  All  the 
rays  are  articulated.  In  the  specimen  described  in  the 
'Annals  of  Natural  History'  the  caudal  rays  were  more 
readily  distinguished,  owing  to  their  shortness  and  slen- 
derness,  from  the  anal  and  dorsal,  than  in  the  specimen 
now  before  me,  and  each  of  these  fins  had  a  ray  fewer, 
but  there  are  no  other  characters  which  lead  rao  to  sup- 
pose that  they  are  distinct  species.  Each  vertical  ray  has 
a  small  fillet  of  scales  in  front,  reaching  about  half-way 
up.  Some  of  the  anterior  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are 
simple,  though  jointed,  and  all  the  rest  are  divided  at  the 
tips  once  or  twice. 

The  intestinal  canal,  about  four  inches  long,  is  a  simjile 
tube,  with  a  single  flexure.  Its  upper  half  is  wider  and 
more  plaited  and  wrinkled  interiorly ;  the  under  half  be- 
becomes  gradually  more  slender  and  also  more  delicate  in 
its  coats.  There  are  no  caica  and  no  air-bladder.  The 
liver  of  the  specimen  which  was  opened  had  perished. 
Its  stomach  contained  fragments  of  a  small,  scaly  fish, 
nearly  digested. 

Length  11  inches.  To  anus  3-4  inch.  To  gill-opening 
r4  inch.  To  occiput  I'l  inch.  Height  of  body  Tl  inch. 
The  dried  specimen  figured  in  the  'Annals  of  Nat.  History' 
measured  nearly  14  inches.  It  was  caught  at  Port  Essing- 
ton,  where  it  is  known  to  the  aborigines  by  the  name  of 
"  Ambeetunbeet." 

Hab.  Western  and  northern  coasts  of  Australia. 

OxYBELEs.     Richardson. 

Two  examples  of  a  novel  generic  form  of  fish  exist  in 
Sir  James  Ross's  collection.  The  place  of  their  capture 
was  not  recorded,  but  judging  from  the  species  associated 
with  them  in  the  same  jar,  they  would  appear  to  have  been 
obtained  on  the  coast  of  Tasmania  or  of  the  more  southern 
islands.  The  College  of  Surgeons  received  from  Sir  Eve- 
rard  Home,  Bart.,  a  third  individual  of  the  genus.  It 
was  vomited  by  a  Holothuria  that  was  dredged  up  at  Co- 
pang,  in  the  island  of  Timor.  The  following  is  a  summary 
of  the  general  features  of  the  genus  : — 

Piscis  apodiis;  squamis  carens. 

Corpus  compressum,  pngioniforme,  caitdd  acutissimu. 

Cutis  polilus  auro  argeiiloque  hie  illic  renilens. 

Anus  gularis.     Oculus  innjiisciihis. 

Rictus  oris  w//?  ampins  pone  ociiliim ^/issus,  lerminalis, 
ex  iutervia-villis  //i,i.rl/lin/iic  infcriori  coiis/riictus. 

Denies  iiiten/iii.ill/ui//i/i,  nia.vilUe  inferiorifs  oxsiumque 
palati  acerosi,  conjerli ;  itoitiiulli  caiiiiii.  Dentes  ronie- 
ris  majores.     Lingua  laris. 

*  In  the  pl.ite  the  line  has  been  inath  erteutly  indicated  all  the  way 
down  the  side  of  the  fish. 


74 


Membrana  branchiostega  aperturam  amplam  iegens, 
radiis  septem  sustentaia. 

Pinnte  reiitris  caudaive  nulla.  Pinnce  dorsi  anique  in 
apicem  acufissimam  cmid<e  coalita,  radiis  tenuissimis,  se- 
taceis,Jle.vilibiis  susfentat(B. 

Operculum  osseum  stellatim  tripartitum,  uno  ramo 
ereclo,  nliero  descendenti,  tertio  postico,  longiori,  subulato, 
subspinoso,  in  pisce  recentl  celato.  Cv Anmm  foi-nicatum, 
liBve,  sine  carinis  vel  cristis.  Vertebrae  circit^r  centum, 
qiiarum  novemdecim  abdominales. 

Ventriculus  magnus,  ccBcatus.  Intestinum  bis  prope 
cesophagmn  Jlexum  ;  ccscis  pyloricis  nullis.  Vesicula 
aeris  ampla,  longe  post  amim  extensa. 

OxYBELES  HOMEi.     Richardsoii. 

Plate  XLIV.,  fig.  7—18. 

R.ADII : — Br.  7  ;  D.  et  A.  non  numerand.  P.  19;  C.  0. 

The  specific  name  is  intended  as  a  tribute  of  acknow- 
ledgement to  the  zeal  of  Sir  Everard  Home  in  collecting 
objects  of  Natural  History  on  the  coa.sts  of  China  and 
Australia.  When  the  specimens  were  cursorily  examined 
before  they  were  placed  in  tlie  artist's  hands  to  be  drawn, 
they  appeared  to  represent  two  species,  differing  in  the 
relative  thickness  of  the  body,  and  in  the  commencement 
of  the  dorsal  fin,  but  on  a  more  careful  inspection  after  due 
maceration  in  water,  the  characters  of  all  three  examples 
])roved  to  be  nearly  identical,  the  dissimilarity  having  been 
caused  by  two  of  them  being  placed  in  strong  spirits, 
whereby  they  had  become  shrivelled,  and  a  fold  of  skin 
between  the  shoulders  made  to  look  like  a  forward  prolon- 
gation of  the  dorsal  fin.  This  is  mentioned  to  account 
for  two  figures  of  the  same  species. 

Body  stiletto-shaped,  tapering,  and  becoming  thinner 
gradually  from  the  head  to  the  acute  point  of  the  tail. 
Snout  rounded  obtusely  ;  the  profile  from  tlie  eye  to  the 
shoulder  slightly  convex.  Head  thicker  than  the  body, 
forming  one-seventh  of  the  total  length  of  the  fi.sh.  Mouth 
terminal,  cleft  beyond  the  eye,  under  jaw  a  little  longer 
than  the  upper  one.  Upper  half  of  the  margin  of  the 
mouth  formed  by  the  long,  slender,  non-protractile  in- 
termaxillaries.  The  maxillary  is  also  slender,  but  di- 
lates gradually  towards  its  tip,  which  passes  behind 
the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  teeth  are  minute,  and  are 
not  readily  seen  without  the  aid  of  a  good  eye-glass.  They 
are  individually  subulate,  slightly  recurved,  and  ranged  in 
level,  villiform  bands  on  the  intermaxillaries,  lower  jaw  and 
edges  of  the  palate-bones ;  the  dental  surfaces  being  nar- 
rower on  the  upper  jaw,  than  on  the  under  one  or  palate, 
where  they  stand  in  four  or  five  rows.  Near  the  symphj'- 
sis  on  both  jaws  a  few  of  the  teeth  are  higher,  and  two  or 
three  of  the  anterior  lateral  ones  in  the  lower  jaw  are  tall 
enough  to  merit  the  appellation  of  canines.  The  conical 
knob  of  the  vomer  projects  considerably,  and  is  armed  by 
a  comparatively  stout  central  tooth,  with  a  ring  of  smaller 
ones  surrounding  its  base.  Tongue  rather  conical,  smooth 
and  rounded.  Nostrils,  two  orifices  with  tumid  lips  pier- 
cing a  soft  membrane  which  occupies  much  of  the  space 


between  the  eye  and  the  obtuse  end  of  the  snout.  Three 
pores  stand  in  a  transverse  row  between  the  fore  parts  of 
the  orbits.  Preoperculum  marked  by  a  groove,  which 
crosses  the  top  of  the  head,  and  is  there  perforated  by 
three  pores.  Cranium  rounded  smoothly  off  on  the  sides. 
Gill-cover  very  porous,  with  an  acute,  soft  tip,  extending 
beyond  the  subulate  tip  of  the  tripartite  bony  operculum. 
Eye  lateral,  pretty  large,  bright  and  silvery.  The  gill- 
opening  extending  beneath  as  far  forward  as  the  preoper- 
culum. The  snout,  operculum  and  cheek  are  minutely 
porous. 

Lateral  line  a  continuous  ridge  standing  in  a  furrow, 
extending  from  the  temporal  groove  to  the  tip  of  the  tail, 
and  running  nearer  to  the  back  than  to  the  belly.  Skin  of 
the  body  quite  smooth.  Anus  situated  before  the  pectoral 
fin,  under  the  upper  angle  of  the  gill-opening.  An  acute 
seam  or  ridge  runs  forwards  from  it  into  the  isthmus  be- 
tween the  gills.  M.  Agassiz,  to  whom  I  showed  the  spe- 
cimens, informed  me  that  this  was  an  indication  of  the 
individual's  being  young.  Pectorals  narrow  and  pointed, 
having  a  length  equal  to  about  one-tenth  of  the  whole  fish. 
The  anal  is  wider  than  the  dorsal,  but  both  are  very  low, 
and  the  rays  cannot  be  very  easily  counted,  owing  to  the 
thickness  of  the  integument  and  the  difficulty  of  keeping 
the  fins  extended.  The  fins  meet  in  an  acute  point  at 
the  tip  of  the  tail,  but  when  they  are  examined  through  a 
good  lens  it  may  be  seen  that  no  rays  emanate  from  the 
apex  of  the  tail,  those  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  converging 
beyond  it,  and  leaving  a  minute,  triangular  membrane  be- 
tween. The  rays  are  unbranched,  tapering  and  flexible, 
with  long  joints  towards  their  lips,  which  can  be  jierceived 
only  under  a  considerable  magnifying  power,  and  then 
each  ray  appears  to  have  a  midrib  with  a  thin  anterior  and 
posterior  edge.  The  anterior  rays  are  not  apparently  dif- 
ferent from  the  others,  but  I  have  been  unable  to  ascertain 
clearly  whether  the  joints  are  not  quite  obsolete  in  the  rays 
of  the  fore  part  of  the  dorsal.  The  dorsal  begins  at  less 
than  a  quarter  of  the  length  of  the  fish  from  the  end  of  the 
snout;  the  anal  commences  close  to  the  anus,  and  is  con- 
sequently longer  than  the  dorsal. 

I  dissected  one  of  Sir  James  Ross's  specimens,  but  the 
intestines  were  not  in  a  very  good  condition  for  examina- 
tion. The  liver  had  perished.  The  peritoneum  is  thick, 
tough,  and  of  a  shining,  silvery  hue,  with  black,  star-like 
specks.  QEsophagus  thin  and  membranous.  Stomach  a 
large,  conical,  ca;cal  sack,  longitudinally  plaited  within, 
with  the  pylorus  near  the  oesophagus,  leaving  most  of  the 
viscus  beneath.  Intestine  delicate,  forming  two  deep  loops. 
No  pyloric  coBca  were  detected.  A  roundish  and  rather 
large  spleen  is  attached  to  the  posterior  tip  of  the  stomach, 
and  lies  dorsad  of  the  remains  of  the  liver.  In  this  indivi- 
dual the  air-bladder  appeared  to  be  a  long  tube,  with  alter- 
nate dilatations  and  contractions,  but  in  another  specimen, 
which  is  somewhat  diaphanous,  a  wider  air-bladder  can  be 
seen  running  a  good  way  behind  the  anus  without  any  visi- 
ble contractions.  The  vertebras  amount  to  99,  of  which  19 
have  two  inferior  divergent  processes,  affording  space 
for  the  viscera.  The  others  have  a  single  inferior  and  su- 
perior process,  whose  tips  are  much  compressed  and  very 
thin. 


75 


Length  of  the  fish  4^  inches.  Length  of  head  O'tio  inch. 
Distance  between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  the  anus  O'oi). 
Distance  between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  beginning  of 
dorsal  r05  inch. 

H.-iB.  Seas  of  Australia  ?  and  Timor. 


Galaxias  truttaceus.     Cuvicr. 


Galaxias  truttaceus,  Cuv.  Regiie  .\n.  ii.  p.  '283.  C'uv.  ct  \al.  Hist, 
ties  Poiss.  xviii.  p.  344,  "  (.  543." 

Radii:— B.  9;  D.  11;  A.  15;  C.  l(jf ;  P.  14;  V.  7. 

Plate  XLIL,  figs.  1  —  6. 

Since  the  plates  for  the  present  fasciculus  were  printed, 
the  XVIIItli  volume  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissoiis  has  ap- 
peared, containing  a  full  description  of  this  species,  and 
rendering  a  detailed  account  of  our  specimens  unnecessary. 
We  have  received  this  fish  only  from  Van  Diemen's  Land, 
where  it  appears  to  abound.  The  individual  figured  in 
plate  xlii.  was  taken  in  the  Derwent  River. 

The  body  is  flattened  above,  especially  near  the  nape 
and  on  the  sides,  the  width  thinning  off"  gradually  to  the 
tail,  which  is  much  compressed.  The  height  of  the  body 
is  contained  six  times  and  a  half  in  the  length,  and  the 
thickness  at  the  shoulder  is  equal  to  four-fifths  of  the 
height.  The  head  forms  just  a  fifth  of  the  whole  length  of 
the  fish. 

The  gape  of  the  mouth  extends  backwards  to  beneath 
the  anterior  quarter  of  the  eye.  Two-thirds  of  its  upper 
border  is  formed  by  the  premaxillaries*  which  bear  acicu- 
lar  teeth  in  one  series,  the  tallest  being  at  the  beginning  of 
the  posterior  third  of  the  bone,  or  where  it  curves  from  the 
transverse  to  the  longitudinal  direction.  The  maxillary 
which  completes  the  upper  border  of  the  mouth  is  without 
teeth.  Each  limb  of  the  mandible  is  armed  by  about  12 
teeth  in  one  row,  the  pair  next  the  symphysis  and  those 
near  the  middle  of  the  bone  being  rather  the  tallest.  The 
palatine  teeth  are  more  subulate,  acute  and  recurved,  and 
are  ranged  in  a  single  straight  row  of  seven  on  each  bone, 
the  rows  receding  slightly  from  each  other  as  they  run 
backwards.  The  tongue  is  armed  by  still  stronger  and 
more  recurved  teeth  set  round  its  edge  in  a  semi-elliptical 
curve,  the  foremost  tooth  being  the  stoutest,  the  others  di- 
minishing gradually  as  they  run  backwards.  There  are 
five  on  each  side  of  the  tongue  exclusive  of  the  front  one. 
The  branchial  arches  are  each  armed  with  two  rows  of  de- 
licate, subulate,  acute  teeth. 

The  dorsal  is  as  high  but  shorter  than  the  anal,  and  be- 
gins before  that  fin,  and  consequently  ends  before  it.  The 
caudal  is  a  little  hollowed  at  the  end,  and  at  its  base 
above  and  below  there  is  an  acute,  membranous  edge, 
supported  by  short  rays. 

General  tint  of  the  best  preserved  specimens  in  spirits 
a  delicate    wood-brown,    approaching   to   yellowish  gray. 


*  Professor  Owen's 
lowing  pages. 


lature  of  the  bones  is  ailopted  in  the  fo 


paler  on  the  ventral  surface,  with  scattered,  minute,  black 
dots,  and  about  seventeen  vertical  rows  of  dark-eyed  spots, 
the  size  of  a  pin's  head.  These  rows  bend  en  chevron  in 
the  middle  of  the  sides,  and  the  three  rows  on  the  shoul- 
der are  replaced  by  bars.  A  series  of  faint,  short,  oblique 
bars  is  also  formed  on  the  belly  and  flanks  by  clusters  of 
the  finer  points.  The  .snout  is  blackish  ;  there  is  an  oblique 
bar  on  the  cheek  and  a  roundish  mark  on  the  operculum. 
The  ends  of  the  dorsal,  anal  and  ventrals  are  blackish. 
The  skin  generally  is  smooth  and  polished,  and  the 
muscles  show  less  distinctly  on  the  flanks  than  in  other 
species.  The  very  oily  flesh  of  this  fish  spoils  rapidly, 
and  most  of  the  specimens  we  have  seen  are  soft,  and  of  a 
dark  purplish  red  colour.  The  individuals  we  have  re- 
ceived from  the  Derwent  River  are  paler  than  those  which 
have  been  sent  to  us  from  Port  Arthur.  Mr.  Leni]iriere 
describes  the  latter  as  having,  when  recent,  "a  dark  olive 
colour,  with  red  spots,  but  some  of  a  darker  colour  will 
weigh  nine  ounces,  and  are  excellent  for  the  table." 

Length  of  our  specimens  about  4  inches. 

Hab.  Fresh  waters  of  Van  Diemen's  Land.  It  is 
named  locally   "  the  trout." 

Galaxias  maculatus.     Jenyns  [Mesites). 

Mesites  maculatus,  .Jenyns,  Zool.  of  Beagle,  p.  119,  PI.  22,  fig.  4. 
Galaxias  truttaceus,  Regiie  An.  edit.  Crochard,  PI.  97,  fig.  2. 
Galaxias  maculatus,  Cuv.  et  Val.  xviii.  p.  365. 

Radii:— D.  11;    A.  14  ad  16;    C.  16|;    P.  11  ad  13; 

V.  7  (.3  specimens). 

Plate  XLIIL,  figs.  14-17. 

This  species  is  remarkable  for  the  smallness  of  its 
mouth,  its  short  round  pectorals,  twice  their  own  length 
distant  from  the  ventrals,  and  for  being  considerably  less 
flat  or  more  rounded  on  the  back  than  truttaceus,  brocchus 
or  reticulatus.  It  is  a  slender  fish  when  not  di.stended 
with  roe,  but  its  shape  alters  toivards  the  spawning  season. 
The  end  of  its  intestinal  canal  protrudes  from  between  the 
edges  of  a  fissure  in  the  belly,  shown  by  the  different  tex- 
ture of  the  parts,  for  the  surface  is  continuous ;  a  small 
opening  succeeds  it,  to  which,  just  before  the  anal  fin,  the 
end  of  the  gut  acts  as  a  valve,  closing  it  when  the  tail  is 
depressed. 

The  general  colour  in  s])irils  is  pale  yellowish  or  wood- 
brown,  with  many  oblong  and  irregular  spots  formed  by 
clusters  of  small  purple  dots,  scattered  over  the  back  and 
sides.  The  top  of  the  back  is  also  generally  sprinkled 
with  these  dots,  and  on  the  sides  the  ground  colour  is 
powdered  with  dots  so  minute  as  to  be  totally  invisible  to 
the  unassisted  eye.  The  under  surface  is  spotless,  and 
has  very  few  dots.  The  head  fonns  the  seventh  of  the  total 
length  in  two  specimens,  and  is  proportionally  a  little 
longer  in  the  third.  Anal  larger  than  the  dorsal.  Teeth 
as  represented  in  figures  16  and  17.  In  one  specimen  the 
anterior  pair  on  the  tongue  are  smaller  than  the  next  pair. 
The  rows  of  palatine  teeth  are  nearly  straight  and  parallel. 

Length  from  3^  to  4:^  inches. 

Hab.  The  Falklands.     Patagonia. 

o  2 


76 


Galaxias  sckiba.     Valenciennes. 

Galuxias  scriba,  Cuv.  et  Val.  Hist,  des  Poiss.  xviii.  p.  347. 

Radii:— D.  11;  A.  17;  C.  16*-;  P.  12;  V.  7. 

A  solitary  specimen  from  the  Derwent  River  seems  to 
possess  the  chai-acters  ascribed  to  scriba  in  the  'Histoire 
den  Poissons.''  It  has  the  most  elongated  form  of  any  spe- 
cies we  have  seen,  its  height  being  contained  nine  times 
and  a  half  in  its  total  length.  The  body  is  rounded  on 
the  sides  as  in  mnculatus,  but  is  flatter  on  the  back,  and 
the  dorsal  groove  is  occupied  by  two  rounded  ridges  or 
iblds,  which  reach  from  the  occiput  to  the  dorsal  fin.  The 
mesial  groove  on  the  belly  is  also  more  distinctly  seen, 
but  a  mesial  ventral  line  is  marked  out  in  all  the  species, 
either  by  the  greater  thinness  and  transparency  of  the  in- 
teguments, a  fine  furrow,  or,  as  in  triittaceus,  by  a  series 
of  minute,  dark  dots.  The  head  is  similar  in  form  to  that 
of  maciilatus,  and  forms  less  than  a  sixth  of  the  whole 
length,  caudal  included.  The  mouth  is  scarcely  so  small 
as  that  of  the  species  just  named,  and  is  consequently  still 
larger  than  the  mouth  oi  attenuattts.  The  teeth  are  simi- 
lar to  those  of  maculatus,  but  the  lingual  ones  are  less 
stout  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  fish.  Eye  rather 
large. 

The  dorsal  and  anal  commence  opposite  to  each  other, 
but  the  latter  being  larger,  though  not  higher,  extends 
further  back ;  the  caudal  fin  is  forked  at  the  end. 

Colour  a  pale  yellowish  gray,  powdered  on  the  back 
and  sides  with  minute  purplish  dots,  which  are  individu- 
ally imperceptible  to  the  naked  eye.  Towards  the  tail, 
clusters  of  the  same  minute  dots  produce  many  faint, 
roundi.sh  spots  above  the  lateral  line.  On  the  top  of  the 
back  there  are  two  or  three  groups  of  spots  large  enough 
to  be  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  but  not  crowded  so  as  to 
produce  any  definite  spots.  On  the  sides  there  are  seve- 
ral arborescent  lines  of  a  purplish  pigment,  resembling 
fine  vessels  filled  with  dark  venous  blood,  which,  for  the 
most  part,  but  not  always,  issue  from  the  lateral  line,  and 
follow  the  interstices  of  the  muscular  fasciculi.  Tiie  under 
surface  and  the  ventrals  are  pale  or  flesh-coloured,  without 
markings,  and  the  vertical  fins  are  grayish,  traces  of  a 
darker  blotch  existing  on  the  base  of  the  caudal.  The 
top  of  the  head  and  snout  are  dark.  The  oblique  muscles 
of  the  sides  show  strongly  through  the  skin.  Length  6^ 
inches. 

Hab.  Derwent  River,  Van  Diemen's  Land.  Port  Jack- 
son, Australia. 

Galaxias  brocchus.     Richard.son. 

Radii:— D.  11;  A.  14;  C.  16f ;  P.  1:3;  V.  7. 

Plate  XLIIL,  figs.  8—1.3. 

Height  of  the  body  equal  to  about  one-si.Kth  of  the 
length,  caudal  included,  and  the  thickness  to  about  the 
seventh.  The  back  is  wide,  with  an  obtuse  furrow,  which 
extends  backwards  to  the  dorsal,  gradually  narrowing  with 
the  decreasing  width.      The  head  forms  one-fifth  of  the 


length  ;    the  snout  is  broad  and  the  gape  is  large,  extend- 
ing to  beneath  the  middle  of  the  eye. 

The  jaw-teeth  are  mostlj-  acicular,  the  posterior  ones  on 
the  premaxillaries  being  small,  and  one  or  two  near  the 
symphysis  with  four  or  five  towards  the  middle  of  the 
bone  more  subulate  and  rather  taller.  Four  or  five  in  the 
lateral  curve  of  the  mandible  are  taller,  subulate  and  re- 
curved, and  the  three  anterior  pairs  on  the  tongue  are  more 
approximated  and  much  stouter  than  the  posterior  ones 
(figs.  12,  13).  There  are  nine  on  each  side  of  the  tongue, 
all  more  or  less  recurved.  The  palatine  teeth  stand  in  a 
curved  line,  which  recedes  from  its  fellow  posteriorly  (fig. 
10). 

Pectoral  fin  much  rounded.  First  ray  of  the  ventral, 
which  is  also  rounded,  opposite  to  the  middle  point  be- 
tween the  end  of  the  snout  and  base  of  the  middle  caudal 
rays.  Vertical  fins  rounded.  Anal  deeper  and  longer 
than  the  dorsal,  commencing  opposite  to  its  fore-quarter, 
and  extending  farther  back  than  its  termination. 

The  skin  of  this  fish  is  smooth,  and  permits  the  strongly- 
marked  muscular  fasciculi  to  be  seen  through  it.  Its  co- 
lours appear  to  have  altered  in  spirits,  the  general  hue  of 
the  upper  parts  especially  being  a  dingy  brown,  with  some 
ill-defined  specks  scattered  over  it.  The  sides  are  marked 
by  a  series  of  seven  pale,  compressed  and  irregular  rings. 
The  fins  are  obscurely  spotted  and  clouded,  and  the  bor- 
ders of  the  dorsal  and  anal  and  the  whole  caudal  are  dark. 

Length  8j  inches.  Only  two  individuals  exist  in  the 
collection,  the  smaller  one  measuring  41-  inches  in  length. 

Hab.  Auckland  Islands. 


Galaxias  reticulatus.     Richardson. 

Radii:— D.  12;  A.  15;  C.  \6^;  P.  13;  V.  7. 

Plate  XLI I.,  figs.  7—12. 

This  species  has  much  resemblance  to  brocchus,  being 
very  similar  in  its  general  form  and  in  its  dentition.  Its 
snout,  however,  is  more  rounded,  and  its  head  proportion- 
ally, somewhat  larger.  The  pectoral  fin  is  also  shorter, 
and  the  gape  of  the  mouth  a  very  little  smaller. 

Three  or  four  of  the  lateral  premaxillary  teeth  are  more 
perceptibly  taller  than  the  rest,  while  those  in  the  corre- 
sponding jjart  of  the  lower  jaw  are  less  stout  and  tall  than 
in  the  brocchus.  The  palatine  teeth  are  similarly  ar- 
ranged, as  are  also  the  teeth  on  the  tongue,  but  the  pas- 
sage is  more  gradual  in  size  from  the  anterior  to  the 
posterior  ones.  The  vertical  fins  are  scarcely  so  much 
rounded  as  in  brocchus,  but  are  similar  in  position  and  re- 
lative extent.  They  are  paler,  and  with  the  ventrals,  are 
covered  with  more  numerous,  smaller  and  better  defined 
specks.  The  upper  parts  and  sides  of  the  fish  are  black- 
ish green,  reticulated  by  white  lines,  the  meshes  anteriorly 
being  oblong  and  high,  and  more  wide  and  angular  poste- 
riorly. A  blue  mark  crosses  the  lower  part  of  the  shoul- 
der to  the  axilla  of  the  jiectoral  fin,  which  is  not  percepti- 
ble in  brocchus,  but  a  similar  mark  exists  in  fasciatus. 
The  whole  skin  is  rough  with  innumerable  small,  pouting 


77 


pores,  in  which  it  differs   from  brocchim.      The  specimen 

figured  rather  exceeds  six  inches  in  length,  but  there  are 

others  somewhat  larger,  and  one  only  about  half  the  size. 

Hab.  Auckland  ' 


Galaxias  FASCIATUS.     Gray. 

.  Galaxias  fasciatus,  Giav,  Dieffenbacb's  New  Zealaud,  Append,  p. 
219.     An.  1842.     Cuv.  et  Val.  xviii.  p.  350.     An.  1846. 

This  species  was  described  briefly  by  Mr.  Gray,  in  the 
work  above  quoted,  and  subsequently  in  the  '■Histoire  des 
Poissoiis;'  fortunately  under  the  same  specific  designation, 
though  M.  Valenciennes  does  not  seem  to  have  been  at  all 
aware  of  Mr.  Gray's  prior  notice  of  the  species. 

Hab.  River  Thames.     Bay  of  Islands. 

Galaxias  alepidotus.     Forster  [Esoj:). 

Esox  alepidotus,  J.  R.  Forster,  MSS.  II,  62,  apud  Bl.  Schn.  p. 
395,  An.  1801  ;  Desciipt.  Aniin.  ciiia  Lichtenst.  p.  142,  An.  1844  ;  G. 
Forster,  fig-,  pict.  2,  t.  235  in  Bib.  Banks. 

Galaxias  alepidotus,  Cuv.  Reg.  An.  2,  p.  283  ;  Ricbardson,  Dieffenb. 
Xew  Zealand,  App.  p.  219,  An.  1842. 

Galaxias  forsleri,  Cuv.  et  Val.  xviii.  p.  351,  1847. 

This  fish  being  an  inhabitant  of  Dusky  Bay,  in  the 
southern  pai't  of  New  Zealand,  which  is  seldom  visited, 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  brought  to  Europe  since 
Forster's  time.  The  figure  represents  a  fish  having  the 
general  form  of  G.  retictilntus,  but  differing  in  its  mark- 
ings. The  ground  tint  of  the  drawing  is  greenish  black, 
with  waved  spots  of  various  sizes,  none  of  them  large. 
They  are  most  numerous,  rounder  and  smaller  on  the  tail ; 
congregated,  lunate  and  irregular  on  the  flanks  ;  rounder 
again  on  the  shoulder,  and  one  of  them  over  the  pectoral 
forms  a  ring,  with  a  spot  in  the  centre.  A  few  small, 
round  spots  exist  on  the  side  of  the  head  and  base  of  the 
dorsal.  All  beneath  the  spots  which  do  not  reach  the 
belly  is  whitish.  The  spots  are  yellow  and  the  ventral 
fins  blackish.  The  second  dorsal  is  high,  commences  be- 
fore the  anal,  but  does  not  reach  nearly  so  far  back. 

Length  9  inches. 

Hab.  Dusky  Bay,  New  Zealand.  Named  "  He-para  " 
by  the  natives,  and  "Rock-trout"  by  Cook's  sailors. 

Atherina  nigricans.     Richardson. 

Radii:— Br.  5.?;  D.  7— 1|13;  A.  \\\b;  C.  17    ;  P.  15; 
V.  1|5. 

Plate  XLl I.,  figs.  13—18. 

This  is  an  elongated  species,  the  height  of  the  body, 
which  is  greatest  near  the  veutrals,  being  contained  about 
eight  times  in  the  total  length,  while  the  thickness  consi- 
derably exceeds  half  the  height.  Head  forming  rather 
more  than  a  sixth  of  the  total  length,  slightly  convex  in 
profile  and  also  transversely.  Mouth  small,  the  gape 
scarcely  reaching  half-way  to  the  eye.  Jaws  equal.  Pre- 
maxillaries  moderately  protractile,  the  maxillary  remain- 
ing near  the  edge  of  the  preorbitar,  but  in  no  way  con- 


cealed by  it.  This  bone  is  straight  and  slightly  dilated 
towards  its  lower  end,  which  plays  over  the  limb  of  the 
lower  jaw.  The  appearance  of  curvature  given  to  it  in 
figure  14  is  caused  by  the  projection  of  the  snout  or  pos- 
terior lip  at  its  head  and  an  edging  of  membrane  at  its  ti]). 
It  is,  however,  rather  pointed  than  truncated  at  the  end, 
but  differs  widely  in  its  shape  from  the  maxilla  of  A.  liep- 
selu.s.  The  side  of  the  head  is  densely  scaly  up  to  the 
margin  of  the  gill-opening,  the  snout,  jaws  and  gill-mcni- 
brane  being  scaleless.  Rows  of  pores  run  along  the  edge 
of  the  preorbitar,  the  lower  jaw,  under  limb  of  the  preo- 
pevculum  and  immediately  beneath  the  orbit. 

The  upper  and  under  jaws  are  armed  with  plates  of 
short,  villiform  teeth,  visible  to  the  naked  eye ;  the  whole 
surface  of  the  tongue  is  densely  rough  with  still  shorter 
teeth,  but  the  roof  of  the  mouth  is  toothless.  I  could  de- 
tect only  five  rays  in  the  gill-membrane,  but  it  is  possible 
that  a  minute,  interior  one  may  have  escaped  me.  The 
pectoral  is  attached  about  the  middle  of  the  height,  and 
equals  a  sixth  of  the  length  of  the  fi.sh.  The  first  dorsal 
is  small,  being  only  half  the  height  of  the  body,  and  its 
last  ray  stands  about  midway  between  the  tip  of  the  snout 
and  end  of  the  caudal  fin.  Its  first  ray  is  opposed  to  the 
ventrals.  The  second  dorsal  begins  a  .short  way  behind 
the  middle  of  the  fish,  caudal  included,  and  its  first  ray  is 
short  and  flexible,  the  others  being  jointed  and  branched. 
The  anal  is  longer  and  deeper  than  the  second  dorsal, 
reaching  rather  farther  back  and  beginning  before  it  and 
not  far  from  the  anus  by  a  short,  flexible,  simple  ray.  The 
ventrals  ai'e  small,  with  a  pointed,  scaly  fillet  between  and 
above  them.  They  are  attached  not  far  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  second  third  of  the  fish.  The  caudal  is 
excavated  at  the  end,  and  consists  of  seventeen  rays,  with 
an  acute,  membranous  edge  at  the  base  above  and  below, 
supported  by  several  short  rays. 

There  are  about  eighty-eight  scales  in  a  row,  between 
the  gill-opening  and  caudal ;  the  individual  scales  are  ver- 
tically and  obtusely  oval,  with  a  rounded  lobe  forming  the 
apex  of  the  free  edge.  The  covered  part  is  marked  by 
coarse  lines  of  structure,  with  no  radiating  fuiTows,  and 
having  entire  edges. 

The  general  colour  is  a  smoky  black,  with  a  silvery 
stripe  along  the  middle,  and  the  nacre  of  the  scales  shin- 
ing partially  through  the  black  elsewhere. 

Length  7  inches. 

Hab.  The  Falkland  Islands. 

Dajaus  forsteri. 

Mugil  albula,  J.  R.  Forster,  Descripl.  Aniin.  cuni  Lichtenst.  p.  145. 
Icon.  pict.  G.  R.  Forster,  Bibl.  Banks.  No.  237. 
Mugil  forsteri,  Cuv.  et  Val. 

Radii:— B.  6;  D.  4|— 1|9;  A.  3111;  C.  14f. 

Plate  XLIV.,  figs.  20— 2G. 

This  species  is  nearly  related  to  the  Dajaus  diemensis, 
of  plate  26,  figures  1  —5,  but  it  has  still  less  of  the  massive 
proportions  of  the  head  which  characterize  a  true  Mugil, 
and  has  much  of  the  general  aspect  of  a  clupeoid  fish.     It 


78 


differs  from  diemensis  also  in  wanting  the  posterior  sca- 
brous plates  on  the  palate,  and  in  the  different  arrange- 
ment of  those  on  the  tongue,  as  may  be  perceived  by  con- 
sulting figure  4,  plate  26,  and  figure  25,  plate  44.  Forster 
obtained  his  fish  in  Dusky  Bay,  New  Zealand,  and  as  Sir 
James  Ross's  specimens  were  obtained  on  the  same  islands, 
are  tolerably  well  represented  by  George  Forster's  draw- 
ing, and  possess  the  kw  special  characters  included  in 
J.  R.  Forster's  description,  I  have  considered  them  to  belong 
to  his  species.  They  have  indeed  lost  their  original  tints 
and  markings  by  long  maceration  in  spirits,  so  that  we 
cannot  avail  ourselves  of  his  description  of  the  colours 
of  the  recent  fish  for  comparison,  but  he  mentions  the — 
thin  lips,  toothed  jaws,  minute  teeth  on  the  tongue,  the 
roughness  or  villiform  dentition  of  the  palate,  the  straight- 
ness  of  the  back,  the  profile  of  the  head,  "  caput  vix  de- 
clire"  and  the  numbers  of  the  fin-rays,  all  of  which  cor- 
respond tolerably  nearly,  though  not  exactly  with  our  spe- 
cimens. He  enumerates,  however,  only  five  branchioste- 
gous  rays,  when  there  are  in  fact  six,  but  the  lowest  ray  is 
small,  and  would  escape   detection  except  on  dissection. 

The  species  differs  from  Mugil  peronii,  acutus  and/er- 
rmidi,  from  the  same  quarters  of  the  world,  in  wanting  the 
acute  keel  on  the  tongue. 

M.  Valenciennes  states  the  length  of  head  of /orsferi  as 
being  contained  five  times  and  a  half  in  the  length  of  the 
body,  having  taken  these  proportions  from  George  Forster's 
drawing,  but  on  referring  to  J.  R.  Forster's  measurements, 
the  number  is  found  to  be  more  nearly  four  times  and  nine- 
tenths,  which  corresponds  sufficiently  with  the  specimens, 
though  not  so  well  with  our  figure,  in  which  the  head  is  a 
trifle  too  long. 

The  teeth  are  arranged  in  narrow  and  finely  villiform 
plates  on  both  jaws,  and  on  the  mandible  there  is,  in  ad- 
dition, a  row  of  short,  horizontal  ones,  penetrating  the 
thin  lip.  Tlie  vomer  and  edges  of  the  palate  bones  are 
rough  with  very  fine  and  short  teeth,  as  represented  in 
figure  23,  and  the  scabrous  plates  on  the  tongue  will  be 
best  understood  by  referring  to  figure  25. 

The  outer  gills  are  furnished  with  rakers,  composed  of  a 
setaceous  ray  and  a  thin,  tapering,  membranous  border, 
armed  on  its  edge  with  a  series  of  hair-like  teeth,  stand- 
ing in  pairs.  The  other  arches  are  furnished  with  shorter 
compressed  processes,  joined  at  their  bases  by  membrane, 
and  having  thin,  obtuse  summits,  bristling  on  all  sides 
with  setaceous  teeth.  The  upper  pharyngeal  bones  are 
rather  large,  convex  and  rough  with  minute  teeth.  Each 
conceals  a  small  cavity,  which  opens  into  the  fauces  and 
has  a  soft,  tortuous  roof. 

The  scales  are  truncated  at  the  base,  with  about  seven 
slightly  divergent  furrows,  forming  as  many  marginal  cre- 
natures.  No  teeth  are  visible  on  the  disk  or  free  edge, 
but  there  are  some  inequalities  in  the  lines  of  structure. 
The  branching  fin-rays  are  finely  dotted,  as  represented 
in  figure  20.     Figure  22  shows  the  pores  on  the  head. 

Forster  describes  the  colours  as  azure-brown  on  the 
back,  and  silvery  white  elsewhere  ;  the  second  dorsal  and 
anal  marked  on  the  tips  by  a  brown  spot,  the  pectorals 
brown,  and  the  caudal  yellowish  brown.  He  also  informs 
us  that  this  nuillet  is   gregarious  in   the  month  of  April, 


enters  fresh-water  streams,  and  may  be  taken  either  with 
the  hook  or  net. 

Length  8g-  inches,  caudal  included.  Length  of  head 
If  inch  (Forster).  Our  specimens  measure  generally 
about  45-  inches. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

MUR.ENA. 

Pisces  anguillifonnes,  squamis  omnino  carentes,  cute 
Isevi  mucigena  tecti. 

Caput  parvum,  cute  porosa  ita  obductum  ut  nee  cra- 
nium, nee  operculum,  nee  radii  branchiostegi  extus  cer- 
nendi  sint. 

Gula  magis  minusve  extensiva  plicata.  Apertura  bran- 
chialis  minima,  lateralis,  in  sacculura  branchiis  proprium 
a  tergo  intrans.  Sacculus  hie  lateri  utrique  pertinens, 
branchiasque  quatuor  includens  foraminibus  quinque  par- 
vis  rotundis  intus  aperit.  Branchiae  rastellis  vel  processi- 
bus  dentiferis  carent. 

Rostrum  obtiisum.  Rictus  oris  ratione  capitis  longissi- 
mus,  horizontalis,  terminalis;  maxillis  fere  semper  aequali- 
bus,  rarius  subajqualibus. 

Nares  anticw  in  rostro  extremo  utrinque  positae,  tubu- 
losae;  postica3  supra  anguUnn  oculi  anteriorem  patentes, 
ssepius  planoE,  interdum  tubulosae.  Oculi  super  medium 
oris  rictum  locati.  Fori  conspicui  rictum  supra  subtus- 
que  ambientes,  in  rostro  summo  quoque  dispositi. 

Ossa  cranii  valida,  solida,  multum  per  anchylosin  coa- 
lita.  Ossa  premaxillaria  maxillaeque  desunt.  Os  nasi 
cum  vomere  ethmoideque  in  unum  coalitum,  dentiferum, 
munus  ossium  premaxillarium  sustinens ;  os  palati  antice 
ad  cohimnam  orbitce  anteriorem  ossi  nasi  per  symphysin 
inhferens,  postice  per  tendinem  pedicello  imo  mandibulae 
connexum  ;  cumque  osse  nasi  rictum  oris  superiorem  con- 
ficiens.  Mandibula  longa,  occiput  postice  aequans  vel 
transiens.  Ejus  pedicellum  tympanicum  os  unicum,  va- 
lidum,  triangulare  in  latere  cranii  late  inhserens. 

Operculum  cranio  infra  remotum  pedicello  mandibulae 
adhaerens.  Rami  branchiostegi  octo  vel  decern  filiformes, 
longissimi  circa  operculum  curvati.  Dentes  in  ambitu  oris 
et  in  vomere  seriebus  variis  instruct! ;  aut  acuti,  vel  subu- 
lati,  vel  pugioniformes  (i.  e.  compresso-subulati,  aciebus 
acutis),  vel  lanceolati ;  aut  obtusiores  vel  conici  vel  grani- 
formes.  Ossa  pharyngea  duo  superiora  duo  inferiora, 
linearia,  dentibus  recurvis  armata. 

Ventriculus  longus  super  medium  suum  pyloro  arcto 
pertusus.  In  Muraita  siderea  valvulam  spiralem  in  imo 
intestino  elaboratam,  inveni :  alteras  species  non  rite  ex- 
aminavi.  Vesicula  aeris  breviuscula,  ovalis,  pone  partem 
superiorem  ventriculi. 

DuEe  costarum  series  in  utroque  latere  usque  ad  extre- 
mam  caudani  attinentes ;  series  superior  paulo  pone  caput 
incipiens,  series  inferior  ad  anum  ;  ambae  validiores  pone 
anum,  dein  versus  apicem  caudte  sensim  decrescentes. 

Having,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Gray,  an  opportu- 
nity of  carefully  inspecting  the  Mitrtoia;  belonging  to  the 
British  Museum,  I  subjoin  the  results  of  my  examinations 
in  preference  to  giving  isolated  descriptions  of  the  species 
figured  in  this  work,   as  being  the  most  effectual  way  of 


79 


showing  the  relations  of  the  latter  to  the  other  species  to 
which  I  have  had  access.  The  nomenclature  of  the  bones 
of  the  skull  in  this  genus  I  found  to  be  a  subject  of  no 
little  difficulty,  and  I  have  been  glad  to  avail  myself  of 
that  proposed  by  Professor  Owen,  in  his  recent  lectures  on 
the  Vertebraia.  Previous  to  their  publication  I  had  sup- 
posed that  the  border  of  the  upper  jaw  of  the  Murance 
was  formed  of  the  premaxillaries  and  maxillie  arranged 
nearly  as  in  the  salmon,  but  that  the  premaxillaries  were 
intimately  anchylosed  with  the  nasal  and  ethmoid  bones, 
forming  the  jaw  and  roof  of  the  mouth  back  to  the  interior 
pillar  of  the  orbit,  where  the  disk  is  embraced  by  the  fore 
part  of  the  vomer.  The  maxillary  also  1  considered  as 
united  to  the  palate  bones,  these  forming  the  interior 
plates,  which  are  more  or  less  developed  in  different  species, 
and  only  occasionally  dentigerous,  and  then  generally  sup- 
porting tall,  subulate  teeth,  like  those  on  the  mesial  line  of 
the  premaxillary  disk.  Finding  on  the  strong  mandibular 
pedicle  the  small  socket  for  the  joint  of  the  operculum, 
and  the  symplectic  knob  for  the  pivot  of  the  lower  jaw,  1 
had  supposed  this  bone  to  be  composed  of  the  union  of 
the  several  parts  constituting  the  Systema  ptenjyoideo 
temporale  of  Cuvier. 

The  vertebra;  next  the  head  of  the  Muiieiue  have  a  short, 
neural  spine,  a  horizontal  parapophysial  process  on  each 
side,  and  a  thin  crest  from  the  under  surface  of  the  cen- 
trum, op]>osed  to  the  neural  spine,  and  which  I  might  have 
taken  for  a  hismal  spine  but  for  the  authority  of  Mr. 
Owen,  who  denies  that  process  to  the  fish.  About  the  tenth 
vertebra  (in  M.  Helena,  and  not  far  from  it  in  other  spe- 
cies) the  mesial  inferior  crest  divides  and  diverges  on  the 
three  succeeding  vertebra;  until  it  joins  the  transverse, 
parapophysial  process,  to  the  extremity  of  which  it  adds 
height  by  giving  it  a  second  angular  corner.  As  the  ver- 
tebrae approach  the  anus  the  angular  corners  of  the  extre- 
mities of  the  parapophysial  processes  separate  more  and 
more  from  each  other,  the  upper  one  remaining  nearly 
horizontal  and  the  other  turning  more  and  more  directly 
downwards,  until,  with  its  fellow  of  the  o]5posite  side,  it 
forms  a  deep  canal.  Finally,  at  the  end  of  the  abdominal 
cavity,  and  a  considerable  way  past  the  anus,  the  canal  is 
closed  beneath  by  the  union  of  its  sides,  and  a  spine  is 
added  to  the  arch  of  the  ha;mal  passage,  very  similar  to 
the  neural  one  of  the  same  vertebra,  so  that  the  vertebrae 
of  the  posterior  two-thirds  of  the  tail  possess  a  strong, 
compressed  neural  spine,  a  horizontal  parapophysis  and 
a  haemal  canal  and  spine,  seemingly  formed  of  the  inferior 
members  of  the  parapophysis.  Also  there  is  a  ridge  at 
the  base  of  the  neural  spines,  and  another  at  the  base  of 
the  haemal  ones,  for  the  attachment  of  the  membranes  in 
which  the  inferior  and  superior  series  of  ribs  lie.  The  up- 
per row  of  ribs  runs  from  the  fifth  or  sixth  vertebra  to  the 
point  of  the  tail,  and  the  under  one  from  the  anus  also  to 
the  tip  of  the  tail.  Each  rib  is  forked  at  the  end  next  the 
centrum,  the  shorter  process  having  a  small  round  head, 
and  the  body  of  the  rib  being  thickest  in  the  middle,  or 
spindle-shaped.  The  stoutest  ribs  are  situated  a  short 
way  behind  the  anus. 

The  teeth  are  of  two  kinds,  viz.,   slender  or  compressed, 
and  very  acute,  breaking  in  the  using  and  dropping  out; 


or  conical  and  rounded  on  the  summits,  wearing  flatter. 
Some  of  the  acute  teeth  are  simply  subulate ;  others  are 
compressed-subulate,  with  an  acute,  diaphanous  edge 
before  and  behind,  or  they  may  be  termed  stiletto-shaped ; 
such  are  the  front  teeth  generally.  In  most  species  the 
outer  teeth  on  both  jaws,  posterior  to  the  front  of  the  or- 
bit, are  considerably  reflex,  and  have  a  narrowly-lanceo- 
late shape,  also  with  acute  edges.  In  a  very  few  species 
the  teeth  are  serrated  on  the  edge.  The  teeth  stand  on 
the  edge  and  disk  of  the  nasal  bone,  the  palatines,  man- 
dibles and  vomer,  sometimes  in  a  single  series  on  all  these 
bones,  sometimes  double  on  all,  or  in  double  and  single 
series  variously  combined  on  the  several  bones. 

In  the  following  table  the  species  are  arranged  in  ac- 
cordance with  their  dentition. 


A.  Teeth  acute,  subulate,  stiletto-shajjed.      Gape  large. 

a.  Uiiiserial  palatine  teeth. 

1.  Uniserial  teeth  on  all  the  dentiferous  bones. 

M.  helena  ;   mibila  ;    sat/enedota  ;   reticulata  ;  ocel- 
lata  ;  punctata  ;   similis. 

2.  Teeth  biserial  in  the  front  of  the  mandible,  uniserial 

on  the  sides  of  the   mandible   and  on  the  other 

bones. 
M.  pratbernon  ;  tenebrosa. 
•3.  Biserial  teeth  in  the  front  of  the  mandible  and  hind 

part  of  the  vomer;    uniserial   teeth  on  the  other 

bones. 
M.  lita. 
4.  Biserial  teeth  on  the  nasal  bone,  on  the  front  of  the 

lower  jaw  and  on  the  vomer. 
M.  siderea. 

b.  Biserial  palatine  teeth. 

1.  Uniserial  nasal,  mandibular  and  vomerine  teeth. 
M.  isingleena  ;  bullata  ;  stellifer  ;  cancellata  ;  tes- 

sellata  ;  colubrina  ;   moringua. 
Obs. — When  the  inner  palatine   teeth  are  only  one  or 
two  in  number  they  are  easily  broken  away,   and  the  den- 
tition then  is  similar  to  that  of  group  A.  I. 

2.  Front  mandibular  teeth  biserial  ;    vomerine  and  na- 

sal teeth  uniserial. 
M.  griseo-badia ;  pavonina. 

3.  Nasal  teeth  pluriserial ;    vomerine  and  mandibular 

teeth  uniserial. 
M.  guttata. 

4.  Teeth  biserial  on  the  front  of  the  mandible  and  on 

the  vomer;  uniserial  on  the  nasal  bone  and  sides 
of  the  mandible. 
M.  thgrsoidea ;  sathete. 

5.  Biserial  on  all  the  bones  except  the  sides  of  the 

mandible. 
M.  gracilis  ;  vermiculata  ;  meleagris ;  viridis. 

B.  Gape  moderate.      Teeth  conical,  subacute  or  round- 
ed.  MOLARII. 

a.  Palatine  teeth  uniserial,  subacute. 
M.ophis;  variegata. 

b.  Palatine  teeth  biserial,  obtuse. 
M.  polgzona  ;   calennta. 


The  following  species  have  uot  come  under  ray  inspec- 
tion, and  I  have  not  therefore  been  able  to  place  them  in 
the  above  table. 

Murtciia  unicolor,  Laroche,  Ann.  Mus.  xiii.  15.  Low, 
Tr.  Gaol.  Soc.  2,  p.  192.  M.  picta,  Thunberg,  Spec. 
Ichlh.  7,  t.  1,  f.  2,  or  Murwnophis  pant/ierina,  Lacep.  v. 
641.  Murcenop/iis  griaea,  Lacep.  v.  644,  pi.  19,  f.  1. 
Murcena  soidida,  Cuv.  Regne  An.  2,  p.  352.  Seba  11,  69, 
4.  Murana  reevesn,  Richardson,  Ichth.  of  Voy.  of  Sul- 
jjhur,  p.  109,  pi.  49,  f.  2.  Gymnothorax  roslrntiis,  Agas- 
siz.  Pise.  Bras.  50,  a.  Murcena  (/eometrica,  Riippel,  All. 
118,  t.  30,  f  1.  M.  tigrina,  Tdera,'t.  .30,  f  2.  M.Jlavimar- 
ginata,  Idem,  t.  30,  f.  3.  M.  hepatica,  Idem,  p.  120.  M. 
cinerasceiis.  Idem,  p.  120.  M.  hiliiieala,  Idem,  p.  120. 
Muramophis  linenta,  Lesson,  Voy.  de  la  Coqiiille,  t.  11,  f. 

1.  M.Jlaveola,  Idem,  f.  1.  M.  anathin.  Low,  Tr.  Zool.  Soc. 

2,  p.  192.  Gymnotliorax  fava(jineus,  Bl.  Schn.  t.  105,  p. 
323.  G.  afer,  BI.  417,  Schn.  p.  326.  G.  wihoni,  Schn. 
p.  329.  G.  scriptus,  Schn.  p.  329.  G.  braziliemis,  Schn. 
p.  329.  Strophidon  Utcratuiii,  J.  M'Clelland,  Calc.  Journ. 
of  Nat.  Hist.  1844,  t.  vii.  fig.  2.  Strophidon  pundatum. 
Idem,  t.  vii.  f.  3  (nee  M.  punctata,  Bl.).  Tlncrodontis 
reticulata,  Idem,  vii.  f.  1  (non  Gymnotliorax  reticulatus, 
Bl.  416,  an  M.  iessellata,  Richardson?)  Gymnomnrana 
viarniorata,  Lacep.  v.  pp.  648,  650.  Nettastoma  melanu- 
ra.  Raff.  Caratt.  \A.  10,  f.  1,  or  Alurana  saga,  Risso,  prem. 
ed.  f.  39,  and  many  others  scattered  in  different  works. 

MuR.ENA  IJELKNA.     Linn. 

Mumna  helena,  Bl.  I.  153.     La  flutte,  Eneycl.  Melh.  t.  23,  f.  79. 

Radii:— B.  8;  D.  332;  A.  220  ==  552  (Gibraltar  spec). 

Plate  XLIX.,  figs.  1 — 6  (Australian  spec). 

Considerable  variety  exists  in  the  shades  of  colour  and 
in  the  size  and  distinctness  of  the  spots  in  different  exam- 
ples of  this  fish  from  the  same  locality,  much  exceeding 
any  peculiarity  that  I  could  detect  on  a  careful  compari- 
son of  the  Australian  specimen  figured  in  plate  49,  with 
several  others  from  Malta  and  Gibraltar. 

The  teeth  are  subulate,  more  or  less  compressed,  and 
very  acute,  with  thin,  cutting  edges  towards  the  tip,  the 
nasal  teeth,  however,  and  the  anterior  mandibular  ones 
being  considerably  rounded  in  front  towards  the  base. 
All  are  inclined  backwards.  The  posterior  nasal  and  ad- 
joining palatine  tooth  are  the  tallest  of  the  series,  and 
these,  with  some  of  the  neighbouring  ones,  and  also  a  few 
on  the  lower  jaw,  have  an  acute  notch  on  the  posterior 
edge,  with  a  slight  basal  lobe  beneath  it.  Nasal  teeth 
about  twelve,  exclusive  of  about  ten  very  short  ones,  alter- 
nating with  them,  but  rather  exterior  to  their  bases,  so 
that  the  marginal  nasal  teeth  may  be  considered  as  making 
an  approach  to  a  biserial  arrangement.  Three  teeth  on  the 
mesial  line  of  the  nasal  disk  long,  slender  and  very  acute, 
the  posterior  pair  being  the  tallest  in  the  mouth.  Eight 
or  nine  small,  acute,  uniserial  vomerine  teeth.  Palatine 
teeth  about  ten,  uniserial.      There  are  about  sixteen  or 


seventeen  conspicuous  teeth  on  each  limb  of  the  mandible, 
exclusive  of  small  ones  at  the  bases  of  the  front  teeth 
as  on  the  nasal  bone. 

Posterior  nostrils  shortly  tubular.  Eye  moderately 
large,  rather  posterior  to  the  middle  of  the  rictus.  The 
upper  and  lower  jaw  are  bordered  by  a  row  of  large  pores, 
and  there  are  also  six  on  the  top  of  the  snout,  arranged  as 
shown  in  figure  2.  Vent  one  twenty-fourth  part  of  the 
whole  length  before  the  middle  of  the  fish.  Dorsal  fin 
commencing  before  the  gill-opening,  gradually  increasing 
in  height  until  it  attains  its  greatest  elevation  beyond  the 
vent.  Both  it  and  the  anal  are  conspicuous  towards  the 
lip  of  the  tail,  which  is  considerably  compressed. 

The  ground  colour  of  the  fish  is  dark,  or  blackish 
brown,  and  is  varied  by  white,  oval,  roundish,  or  irregular 
marks  of  various  sizes  ;  larger  on  the  fore  part  of  the  fish, 
and  so  crowded  on  the  head  as  to  produce  merely  a  brown 
and  white  mottling ;  becoming  gradually  smaller  and  more 
distinct  posteriorly,  and  towards  the  tip  of  the  tail  arranged 
so  as  to  jjroduce  a  distant  banded  appearance.  The  white 
marks  include  oval  and  roundish  blackish  spots,  generally 
darker  than  the  ground  colour.  The  throat  and  belly  are 
pale,  with  a  more  minute  mottling,  and  the  folds  of  the 
throat,  the  corners  of  the  mouth  and  the  gill-openings  are 
black.     Snout  and  lower  jaw  less  spotted. 

The  edges  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  marked  by  a  series 
of  small  white  dots,  most  crowded  on  the  anal,  and  the 
bases  of  these  fins  are  spotted  on  each  side  by  a  less  dense 
series  (vide  fig.  5,  giving  a  front  view  of  part  of  the  anal). 

The  colours  and  spots  of  the  Australian  specimen  de- 
scribed above,  are  extremely  similar  to  those  of  one  ob- 
tained at  Gibraltar.  Having  had  the  skeleton  of  this  latter 
one  made,  I  ascertained,  by  repeated  and  careful  enume- 
ration, that  the  rays  of  the  dorsal  were  332,  and  of  the 
anal  220,  or  552  in  all.  The  rays  appear  simple,  and  are 
williout  jierceptible  joints,  but  most  of  them  can  be  split 
at  the  ti])s  into  two  branchlets.  There  are  142  vertebras, 
71  of  which  are  abdominal,  but  the  anal  fin  extends  for- 
wards to  the  sixty-third.  The  air-bladder  is  oval,  and 
about  Ij  inch  in  length. 

A  second  Gibraltar  specimen  differs  slightly  in  the  pale 
parts,  having  a  dilute  orange  tint,  and  in  the  mottling  of 
the  belly  being  more  resolvable  into  spots,  like  those  on 
the  sides. 

The  British  Museum  possesses  a  variety  from  the  Bay 
of  Naples,  in  which  the  pale  colour  is  reduced  to  roundish 
and  angular  white  specks,  about  the  size  of  a  pin's  head, 
placed  at  the  corners  of  the  black  spots,  and  at  first  sight 
the  fish  appears  to  be  dark  liver-brown,  speckled  with 
white,  but  on  a  closer  examination  the  figures  of  the  dark 
spots  may  be  traced.  Towards  the  end  of  the  tail  the 
whitish  dots  are  arranged  in  vertical  bars,  five  or  six  in 
each  bar.  The  white  specks  on  the  edges  of  the  fins  are 
more  remote  than  in  the  more  common  variety. 

An  example  from  Malta,  in  the  Haslar  Museum,  has 
fewer  and  smaller  white  dots. 

inches.  inches. 

Length  of  two  Australian  examples  25    Gibraltar  do.  30'0 

Distance  between  snout  and  anus      12  14'1 

„  „    gill-opening  2'86  3*6 


81 


Hab.  Mediterranean.      English  Channel.      North  Afri- 
can coast.     Indian  Ocean  (Bloch).     Australian  seas. 


Mdk^na  nubila.     Richardson. 
Plate  XLVI.,  fig.  6—1  0. 

Teeth  uniserial,  compressed-subulate,  tapering  and  very 
acute,  (or  stiletto-shaped).  Nasal  teeth  twelve,  widely  set 
and  moderately  tall,  with  a  minute  subulate  one  between 
each  pair.  Two  teeth  placed  well  forward  on  the  mesial 
line  of  the  disk,  the  second  one  being  the  tallest  in  the 
mouth.  Twelve  conico-subulate,  sharjj-pointed,  very  short 
vomerine  teeth,  the  anterior  one  standing  a  little  out  of 
line.  Palatine  teeth  twelve,  slightly  reflex,  the  two  ante- 
rior ones  smaller  than  the  rest,  which  diminish  slightly  in 
size  from  the  third  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  Mandible 
armed  by  fifteen  or  sixteen  teeth  on  each  limb,  the  ante- 
rior ones  taller,  more  remote,  and  having  one  or  two  mi- 
nute, subulate  ones  in  their  intervals. 

The  head  of  this  species  is  considerably  compressed, 
the  jaws  equal,  and  the  snout  obtuse,  with  a  sloping  profile, 
concave  at  the  eye.  The  fold  of  skin  which  envelopes  the 
dorsal  is  less  thick  than  in  man}-  species,  and  rises  sud- 
denly, with  little  slope,  about  half-way  between  the  eye 
and  gill-o])ening.  The  fin  continues  high  and  very  con- 
spicuous throughout  the  back  to  near  the  end  of  the  tail, 
where  it  narrows  a  little.  The  posterior  nostrils  are  not 
tubular,  the  eye  is  rather  large,  the  gape  also  large,  and 
the  distance  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  to  the  gill-opening 
is  about  one-eighth  of  the  whole  length  of  the  fish,  while 
the  anus  is  a  fourteenth  of  that  length  before  the  middle  of 
the  fish.  The  usual  pores  exist  on  the  snout  and  upper 
and  lower  lips,  and  the  lateral  line  consisting  of  a  series 
of  small  pores  is  sufficiently  evident.  Three  black  tapering 
streaks  are  conspicuous  on  the  throat,  the  uppermost  run- 
ning back  from  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  body  is 
marked  by  cloud-like  spots,  forming  a  series  of  irregular, 
and  iu  some  places,  confluent  bars.  The  spots  commence 
on  the  lower  part  of  the  dorsal,  and  descend  over  two- 
thirds  of  the  height.  The  ground  colour  is  brownish  on 
the  back  and  pale  or  whitish  on  the  belly.  The  dorsal 
and  anal  are  bordered  by  a  well-defined,  deep  black  stripe, 
which  is  very  narrowly  edged  exteriorly  with  white. 

Caecal  stomach  not  reaching  down  to  the  anus.  Pylo- 
ric orifice  neai-er  to  the  gullet  than  to  the  point  of  the  sac. 
Liver  placed  beneath  and  rather  to  the  right  of  the  sto- 
mach. An  oblong  oval  air-bladder  lies  behind  the  (Eso- 
phagus. The  spiral  valve  of  the  lower  intestine  was  not 
made  out,  owing  to  the  state  of  the  parts. 

Length  of  the  specimen  2r5  inches.  Distance  between 
tip  of  the  snout  and  the  anus  10  inches.  Distance  from 
ditto  to  the  gill-opening  -2  6. 

This  fish  was  obtained  at  Norfolk  Island,  by  Dr.  M' 
William,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  Surgeon  to  the  Board  of 
Customs.  A  dried  skin  of  a  murrey,  belonging  to  the  Bri- 
tish Museum,  which  was  procured  by  ISIr.  Gilbert  at 
Houtman's  Abrolhos  is  probably  the  same  species,  which 
in  that  case  inhabits  both  coasts  of  Australia.  The  small 
intermediate  teeth  among  the  intermaxillaries  do  not  exist 


in  this  latter  example,  and  the  larger  ones  have  rounded, 
compressed,  posterior  basal  lobes  not  observable  in  the 
Norfolk  Island  specimen,  being,  perhaps,  concealed  by  the 
soft  ])arts,  but  there  is  no  other  remarkable  difference  in 
dentition.  The  anal  has  a  whitish  edge  surmounting  a 
black  stripe,  and  there  are  spots  on  the  sides,  but  much 
defaced  by  the  drying  of  the  specimen.  It  measures 
twenty-two  inches  in  length. 

A  third  specimen,  like  the  last,  a  dried  one,  and  also  ex- 
isting in  the  British  Museum,  was  prepared  by  Dr.  Janvier 
at  the  Mauritius.  It  has  the  same  dentition  with  the  Nor- 
folk Island  fish,  except  that  a  third  tall  tooth  is  present 
on  the  mesial  line  of  the  nasal  disk,  and  from  the  speci- 
men being  dried  the  alternate  arrangement  of  the  vomerine 
teeth  is  perceptible,  though  they  appear  on  a  cursory 
examination  to  be  in  one  series.  Some  of  the  spots  or 
bars  descend  over  the  belly,  and  there  are  traces  of  six  or 
seven  black  streaks  on  each  side  of  the  throat.  Length 
44'3  inches.     To  anus  2.3.     To  gill-opening  6'4. 

Hab.  Seas  of  Australia  and  of  the  Mauritius. 


MuR.'ENA  SAGENOUETA.     Richardsou. 

The  only  example  of  this  species  which  we  have  seen  is 
a  dried  one  in  the  British  Museum,  which  was  prepared 
by  Dr.  Janvier  at  the  Mauritius. 

'  There  is  considerable  resemblance  between  it  and  M. 
nubila,  but  it  appears  to  have  a  thicker  body,  particulariy 
about  the  throat,  while  the  vent  is  a  little  farther  forward. 
The  uniserial  teeth  are  comparatively  stouter,  with  less 
acute  edges,  and  stand  in  a  closer  series  both  anteriorly 
and  posteriorly.  The  highest  on  the  edge  of  the  upper 
jaw  are  the  posterior  nasal  ones  and  adjoining  palatines, 
whence  they  decrease  gradually  in  both  directions.  Many 
of  them  have  a  minute  notch  near  the  middle  of  the  ante- 
rior edge,  and  most  have  a  conspicuous  posterior  basal 
lobe.  There  are  about  nineteen  between  the  symphysis 
and  corner  of  the  mouth  on  the  ujiper  jaw  and  a  corre- 
sponding number  below,  there  being  no  small  intermedi- 
ate ones  on  the  fore  part  of  either  jaw.  The  mesial  teeth 
on  the  nasal  disk  are  entirely  absent  in  the  specimen,  and 
the  disk  itself  is  rather  long  and  concave,  without  any  pits. 
The  vomerine  teeth  are  minute,  and  do  not  exceed  three 
iu  number. 

Posterior  nostrils  not  tubular.  Eye  moderate-sized, 
and  rather  before  the  middle  of  the  gape  of  the  mouth. 
Dorsal  commencing  about  half-way  between  the  corner  of 
the  mouth  and  the  gill-opening.  Anus  as  neariy  as  pos- 
sible in  the  middle  of  the  fish.  Distance  between  the  tip 
of  the  snout  and  the  gill-opening  neariy  one-seventh  of 
the  total  length. 

Ground  colour  of  the  dried  skin  brownish,  varied  by  thirty- 
two  or  thirty-four  irregular,  blackish  vertical  bars,  which 
descend  from  the  dorsal  fin  and  branch  and  anastomose 
about  the  gill-opening,  so  as  to  produce  five  or  six  meshes 
in  the  height,  the  bar-like  arrangement  not  being  percep- 
tible there ;  more  posteriorly  the  meshes  are  larger,  and 
not  above  three  or  four  in  the  height ;  at  the  anus  they 
increase  in  size  and  diminish  to  two  in  the  height,  while  to- 
wards the  end  of  the  tail  the  meshes  are  wholly  superseded 

P 


82 


by  bars.  The  areas  throughout  are  traversed  by  fine,  dark 
lines,  like  veins  in  marble,  and  on  the  head  and  throat  the 
mesh-like  arrangement  gives  place  to  a  fine  mottling  of  the 
dark  brown,  with  a  paler  colour  in  smaller  quantity.  No 
traces  of  this  mottling  are  perceptible  in  any  of  the  exam- 
ples of  M.  «M6<7a.  In  the  specimen  the  dorsal  fin  ends 
abruptly  about  an  inch  from  the  point  of  the  tail,  the  anal 
being  perfect.  The  defect  appears  to  have  arisen  from 
mutilation  before  death. 

Length  of  the  fish  (dried)  ....  ....       4r50  inch. 

From  tip  of  snout  to  anus  ....  ....        10"75 

From       ditto  to  gill-opening  ....         6*01 

Hab.  Coasts  of  the  Mauritius. 


MUR^NA    RETICULATA.       Bl.,  416. 
Gymnolhorax  reticulalus,  Bl.  Schn.  p.  528.     Bl.  416. 

Teeth  compressed-subulate,  disposed  in  a  single  series 
on  both  jaws.  The  nasal  teeth,  about  fourteen  in  number, 
are  a  little  more  remote,  and  the  palatine  ones  are  more 
compressed,  closer,  more  reflex,  and  diminish  in  size  as 
they  approach  the  corner  of  the  mouth,  but  there  is  no 
sudden  change  in  the  series,  either  of  form  or  height.  The 
palatine  teeth  number  about  ten,  and  the  series  on  the 
mandible  corresponds  generally  with  that  of  the  upper 
jaw.  The  usual  three  mesial  teeth  exist  on  the  nasal  disk, 
and  there  are  about  seven  small,  acute  vomerine  teeth  in 
one  row.  When  the  teeth  are  examined  with  a  lens  the 
maxillary  ones  and  those  on  the  anterior  part  of  the  lower 
jaw  are  seen  to  be  minutely  crenated  towards  the  base 
posteriorly,  and  beneath  the  crenatures  is  a  compressed, 
rounded  lobe,  which  is  inserted  into  the  gum. 

Eye  moderate-sized.  Posterior  nostrils  not  tubular. 
Snout  obtuse.  Profile  full,  slightly  arched.  Gape  mode- 
rate. Dorsal  commencing  before  the  gill-opening.  Throat 
plaited,  distensible.  Anus  one-twelfth  part  of  the  whole 
length  before  the  middle  of  the  fish. 

Ground  colour  pale  honey-yellow,  with  about  twenty 
dark,  hair-brown  bands,  encircling  the  body  and  dorsal 
fin.  The  intervals  are  about  equal  to  the  bands  in 
breadth,  and  are  marked  with  round,  brown  dots,  inter- 
mixed with  many  minute  brown  specks.  The  upper  parts 
of  the  bands  are  formed  of  a  close  assemblage  of  dots  and 
spots,  but  the  belly  parts  are  homogeneous.  The  head 
and  lower  jaw  are  spotted  with  brown,  the  ground  co- 
lour of  tlie  lower  jaw  and  throat  approaches  to  white,  and 
three  of  the  bands  which  belong  to  the  nape  and  throat 
are  less  complete,  being  decomposed  more  or  less  into  ir- 
regular spots.  The  intervals  between  the  bands  on  the 
belly  are  nearly  aurora  red,  while  the  intervals  on  the  dor- 
sal and  anal  are  white  on  the  edge.  The  anal  is  banded 
like  the  dorsal,  but  not  spotted  as  that  fin  is. 

Length  12-5  inches.  Distance  between  the  tip  of  the 
snout  and  the  anus  55  inches.  Distance  between  ditto 
and  the  gill-opening  1'5. 

Hab.  Indian  Ocean  (Bloch).  Sea  of  Borneo  (Sir  E. 
Belcher). 


MuE^NA  OCELLATA.     Agassiz  (Gymnothorax). 

Murana  tricolor.  Banks  et  Soland.  MSS.  Parkins.  Icon,  in  Bibl. 
Banks,  2.  Broussonnet  MSS.  Gymnothorax  ocellatus,h^.'P'\ii:.  linxa. 
Spixii,  p.  91,  t.  L.  b.  figs.  6—9. 

Plate  XLVII.,  figs.  6—10. 

The  individual  figured  in  the  plates  was  obtained  some- 
where in  the  Atlantic,  but  the  exact  locality  was  not  noted. 
A  Brazilian  specimen  exists  in  the  British  Museum,  and 
there  is  another  in  the  Museum  at  Haslar. 

The  teeth,  which  stand  in  a  single  series  on  all  the 
bones,  are  much  compressed,  with  sharp  edges,  tapering, 
and  very  acute,  most  of  them  finely  serrated  behind  and 
before,  the  serratures  being  most  readily  seen  near  the 
base  behind.  The  highest  teeth  stand  on  the  palatines 
and  fore  part  of  the  mandible,  and  they  are  there  more 
widely  set.  On  the  palatines  their  outline  is  narrowly 
lanceolate,  as  are  also  the  lateral  ones  on  the  mandible. 
The  three  mesial  teeth  exist,  as  usual,  on  the  nasal  disk, 
and  they  are  serrated  like  the  others,  but  they  are  scarcely 
so  high  as  the  front  marginal  teeth,  and  having  been  partly 
broken  away  in  the  specimen  which  we  have  figured,  they 
have  been  omitted  by  the  artist  in  plan,  figure  3.  The 
vomerine  teeth,  small  and  acute,  are  hidden  by  the  soft 
parts. 

This  murrey  has  a  blunt  snout,  a  large  eye,  and  a 
more  than  usually  tapering  tail,  with  a  narrow  tip.  The 
dorsal  commences  a  little  before  the  gill-opening,  and 
rises  very  gradually,  but  is  not  high  anywhere.  The  po- 
sition of  the  anus  varies  in  different  individuals.  The 
specimen  which  is  figured  has  the  vent  one-fourteenth 
part  of  the  whole  length  before  the  middle,  two  others 
have  it  respectively  at  the  twelfth  and  the  nineteenth  part. 
The  posterior  nasal  openings  are  not  tubular.  The  lateral 
line  formed  by  a  series  of  pores  in  the  middle  of  the 
height  is  conspicuous.  The  ground  colour  after  long  ma- 
ceration in  spirits  is  hair-brown,  which,  on  close  exami- 
nation, is  found  to  be  produced  by  a  minute  reticulation 
of  darker  and  paler  lines.  It  is  thickly  studded  by  round- 
ish and  oval  spots  of  various  sizes,  on  the  back  and  sides, 
none  of  the  spots  exceeding  a  pea  in  magnitude.  About 
thirty  black  spots  on  the  dorsal  and  fifteen  on  the  anal, 
alternate  with  white  marks.  Towards  the  end  of  the  tail 
the  spots  are  larger,  and  form  bars. 


All.  spec. 

Total  length      175 

From  snout  to  anus     ....       7'5 
„      gill-opening       2;35 


2n(l  do.  Braz.  spec. 
12-5  19-5 

5-5  9-25 

1-42  2-58 


Hab,  Western  side  of  North  Atlantic  Ocean.  Coast  of 
Brazil. 

A  murrey  taken  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  by  Assistant-Sur- 
geon Rayner,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  and  presented  to  the 
Museum  at  Haslar,  appears  to  be  a  slight  variet3'  of  the 
above.  It  has  the  same  form  and  dentition,  but  the  spots 
on  the  body  are  much  more  numerous,  and  the  fins,  in- 
stead of  being  distinctly  banded,  have  a  continuous  black 


83 


edge,  with  a  while  stripe  beneath  it.  The  white  stripe 
approaches  the  edge  of  the  fin  at  intervals,  so  as  to  give  it 
somewhat  of  a  banded  appearance  when  folded.  Length 
15  inches.  Length  from  snont  to  vent  7  inches.  Length 
from  ditto  to  gill-opening  19  inch. 
Hab.  Gulf  of  Mexico. 


MUR^NA    PUNCTATA.       Bl.  Schn. 

Gymnothnrax  punctatus,  Bl.  Schn.  p.  52t).  Calamaia  patim,  Russell, 
xxxii. 

A  dried,  overstuffed,  and  not  quite  perfect  example  of  a 
Murwiia  exists  in  the  British  Museum,  which  possesses 
the  characters  ascribed  by  Schneider  to  pnnctata.*  It 
was  purchased  from  a  dealer,  and  its  place  of  capture  can- 
not be  ascertained.  Russell's  figure  is  a  pretty  good  re- 
presentation of  the  fish. 

Teeth  in  a  single  series  on  the  several  bones.  On  the 
border  of  the  nasal  bone  there  are  fourteen,  which  are 
compressed,  with  acute  edges  and  points.  Three  tall, 
subulate,  slender  ones  on  the  mesial  line  of  the  disk,  and 
five  short,  slender,  and  very  acute  ones  on  the  line  of  the 
vomer,  the  series  commencing  at  some  distance  from  the 
nasal  disk.  Ten  or  eleven  on  each  palatine  bone  shorter, 
and  scarcely  wider  than  the  nasal  ones,  reflex,  more 
closely  set,  and  diminishing  in  size  towards  the  corner  of 
the  mouth.  Eleven  or  twelve  lateral  teeth  on  the  mandible 
closely  set,  equal  in  size,  compressed,  acute  and  reflex, 
with  two  much  stouter  and  a  little  taller  widely  set  in  the 
same  series  on  each  side  of  the  symphysis. 

Eye  rather  large,  over  the  middle  of  the  gape  of  the 
mouth,  which  is  of  moderate  size.  Nose  straight,  with 
the  hinder  part  of  the  head  apparently  rising  suddenly. 
Posterior  nostrils  not  tubular.  Dorsal  commencing  a  little 
before  the  gill-opening.  Anus  in  the  dried  specimen  very 
little  before  the  middle  of  the  fish. 

In  the  spotting  this  Murceiia  most  resembles  parointia, 
but  the  spots  are  smaller,  more  numerous  and  less  regidar, 
several  of  them  in  various  parts  being  oblong.  They  have 
their  borders  similarly  darkened,  are  about  the  size  of  par- 
tridge shot,  and  are  pretty  i-egularly  scattered  over  the 
head,  body,  belly  and  fins  ;  towards  the  top  of  the  tail 
they  are  smaller  and  less  crowded.  The  rays  of  the  dor- 
sal are  short  at  the  commencement,  and  increase  gradually 
to  opposite  the  vent,  where  they  are  in  the  specimen  here 
described  about  an  inch  long,  and  they  lose  little  of  their 
length  till  within  three  inches  of  the  tip  of  the  tail. 

Length  .34-25  inches.  Distance  from  tip  of  snout  to 
anus  16'75  inches.  Distance  from  ditto  to  gill-opening 
4'2  inches. 

Hab.  Indian  Ocean. 


*  Schneider's  account  of  the  species  is  "  Gymn.  punctatus,  ( Dentium. 
palatinorum  longa  seriej  corpore  comprcsso,  colore  brunnen,  maculis  parvis 
auranliacis,  ovalibus,  limbo  brunneo,  pinnA  dorsi  ante  spiracula  exortd, 
rictu  angusliore  antecedentibus,  naribus  tubnlosis,  maxilla  superiore  lon- 
giore.  Lonyus  2\  ped.  Variat  punctis  fiavis ;  b.  punctis  et  macvlis 
brunneis. 


MUR.ENA    SIMILIS. 


Spec,  altera,  kc.     Foister,  J.  R.  Descr.  An.  p.  18.3. 
"  Muroenophis.  Faun.  Jap." 


Nasal  teeth  eight  or  ten,  moderately  tall  and  very  acute, 
with  three  taller  and  more  slender  teeth  on  the  mesial  line 
of  the  disk;  succeeded  by  eight  or  nine  short,  acute  vo- 
merine teeth,  standing  in  a  single  series.  The  palatine 
teeth,  also  uniserial,  are  reflex,  and  more  closely  set  than 
the  nasal  ones,  but  not  broad  enough  to  be  termed  lance- 
olate :  all  are  acutely  two-edged  towards  the  tips.  The 
mandible  is  armed  by  ten  lateral  teeth,  similar  to  the  nasal 
ones,  but  taller,  also  by  two  stoutly  subulate  ones  on  each 
side  near  the  symphysis,  standing  in  the  same  row. 

The  gape  of  the  mouth  is  rather  large,  the  eye  mode- 
rately so,  the  posterior  nostril  is  not  tubular,  and  the  dor- 
sal commences  before  the  gill-opening  (about  half  an  inch 
in  the  specimen  described).  The  anus  is  situated  about 
one-sixteenth  of  the  whole  length  before  the  middle  of  the 
fish. 

Colour  pale  wood-brown,  finely  mottled  with  irregular, 
star-like  specks,  of  dark  hair-brown.  The  specks  are 
scattered  generally  over  the  ground  tint,  and  are  also 
densely  aggregated  in  patches,  producing  about  twenty  or 
more  large  spots,  which  run  along  the  sides,  and  ex- 
tend to  the  dorsal  fin.  A  narrow  line  along  the  middle 
of  the  throat  connects  a  series  of  the  small  specks, 
and  the  folds  of  the  gill-membrane  are  traced  on  each 
side  by  similar  lines.  The  anal  fin  is  marked  out  by  a 
black  line  surmounted  with  a  white  edging.  The  dorsal 
is  not  so  edged.  Lining  of  the  mouth  blackish  and  mot- 
tled. Length  24  inches.  To  anus  10-5  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  27. 

Hab.  Polynesia.     Red  Sea.     Sea  of  Japan. 

This  Munoia  has  a  pretty  close  resemblance  to  M.  va- 
riegaia,  but  the  spots  do  not  branch  off  in  a  radiated 
way,  and  the  dentition  is  widely  dissimilar.  It  agrees  in 
its  large  gape,  sharp  teeth,  five  parallel  dark  lines  on  the 
gill-membranes,  and  in  colours  with  the  specimen  obtain- 
ed at  Otaheite  by  Forster,  and  noticed  after  his  account 
of  Echidna  rariegata.  It  is  probable  that  the  native 
name  of  "Boohee"  is  restricted  to  this  species,  as  the 
name  of  "Pipiro"  only,  is  written  on  George  Forster's 
drawing  of  M.  variegata.  Riippell's  plate  of  M.  ophis 
has  a  still  closer  resemblance  in  colour  and  markings  to 
similis  than  variegata  has,  but  the  shortness  of  the  gape 
distinguishes  ophis  from  the  present  species.  The  speci- 
men in  the  British  Museum,  from  which  the  above  de- 
scription was  taken,  is  from  Japan,  and  is  marked  "Muree- 
nophis.  Faun.  Jap."  Not  knowing  what  appellation  the 
authors  of  the  Faima  Japonica  mean  to  give  it,  I  have 
termed  it  similis,  to  denote  its  general  close  resemblance 
to  tnriegala  and  ophis.  I  would  gladly  have  adopted 
Forster's  name  echidna  as  a  specific  appellation  for  this 
species,  but  it  has  been  applied  by  Schneider  to  variegata, 
and  would  lead  to  confusion  if  used  to  designate  another 
species.  Lacepede's  Murcenophis  echidna,  which,  he 
says,  has  a  very  large  gape,  bristling  with  many  teeth, 
cannot  be  variegata.      He  refers  to  Ellis,  in  Cook's  third 

p  2 


84 


voyage,  as  his  authority,  but  on  turning  to  that  work  I 
find  only  the  following  sentence  :  "  Amongst  these  were 
some  large  eels,  beautifully  spotted,  which,  when  followed, 
would  raise  themselves  out  of  the  water,  and  endeavour 
with  an  open  mouth,  to  bite  their  pursuers."  (Voy.  to 
Pacif  by  Capt.  Cook,  Gierke  and  Gore,  1776-80,  vol.  i.  p. 
219.     Lond.  1784). 


MuR.ENA  PRATBERNON,  Quoy  et  Gaimard. 


Muricna  prathemon,  Qiioy  et  Gaimard,  Voy.  de  Freycinet,   PI.  52, 


fig- 


Fourteen  marginal  nasal  teeth  of  a  stoutly  subulate  form, 
with  much  smaller  ones  not  forming  a  regular  exterior  se- 
ries, but  mostly  standing  in  the  intervals  of  the  taller  ones. 
Two  strong,  stoutly  subulate  mesial  teeth  in  the  fore  part 
of  the  disk;  followed  at  an  interval  by  three  small,  com- 
pressed, and  not  veiy  pungent  vomerine  teeth  in  one  row. 
Palatine  teeth  uniserial,  nineteen  or  twenty  on  each  side, 
lanceolate,  reflex,  and  moderately  acute.  Mandibular 
teeth  at  the  end  of  the  jaw,  about  six  on  each  side,  simi- 
lar to  the  principal  nasal  ones,  with  much  smaller  teeth  of 
several  sizes  exterior  to  their  bases,  in  two  or  three  rows, 
being  nine  or  ten  in  number  on  each  limb.  The  lateral 
mandibular  teeth  are  like  the  palatine  ones. 

Snout  obtuse.  Eye  rather  small,  and  situated  somewhat 
before  the  middle  of  the  gape.  Posterior  nostrils  not  tu- 
bular. The  origin  of  the  dorsal,  some  of  whose  rays  are 
an  inch-and-a-half  long,  cannot  be  ascertained,  owing  to 
the  state  of  the  specimen.  Ground  colour  of  the  skin  pur- 
pli.sh  brown,  with  numerous  round,  black  dots,  the  size  of 
a  small  pea  on  the  upper  part  of  the  head.  Round  the 
gill-opening  the  spots  assume  various  forms  from  the  con- 
fluence of  two,  three,  or  more.  Farther  back  the  dark 
marks  have  the  shape  of  imperfect  rings  or  stars,  and  to- 
wards the  tail  the  size  of  the  compound  spots  increases. 
In  the  middle  of  the  tail  they  have  considerable  resem- 
blance to  the  spots  of  M.  Helena,  the  purplish  ground  co- 
lour forming  a  mesh  work  round  the  spots,  and  perforating 
their  disks.  The  under  jaw  and  fore  part  of  the  belly  have 
the  ground  colour  varied  by  only  a  kw  faint,  small  spots. 
There  is,  however,  no  white  on  the  fish,  nor  any  pale 
spots  on  the  edges  of  the  fins,  such  as  exist  in  M.  helena, 
to  which  the  species  nearly  approaches  in  many  respects. 
A  large  black  ring  surrounds  the  gill-opening,  and  the 
corners  of  the  mouth  are  also  black,  the  palate  and  gullet 
being  dark  brown.  The  specimen  in  the  British  Museum 
measures  74  inches,  but  it  has  been  skinned  in  such  a 
way  that  the  exact  position  of  the  vent  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained. The  following  measurements  of  a  recent  example 
were  taken  by  J.  B.  Jukes,  Esq.  "  Length  57  inches. 
From  the  snout  to  the  anus  30  inches.  From  anus  to  tip 
of  tail  28  inches.  Girth  at  the  gill-opening  13  inches. 
Girth  of  the  body  where  thickest  17  inches.  Girth  at 
the  vent  ISg^  inches. 

Hab.  Darnley  Island  (Jukes).     (Quoy  el  Gaimard). 


MUR.ENA  TENEBROSA,  Solander. 
Murmna  tenehrosa.  Banks  et  Solander,  MSS. 

The  British  Museum  possesses  a  specimen  of  this  fish 
preserved  in  spirits,  which  was  obtained  from  the  College 
of  Surgeons,  and  was  most  probably  the  individual  taken 
on  Cook's  first  voyage,  at  the  Society  Islands.  The  na- 
tive name  is  written  "  Epui,'''  or  "  Ebui." 

Nasal  teeth  pretty  tall,  rather  widely  set,  subulate,  and 
very  acute,  in  one  series  forming  a  semicircle  round  the 
end  of  the  jaw,  the  front  teeth  being  the  lowest.  Three 
tall,  subulate  and  slightly  recurved  mesial  teeth  on  the 
disk.  Followed  after  an  interval  by  nine  short,  acute  vo- 
merine teeth,  disposed  in  one  slightly  irregular  row.  Pa- 
latine teeth  17,  uniserial,  tapering,  and  very  acute ;  the 
four  anterior  ones  shortest,  the  middle  of  the  series  tallest, 
and  all  slightly  reflex.  Each  limb  of  the  mandible  is 
armed  by  sixteen  or  eighteen  teeth,  resembling  the  pala- 
tine ones,  with  three  tall  subulate  interior  ones  at  the  fore 
end,  making  there  two  rows. 

This  is  a  slender,  considerably  compressed  Mureena, 
has  plain  posterior  nostrils,  the  dorsal  commencing  well 
forward  on  the  nape  before  the  gill-openings,  and  the  anus 
situated  about  one  twenty-sixth  part  the  whole  length 
before  the  middle  of  the  fish.  The  tail  is  acute.  The 
colours  have  totally  faded.  Solander's  short  description 
which  mentions  them  is  as  follows : — 

"  Iris  castanea.  Pupilla  nigra,  annulo  luteo.  Pori 
capitis  concolores  cum  corpore.  Tola  e  sordide  purpurea 
fusca,fasciis  macitlisque  traiisversalihus,  latis,  numerosis, 
nigricantibus ;  tarn  obscurus  est  piscis  tit  prima  intuitu 
via;  inter  color  em  corporis  et  fascias  differentia  videtur. 
Denies  in  ma.villis  et  fauce  uti  in  antecedente  fM.  ato- 
mariayi.  Nullum  autem  labia  faucis  videre  licuit." — 
Solander,  1.  c. 

Length  13'5  inches.  To  anus  622.  To  gill-opening 
1-62. 

Hab.  Polynesia. 


MUR.ENA  LiTA,  Richardson. 

Nasal  marginal  teeth  fourteen,  increasing  gradually  in 
height  as  they  recede  from  the  symphysis.  A  single  me- 
sial tooth  only  is  left  on  the  disk,  which  has  perhaps 
received  injury,  and  a  second  marginal  row  may  have  ori- 
ginally existed  to  correspond  with  the  double  row  at  the 
end  of  the  mandible.  Vomerine  teeth  short  and  rather 
obtuse,  disposed  in  a  single  row  anteriorly,  but  the  two 
last  pairs  are  in  two  uneven  rows.  Palatine  teeth  eleven, 
uniserial,  compressed,  subulate,  very  acute,  and  moderately 
reflex,  diminishing  gradually  from  the  second,  which  is 
the  tallest,  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  Mandibular 
teeth  partially  biserial.  There  are  fourteen  on  each  limb, 
compressed,  subulate  and  acute,  tallest  and  more  widely 
set  near  tlie  symphysis,  and  decreasing  gradually  as  they 
approach  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  At  the  fore  end  of  the 
jaw  thei-e  is  an  exterior  row  of  six  sliort,  rather  closely  set, 
more  obtuse  cutting  teeth. 


85 


Posterior  nostrils  very  close  to  the  eye,  not  tubular. 
Dorsal  commencing  a  very  little  before  the  gill-opening. 
Anus  rather  behind  the  middle  of  the  fish. 

Colour  generally  a  dark,  dingy  brown,  but  when  closely 
examined  the  prevailing  hue  is  found  to  be  produced  by 
roundish,  liver-brown  specks,  of  the  size  of  a  pin's  head, 
crowded  so  densely  towards  the  back  as  almost  to  exclude 
the  pale  ground  tint,  but  which  separate  on  the  side.s,  so 
that  the  ground  colour  forms  reticular  lines.  On  the  belly 
the  spots  are  comparatively  widely  set,  and  much  of  the 
groimd  tint  appears.  An  obscure  reticulation  on  a  larger 
scale  can  also  be  made  out,  dividing  the  side  of  the  fish 
into  about  four  rows  of  spots  as  big  as  a  pistol  bullet,  set 
alternately.  On  the  head  and  throat  are  many  small, 
brown  spots,  occupying  less  space  than  the  pale  orange- 
tinted  ground  colour.     Fins  a  little  whitish  on  the  edges. 

Length  18'5  inches.  To  anus  9-6.  To  gill-opening  2  6 
inches.     From  anus  to  tip  of  tail  89  inches. 

Hab.  The  Moluccas.  (Spec,  in  the  British  Museum, 
received  from  Berlin,  labelled  M.  varieijatu). 


MuR^NA  siDEKEA.    Richardson. 


Radii  :— Br.  8  ;  D.  306  ;  A.  192  = 


Plate  XLVIII.,  fig.  1—5. 

Principal  series  of  nasal  teeth  about  twelve  in  number, 
compressed-subulate,  with  acute  edges,  or  narrowly  lan- 
ceolate, and  moderately  tall,  vrith  an  equal  number  of 
short,  conico-subulate,  bluntish,  angular,  or  furrowed  teeth, 
ranged  close  to  their  bases  exteriorly,  most  crowded  at 
the  symphysis,  where  they  form  two  rows,  or  three  in  all. 
On  the  mesial  line  one  stout,  conico-subulate  tooth  is 
placed  well  forward,  the  two  more  posterior  ones  usually 
seen  in  the  Murcence,  being  either  wanting  in  this  species, 
or  more  likely  broken  oft'  in  the  three  specimens  that  we 
have  examined.  The  vomerine  teeth  are  in  two  rows,  the 
rows  commencing  on  the  anterior  corner  of  the  bone  on 
each  side  of  the  nasal  disk,  and  gradually  approaching 
each  other,  so  as  to  coalesce  in  the  back  part  of  the  mouth. 
This  disposition  of  the  teeth  is  not  very  happily  represent- 
ed in  plate  48.  These  teeth  are  very  small  and  short, 
with  acutely  compressed,  but  not  pointed  tips. 

Palatine  teeth  eight,  uniserial,  close  set,  reflex,  nar- 
rowly lanceolate,  and  diminishing  in  size  as  they  ap- 
proach the  corner  of  the  mouth.  Each  limb  of  the 
mandible  is  armed  from  the  symphysis  to  the  corner  of 
the  mouth  with  a  series  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  narrowly  lan- 
ceolate, very  acute,  and  moderately  reflex  teeth  ;  and  at 
the  end  of  the  jaw  there  is  an  exterior  row  of  seven  close 
set,  short,  conical,  furrowed  teeth,  almost  concealed  by 
integument ;  there  is  also  a  small  tooth  close  to  the 
symphysis  still  more  exterior  than  this  row,  making  the 
teeth  three  deep  at  that  spot. 

The  snout  is  obtuse,  the  eye  moderately  large,  the  pos- 
terior nostrils  are  not  tubular,  and  the  gill-opening  is 
larger  than  usual,   and  placed  at  a  considerable  distance 


from  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  fold  of  skin  investing 
the  dorsal  is  very  lax,  and  comes  forward  to  the  eyes,  from 
behind  which  it  rises  in  a  high  and  abrupt  curve.  The 
dorsal  commences  a  little  way  before  the  gill-opening,  or 
about  half  an  inch  in  a  specimen  measuring  twenty-seven 
inches  ;  and  its  first  rays  are  short,  the  succeeding  ones 
increasing  rapidly  until  they  attain  the  full  height  of  the 
fin,  which  is  even  for  the  greatest  part  of  its  length.  The 
anus  in  one  specimen  is  about  a  fiftieth  part  of  the  whole 
length  beyond  the  middle,  while  in  another  it  is  a  thir- 
teenth part,  the  tail  being  comparatively  short  in  the  lat- 
ter. This  is  an  instance  of  the  danger  of  relying  solely  on 
such  measurements  for  the  establishment  of  specific  cha- 
racters in  this  genus. 

The  heart  is  situated  between  the  gill-openings  and 
four  gills  are  placed  in  a  bag  on  each  side  of  the  throat. 
Each  gill-opening  enters  its  proper  bag  at  the  pos- 
terior part,  and  there  are  five  round  holes  by  which  the 
bag  communicates  with  the  gullet,  four  of  the  holes  perfo- 
rating the  bases  of  the  four  gills,  and  the  fifth  the  mem- 
brane behind  the  last  gill.  No  part  of  the  gills  adheres 
to  the  walls  of  the  sac,  and  there  are  no  rakers  on  the  an- 
terior borders  of  the  gill-plates. 

On  opening  the  belly  the  liver  is  seen  lying  to  the  right 
of  the  stomach,  but  not  exceeding  one-third  of  the  length 
of  that  viscus,  which  is  a  long,  conical  bag,  reaching 
downwards  to  the  anus.  The  pyloric  orifice  is  a  small, 
round,  lateral  opening,  situated  midway  between  the  gul- 
let and  the  tip  of  the  stomach,  which  in  a  specimen  mea- 
suring twenty-seven  inches  is  ten  inches  and  a  quarter 
long.  The  internal  coat  of  the  stomach  is  plaited  longi- 
tudinally. The  gut  descends  from  the  pylorus  behind  the 
liver,  parallel  to  and  in  contact  with  the  stomach,  and 
near  the  anus  there  is  a  dilated  part,  which  contains  a 
complete  spiral  valve,  formed  by  transverse  septa,  each 
having  a  semilunar  notch,  which  is  alternately  turned  to 
the  right  and  left.  Two  or  three  valves  are  strengthened 
by  longitudinal  folds  of  membrane  from  the  side  of  the 
gut.  There  are  in  all  six  transverse  valves,  and  a  smooth 
piece  of  gut  intervenes  between  the  valvular  part  and  the 
anus. 

The  ground  colour  is  white  on  tlie  throat  and  belly,  with 
a  purplish  gray  or  slightly  brownish  tint  towards  the  back, 
interspersed  with  innumerable  roundish,  dark,  blackish 
purple  specks,  about  the  size  of  a  pin's  head.  The  spots 
are  more  rare  on  the  middle  line  of  the  belly  towards  the 
vent,  numerous  on  the  cheeks  and  sides,  and  densely 
crowded  and  more  or  less  confluent  on  the  back  and  fins. 
They  are  aggregated  and  blacker  in  oval  and  roundish 
patches  disposed  in  three  or  four  rows  along  the  fish. 
The  specks  are  not  represented  round  enough  in  the 
figure.  The  fins  are  slightly  edged  with  white  towards 
the  tip  of  the  tail. 

Length   ....  ....  ....     28-25         26-75  inches. 

„     from  snout  to  anus    ....     14-60         1500 

„  „     to  gill-opening       390  4-25 

Height  of  body      ....  ....        190  2-00 

Thickness  of  ditto  ....        TOO  MO 

Hab.  The  western  and  northern  shores  of  Australia  and 
the  coasts  of  New  Guinea. 


Solaiider  describes  a  Murcena  which  he  observed  among 
the  Society  Islands,  where  it  is  named  "Eaulha"  or 
"Eawr'ha,"  which  may  prove  to  be  this  fish.  I  am,  how- 
ever, prevented  from  adopting  his  specific  name  by  the 
spots  in  our  fish  haying  no  transverse  elongation  nor  any 
bar-like  arrangement.     His  description  is : — 

"  MuE;ENA  ATOMARiA.  P.  pect.  nulltB.  Tola  glauca 
irrorata  atoitiis  fuscis  fasciisque  mimerosissimis  interrup- 
iis  sen  maculis  transversalibus  dorsalibus,  lateralibus  et 
(ibdomitialibiis  seriatim  dispositis.  Macul<B  pinnis  ex- 
tendunttir.  Nares  tubulosce.  Puncta  in  capite  aliquot 
alba,  porosa  :  2  inter  ociilos,  2  supra  nares,  pauca  nirinque 
prope  latera  maxillae  superioris  ;  circiter  6  ulrinque  se- 
cunda  maxillam  inferiorem.  Denies  lanceolati  fin  max- 
illisj  parum  rejlexi,  compressi  acutissimi,  Jixi ;  ires  vel 
quatuor  in  exieriori  parte  palati,  rejlexibiles ;  nulli  in 
fauce,  sed  ad  interiores  fauces  quasi  lahra  dua  antrorsum 
atienuata,  supra  et  inferne  ambo  dentibus  obsiia.  Iris 
ex  argenieo  plumbea.  Pupilla  nigra  antiulo  atireo.''' — 
Solander,  MSS.,  p.  28. 

The  same  naturalist  mentions  another  Murxna,  taken 
in  the  same  neighbourhood,  named  "  Epui,"  which  he 
thinks  may  be  a  variety  of  atoniaria. 

"  MuR^NA  ERYTHROPTERA,  ociiU  parvi  plumbeo-fusci. 
Pupilla  nigra.  Annulus  htius  intense  miniatus.  Iris 
griseo-ccerulescens.  Macula  nigra  circa  orbitas,  postice 
latior.  Totus  piscisfuscus  immaculatus.  Pori  laterales 
capiiis  prope  maxillam  plures ;  tres  ulrinque  albi  et 
puncii  2  porosi  albi  inter  oculos.  Pinna  sordide  rnbes- 
cenies.  Forte  var.  M.  atomariae  p.  28,  nullce  autem  ato- 
?»<^p."— Solander,  MSS.,  p.  102. 


MuE^NA  isiNGLEEXA.     Richardson. 

Muieetia  isingleena,   Richardson,  Iclith.  of  Voy.  of  Sulphur,   p.  108, 
pi.  xlviii.  fig.  1.     Idem,  Report  on  the  Fishes  of  China  to  the  Br.  Assoc. 
Icon  .—Reeves,  237,  Hardw.  ined.  305,  in  Mus.  Brit. 

About  ten  uniserial,  marginal  nasal  teeth,  subulate  and 
acute,  with  no  small  ones  intervening.  Three  tall  ones  on 
the  mesial  line  of  the  disk,  and  one  row  of  very  short, 
acute  vomerine  teeth.  Eleven  or  twelve  reflex  palatine 
teeth,  the  three  heading  the  series  smaller,  and  within 
tliem  two  taller,  slender  teeth,  forming  the  second  row. 
The  mandible  has  ten  or  eleven  lateral  teeth,  with  four 
larger  ones  more  widely  set  at  the  fore  end  of  the  limb. 

The  specimen  after  maceration  in  spirits  has  a  dilute 
brown  ground  colour,  paler  on  the  belly,  and  is  marked 
with  blackish  spots,  varying  in  size  from  that  of  a  pea  to  a 
small  bean,  mostly  round,  but  in  many  places,  from  aggre- 
gation of  several  spots,  of  an  irregular  form.  The  head  is 
covered  with  spots  of  the  size  of  a  pea,  in  which  it  diff'ers 
from  bill  lata,  which  has  only  a  few  small  dots  on  the 
head.  The  furrows  on  the  throat  are  not  black,  and  the 
spots  are  scattered  over  the  belly,  in  which  respect  also  it 
differs  from  bullata.     No  white  edges  to  the  fins. 

Eye  rather  small.  Posterior  nostril  not  tubular.  Gape 
of  the  mouth  moderate.  Dorsal  commencing  before  the 
gill-opening,  and  the  fold   of  the   skin  which  encloses  it 


extending  along  the  nape.  Anns  very  little  before  the 
middle  of  the  fish. 

Length  of  the  specimen  in  spirits  16'4  inches.  To  anus 
8  inches.  To  gill-opening  2  inches.  Length  of  a  dried 
skin  47  inches. 

Had.  Sea  of  China,  near  Canton. 


MuR^NA  bullata.     Richardson. 

Marginal  nasal  teeth  about  eight  tall,  subulate  ones, 
with  several  small  ones  between  each  pair ;  three  teeth  as 
usual  on  the  mesial  line,  and  a  series  of  acute  vomerine 
teeth,  mostly  concealed  by  the  swelling  of  the  soft  parts. 
Palatine  teeth  sixteen  compressed-subulate,  very  acute, 
reflex,  the  four  anterior  ones  smaller,  and  within  them,  in 
a  second  series,  three  tall,  setaceous  teeth.  Sixteen  late- 
ral teeth  on  each  limb  of  the  mandible,  resembling  the  pa- 
latine ones,  and  three  tall,  subulate  ones  next  the  sym- 
physis, in  the  same  row. 

Eye  moderately  large.  Posterior  nostrils  not  tubular. 
Dorsal  commencing  before  the  gill-opening.  Anus  about 
one-fourteenth  of  the  whole  length  before  the  middle  of 
the  fish. 

General  colour  of  the  fish  after  maceration  in  spirits, 
lavender  purple,  varied  by  about  four  rows  of  round,  black 
.spots,  as  big  as  swan  shot,  one  of  the  rows  being  on  the 
dorsal :  the  lowest  row  is  of  smaller  spots  than  the  others, 
and  none  of  them  are  perfectly  regular  in  their  distribu- 
tion. Some  of  the  spots  are  conjugate,  and  at  the  tip  of 
the  tail  they  form  bars.  The  inside  of  the  mouth  is  pur- 
ple. The  furrows  of  the  throat  and  cheeks  are  black. 
Edges  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  pale.     Belly  not  spotted. 

This  fish  is  spotted  much  like  M.  isingleena,  and  it  may 
be  merely  the  young  of  that  species,  or  a  local  variety',  the 
dentition  being  similar,  but  as  there  is  a  diff'erence  in  the 
general  tint,  and  the  spots  are  fewer,  more  simple  and  re- 
gular, the  gape  of  the  mouth  larger,  and  the  anus  a  little 
farther  forward,  I  have  given  it  a  specific  name.  Length 
12"4  inches.  To  anus  535.  To  gill-opening  r46  inches. 
Hab.  Sea  of  Borneo  (Sir  Edward  Belcher). 


MuR^NA  STELLiFER.     Richardson. 

Nasal  teeth  ten  in  one  series,  subulate,  very  acute, 
slightly  compressed  at  the  tips,  and  pretty  tall.  Three 
slender  mesial  teeth,  the  second  and  third  very  tall.  One 
row  of  very  short,  moderately  acute  vomerine  teeth.  Pala- 
tine teeth  biserial,  twelve  in  the  outer  row,  gradually  aug- 
menting in  size  towards  the  comer  of  the  mouth,  acute, 
lanceolate :  inner  row  four  or  five  slender,  tall  teeth. 
Mandible  furnished  on  each  limb  with  a  series  of  about 
twenty  or  twenty-one  lanceolate  and  very  acute  teeth,  all 
reflex,  the  anterior  ones  smaller,  but  as  closely  set  as  the 
lateral  ones. 

Anus  about  one-twenty-fourth  part  of  the  length  ante- 
terior  to  the  middle  of  the  fish.  Fins  conspicuous.  Dor- 
sal commencing  before  the  gill-opening.  Tail  compressed, 
tapering,  rather  acute. 


87 


Colour  of  the  specimen  in  spirits  liver-brown,  with  four 
rows  of  rather  widely-placed,  pale  bluish  or  whitish,  round 
dots,  a  little  radiated  on  their  margins.  The  upper  row  is 
at  the  base  of  the  dorsal,  and  is  not  very  conspicuous  un- 
less when  the  fin  is  raised,  the  under  one  on  the  belly 
is  regular,  and  the  spots  on  the  sides  are  very  uniform  in 
their  sizes  and  distances.  The  dorsal  and  anal  ai-e  very 
narrowly  fringed  with  white  or  pale  blue.  Length  7'1 
inches.     To  anus  33  inches. 

This  species  differs  from  hullata  in  the  spots  being 
smaller,  more  regular  aud  pale  on  a  dark  ground.  Their 
serial  arrangement  and  lesser  number  distinguish  it  from 
punctata.  M.  tigriita  of  Ruppell  has  ocellated  dark  spots 
on  a  pale  ground. 

Hab.  Madagascar. 


MuR.ENA  CANCELLATA.     Richardsou. 

Radii:— Br.  10;  D.  345  ;  A.  236  =  581.  Australian  Spec. 

Plate  XLVI.,  figs.  1—5. 

Schneider's  description  of  Gymnothora^c  favagineus 
might  be  applied  to  this  Mui<ena,  but  his  figure  accords 
so  ill  with  it  in  form,  that  I  have  not  ventured  to  consider 
them  to  be  the  same  species.  McClelland's  Therodontis  re- 
ticulata agrees,  however,  with  favaffineus,  both  in  general 
shape  and  in  the  character  of  the  meshes,  but  it  possesses 
two  rows  of  vomerine  teeth,  whereas  favagineus  is  ranged 
by  Cuvier  with  the  J\Iur<en(B,  having  only  one  row, — but  for 
this  circumstance  1  should  have  been  inclined,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  authentic  specimens,  to  have  considered  them  as 
of  the  same  species. 

The  specimen  of  cancellata  which  we  have  figured  was 
procured  on  the  coast  of  western  Australia,  by  Surgeon 
Bynoe,  of  the  Royal  Navy.  The  British  Museum  posses- 
ses another  from  Cape  Upstart,  and  also  one  from  Suma- 
tra. 

Nasal  marginal  teeth  ten,  pretty  tall,  compressed,  subu- 
late and  acute,  with  two  minute  ones  between  each  pair. 
Three  tall  subulate  and  not  compressed  teeth  stand  on  the 
mesial  line  overtopping  the  marginal  ones.  All  the  larger 
nasal  teeth  are  attached  to  the  orifices  of  deep  holes  in  the 
bone.  Six  short-conical  acute  teeth  form  a  single  short 
series  on  tiie  vomer.  Palatine  teeth  about  seventeen, 
close  set,  and  much  reflexed  forming  an  outer  series.  They 
are  narrowly  lanceolate  and  compressed,  with  entire,  acute 
edges.  Two  larger  ones  stand  close  within  the  commence- 
ment of  the  series,  making  a  very  short  interior  row.  The 
mandible  is  armed  by  about  twenty  or  twenty-one  lateral 
teeth,  similar  to  the  palatine  ones,  and  also  by  two  or  three 
on  each  limb  near  the  symphysis,  stouter  and  taller  than 
the  opposing  marginal  nasal  teeth  ;  and  between  each  pair 
there  are  one  or  two  minute,  acute  teeth,  a  little  exterior 
to  the  centres  of  the  large  ones,  as  in  the  upper  jaw. 

This  Murtena  is  more  compressed  throughout  than 
many  others,  and  the  compression  increases  as  usual  to- 
wards the  tail.     Tlie  dorsal  is  not  enveloped  in  so  thick  a 


fold  of  skin  as  in  most,  and  is  therefore  more  conspicuous. 
The  posterior  rays  are  longer  than  the  height  of  the  part 
of  the  body  on  which  they  stand,  but  owing  to  their  ob- 
lique position  the  fin  is  not  so  broad.  The  dorsal  at  its 
origin  before  the  gill-opening,  above  the  fourth  vertebra, 
rises  in  a  low  curve.  The  snout  is  obtuse,  but  being  de- 
pressed below  the  swelling  nape  seems  slender.  Poste- 
rior nostrils  not  tubular.  Eye  moderately  large.  Lower 
jaw  scarcely  perceptibly  longer  than  the  upper  one.  Ten 
long,  slender,  or  thread-like  branchiostegous  rays  curve 
round  the  wafer-like  operculum. 

Body,  tail  and  fins  reticulated  by  white  meshes,  enclos- 
ing brown  di.sks,  which  are  mostly  hexagonal,  and  number 
anteriorly  five  or  six  in  the  height  of  the  body  and  fin, 
becoming  gradually  fewer  as  the  fish  tapers  off  in  the  tail. 
The  Sumatran  specimen  in  the  British  Museum,  which 
was  received  from  the  College  of  Surgeons,  has  more  regu- 
lar and  continuous  meshes  than  are  shown  in  our  figure. 
The  lines  are  wider  at  the  angles  of  the  meshes,  and  the 
brown  colour  of  the  areas  is  produced  by  microscopical, 
wavy  bars  on  a  paler  ground.  The  belly  is  whitish,  with 
a  slight  clouding. 

The  skull  of  this  fish  has  a  very  slight,  acute  mesial 
crest,  extending  from  the  hinder  point  of  the  nasal  bone 
to  the  occipital  spine,  and  nowhere  rising  above  its  gene- 
ral level.  The  margin  of  the  orbit  is  completed  behind 
by  rather  stout,  tubular,  suborbital  bones,  but  under  the 
orbit  and  before  it  these  bones  remain  membranous.  The 
turbinate  bones,  as  in  the  other  Murcence,  are  long,  narrow 
and  thin,  flanking  the  nasal  ridge.  The  nasal  disk  is  per- 
forated by  numerous  holes,  on  which  the  teeth  stand,  and 
seems  as  if  it  had  a  double  floor. 

There  are  fifty  vertebrae  anterior  to  the  beginning  of  the 
anal,  and  about  seventy-seven  posterior  to  it,  or  about  127 
in  all.  Twelve  next  the  cranium  have,  in  addition  to  the 
transverse  parapophysis,  a  thin  spine  descending  from  the 
under  mesial  line  of  the  centrum.  This  spine  or  crest  is 
highest  at  the  third  or  fourth  vertebra,  and  diminishes 
gradually  to  the  twelfth.  Posterior  to  that  the  under  an- 
gles of  the  parapophysis  gradually  approach  each  other 
beneath,  forming  a  deep  htemal  canal,  aud  at  the  termina- 
tion of  the  abdominal  cavity  a  central,  under-process  is 
formed  as  it  were  by  the  union  of  the  under  angles  of  the 
parapophyses,  while  the  upper  angles  retain  their  horizon- 
tal direction,  and  gradually  diminish  in  size  as  they  ap- 
proach the  end  of  the  tail.  A  long  series  of  ribs  reaching 
from  the  cranium  nearly  to  the  tip  of  the  tail,  is  attached 
to  the  centra  of  the  vertebra;  above  the  parapophysis, 
through  the  medium  of  membrane ;  and  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  anal  to  the  end  of  the  tail  a  similar  series  is 
attached  to  the  centra  between  the  lateral  and  inferior 
parts  of  the  parapophyses.  These  ribs  are  stoutest  about 
the  middle  of  the  tail,  and  have  each  a  forked  end  next 
the  centrum,  the  short  limb  of  the  fork  forming  a  knob  or 
head.  The  interneural  ]3rocesses  correspond  in  number 
with  the  dorsal  rays,  and  the  rays  of  both  fins,  though  fis- 
sile at  their  tips,  are  not  jointed. 

Stomach  a  long,  wide,  ca;cal  tube  (measuring  in  the 
specimen  here  described  50  inches  from  the  gullet  to  the 
point  of  the  sac),  plaited  longitudinally  within,  in  about  ten 


88 


fine  folds.  Pyloric  orifice  lateral,  near  the  oesophagus, 
opening  directly  into  a  much  more  slender  intestine, 
which  lies  parallel  to  the  stomach.  The  intestine  is  reti- 
culated interiorly,  the  wrinkles  becoming  gradually  more 
delicate,  and  disappearing  in  the  lower  part  of  the  ca- 
nal. At  the  junction  of  the  small  intestine  with  the  wider 
rectum  its  inner  coat  projects  so  as  to  form  a  circular 
valve,  but  the  gut  was  not  in  a  condition  to  enable  me  to 
ascertain  whether  a  complete  spiral  valve  existed  or  not. 
Air-bladder  of  a  long-oval  form,  an  inch  in  length. 

Length  1 7'5  inches.  To  anus  8  inches.  To  gill-opening 
•2'45  inches. 

Obs. — McClelland  characterises  his  Tlimrodontis  reticu- 
lata (which  we  have  supposed  may  prove  to  be  identical 
with  the  Gymiwthorax  furagiiieus  of  Bloch),  as  follows : 
"  Teeth  sharp  and  hooked,  consisting  of  a  single  row  on 
the  edges  of  both  jaws,  and  a  double  row  on  the  centre 
of  the  back  part  of  the  palate,  with  three  moveable  fangs 
near  the  apex  of  the  upper  jaw.  Crown  high  and  rounded, 
every  part  of  the  body  marked  with  black,  pentangular 
spots,  separated  by  narrow  white  lines."  (Calcutta  Journ. 
of  Nat.  Hist.  July,  1844). 


MuR^NA  TESSELLATA.     Richardson. 


Murtsna  tessellata,  Richardson,  Icbth.  of  Vov.  of  .Sulpliuv,  p.  109. 
Plate  Iv.  fig.  5—8. 


Nasal  teeth  twelve,  uniserial,  subulate,  very  acute,  not 
tall.  Three  teeth  on  the  mesial  line  of  the  disk,  the  pos- 
terior one  being  the  tallest  in  the  mouth,  stoutish  at  the 
base  and  very  acute.  Vomerine  teeth  uniserial,  short, 
acute.  Palatine  teeth  ten  in  the  outer  series,  more  com- 
pressed than  the  nasal  ones,  very  acute  and  reflex,  form- 
ing a  slightly  arched  row ;  inner  row  of  two  taller  ones  at 
the  fore  end  of  the  bone.  Each  limb  of  the  mandible  is 
armed  anteriorly  by  three  tall  teeth,  like  the  nasal  ones, 
the  second  being  the  stoutest  and  tallest,  and  in  the  same 
line,  by  fourteen  lateral  teeth,  which  are  subulate  and  re- 
flex, the  foremost  being  smaller  than  the  rest.  The  man- 
dible is  slightly  concave  or  recurved. 

This  Murcena  has  a  different  form  from  canceUata,  a  more 
obtuse  snout,  a  full  and  not  concave  profile,  a  shorter 
gape,  smaller  eye,  lower  dorsal  fin,  and  different  colour, 
with  fewer  and  larger  meshes  formed  by  the  white  lines. 
The  me-shes  are  much  less  numerous  than  those  of  y^jw/^r/- 
nea.  The  dorsal  commences  before  the  gill-opening,  and 
the  vent  is  about  one-fiftieth  of  the  whole  length  before  the 
middle  of  the  fish.    The  posterior  openings  are  not  tubular. 

One  specimen  exists  in  the  Museum  of  Haslar  Hospital 
and  another  was  presented  to  the  British  Museum  by  the 
College  of  Surgeons.  They  are  supposed  to  have  come 
from  the  southern  seas,  but  the  place  of  capture  of  either 
is  unknown. 


Length,  total 
„         to  anus 
„         to  gill-opening 


904 
4-20 
1-00 


l;3-5 
6-5 

0-82 


MuR^NA  COLUBRINA.     Commerson  apud  Lacep. 

Murana  fasciata,  Backs  et  Solander,  MSS.  p.  68  ? 
La  Murenopliis  colubrine,  Lacep.  v.  p.  641.  642. 

Plate  XIX.,  fig.  I. 

A  Murxna  taken  among  the  Society  Islands  on  Cook's 
first  voyage  is  briefly  noticed  in  Solander's  notes,  as  fol- 
lows :  MuR/ENA  FASCiATA,  lota  fasciata,  fasciis  latis  ex 
albido  cinerascentihtts,fascite  dum  in  capile  lute^centibus. 
Iris  argenteo-fuscescens.  Pupilla  nigra.  Fascics  per 
pinnas  extend untiir.'"  Native  names  "  Epui-earhu."  Ex- 
cept in  the  existence  of  the  bands  there  is  little  in  this  no- 
tice to  identify  it  with  a  banded  Mnrtena  which  the  Bri- 
tish Museum  received  from  the  College  of  Surgeons. 
The  origin  of  the  specimen  is  not  recorded,  but  it  was  as- 
sociated in  the  collection  with  some  fish  collected  on 
Cook's  voyage.  Lacepede's  figure  of  M.  colubriiia  repre- 
sents our  fish  pretty  well,  and  shows  the  fins  fringing  the 
point  of  the  tail,  yet  in  the  '  Regne  Animal '  it  is  quoted 
as  specifically  the  same  with  the  Murwna  annnlata  of 
Thunberg,  which  is  an  Ophisurus  with  double  the  number 
of  black  rings  on  the  body. 

Nasal  teeth  twelve,  slenderly  subulate  and  very  acute, 
in  one  series.  Three  taller  ones  on  the  mesial  line  of  the 
disk,  and  nine  very  low,  small,  bluntish  teeth  in  a  single 
row  on  the  vomer.  Palatine  teeth  biserial,  outer  row  of 
twelve  or  thirteen  teeth,  which  are  narrowly  lanceolate, 
very  acute,  low,  and  much  reflexed :  the  inner  row  con- 
sists of  four  tall,  slender  teeth,  standing  opposite  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  outer  row.  Each  limb  of  the  mandible 
is  armed  by  twenty-four  acute,  compressed  teeth  ;  three  of 
which  near  the  symphysis  are  set  alternately  with  two  mi- 
nute ones  :  the  following  teeth  are  similar  in  height,  regu- 
larity and  inclination  to  the  outer  palatine  ones. 

Jaws  equal.  Posterior  nasal  opening  with  tumid  lips, 
placed  very  near  the  superior  anterior  margin  of  the  orbit. 
The  anterior  ones  end  in  rather  long  tubes.  Body  consi- 
derably compressed,  particularly  posteriorly,  the  tail  taper- 
ing, and  ending  very  acutely.  Anus  about  one-fourteenth 
of  the  whole  length  before  the  middle  of  the  fish.  The 
dorsal  fin  is  very  conspicuous,  and  the  fold  of  skin  in 
which  it  lies  is  thinner  than  usual  in  the  Murance,  so  that 
the  rays  can  be  readily  seen  when  it  is  held  up  to  the 
light.  They  are  not,  however,  easily  reckoned,  owing  to 
their  tenuity,  and  they  are  shorter  at  the  tip  of  the  tail 
than  on  the  back.  The  reticulations  of  the  skin  produced 
by  the  muscular  fasciculi  ai-e  very  fine,  and  the  lateral  line 
is  imperceptible,  though  there  is  a  furrow  where  the 
muscles  of  the  side  meet. 

The  ground  colour  of  the  specimen,  which  has  been 
long  macerated  in  spirits,  is  brownish,  that  of  the  fins 
being  pale  yellow  or  soiled  white  :  both  are  crossed  by 
fifteen  very  regular  and  neatly-defined  black  bars,  not  so 
wide  as  the  interspaces.  The  first  bar  includes  the  eye, 
the  second  is  immediately  behind  the  mouth,  the  third 
passes  over  the  gill-opening,  the  seventh  is  just  before  the 
anus,  and  the  last  is  on  the  end  of  the  tail,  leaving  only 
the  white  tip  of  the  fin  beyond. 


89 


The  bars  contrast  more  strongly  with  the  pale  fins  than 
with  the  browner  body.  Length  8-4  inches.  To  anus  3-6. 
To  gill-opening  1  inch. 

Hab.  New  Britain,  Aniboyna  (Coinmerson  apud  Lace- 
pede).    Polynesia?   (Solander). 

Solander  also  describes  a  M.  rillala,  but  this  derives  its 
name  from  a  longitudinal  stripe. 

"  MuR/ENA  viTTATA.  Piscis  siiprd  intense  e/mco  brun- 
neiis,  vitta  secundum  medium  dorsum  e  Jlavo  albida,  a 
capite  usque  ad  Jinem  caiidce,  subtus  infra  lined  laterali 
tolus  sordide  e  luteo  albescens.  Oculi  miuuii.  Irisjla- 
veo-aurea.  Pupil/a  nigra.'"  " Eualha''''  aboriginorum. 
(Banks  et  Solander,  MSS.  p.  78.) 

Hab.  Society  Islands. 


MUR.ENA    MORINGUA,    Cuv. 

Mureena  maculata,  nigra  et  viridis,  Catesliy,  t.  20. 
Murtena  morinyua,  Cuv.  Keg.  An.  2.  p. 

Radii  :— D.  .323  ;  A.  232  =  .5.55  (Jamaica  spec). 

Nasal  teeth  twelve,  tall,  stoutly  subulate,  compressed, 
with  sharp  edges,  and  generally  two  minute  teeth  between 
each  pair,  all  in  one  row.  Three  mesial  teeth,  and  nine 
very  acute,  shortly  subulate  vomerine  teeth  in  one  row. 
Palatine  teeth  eighteen  or  nineteen,  much  compressed, 
acute  and  reflex,  the  anterior  three  small,  and  succeeded 
immediately  by  the  tallest  in  the  row,  the  following  ones 
decreasing  as  usual  towards  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  In 
one  specimen  there  is  a  tall,  slender  tooth  within  the  com- 
mencement of  the  outer  row,  but  this  is  absent  in  five  or 
six  other  specimens,  having  probably  been  broken  away. 
The  mandible  is  armed  anteriorly  by  three  tall,  stout,  su- 
bulate teeth  on  each  limb,  with  two  or  three  minute  ones 
between  them,  and  laterally  by  about  nineteen  compressed, 
acute  teeth,  forming  an  even,  low  series. 

Dorsal  commencing  between  the  nape  and  gill-opening. 
Anus  about  a  twenty-fourth  part  of  the  total  length  before 
the  middle  of  the  fish.     Gape  of  the  mouth  large. 

Ground  colour  pale,  with  dark,  liver-brown  spots  of  va- 
rious sizes,  from  that  of  a  pea  downwards,  and  more  or 
less  confluent,  but  generally  retaining  a  roundish  form. 
The  spots  are  smaller,  rounder,  and  more  distinct  on  the 
head  and  more  confluent  near  the  end  of  tail,  the  pale 
ground  colour  occupying,  however,  everywhere  except  on 
the  cheeks  less  space  than  the  spots.  The  tint  of  the 
spots  is  less  deep  on  the  bellj'. 

Length  23-5  inches.  To  anus  10-75  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  3'4  inches.  The  species  attains  the  length  of 
upwards  of  three  feet. 

Cuvier  refers  to  the  Murcena  maculata,  nigra  of  Catesby, 
t.  21,  as  the  type  of  his  moringua,  but  t.  20  agrees  best 
with  most  of  the  specimens  we  have  examined.  There  is, 
however,  no  very  marked  difference  between  the  figures, 
both  being  coarsely  drawn.  The  British  Museum  possesses 
a  dried  skin  in  which  the  pale  inters]iaces  are  narrower, 
and  reduced  nearly  to  the  winding  reticulations  of  M.  thyr- 
soidea. 


Hab.  The  Bermudas,  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  Caribbean 


MuR/ENA  LiNEO-riNNis.     Ilichard.son. 
Radii  -.—circiter  D.  320;  A.  100;  =  480. 

Since  the  preceding  sheet  went  to  press,  the  British 
Museum  has  purchased  from  Herr  Brant,  of  Hamburgh,  a 
South  American  Murtena,  labelled  Munenophis  snya,  but 
which  is  evidently  widely  different  from  the  Nettastoma 
saga  of  Rafinesque  and  Risso  (vide  p.  96). 

About  ten  pretty  tall,  compressed-subulate,  very  acute, 
nniserial  nasal  teeth,  and  an  equal  number  of  small  teeth 
in  the  intervals.  Three  taller  mesial  teeth,  and  seven  or 
eight  small  acute  vomerine  ones,  set  alternately  a  little  to 
the  right  and  left,  so  as  to  approach  abiserial  arrangement. 
Fourteen  narrowly  lanceolate  palatine  teeth,  the  three  an- 
terior ones  being  small,  the  middle  ones  larger,  and  the 
posterior  ones  decreasing  gradually  as  they  approach  the 
corner  of  the  mouth.  A  single  very  slender,  and  not  tall, 
moveable  interior  tooth,  at  the  fore  part  of  the  bone,  renders 
the  arrangement  biserial.  The  fore  part  of  the  mandible  is 
armed,  on  each  limb,  by  four  or  five  tall  stout  teeth,  with 
a  small  and  rather  more  exterior  one  in  each  interval. 
These  are  followed  on  the  sides  of  the  bone  by  six  small, 
close  set,  acute  compressed  teeth,  and  in  succession  by 
ten  larger  reflex,  narrowly  lanceolate  ones,  which  are  sensi- 
bly larger  the  nearer  they  are  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth. 

This  MurcBua  is  considerably  compressed,  with  a  swell- 
ing throat,  a  pretty  large  gape,  and  the  dorsal  commencing 
by  an  abrupt  curve  about  midway  between  the  eye  and  the 
gill-opening.  The  fin  is  high,  and  the  investing  told  of 
skin  being  rather  thin  its  rays  are  more  than  usually  visi- 
ble. The  anus  is  one-eleventh  of  the  whole  length  of  the 
fish  anterior  to  the  middle.  Colour,  after  maceration  in 
spirits,  purplish-  or  brownish-black,  without  spots,  the 
ventral  surface  being  paler.  The  dorsal  is  traversed  by 
fine  oblique  lines  of  a  darker  hue,  for  the  most  part 
seven  or  eight  in  the  height  at  any  one  point.  The  anal, 
which  is  l(jw,  has  fewer  lines,  and  the  two  fins  are  narrow- 
est at  their  union  round  the  tip  of  the  tail.  The  folds  of 
throat  are  marked  out  by  fine  black  lines. 

Length  22  inches.  To  anus  105  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  2  inches.  Height  of  body  r25  inch.  Circum- 
ference 3  inches.     Height  of  dorsal  fin  075  inch. 

Hab.  Puerto  Caballo. 


MuR.«i\A  GRISEO-BADIA.     Richardsou. 

One  row  of  close  set,  conico-subulate,  nasal  teeth,  four- 
teen or  sixteen  in  number,  the  four  posterior  ones  on  each 
side  bent  backwards  at  their  middles.  Two  tall,  slightly 
recurved,  moderately  acute  teeth  on  the  mesial  line ;  and 
about  eleven  small,  round  and  obtuse  vomerine  teeth  in 
one  row,  but  two  of  them  standing  a  little  out  of  line. 
Palatine  teeth  biserial :  the  outer  row  composed  of  four- 
teen close  set,  low,  even,  bluntish  teeth  ;  the  inner  one  of 

Q 


90 


eleven  taller,  more  distant,  slenderly  subulate,  but  not  very 
acute  teeth.  Fore  half  of  the  mandible  armed  by  two 
rows  of  teeth  ;  the  outer  row  consisting  of  ten  or  eleven 
close  set  low  teeth,  having  compressed  but  not  pointed 
tips ;  the  inner  row  of  five  or  six  taller  ones,  of  which  the 
two  or  three  posterior  ones  are  bent  back  and  are  more 
acute.  The  posterior  half  of  the  jaw  is  set  with  low  blunt- 
ish  teeth,  alternating  with  others  a  little  taller,  somewhat 
recurved,  and  standing  a  little  within  ;  but  the  two  sets 
are  so  close  that  until  very  narrowly  examined  they  appear 
to  form  one  uneven  row. 

A  slender  species.  Posterior  nostrils  not  tubular.  Un- 
der jaw  shorter  than  the  upper  one.  Anus  exactly  in  the 
middle  of  the  length.  Colour  liver-brown,  finely  reticu- 
lated by  grayish-white  lines,  forming  small  meshes,  which 
are  roundish  near  the  head  and  squarish  elsewhere,  but 
they  are  not  very  visible  unless  when  examined  with  the 
aid  of  a  lens,  the  general  tint  appearing  to  the  naked  eye 
grayish-brown. 

Length  C"2  inches.  Distance  between  the  end  of  the 
snout  and  the  anus  31  inches.  Distance  from  ditto  to 
gill-opening  0"7;3  inch. 

Hab.     Tonga  Islands  (Dr.  Mc  William). 

The  only  spotless  Miirteua,  mentioned  in  Solander's 
notes  of  the  fish  observed  by  him  in  the  South  Sea,  is  the 
M.  erythroptera  quoted  below. 


MuR/ENA  PAVONINA.     Richardsou. 
Miirana  pnvonina,  Ricliaidson,  Voy.  of  Sulphur,  p.  1 10,  pi.  53,  f.  1-6. 

Ten  or  twelve  moderately  tall,  slightly  recurved,  acute, 
uniserial,  nasal  teeth,  with  a  minute  tooth  in  each  intei'val. 
Three  teeth  on  the  mesial  line,  the  posterior  two  being,  as 
usual,  the  tallest  in  the  mouth.  The  vomerine  series,  com- 
mencing at  a  considerable  distance  behind  these,  is  com- 
posed of  five  or  six  acute  teeth.  Palatine  teeth  biserial; 
sixteen  or  seventeen  in  the  outer  row,  compressed,  subu- 
late and  acute ;  with  six  tall,  slender  and  acute  ones,  more 
widely  set  in  the  interior  row,  which  reaches  about  half- 
way along  the  outer  series.  Each  limb  of  the  mandible  is 
armed  by  about  nineteen  subulate,  slightly  recurved  teeth, 
forming  the  exterior  row,  with  a  second  row  at  the  fore 
end  of  the  limb,  composed  of  four  tall,  slender,  acute 
teeth. 

Body  high  and  much  compressed,  with  a  broad  dorsal, 
which  commences  at  a  considerable  distance  before  the 
gill-opening,  and  becomes  comparatively  very  narrow  as  it 
rounds  the  end  of  the  tail  to  join  the  anal.  The  gill- 
opening  is  one-seventh  of  the  whole  length  distant  from 
the  end  of  the  snout,  and  the  vent  is  one-twentieth  of  the 
length  before  the  middle  of  the  fish.  The  posterior  open- 
ings are  tubular,  forming  long  barbels  ;  the  anterior  ones 
are  more  shortly  so,  and  two  ])ores  at  the  ends  of  both 
jaws  are  also  prolonged  into  short  tubes. 

Colour  pitch-black,  varied  by  regular  oval  spots,  shaded 
with  brown.     The  spots  are  smaller  on  the  head  and  fins. 

Length  9-6  inches.  To  anus  4-4.  To  gill-opening  P4 
inch. 


Hab.  Southern  Seas. 

This  species  would  be  readily  distinguished  from  the 
Calamnia  pauin  of  Russell,  or  punctata  of  Schneider,  by 
the  form  of  the  spots,  were  they  uniformly  as  large  and 
regularly  oval,  as  in  the  example  figured  in  the  '  Ichthy- 
ology of  the  Voyage  of  the  Sulphur.'  But  the  British 
Museum  possesses  a  dried  skin  of  a  murrey  measuring  27^ 
inches,  which  has  small  round  spots,  like  Russell's  fish 
and  the  high  barbels  at  the  eyes  of  pavouina.  Its  general 
appearance  corresponds  with  that  of  the  latter,  but  there 
is  only  one  row  of  palatine  teeth,  though  the  mouth  being 
injured  makes  it  probable  that  the  interior  row  may  have 
been  broken  away. 


[UR^NA  GUTTATA.     Solander. 


Murcena  yuttata.  Banks  et  Solander,  MSS.      Icon.  pict.  Parkinson, 
1.  Bib.  Banks.     Low,  Fishes  of  Madeira,  Tr.  Zool.  Soc.  ii.  p.  192. 


Solander,  on  Cook's  first  voyage,  observed  this  fish  at 
Madeira  and  Rio  Janeiro,  and  drew  up  the  description 
which  is  transcribed  below,  and  Parkinson  made  a  drawing, 
which  is  preserved  in  the  Banksian  Library.  The  species 
does  not  appear,  however,  to  have  been  admitted  into  our 
systematic  works  until  the  Rev.  Mr.  Low  published  it  in 
the  Zoological  Transactions,  under  a  specific  appellation, 
which,  though  borrowed  from  Risso,  is  happily  the  same 
with  that  originally  given  by  Solander.  Risso's  guttata  is, 
according  to  the  Prince  of  Canino,  a  variety  of  helena, 
from  which  Solander's  fish  differs  in  its  biserial  palatine 
teeth.  The  Muraua  guttata  of  Forskal  and  Schneider 
has  pectorals,  and  is  the  Haliophis  guttatus  of  Riippell. 

"  M.  GVTTATA,  pinnis  pectoralibus  nullis,  pinna  dorsali 
prope  caput  incipietite,  corpore  spadiceo  punctis  albis  gut- 
tata. '  Morea'  Lusitanis  Maderensibus.  Habitat  ad  in- 
sulam  Maderam  Oceano  Allantico,  etiam  in  Portu  Fluvii 
Sancti  Januarii  in  Brasilia.'''' — "  Corpus  longum,  parutn 
coinpressum,  nudum  pone  caput  tumidiusculum.  Caput 
parvuut,  conicum,  antice  compressum.  Dentes  in  maxillis 
et  palato  omnes  discreti  conico-subulati,  acutissiini,  majus- 
culi,  inaqnales  :  ma.vilhe  inferioris  unico  ordine  dispositi, 
Jixi :  maxiUcc  superioris  dupUci  serie  coUocati,  e.iteriores 
Jixi,  interiores  jlexiles.  Palati  pauci  majores,  Jie.viles. 
Oculi  inajusculi  cute  capitis  communi  tecti.  Pupilla  ni- 
gra. Iris  griseo-argentea.  Annulus  marginalis,  glaucus. 
Nares  ex  uno  utrinque  foramine  parvo,  rostro  propriore, 
tubuloso.  Tentdcu/a  quatuor  laiiceolata,  compressa,  bre- 
via,  duo  in  apice  rostri,  duo  supra  ungulos  anticos  oculo- 
rum.  Pori  seu  foramina  parva  d  utrinque  in  mandibula 
superiore.  Primus  sub  angulo  postico  oculi;  secundus 
sub  angulo  antico  ;  teriius  sub  nare  ;  quart  us  sub  basi  ten- 
taculi ;  ufi  sextus  prope  apicem  rustri.  Pori  sex  in  max- 
illa iuferiore,  fere  in  eodem  ordine  dispositi  et  prater  hos 
porulis  plurimi  ad  ipsam  marginem  viaxill(B" 

"  Spiraculum  unicuui  utrinque  in  medio  latere,  mox 
pone  caput,  ohionguin,  horizoutali.  Linea  lateralis  recta, 
dorso  paulo  propior.  Anus  ctipite  paulo  propior.  Pinna 
unica  in  toto  pisce,  carnosa,  crassiuscula,  cute  tenaci  in- 
duta,  ambiens    (a   pinnis   dorsi,    cauda,   unique   coadu- 


91 


natisj,  mo.v  pone  caput  incipiflnx,  dein  per  totmn  dorsum 
extenditur,  cui  adiiectiliir  el  itentiit  subtiis  ad  aman  us- 
que revertiiur :  ipsa  caiida  valde  coitipressa  est  et  obtusi- 
nscula." 

"  Color  totiits  piscis  spadiceus,  maculis  parvis  obscurio- 
ribus  inequaUbus  sed  non  transversalibm,  et  punctis  sen 
guttis  albis  numerosis  undiqne  adspersis." 

"  Diani.     Long.  30  unc.     Perpend.  2^.     Horizont.  U." 

Nasal  teeth  in  two  series,  so  closely  approximated  that 
they  appear,  until  narrowly  examined,  to  be  in  but  one. 
The  outer  row  is  composed  of  about  nine,  very  short, 
stoutly  subulate  acute  teeth,  alternating  with  an  inner  row 
of  eight  taller,  conico-subulate,  very  acute  ones,  which  are 
irregular  in  height,  and  variously  recurved  and  reflex. 
The  mesial  line  of  the  disk  supports  three  tall  stoutly  sub- 
ulate teeth,  and  on  each  side  of  the  hindmost  of  these 
there  is  a  tooth  equally  tall,  and  almost  filling  the  space 
between  it  and  the  marginal  rows.  There  are  also  seve- 
ral smaller  and  shorter  teeth  scattered  over  the  disk,  so 
that  in  this  species  the  nasal  bone  is  pre-eminently  denli- 
ferous.  Vomerine  teeth  eleven,  uniserial,  short,  and  com- 
pressed at  the  tips,  but  not  pointed.  Palatine  teeth 
biserial;  the  outer  row  consisting  of  fom-teen  short,  slightl}' 
recurved  and  reflex  teeth,  which  diminish  gradually  in  size 
from  the  fifth  or  tallest  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth  :  the  in- 
ner row  is  some  distance  from  the  outer  one,  and  reaches 
nearly  as  far  back  ;  it  is  formed  by  eight  taller  and  more 
distant  subulate  teeth.  Each  limb  of  the  mandible  is 
armed  by  about  twenty-one  acute  teeth,  all  in  one  row, 
mostly  recurved  and  slightly  reflex.  The  anterior  teeth 
are  rather  the  longest,  but  there  is  no  abrupt  transition  in 
the  series. 

Head  small,  gape  large,  with  the  eye  placed  decidedly 
before  its  middle.  Posterior  nostrils  not  tubular.  Anus 
exactly  in  the  middle  of  the  length.  The  specimen  is  so 
much  stuffed  that  the  origin  of  the  dorsal  cannot  be  made 
out,  but  posteriorly  the  fin  appears  to  have  been  high. 
The  anal  is  sufficiently  conspicuous. 

The  ground  colour  of  the  dried  skin  is  dark  purplish- 
brown,  and  it  is  regularly  marked  by  pale  round  dots,  the 
largest  not  exceeding  the  size  of  the  head  of  a  small  pin. 
The  dots  are  biggest  and  most  crowded  on  the  head  and 
fore  part  of  the  body,  where  they  occupy  fully  more  space 
than  the  ground  colour.  Posteriorly  they  are  farther  apart, 
and  are  surrounded  by  dark  borders,  and  towards  the  end 
of  the  tail  they  are  not  only  more  distant  but  also  decidedly- 
less.  They  are  smaller  throughout  than  the  spots  of 
punctata  of  Schneider,  and  still  more  so  than  those  of 
pavonina. 

Length  40-25  inches.  To  anus  20-15  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  5-5  inches. 

Hab.  Madeira.     Brazils. 


MuR.ENA  THYRSOiDEA.     Piichardson. 


MurtBna  thyrsoidea,  Richardson,  Ichth.  of  Voy.  of  Sulphur,  p.  Ill, 
pi.  xlix.  fig.  1.     Report  on  the  Fishes  of  China,  lo  Brit.  Association. 

Twelve  nasal  teeth  in  one  series,  moderately  high,  rather 
"closely  set,  conico-subulate,  not  very  acute.      Three  tall, 


slender  teeth  on  the  mesial  line.  Vomerine  teeth  biserial, 
short,  not  very  acute ;  first  tooth  of  each  row  the  largest. 
The  rows  arc  farthest  apart  anteriorly,  and  approximate 
posteriorly.  Palatine  teeth  biserial ;  the  outer  row  consti- 
tuted by  ten  much  shorter  compressed  teeth  ;  the  inner  row 
by  eight  more  slender  and  taller  subulate  ones,  which  ex- 
tend as  far  as  the  outer  row.  Each  limb  of  the  mandible 
is  armed  by  eighteen  or  nineteen  conical  acute  teeth,  with 
an  interior  row  at  the  fore  end  of  the  jaw. 

Body  high  and  considerably  compressed,  with  a  deep 
dorsal  which  commences  before  the  gill-opening,  the  loose 
fold  of  skin  which  invests  it  extending  forwards  to  the 
head.  End  of  the  tail  rounded.  Posterior  nostrils  not 
tubular.  The  reticulations  of  the  skin  are  coarser  than  in 
most  other  species.  Anus  one-thirteenth  part  of  the  whole 
length  before  the  middle  of  the  fish. 

The  colour  is  a  dark  purplish-brown,  with  irregular  zig- 
zag lines  of  a  pale  colour,  forming  reticulations.  The 
figure  in  the  Ichthyology  of  the  Voyage  of  the  Sulphur 
was  taken  from  a  drawing  executed  under  the  eye  of  Mr. 
Reeves,  at  Canton,  but  the  specimen  presented  by  that 
gentleman  to  the  British  Museum  has  much  coarser  pale 
lines,  with  dilatations  at  the  points  of  intersection. 

Length  26  inches.  To  anus  11  inches.  To  gill-opening 
2-6  inches. 

Hab.  Sea  of  China.     Estuaries. 


MuR^NA  SATHETE.     Hamilt.  Buchan. 

Murdiia  sathete,  Hamilton  Buch.,  Ganges  p.  17  et  p.  .303.  Icon. 
Harchv.  iued.  No.  308,  upper  figure. 

Nasal  teeth  twelve  or  fourteen  in  one  marginal  series, 
each  curved  backwards  so  acutely  as  to  form  a  slight  notch 
in  the  middle  of  the  posterior  side  ;  their  cusps  being 
compressed  but  not  pointed.  Two  stout  conical  and  not 
acute  teeth  stand  on  the  mesial  line  of  the  disk,  and  the 
vomerine  teeth  are  disposed  in  two  lines,  which  coalesce 
behind,  each  line  containing  six  or  seven  small  rounded 
teeth,  headed  by  one  larger  than  the  rest.  Palatine  teeth 
in  two  rows ;  the  outer  row  composed  of  twelve,  smaller 
than  the  nasal  teeth,  and  more  closely  set,  but  of  similar 
form  and  curvature,  having  their  cusps,  however,  more 
compressed  and  acute  edged :  the  inner  row  contains  ten 
or  eleven  taller  and  more  slender  cylindrical  teeth,  with 
acute  but  somewhat  oblique  cusps.  The  mandible  is  armed 
on  the  two  posterior  thirds  of  each  limb  by  eleven  or 
twelve  similar  to  the  exterior  palatines,  and  on  the  anterior 
third  by  two  rows;  the  outer  row  consisting  of  eight  coni- 
cal or  cylindrical  and  rather  obtuse  teeth  on  each  limb, 
smaller  than  the  lateral  ones  ;  and  the  inner  row  of  about 
five  rather  longer  than  the  latter,  but  similar  in  form. 

Tip  of  the  tail  rounded.  Dorsal  commencing  about 
half-way  between  the  gill-opening  and  the  nape.  The  co- 
lours of  the  specimen  in  the  British  Museum,  which  is  a 
dried  skin,  have  faded,  but  the  drawing  exhibits  a  brown 
fish  with  dull  yellow  throat  and  belly.  The  lateral  line  is 
strongly  shown  by  a  series  of  silvery  dots,  and  the  dorsal  is 
grayish-purple.       In  the   dried    skin    some   of  the    pores 

Q  2 


92 


have  become  deep  black  dots,  of  which  one  series  can  be 
traced  over  the  gill-opening,  and  a  short  way  along  the 
side,  in  the  course  of  the  lateral  line;  another  row  runs 
from  the  angle  of  the  mouth  over  the  branchial  membrane, 
and  there  are  a  few  pores  under  the  jaw. 

Length  32-5  inches.  To  anus  about  15-3  inches.  To 
gill-opening  3-6  inches. 

H.^B.  India. 


are  of  a  dark  neutral  tint  speckled  with  yellow.  We  have 
seen  no  specimens  corresponding  with  this  drawing. 
Slropltidoii  punctatum  and  .S7.  lUeratnm  of  Mc  Clelland 
have  their  dorsals  commencing  nearer  the  head  than  in 
(/racilis,  vermiciihita,  or  tile. 


MUR.ENA    VICKMICDLAT.^. 


MUR^NA    GRACILIS. 

Two  examples  of  this  fish  in  the  British  Museum  accord 
well  with  drawing  303  in  Hardwicke's  collection. 

Nasal  teeth  subulate  and  acute,  in  two  rows  ;  those  of 
the  outer  row  very  small,  and  situated  at  the  bases  of  the 
inner  row,  which  are  taller  and  stouter.  Three  subulate 
teeth  on  the  mesial  line  of  the  disk,  and  two  rows  of  short, 
conical,  tapering  acute  vomerine  teeth,  set  alternately. 
Palatine  teeth  in  two  rows  ;  those  of  the  outer  row  about 
nineteen  or  twenty  in  number,  short,  erect,  compressed ; 
the  inner  row  consisting  of  about  ten  taller,  slender, 
slightly  recurved  and  acute  teeth.  About  nineteen  rather 
acute  lateral  mandibular  teeth  are  arranged  in  an  even, 
crowded  series,  with  two  rows  at  the  end  of  the  jaw;  the 
outer  row  being  composed  of  teeth  smaller  than  the  lateral 
ones;  and  the  inner  row  of  about  six  on  each  limb,  a 
little  taller  and  stouter  than  the  nasal  ones,  and  in- 
creasing gradually  in  height  as  they  recede  from  the  sym- 
physis. 

This  is  a  slender  species,  with  a  rather  small  mouth,  and 
the  under  jaw  somewhat  shorter  than  the  upper  one. 
Several  Indian  species  have  similar  mouths.  The  snout 
is  obtuse,  the  profile  rather  hollow  at  the  eye,  the  hind 
head  full  and  convex,  and  the  tail  considerably  com- 
pressed, the  body  only  moderately  so.  The  dorsal  com- 
mences over,  or  a  very  little  before,  the  gill-opening. 
The  anus  is  placed  just  before  the  middle.  The  colour 
of  the  specimens  in  spirits  is  brownish,  with  pale  round 
dots,  not  so  big  as  the  head  of  the  smallest-sized  pin,  scat- 
tered over  the  body  and  fins,  and  one  of  them  has  also  a 
few  paler  blotches,  about  the  size  of  a  very  small  pea. 

Length,  total     .     .     .      11-25  100 

„  to  anus     .     .       5-86  49 

„  to  gill-opening     1-35  12 

The  specimens  were  brought  from  India  by  General 
Hardwicke,  and  his  drawing  appears,  from  the  style  of  its 
execution,  seems  to  have  been  made  by  one  of  Hamilton 
Buchanan's  artists. 

Hab.  India. 

Another  drawing  in  General  Hardwicke's  collection  (No. 
308  under  figure)  is  marked  "  M.  H.  B.  Octr.  3,  18,  M. 
tile  bairn,"  and  is  doubtless  a  rejiresentation  of  the  M.  tile 
of  Hamilton  Buchanan.  It  is  a  compressed  and  rather 
deep-bodied  species,  with  the  reticulations  of  the  skin 
stronger  than  usual ;  hence  they  are  noticed  in  the  charac- 
ter of  the  species  given  in  the  Gangetic  fishes.  The 
dorsal  commences  before  the  gill-opening,  and  the  anus  is 
a  little  behind  the  middle.      The  fins  are  rather  high,  and 


Miirana.     Icon.  Hiudw.  ined.  .310. 

Marghial  nasal  teeth  in  two  series,  so  closely  situated  as 
to  look  like  one.  Outer  row  composed  of  twelve  or  four- 
teen very  short  acute  teeth  ;  inner  row  forming  a  semicircle, 
at  the  end  of  the  jaw,  of  conico-subulate  very  acute  teeth  ; 
the  tooth  on  each  side  of  the  symphysis  smaller  than  the 
rest.  Three  subulate  teeth  on  the  mesial  line  of  the  nasal 
disk  ;  and  about  twenty-two  short,  stoutish  but  acute  vo- 
merine teeth,  set  alternately  a  little  to  the  right  or  left,  so 
as  to  make  two  irregular  rows.  Two  rows  of  palatine 
teeth  ;  those  of  the  outer  row,  which  does  not  reach  to  the 
corner  of  the  mouth,  nineteen  in  number,  closely  set,  short, 
even,  compressed  and  moderately  acute  ;  inner  row  con- 
sisting of  nine  taller,  subulate,  and  very  acute  teeth,  set 
nKjre  widely,  but  not  extending  beyond  two-thirds  of  the 
length  of  the  outer  row.  Each  limb  of  the  mandible  is 
armed  by  about  twenty-four  teeth,  the  lateral  ones  disposed 
in  an  even  series :  at  the  end  of  the  jaw  there  are  two 
rows,  the  outer  one  composed  of  numerous  low  teeth,  and 
the  inner  one  of  taller  and  more  widely  .set  teeth ;  but  this 
part  of  the  jaw  having  been  injured  in  both  specimens, 
their  exact  number  cannot  be  ascertained. 

This  fish  is  slightly  compressed  anteriorly,  but  be- 
comes considerably  more  so  in  the  tail,  which  has  an  ob- 
tuse lip.  The  snout  is  blunt,  and  a  little  longer  than  the 
lower  jaw  ;  the  nose  horizontal,  with  a  concavity  in  the 
profile  over  the  eye,  and  a  sudden  rise  in  the  back  of  the 
head  and  nape.  There  is  also  much  fullness  in  the  throat. 
The  dorsal  which  commences  over  the  gill-opening  is  low 
anteriorly,  and  highest  in  the  tail,  but  is  sufficiently  con- 
spicuous throughout.  The  anus  is  placed  about  the 
thirty-second  part  of  the  whole  length  before  the  middle  of 
the  fish. 

In  colour  and  markings  this  species  has  some  resem- 
blance to  M.  meleagris,  but  the  spots  are  smaller.  The 
general  tint  is  between  dark  hair-brown  and  wood-brown, 
studded  with  little  grey  specks  of  angular,  round,  oblong, 
conjugated  or  crescentic  forms,  mixed  with  others  so  mi- 
nute as  to  be  scarcely  perceptible  to  the  naked  eye.  The 
throat  and  fore  part  of  the  belly  are  of  a  livid  white  colour, 
without  sjiots,  but  towards  the  vent  the  white  is  faintly 
mottled  with  pale  gray. 

A  specimen  of  this  Muraina  which  was  bequeathed  by 
General  Hardwicke  to  the  British  Museum  agrees  with 
M.  fpacilis  in  its  dentition,  and  differs  from  it  chiefly  in 
being  thicker  about  the  throat  and  head,  tapering  more  in 
the  tail.  The  patterns  of  the  spots  are  also  diff"erent.  It 
may,  however,  be  that  species  better  fed  and  grown  to  a 
greater  size.  I  am  not  altogether  convinced  that  this 
MurceiHi  and  (/racilis  are  distinct  from  Buchanan's  tile,' 


93 


yet  I  cannot  reconcile  them  with  the  drawing  of  tile,  308, 
which  is  authenticated  by  a  reference  to  Buchanan. 

Length  17'8  inches.  To  anus  9-25  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  2"2  inches. 

Hab.  India. 


MUR.ENA    MELEAGRIS.       Shaw. 

Murcena  nieleagris,  Shaw,  Nat.  Misc.  pi.  220.     Gen.  Zool.  p.  .32. 
MurtBHU  pintAde,  Quoy  et  Gairaard,  Voy.  de  Freycenet,  pi.  52,  f.  2. 

Nasal  teeth  stoutly  subulate,  biserial  ;  the  outer  row 
composed  of  teeth  unequal  in  height,  but  none  of  them 
very  tall ;  the  inner  row  consisting  of  taller  teeth  ranged 
in  a  semicircle.  Three  teeth  on  the  mesial  line  of  the 
disk,  the  foremost  being  the  tallest,  and  ranging  with  the 
interior  marginal  row.  Vomerine  teeth  conico-snbulate, 
short  and  acute,  disposed  in  one  row  anteriorly,  but  sepa- 
rating into  two  posteriorly.  Palatine  teeth  about  fifteen 
in  the  outer  series,  close  set  and  reflex  ;  the  first  four  aug- 
ment successively  in  height,  the  fourth  being  the  tallest  in 
the  series ;  the  succeeding  ones  are  considerably  shorter, 
and  diminish  gradually  in  size  as  they  approach  the  corner 
of  the  mouth.  Tlie  inner  series  stands  at  some  distance 
from  the  outer  one,  and  is  composed  of  eight  tall  widely 
set  teeth.  At  the  fore  part  of  the  bone  there  are  two  teeth, 
of  intermediate  height,  between  the  rows,  making  three 
I'ows  there.  Mandible  a  little  recurved,  and  armed  on 
each  limb  by  twenty-eight  acute,  slightly  recurved  teeth, 
of  unequal  height,  the  inequality  being  greatest  among  the 
anterior  ones.  At  the  end  of  the  jaw  there  is  an  inner 
semicircle  of  taller  teeth,  not  far  removed  from  the  outer 
one. 

Eye  rather  before  the  middle  of  the  gape.  Snout  blunt- 
ish,  with  the  head  apparently  gibbous  in  front.  Body 
high  and  compressed.  Posterior  nostrils  not  tubular. 
Dorsal  commencing  a  very  little  before  the  gill-opening. 
Anus  one-thirteenth  of  the  whole  length,  before  the  middle 
of  the  fish. 

The  colours  of  the  specimen  have  partially  perished,  but 
where  they  remain  the  ground  tint  is  a  rich  chestnut- 
brown,  thickly  studded  with  small  pale  spots,  placed  at 
pretty  regular  distances  in  each  locality.  On  the  fore  part 
of  the  body  they  are  mostly  angular,  lunate,  or  oblong  ;  on 
the  tail  rounder  and  more  distant,  and  none  of  them  exceed 
the  head  of  the  smallest  pin  in  size.  They  extend  to  the 
end  of  the  snout. 

Length  20  inches.  Length  from  end  of  snout  to  anus 
9'35.     Length  from  ditto  to  gill-opening 

This  description  is  drawn  up  from  Shaw's  specimen  pre- 
served in  the  British  Museum. 

Hab.  Southern  Ocean  (Shaw). 


This  gentleman  says  that  it  frequents  "  weedy  pools 
among  the  rocks  on  tlie  north  side  of  Bondy  Bay,  near 
Sidney.  It  is  very  savage  when  irritated,  and  once  while 
I  was  collecting  corallines  in  that  locality  a  large  indivi- 
dual made  a  dart  at  my  arm,  and  returned  repeatedly  to 
the  attack,  swimming  slowly  about,  winding  among  the 
sea-weed,  and  raising  its  snout  to  the  surface.  This  one 
measured  '31^  inches  to  the  tip  of  the  tail,  15^  to  the  anus. 
Its  depth  behind  the  head  was  2  inches,  its  breadth  1^, 
and  its  circumference  5h''     (Mc  Gillivray). 

Eye  moderately  large  over  the  middle  of  the  gape. 
Teeth  acute.  Nasal  ones  biserial,  but  some  are  broken  in 
the  specimen.  Outer  series  consisting  of  about  twelve 
small  acute  ones;  inner  series  of  about  seven  or  eight  tall, 
stoutly  subulate,  and  much  compressed  teeth,  the  two  rows 
contiguous  and  partially  blended.  Mesial  row  slender  and 
subulate,  not  acute  edged,  the  third  one  very  tall  and  re- 
curved. Vomerine  teeth  biserial  in  front,  about  six  in 
each  row,  uniting  to  form  a  single  row  of  about  seven,  all 
small  and  cylindrical,  with  conico-subulate  cusps.  Pala- 
tine teeth  biserial ;  outer  row  composed  of  about  fourteen 
reflex,  lanceolate  teeth,  with  acute  oblique  tips.  The  inner 
row  is  constituted  by  three  tall,  slender,  subulate  and  re- 
curved teeth,  standing  opposite  to  the  fore  part  of  the 
outer  row.  On  the  fore  quarter  of  the  mandible  there  are 
on  each  limb  seven  or  eight  small  exterior  teeth,  with  four 
or  five  tall,  recurved,  stoutly  subulate,  interior  ones,  the 
penultimate  one  of  these  being  the  largest.  Most  of  the 
larger  teeth  of  the  jaws  have  a  minute  notch  in  the  middle 
of  their  posterior  edge,  and  some  have  also  a  notch  in 
front.  The  dorsal  fin  is  not  high,  commences  about  half- 
way between  the  occiput  and  gill-opening,  and  contains 
3.56  rays  to  the  apex  of  the  tail.  The  rays  at  the  end  of 
the  tail  are  short,  very  slendei-,  and  much  crowded.  The 
anal  fin  has  been  removed  from  the  specimen. 

Mr.  Mc  Gillivray  says  that  the  colour  was  a  "  nearly 
uniform  pale  green,  changing  after  death  to  dark  brown. 
Several  long  interrupted  dark  streaks  run  along  the  throat, 
which,  together  with  the  neck,  is  minutely  marked,  for  the 
most  part  perpendicularly,  with  short  waved  striae  of  pale 
brown." 

Length  23|-  inches. 

Hab.  Australia. 

Obs. — The  Miirene  lineolee  and  M.  Jiaveolee  of  Lesson 
are  represented  as  having  much  higher  dorsals.  (La  Co- 
quille,  Plate  11,  f  I  and  2).  The  Gijmnothorax  wilsoni 
of  Schneider  (p.  529),  which  is  a  New  Holland  species, 
locally  known  by  the  name  of  "  Banning,"  is  ornamented 
with  broad  roseate  spots. 


MuR^NA  OPHis.     Riippell  i 


MuR.ENA  PRASINA.     Richardson. 


Murana  ophis,  Riippell,  Atl. 


About  ten  marginal  nasal  teeth,  conical,  subacute,  and 

A  dried  skin  of  this  species,  existing  in  the  British  Mu-      hooked  backwards,  with  a  posterior  basal  lobe,  all  slightly 

seam,  was  brought  from   Australia  by  Mr.  Mc  Gillivray.      compressed,  but  having  rounded  edges.     Mesial  teeth  ab- 


94 


sent  in  the  specimen.  Palatine  teeth  nine,  in  one  unusually 
short  row,  the  three  central  ones  hooked  and  shaped  like  the 
nasal  ones,  but  much  smaller  ;  the  three  anterior  and  three 
posterior  ones  still  smaller  and  cylindrical,  with  not  very 
acute  points.  Vomerine  teeth  in  two  rows,  well  separated 
anteriorly,  but  meeting  behind  ;  each  row  containing  about 
nine  short  cylindrical  teeth,  with  rounded  cusps.  These 
rows  are  twice  as  long  as  the  palatine  row.  The  lower  jaw 
is  armed  with  two  rows  of  teeth,  the  outer  one  consisting 
of  small  low  teeth  with  flatly  rounded  cusps.  The  inner 
row  commences  anteriorly  with  two  taller  and  stouter  cy- 
lindrical teeth,  having  slightly  compressed  cusps,  followed 
by  two  teeth  still  more  tall,  which  are  strongly  hooked 
back,  and  have  acute  cusps  and  posterior  basal  lobes  ; 
after  which  there  is  a  close  set,  even  series  of  cylindrical 
teeth,  having  rounded  or  slightly  compressed  cusps,  con- 
siderably above  those  of  the  outer  row.  The  dentition  of 
this  species  has  a  resemblance  to  that  of  M.  variegata, 
but  differs  in  having  the  strongly  hooked  acute  teeth.  The 
corresponding  teeth  oi  variegata  are  more  obtuse,  and  but 
very  slightly  curved.  In  the  only  specimen  we  have  seen, 
which  is  a  dried  one,  the  vent  is  about  one  twenty-fourth 
part  of  the  whole  length  past  the  middle. 

The  markings  are  well  represented  in  Rlippell's  figure 
of  M.  ophif:,  but  as  he  describes  the  teeth  as  cutting,  which 
scarcely  agrees  with  our  specimen,  I  cannot  feel  confident 
in  quoting  him.  M.  similis,  p.  83,  which  has  subulate  and 
lanceolate  teeth,  closely  resembles  both  this  fish  and  Riip- 
jjell's  drawing  in  its  markings,  but  its  gape  is  considerably 
larger.  The  ground  colour  of  the  dried  skin  of  the  British 
Museum  specimen  has  a  yellowish  tint,  and  is  mottled 
with  small  brownish-black  specks,  of  various  forms  and 
often  confluent,  and  by  two  rows  of  large  black  marks, 
which  are  more  or  less  dotted  with  specks  of  the  pale 
ground  colour.  There  are  about  twenty-one  or  twenty-two 
spots  in  each  row,  the  rows  touching  those  of  the  opposite 
sides  of  the  fish  on  its  dorsal  and  ventral  surfaces.  The 
edge  of  the  anal  is  pale.  The  vent  is  about  a  twenty- 
fourth  part  of  the  whole  length  past  the  middle. 

Length  25 J  inches. 

Hab.  Mauritius.     Red  Sea  ? 


MUR.ENA    VARIEGATA.       J.  R.  Forstcr. 


Seha  Thes.  fi9,  f.  1,  17. 


Muraiia  r/eof/raphica,  Banks  et  Solander,  MSS.,  176S),  Icon.  Pict. 
Pjrkinsonii,  3.     ("  Pepedlio.") 

Echidna  rariegata.  Icon.  ined.  Georg.  Forster,  Bibl.  Banks.  172. 
An.  1777. 

"  Echidna  variegata,  J.  R  Forster,  Enchiridion,  31,  Genus  5.  An. 
1788."     Id.  Animal  cura  Liclitenst.  p.  181.     An.  1844. 

Murana  nebnlosa,  Tliunb.  dissert,  p.  7,  tab.  1,  f.  2.     An.  1789. 

Gymnothorax  nebulosus,  Bl.  Scbn.  p.  528.     An.  1801. 

Gymnothorax  echidna.  Id.  p.  626. 

Murana,  Hardw.  Icon.  ined.  Mus.  Brit.  pi.  300. 

Plate  XLVII.,  figs.  1^5,  and  figs.  11— IG. 

About  twelve  marginal,  scarcely  acute  nasal  teeth,  some 
of  them  very  slightly  curved  backwards,  ranged  in  an  oval, 
which  is  completed  behind  by  the  voiuerine  teeth.      The 


mesial  line  of  the  disk  is  occupied  by  two  stout,  conical, 
subacute  teeth,  rather  taller  than  the  others  ;  and  the  vomer 
is  armed  by  two  rows  of  low  teeth,  having  slightly  com- 
pressed cusps.  The  rows  meet  in  a  point  posteriorly,  and 
diverge  anteriorly,  on  the  angles  of  the  vomer,  so  as  to  fill 
up  the  posterior  part  of  the  nasal  oval.  Palatine  teeth 
about  nine,  small,  very  closely  set,  in  a  short  even  row, 
and  having  somewhat  compressed  or  bluntly  chisel-shaped, 
somewhat  oblique  cusps.  Mandible  armed  laterally,  on 
each  limb,  by  twelve  or  thirteen  even  teeth,  with  flattish 
or  rounded  crowns  and  cylindrical  bodies.  In  some  spe- 
cimens an  exterior  row  runs  along  the  whole  limb,  in 
others  it  is  shorter,  and  in  others  again  it  can  be  traced 
only  in  the  anterior  quarter  of  the  jaw.  The  tooth  next 
the  symphysis,  standing  in  this  exterior  row,  is  larger  than 
the  rest,  and  is  followed  by  two  or  three  taller  conical  in- 
ner teeth,  seemingly  a  continuation  of  the  principal  lateral 
row,  but  placed  wider  apart. 

This  is  either  an  abundant  species,  or  from  its  beauty  it 
is  sought  for  by  collectors,  for  many  examples  of  it  exist 
in  Museums.  Great  variety  exists  in  the  form  and  distri- 
bution of  the  spots  in  different  individuals.  The  specimen 
figured  in  Plate  47,  fig.  1,  after  long  maceration  in  spirits, 
has  a  pale  yellowish-gray  or  cream-coloured  ground  tint, 
with  two  rows  of  purplish-brown  spots.  These  spots  radiate 
into  irregularly  tortuous,  divaricating,  forked  branchlets, 
and  their  disks  are  pierced  by  one  or  many  dots  of  the 
ground  colour.  The  upper  row,  consisting  of  smaller 
spots,  runs  on  the  dorsal  fin  and  top  of  the  back,  the  lower 
one  on  the  sides,  and  they  coalesce  in  a  solitary  spot  at 
the  end  of  the  tail.  Their  number  varies  from  twenty  to 
twenty-four  in  each  row,  and  in  the  specimen  we  have 
figured  a  third  row  is  indicated  by  two  or  three  spots  on 
the  belly.  The  ground  colour  is  further  varied  on  the 
back  by  many  detached  lines  and  specks,  bearing  some 
resemblance  to  Arabic  characters.  Solander  observed  this 
variety  in  the  sea,  at  Ulhietea,  and  describes  its  colours  as 
follows  :  "  M.  GEOGRAPHiCA,  tota  alba,  pnnclis  maculis  li- 
nearibus  rinilisijue  oniaia.  Rivuli  cotijluentes  in  areas 
rotundas  Jiavedine  intmixtas.  Caput  supra  gibbosum. 
Iris  aureo-lutea.  Piipilla  nigra.  Maxlllce  circa  os  al- 
b(c  immaculatte.  Foramina  superne  in  naso  tubulosa, 
Ititea  :  foramina  eliant  interocularia  lutescentia.  Piscis 
certe  pulvher.''''  Parkinson's  figure  is  unfinished,  but  suffi- 
ciently characteristic.  The  name,  in  the  language  of  the 
Society  Isles,  is  written  in  the  MSS.,  "Pi]jirho,"  "  Pipiro," 
and  "  Pipirha."  Hardwicke's  drawing  also  represents  this 
variety. 

The  individual  represented  in  figure  1 1  has  three  rows 
of  spots,  the  lower  row,  which  ceases  about  half-way  be- 
tween the  vent  and  the  point  of  the  tail,  being  composed 
of  spots  which  do  not  branch  like  the  others.  The  ground 
colour  is  also  everywhere  thicklj-  marked  with  black 
specks,  except  on  the  belly,  where  the  specks  are  kyf. 
The  under  surface  of  the  belly,  before  and  behind  the  vent, 
is  represented  in  figure  15.  The  Forster's  observed  this 
variety  at  Otaheitee,  and  George  Forster's  drawing  differs 
only  in  showing  fewer  ventral  spots.  The  native  naiue  of 
"  Pipiro  "  is  written  on  the  drawing,  and  in  the  Descript. 
Animal,  it  is  said  to  be  also  called  "  Boohee."  The  colour 
is  described  thus  :  "  Color  totius  corporis  littescenti  albus. 


95 


lineis,  piinctis,  maculisque  fiisco-nigris  variegatus.  Ab- 
domen album,  maculis  fuscis  sub/asciatum.^'  (Forster 
lib.  citat.) 

Of  fourteen  specimens  of  these  varieties,  no  two  ex- 
actly resemble  one  another  in  their  markings.  The  dorsal 
begins  before  the  gill-opening  in  all,  and  the  anus  is  nearly 
median,  being  in  one  a  little  before  tlie  middle  of  the  fish, 
but  in  most  a  little  behind,  not  however  exceeding  a 
twenty-fourth  part  of  the  whole  length.  As  in  all  the  blunt- 
toothed  Mur<eti(B,  the  gape  of  the  mouth  is  comparatively 
small. 

The  length  of  the  specimens  varies  from  5  to  20  inches. 

Hab.  Indian  Ocean  (Hardw.)  Chinese  Sea  (Belcher). 
Coasts  of  Australia  (Bynoe).  Poylynesian  Archipelago 
(Solander,  Forster). 


MUR.ENA  POLYZONA.      Richardson. 


Murana  polyzona,  Richards^ 
pi.  55,  f.  11-14. 


Ichth.  of  Voy.  of  Sulplmv,  p.  112, 


teeth  biserial;  the  outer  row  composed  of  minute 
rounded  teeth  ;  the  inner  one  of  taller,  rather  bluntish,  co- 
nical ones.  Two  conical  teeth  on  the  mesial  line  of  the 
disk,  somewhat  taller  than  the  marginal  ones.  Vomerine 
teeth  anteriorly  biserial,  posteriorly  covering  a  wider  sur- 
face, with  three  or  more  irregular  rows.  Palatine  teeth 
biserial,  the  rows  coalescing  behind  :  outer  row  consisting 
of  very  minute,  low,  flattish  teeth  ;  inner  one  of  taller, 
slenderly  cylindrical  teeth,  having  moderately  acnte  cusps  : 
there  are  seven  or  eight  in  each  row.  Mandibular  teeth 
biserial ;  the  teeth  of  the  outer  row  being  by  much  the 
smallest,  and  gradually  becoming  less  as  they  approach 
the  corner  of  the  month  ;  those  which  form  the  inner  row 
taller,  with  conical  cusps,  two  or  three  near  the  fore  end  of 
the  jaw  being  larger  than  the  rest.  The  outer  row  of  each 
limb  contains  eighteen  or  nineteen  teeth,  the  inner  one 
about  twelve. 

Gape  small ;  margin  of  the  posterior  nostril  tumid,  the 
anterior  nostril  being,  as  usual,  tubular :  body  much  com- 
pressed, and  the  anus  situated  about  the  thirty-fifth  part  of 
the  whole  length  before  the  middle  of  the  fish. 

The  ground  colour  is  black,  with  from  twenty-six  to 
twenl3'-nine  yellow  rings,  which  dilate  a  little  on  the  ven- 
tral surface,  but  do  not  actually  close  there. 

Length  9;35  inches.  To  anus  4-41  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  115. 

Hab.  Unknown. 


MUR.ENA  catenata.     Bloch. 

Gymnothorax  catenatus,  Bl.  t.  415.     Schn.  p.  528. 

Nasal  teeth  biserial,  conical,  bluntish,  about  twelve  in 
each  row,  set  alternately,  and  inclosing  a  horse-shoe-shaped 
area,  the  posterior  ones  being  the  stoutest,  but  none  of  them 
high.  From  two  to  four  stout  conical  teeth  on  the  mesial 
line  ;    and  in  one  colourless   specimen,  these  teeth,  and 


those  of  the  inner  marginal  row,  are  so  stout  as  nearly  to 
fill  the  entire  disk.  Vomerine  teeth  biserial,  small  and 
rounded,  of  different  sizes.  Palatine  teeth  also  biserial, 
twelve  or  thirteen  in  each  row ;  the  outer  ones  low,  even, 
and  bluntish,  scarcely  rising  above  the  soft  parts  ;  the  in- 
ner ones  higher,  conical  or  conico-subulate,  and  not  so 
closely  set :  the  teeth  of  both  rows  smaller  than  the  nasal 
ones.  Mandibular  teeth  likewise  biserial,  each  limb  having 
twenty-two  in  the  outer  row,  which  are  closely  set,  and 
deeply  imbedded  in  the  soft  parts  ;  those  of  the  inner  row 
are  a  little  higher,  but  equally  blunt.  The  two  rows  are 
contiguous  posteriorly,  but  separate  a  little  towards  the 
front  of  the  jaw,  where  the  inner  teeth  are  stouter,  and 
somewhat  wider  apart. 

Posterior  nostrils  having  slightly  raised  borders.  Anus 
a  little  posterior  to  the  middle  of  the  fish.  Dorsal  com- 
mencing a  short  way  before  the  gill-opening. 

The  fish  is  crossed  by  about  twenty-six  narrow  yellow 
stripes,  which  pass  over  the  dorsal  and  down  the  sides. 
Three  of  the  stripes  placed  before  the  gill-opening  form 
meshes  with  each  other,  and  some  of  the  posterior  ones 
are  interrupted,  their  upper  and  under  halves  alternating. 
They  are  most  regular  before  the  anus,  where  they  slope 
forwards  as  they  descend  to  the  belly,  and  more  irregular 
and  wider  on  the  tail.  All  of  them  are  more  or  less  spot- 
ted with  the  blackish  ground  colour. 

Length  •24'5  inches.  To  anus  13'5  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  .3"5  inches. 

Hab.  Bermudas.     Caribbean  Sea.     South  America. 


GYMNOMURiENA    ZEBRA.       Shaw. 


Zebra  eel,  Shaw  Nat.  Misc.  101. 

Gymnothorax  zebra,  Bl.  Schn.  p.  528. 

La  qymnomurwne  cercUe,  Lac.  v.  p.  649,  pi.  19,  f.  4.     An.  1803. 

All  the  teeth  low  and  flatly  rounded,  the  larger  ones 
having  generally  one  or  two  grooves,  with  an  intervening, 
acute,  transverse  ridge  on  their  crowns.  Nasal  teeth  bi- 
serial ;  the  outer  row  composed  of  fourteen  or  sixteen  very 
low  teeth;  the  inner  row  of  twelve  or  fourteen  consider- 
ably larger  and  more  prominent  ones.  These  rows  enclose 
a  circular  area,  which  is  filled  by  six  round  teeth  in  two 
rows.  The  dental  surface  of  the  vomer  has  an  oval  shape, 
and  there  are  eight  rows  of  teeth  in  its  middle,  which  nar- 
row off  to  two  before  and  behind.  The  anterior  ones  are 
in  contact  with  the  mesial  nasal  ones.  The  palatine  teeth 
reach  only  about  half-way  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth,  the 
space  beyond  them  being  filled  by  a  smooth  thick  fold  of 
skin.  On  the  mandible  the  teeth  extend  to  the  extreme 
corner  of  the  mouth,  being  opposed  posteriorly  to  the  fold 
of  skin  just  mentioned.  They  stand  in  four  rows  before  the 
comer  of  the  mouth,  narrow  to  three  near  the  middle  of  the 
limb,  and  on  the  anterior  third  of  the  jaw  form  only  two  dis- 
tinct rows,  though  some  very  minute  teeth  may  be  detected 
at  the  base  of  the  outer  row.  The  inner  row  at  the  end  of 
the  jaw  is  composed  of  seven  teeth  on  each  limb,  larger 
than  the  rest,  and  rendered  still  more  prominent  by  a  curve 
of  the  jaw.       In  this  part  of  the  jaw  the  inner  rows  of  the 


two  limbs  are  in  close  contact,  and  cannot  be  separated. 
When  the  mouth  is  closed,  these  teeth  are  pressed  against 
the  equally  prominent  nasal  ones,  the  posterior  teeth  of 
the  two  jaws  being  kept  thereby  some  distance  apart. 

Eye  small,  considerably  before  the  luiddle  of  the  gape. 
Posterior  nasal  orifice  having  an  elevated  border,  and 
])laced  a  little  before  the  eye.  Anterior  one  shortly  tubu- 
lar. Dorsal  fold  of  loose  skin  extending  forward  to  the 
nostrils,  too  thick  to  allow  the  rays  to  be  either  seen  or 
felt.  Body  compressed,  the  compression  augmenting  to- 
wards the  tip  of  the  tail,  which  is  not  acute  though  it 
tapers.     Anus  in  the  posterior  third  of  the  length. 

Ground  colour  brown,  with  seventy-four  white  rings, 
some  of  which  are  not  complete,  and  some  unite  before 
they  reach  the  ventral  surface,  but  the  greater  part  are 
regular,  and  are  all  nearly  of  the  same  width. 

This  description  is  taken  from  Shaw's  specimen,  which 
was  presented  by  the  College  of  Surgeons  to  the  British 
Museum.  The  backward  position  of  its  anus  and  other 
characters  seem  to  point  it  out  as  a  distinct  generic  form 
from  Murcena. 

Length  30  inches.  To  anus  21  inches.  To  gill-opening 
■2  6  inches. 

Hab.  Sumatra  (Shaw).     New  Britain  (Commerson). 


ICHTHYOPHIS   TIGRINUS.       LeSSOn. 
Ichthyophis  tigrinus,  Lesson,  Voy.  de  la  Coquille,  pi.  12. 

All  the  teeth  slenderly  subulate,  rather  tall  and  thinly 
set.  Nasal  ones  uniserial,  about  twelve  on  the  margin. 
Two  rows  of  three  each  on  the  disk.  Vomerine  teeth  six 
or  seven,  uniserial,  with  two  abreast  at  the  commencement 
of  the  series.  Palatine  teeth  biserial ;  the  outer  series  of 
twelve  more  reflex  teeth  ;  the  inner  series  of  six  or  seven 
taller  ones.  On  the  anterior  third  of  the  mandible  the 
teeth  are  biserial,  the  inner  row  being  composed  on  each 
limb  of  six  or  seven  taller  ones.  Lateral  mandibular  teeth 
like  the  outer  row  of  palatines. 

Eye  small.  Anterior  nostrils  tubular.  Posterior  ones 
injured.  Gill-opening  nearer  to  the  dorsal  than  to  the 
ventral  surface.  Body  nearly  cylindrical,  destitute  of  a 
loose  dorsal  fold.  Tail  a  little  compressed  at  the  tip, 
which  tapers,  but  is  blunlish.  No  vestige  of  a  fin  exte- 
riorly. 

Length  29  inches.  To  anus  195  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 1-85  inch. 

The  great  length  of  this  fish  in  proportion  to  its  diame- 
ter, its  cylindrical  form,  and  the  want  of  fins,  give  it  a 
character  distinct  from  the  MuiceiKe,  and  from  the  Gymiw- 
murieniB  of  Lacepede,  which  are  compressed. 

Hab.  "  Oualan." 


Nettastoma  vittata.     Richardson. 

h-hthynphis  viltaius,  Ricbardsoii,  Iclith.  of  Voy.  of  Sulphur,  p.  114, 
pl.  53,  f.  7  !). 

Since  I  described  this  species,  in  the  work  above  quoted. 


from  a  dried  skin,  said  to  have  been  brought  from  China, 
1  have  examined  a  specimen  in  spirits  in  the  British  Mu- 
seum, which  is  labelled  as  having  been  brought  from  the 
West  Indies,  and  purchased  of  a  dealer.  I  have  also  had 
an  opportunity  of  inspecting  an  example  of  the  Ichthyo- 
phis tic/riniis  of  Lesson,  preserved  in  the  same  collection, 
and  find  that  it  differs  totally  in  its  dentition  from  the 
present  species,  so  that  in  any  dismemberment  of  the  genus 
Murcena  they  must  be  placed  in  widely  different  groups. 
I  have  now  referred  it  to  Rafinesque's  genus  Netiasioi/ia 
(Duck-mouth),  on  account  of  the  similarity  of  its  dentition 
to  that  of  N.  soya,  though  I  have  not  had  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  the  latter  species,  which  differs  from  vittata  in 
having  conspicuous  fins,  and  may  prove  on  examination 
to  be  a  distinct  form,  in  which  case  the  appellation  of 
Chaiuw-mura'na  vittata  may  be  given  to  this  one,  its  ver}' 
large  mouth  distinguishing  it  obviously  from  the  Minuena. 

It  has  four  large  double-leaved  gills  enclosed  in  a  sack 
on  each  side,  and  communicating  with  the  pharynx  by  five 
round  openings.  There  is  no  half-gill  adherent  to  the  side 
of  the  sack.  The  heart  is  situated  rather  behind  the  gill- 
openings,  and  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  gills, 
and  is  tied  to  the  pericardium  by  many  tendinous  threads. 
There  is  no  tongue,  but  the  under  margin  of  the  gullet 
forms  a  projecting  soft  fold,  which  falls  back  over  the  oeso- 
phagus like  a  valve.  Pharyngeals  presenting  two  linear 
dental  surfaces  above  and  below,  widely  separated  from 
each  other,  and  set  with  two  rows  of  acute  reflex  teeth. 

All  the  teeth  on  the  jaws  are  slenderly  subulate,  and  are 
disposed  in  even  card-like  plates.  On  the  palatines  they 
are  about  four  rows  wide,  just  behind  the  eyes,  but  thin  off 
to  three  rows  towards  the  extremities  of  these  bones.  On 
the  lower  jaw  the  dental  surface  is  broadest  near  the  sym- 
physis, where  there  are  three  rows  of  teeth,  but  there  are 
only  two  rows  more  posteriorly,  which  end  in  a  point  at 
the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  nasal  and  vomerine  teeth 
are  not  separated,  or  perhaps  the  latter  do  not  exist,  in 
which  case  the  nasal  dental  plate  is  broadly  oval,  and  com- 
posed anteriorly  of  about  six  rows  in  the  width,  but  poste- 
riorly contracts  to  two  rows,  which  meet  in  a  point  a  little 
behind  the  eye.  The  capacious  roof  of  the  mouth  is  lined 
with  smooth  skin.  The  corners  of  the  mouth  extend  as 
far  behind  the  occiput  as  that  is  distant  from  the  tip  of  the 
snout.  The  small  eye  is  situated  over  the  fore  part  of  the 
gape.  The  anterior  nostrils  are  tubulai-,  and  the  posterior 
ones  have  raised  borders,  and  are  placed  above  and  just 
before  the  eyes. 

The  head  is  depressed,  the  nose  acute,  and  the  mandible 
longer  than  the  snout:  its  limbs  are  capable  of  sepa- 
rating widely,  and,  owing  to  their  length,  of  being  greatly 
depressed,  so  as  to  expand  the  mouth  enormously.  The 
gill-openings  are  rather  below  mid-height,  and  far  behind 
the  skull.  The  body  is  nearly  cylindrical,  without  any 
appearance  of  the  loose  dorsal  fold  which  contains  the  fin- 
rays  in  the  Murwnic  ;  but  behind  the  anus  the  tail  is  some- 
what compressed,  becoming  thinner  towards  the  tip.  Rays 
actually  exist  near  the  end  of  the  tail,  but  they  can  be 
seen  only  by  dissection,  and  I  could  not  ascertain  how  far 
forward  they  extend  without  injuring  the  specimen.  The 
anus  is  in  the  posterior  third  of  the  fish.  The  skin  is 
loosely  attached  to  the  muscular  fascia. 


97 


Ground  coloin-  (in  spirits)  brown,  the  darkness  of  llie 
tint  being  produced  by  short  oblong  specks.  The  body  is 
crossed  by  about  sixteen  pale  rings,  occupying  nearly  as 
much  space  as  the  dark  colour.  The  rings  are  not  all 
complete. 

Length  28  inches.  To  anus  18  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 4.3  inches. 

This  is  the  description  of  the  British  Museum  specimen 
preserved  in  spirits.  The  dried  one  figured  in  the  Zoology 
of  the  Sulphur  has  rather  wider  dental  plates,  owing  pro- 
bably to  its  gi-eater  age.     It  measured  48^^  inches. 

Hab.  Gulf  of  Mexico  ?     Sea  of  China"? 


Ophisurus 


I  have  had  no  opportunity  of  examining  the  skeletons  of 
the  Ophisuri,  nor  of  comparing  the  viscera  of  the  different 
groups,  and  cannot  therefore  enumerate  the  principal  cha- 
racteristics of  the  genus,  as  I  did  with  the  Miircena:  in 
page  78,  but  I  have  given  short  descriptions  of  the  exter- 
nal characters  of  all  the  species  that  have  come  under  my 
notice. 

M.  Valenciennes  characterises  the  genus  by  the  elon- 
gated cylindrical  body  tapering  towards  the  tail,  clothed 
with  naked  skin,  destitute  of  scales  ;  the  moderate  gape  ; 
compressed  knife-like  [denies  cultrati)  teeth,  or  rounded 
obtuse  ones  ;  the  dorsal  reaching  from  the  occiput  to  the 
naked  conical  point  of  the  tail ;  the  anal  like  to  it,  but 
shorter  ;  the  pectoral  fins  more  or  less  flabellate  ;  the  gill- 
rays  thirty  in  number.  Cuvier  divides  the  species  into  two 
groups ;  one  having  pectorals  of  the  ordinary  size,  and 
sharp  and  trenchant  teeth  ;  the  other  having  pectorals  ex- 
ceedingly small,  so  much  so  as  to  have  been  overlooked  by 
some  observers  altogether,  and  obtuse  teeth.  The  disco- 
very of  additional  species  since  the  publication  of  the 
Reyne  Animal  has  rendered  this  subdivision  less  exact,  for 
the  Oph.  cancrivorns  presents  the  combination  of  pretty 
large  pectorals  with  obtuse  teeth  ;  and  we  shall  also 
describe  species  that  have  almost  rudimentary  pectorals 
with  acute  teeth.  In  fact,  the  gradation  from  acute  or 
acicular  teeth  to  small  rounded  grinding  ones  is  almost 
imperceptible,  and  there  is  a  similar  passage  from  the  large 
to  the  minute  pectorals.  I  have  seen  no  species  with 
teeth  so  trenchant  as  the  stiletto-pointed  teeth  of  some  of 
the  Mur(B)i<e,  —  certainly  none  meriting  the  designation  of 
denies  cultrati.  The  following  artificial  arrangement, 
founded  on  the  dentition  and  size  of  the  pectorals,  may  be 
useful  to  the  student  in  the  discrimination  of  species. 

A.  Teeth  short,  conic,  more  or  less  blunt. 

a.  Pectorals  comparatiiely  large. 

Teeth  triserial  or  pluriserial  on  the  several  bones. 
O.  cancrivorus ;  sinensis;  semicinctus ;  boro. 

b.  Pectorals  small  or  rudimentary. 

1.  Vomerine  teeth  tri-  or  pluriserial ;  palatine  and  man- 
dibular teeth  biserial. 
O.  breviceps ;  pardalis. 


2.  Vomerine  teeth  biserial ;    palatine  teeth   uniserial ; 
mandibular  teeth  uniserial  or  sub-biserial. 
O.fasciatus ;  colubrinus. 

B.  Teeth  acute,  conico-subulate,  subulate  or  acicular. 

a.  Pectorals  small  atid  delicate,  moderate  sized 

or  rather  large. 

1.  Vomerine  teeth  triserial ;   palatine  and  mandibular 

teeth  biserial. 
O.  pallens. 

2.  Vomerine  teeth  biserial ;  palatine  and  mandibular 

teeth  biserial. 
O.  hijala  ;  maculosus ;  intertinctus. 
.3.  Vomerine  teeth  sub-biserial  or  uniserial ;   palatine 
and  mandibular  teeth  uniserial. 
O.  .tpadiceus ;  versicolor. 

4.  Vomerine  teeth  uniserial  ;  palatine  and  mandibular 

teeth  biserial 
O.  sugillatus;  ocellatus ;  par  His  ;  dicellurus  ;  ros- 
tellatus. 

5.  Vomerine  teeth  uniserial ;  palatine  teeth   uniserial ; 

mandibular  teeth  biserial. 
O.  compar. 

6.  Vomerine   teeth   uniserial ;    palatine  teeth   biserial ; 

mandibular  teeth  uniserial. 
O.  regius  fvel  ophis  ? );  serpens. 

b.  Pectorals  minute,  no  vertical  Jins. 
Teeth  on  the  several  bones  uniserial. 

O.  vimineus. 

Obs.— Ophisurus  cancrivorus,  breviceps,  compar  and 
parilis,  have  a  close  external  resemblance,  and  may  be 
confounded  if  attention  be  not  paid  to  the  dentition,  and 
some  other  comparative  characters  included  in  the  descrip- 
tions. In  like  manner,  there  is  a  general  similarity  in  the 
markings  of  semicinctus,  pardalis,  maculosus,  intertinctus 
and  sugillatus.  O.  harancha,  pallens,  spadiceus,  versicolor 
and  hijala,  form  a  small  group,  of  a  peculiar  aspect,  which 
belongs  to  India  and  China.  O.fasciatus  and  colubrinus 
are  remarkable  for  the  length  of  their  long,  compressed 
banded  bodies ;  versicolor,  which  is  also  banded,  is  more 
cylindrical;  and  serpens  and  regius,  agreeing  in  the 
nacry  lustre  of  their  bodies,  differ  from  one  another  and 
from  all  the  rest  in  the  forms  of  their  laterally  expansible 
jaws.  O.  vimineus  differs  from  the  other  species  in  the  ab- 
sence of  vertical  fins,  just  as  the  Ichthyophis  of  Lesson 
does  from  the  Murcence. 


Ophisurus  cancrivorus.     Richardson. 

Plate  L.,  figs.  6—9. 

Nasal  disk  circular,  armed  with  about  fifteen  crowded, 
round,  rather  flat-crowned  teeth,  of  different  sizes,  sepa- 
rated from  the  dental  surface  of  the  vomer  by  a  mem- 
branous line.  The  vomerine  teeth  stand  about  five  abreast 
throughout,  but  the  anterior  part  of  the  dental  band,  being 
composed  of  larger  teeth,  is  wider.     The  swelling  folds  of 


the  soft  palate  partly  overlie  the  posterior  teeth  of  the 
vomer,  which  is  the  cause  of  the  artist  having  reprcseuted, 
in  fig.  8,  the  dental  surface  as  tapering  more  towards  the 
gullet  than  it  actually  does.  Palatine  teeth  smaller  than  the 
nasal  ones,  not  quite  so  flat  on  the  crown.s,  and  disposed 
so  as  to  form  an  elliptical  dental  plate,  which  has  also  been 
dran'n  in  figure  8  as  tapering  too  much,  owing  to  the  pout- 
ing of  the  lips.  There  are  six  or  seven  teeth  abreast  in 
the  widest  part  of  the  plate,  and  two  or  three  posteriorly. 
The  dental  plates  on  the  limbs  of  the  lower  jaw  contain 
about  five  teeth  in  the  middle,  and  taper  off  gradually  to- 
wards the  corner  of  the  moutli.  They  are  separated  from 
one  another  at  the  symphysis  by  a  smooth  line.  The  up- 
per jaw  projects  so  much  beyond  the  mandible,  that  the 
whole  nasal  disk  is  anterior  to  the  tip  of  the  latter ;  and 
when  the  mouth  is  closed,  the  convex  dental  surface  of  the 
fore  end  of  the  mandible  applies  to  the  anterior  vomerine 
teeth,  which  correspond  with  them  in  size,  and  are  larger 
than  the  other  teeth. 

The  head  is  conical,  the  snout  small  and  acute,  with  a 
thick  short  tubular  nostril  on  each  side  of  it,  but  a  little 
posterior  to  the  extreme  tip,  and  having  an  inclination 
downwards.  The  posterior  nostril  is  under  the  eye,  rather 
on  the  inner  border  of  the  lip,  and  is  covered  by  a  valve 
which  gives  a  downward  aspect  to  the  opening.  A  small 
acute  papilla  overlies  a  minute  notch  on  the  edge  of  the 
lip,  between  the  nasal  openings  of  each  side,  and  behind 
the  posterior  nostril  there  exists  a  more  minute  papilla,  all 
of  which  contribute  to  give  a  character  to  the  orifice  of  the 
mouth  different  from  that  of  Aiiguilla  or  Miirwna.  The 
eye  is  rather  small.  There  are  four  conspicuous  pores  on 
each  limb  of  the  mandible,  several  on  the  under  lip,  and 
three  on  each  side  of  the  snout  above  and  before  the  eye. 
The  nape  and  throat,  being  elastic,  bulge  out,  and  are  the 
thickest  parts  of  the  fish  :  they  are  marked  on  each  side 
by  about  twenty-four  fine  longitudinal  furrows,  which  run 
back  to  the  gill-openings.  The  elasticity  of  these  parts  is 
maintained  by  thirty-three  gill-rays,  which  spring  from 
each  branch  of  the  os  liyoides :  they  are  as  fine  as  horse 
hairs,  and  are  very  curiously  arranged  in  two  layers.  The 
rays  of  the  left  branch  make  an  abrupt  curve  across  the 
throat,  and  then  return  to  circle  round  the  left  operculum 
to  the  nape.  On  the  right  side,  the  twenty  uppermost  or 
posterior  rays  run  ventrad  of  the  left  rays,  curving  more 
than  half-way  across  the  throat,  and  returning  over  the  oper- 
culum to  the  right  side  of  the  nape;  while  the  thirteen  an- 
terior ones  sweep  at  once  to  the  left  side,  in  contact  with 
the  left  gill-sac,  and  consequently  above  or  dorsad  of  the 
rays  which  spring  from  the  left  branch  ;  they  then  curve 
backwards  across  the  throat  to  the  right  side,  where  they 
protrude  a  little  from  beneath  the  edge  of  the  other  rays. 

Gill-openings  wider  than  those  of  Miir(cmt,  and  lower 
down,  being  similar  in  appearance  to  those  of  AiiguiUa. 
Branchia;  four,  with  five  openings  at  their  bases  into  the 
gullet.  Pharyngeal  bones  armed  with  acute  teeth.  Heart 
posterior  to  the  branchiae,  and  placed  between  the  hinder 
lips  of  the  gill-openings.  The  humeral  arch  is  composed 
of  two  slender  bones  on  each  side,  which  do  not  meet 
their  fellows  on  the  ventral  line.  Pectoral  fin  oval,  of  mo- 
derate size,  sustained  by  sixteen  branching  rays. 


Body  nearly  cylindrical,  the  back  carrying  its  roundness 
far  past  the  anus,  and  the  tail,  which  is  more  compressed 
towards  the  tip,  retaining  its  lateral  convexity,  its  extreme 
tip  being  conical.  The  dorsal  commences  just  behind  the 
base  of  the  pectoral,  and  carries  its  width  well  down  the 
tail,  as  does  also  the  anal.  A  slight  increase  in  the  breadth 
of  the  fins  takes  place  just  before  they  suddenly  slope  off, 
leaving  the  extreme  point  of  the  tail  destitute  of  rays,  but 
edged  above  and  below  with  a  scarcely  perceptible  cuta- 
neous seam.  The  anus  is  placed  at  about  one-twelfth  of 
the  whole  length  of  the  fish  before  the  middle.  The  skin 
is  smooth,  without  scales,  and  there  is  no  perceptible  late- 
ral line.  The  specimen,  after  long  immersion  in  spirits, 
has  a  dusky  brown  colour,  darker  on  the  back,  paler  on  the 
belly,  and  without  spots. 

The  cojcal  stomach  tapers  to  a  point,  and  the  pylorus 
opens  obliquely  through  its  coasts,  at  its  upper  end,  so  as 
to  form  a  valvular  obstruction  to  the  return  of  matter  from 
the  gut.  A  spiral  valve  exists  in  the  lower  part  of  the  gut, 
like  that  which  occurs  in  the  Murce/ia;.  The  long  and 
slender  air-bladder  is  thickest  at  its  lower  end  near  the 
anus,  and  tapers  upwards  to  a  hair-like  point.  It  is  3y 
inches  long,  and  sends  an  air-duct  from  its  middle  to  the 
oesophagus. 

Length  of  the  fish  24  inches.  To  anus  1 05  inches. 
To  gill-opening  2'6  inches. 

Hab.  Port  Essington. 

Cuvier  notices  only  two  groups  of  Ophisuri  in  his  Regne 
Animal,  one  having  acute  cutting  teeth  and  pectorals  of 
the  ordinary  size,  and  the  other  blunt  teeth  and  extremely 
small  pectorals  ;  but  he  mentions  none  which  have  pecto- 
rals as  large  as  in  Aiujnilla  combined  with  small  flat- 
crowned  teeth,  like  to  those  of  cancrlvorus.  Two  other 
Ophisuri  of  the  same  gi-oup  exist  in  the  British  Museum, 
one  of  which,  procured  from  Sincapore,  resembles  cancri- 
vorus  closely,  except  that  the  snout  is  comparatively 
shorter,  and  the  dorsal  begins  a  very  little  farther  forward, 
viz.,  opposite  to  the  basal  third  of  the  pectoral,  and  also 
that  the  pectoral  itself  is  a  little  larger.  The  length  of  the 
fish  is  14  inches.  The  anus  is  only  14  inches  from  the  tip 
of  the  snout,  or  rather  farther  forward  than  in  cancrivonts. 
To  the  gill-opening  3'1  inches.  The  colour  is  a  purer 
chestnut  brown,  paler  below  the  middle,  and  resolvable 
there,  when  viewed  through  a  lens,  into  minute  specks. 
The  fins  are  dark,  and  the  lateral  line  is  marked  by  a  series 
of  minute,  distant  pores.  The  differences  I  have  pointed 
out  may  perhaps  be  only  individual  variations,  and  without 
access  to  a  series  of  specimens  it  would  be  unsafe  to  name 
this  fish  as  a  species  distinct  from  cancrirorus.  The  other 
specimen  was  procured  at  the  Philippine  Islands  b}^  Mr. 
Cuming,  and  is  larger,  but  without  any  marked  difference 
in  form. 


Ophisurus  sinensis.     Richardson. 

In  the  Cambridge  Philosophical  Institution  there  is  an 
Ophisunis,  brought  from  China  by  the  Rev.  George 
Vachell,  which  has  so  great  an  external  resemblance  to 


cancrivoriis,  that  it  might  readily  be  confounded  with  it. 
The  following  differences,  however,  appear  to  exist,  if  the 
notes  I  made  at  Cambridge  be  correct,  for  I  have  not  com- 
pared the  specimens.  The  dorsal  and  anal  lower  more 
posteriorly  before  they  swell  out  gradually,  and  contract 
again  as  gradually  for  an  inch  anterior  to  their  termination, 
close  to  the  apex  of  the  tail.  The  bands  of  teeth  on  the 
several  bones  are  narrower. 

Length  19^  inches.  To  anus  7f  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 205  inches. 

Hab.  Canton. 

Without  further  examination,  I  cannot  confidently  pro- 
pose this  as  a  species  distinct  from  cancrirorits  or  the 
varieties  noticed  above  as  inhabiting  the  seas  of  the  Mo- 
luccas and  Straits  of  Sincapore. 

Another  species  resembling  cancrivoriis  in  its  dentition, 
pectorals  and  general  form,  is  the 


Ophisukus  semicinctus.     Richardson. 


The  nasal  teeth,  about  thirty-three  in  number,  are  dis- 
posed in  a  convex  oblong-oval  disk,  which  is  not  separated 
by  a  distinct  line  liom  the  vomerine  teeth.  The  latter  run 
far  back,  and  are  placed  two  deep  anteriorly,  four  in  the 
middle  parts,  and  two  again  posteriorly.  The  palatine 
teeth  form  two  or  three  irregular  rows,  and  the  teeth  of  the 
mandible  are  mostly  ranged  in  three  rows,  which  increase 
to  four  near  the  symphysis.  The  dorsal  commences  about 
an  inch  before  the  gill-opening,  and,  together  with  the 
anal,  carries  most  of  its  breadth  to  near  the  tip  of  the  tail, 
where  both  fins  slope  suddenly  away.  The  extreme  tip  of 
the  tail  is  roundish,  conical  and  rigid,  but  not  pungent. 
Pectoral  fin  moderately  large,  sustained  by  twelve  rays, 
and  tipped  with  brown. 

Colours  much  faded.  A  black  spot,  flanked  by  two 
others,  marks  the  hind  head,  and  the  top  and  sides  of  the 
jaws  are  covered  with  brown  dots  of  the  size  of  swan-shot. 
The  body  is  banded  by  eighteen  large  deep  purplish-brown 
spots  or  bars,  that  fade  away  a  little  below  the  lateral  line, 
except  the  three  last,  which  encircle  the  tail.  The  dorsal 
and  anal  are  edged  with  blackish-brown. 

Length  2875  inches.  To  anus  12'25  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  312  inches. 

The  origin  of  this  specimen  is  unknown.  It  was  sent 
from  the  College  of  Surgeons  to  the  British  Museum,  and 
is  labelled  813,  and  2,  45,  29,  15.  Some  verdigris  in 
the  spirit  in  which  ihe  specimen  has  been  kept  has  tinged 
the  teeth  a  rich  green.  Another  specimen,  which  is  dried, 
was  brought  by  one  of  the  Earl  of  Derby's  collector*  from 
Western  Africa,  and  presented  by  his  lordship  to  the 
British  Museum.  Its  teeth  are  white,  and  its  length  28 
inches. 

This  species  differs  from  pardalis  in  having  considerably 
larger  pectorals ;  and  from  maciilosus,  intertinctiis  and 
siigillatiis  in  having  blunt  teeth.  In  its  markings  it  bears 
a  more  or  less  close  resemblance  to  all  these. 

Hab.  Western  Africa,  north  of  the  Equator. 


Ophisuri's  boro.     Buchanan-Hamilton 


Ophisurus  boro,  Buchanan  -  Hamilton,  Fish  of  Ganges,  p.  20,  363. 
Gray,  111.  Inil.  Zoul.  i.  PI.  95,  f.  1.  Haidw.  Icon.  ined.  301  in  Museo 
Brit.  serv. 


This  Ojiliisiiriis  agrees  with  cnncrirortis  in  having  a 
conspicuous  pectoral  and  blunt  teeth,  but  it  is  a  more 
slender  species,  with  a  smaller  head.  The  specimen 
described  below  is  certainly  the  one  figured  in  the  '  Illus- 
trations of  Indian  Zoology,'  and  agrees  with  Hardwicke's 
drawing  above  quoted,  which  is  probably  a  copy  of  one  of 
Hamilton-Buchanan's,  being  marked  M.  H.  B.  335,  but 
its  pectoral,  though  small,  cannot  be  said  to  be  "  minute," 
as  stated  in  the  specific  character  given  by  the  latter 
author.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  he  had  not  observed 
the  rudimentary  pectorals  of  the  Ophisuri  of  the  next 
group,  and  by  the  word  '  minute'  meant  merely  to  denote 
the  comparatively  small  size  of  the  pectorals,  as  contrasted 
with  those  of  some  others  of  the  Aii(juillidai. 

Its  dentition  is  similar  to  that  of  caiicrivorns,  but  the 
bands  are  narrower,  and  the  teeth  smaller  and  more  uniform 
in  size,  except  the  centi'al  nasal  ones,  which  are  a  little 
larger.  The  nasal  cluster  contains  in  one  specimen  only 
three  teeth,  and  there  are  generally  about  three  irregular 
rows  in  the  vomer,  palatines  and  mandible.  The  dorsal 
commences  nearly  an  inch  behind  the  gill-opening,  and, 
together  with  the  anal,  gradually  narrows,  until  it  can  no 
longer  be  traced  very  near  the  tip  of  the  tail,  which  is 
edged  to  the  apex  by  a  cutaneous  fold  above  and  below. 

This  specimen,  which  has  been  long  immersed  in  spirits, 
is  pale  brown.  The  belly  is  lighter,  and  the  fins  whitish. 
The  drawing  is  coloured  dark  green,  with  minute  specks. 

Length  24-6  inches.  To  anus  99  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  2'1  inches. 

Hab.  Indian  Ocean.  JDstuaries  of  rivers  and  salt-water 
lakes. 


Ophisurus  breviceps.     Richardson. 

An  Opiiisiiriis  in  the  British  Museum,  remarkable  for 
its  short  blunt  head,  but  having  the  lower  jaw,  as  usual, 
shorter  than  the  upper  one ;  may  be  considered  as  inter- 
mediate between  the  preceding  species  and  the  group 
mentioned  below, —  agreeing  with  the  former  in  dentition 
and  general  aspect,  and  with  the  latter  in  its  very  small 
pectoral,  attached  like  a  valve  to  the  lip  of  the  gill-open- 
ing. This  pectoral  contains  twelve  rays.  The  dorsal 
commences  near  the  occiput  before  the  gill-opening,  and 
tapers  gradually  away,  so  as  to  become  nearly  impercepti- 
ble before  it  actually  terminates,  about  five  lines  from  the 
tip  of  the  tail,  which  is  more  compressed  than  it  usually 
is  in  this  genus.  The  anal  vanishes  in  a  similar  way  op- 
posite to  the  end  of  the  dorsal.  Head  short  and  thick,  with 
a  comparatively  wide  snout.     Eye  and  gape  both  small. 

Group  of  bluntish  teeth  on  the  nasal  bone  circular,  se- 
parated from  the  triserial  vomerine  ones,  which  run  far 
back  and  end  in  a  single  row.      The  palatine  teeth  are 

R  2 


100 


small,  biserial  and  blunt,  and  form  a  short  row  in  accord- 
ance with  the  small  gape. 

Length   38  inches.     To   anus   18'75   inches.     To   gill- 


opening 


3  inches. 


This   specimen   came  from  the  College   of  Surgeons, 
where  it  was  numbered  812. 
Hab.  Unknown. 


spots,  of  various  sizes,  fading  into  the  ground  tint,  and 
forming  two  principal  rows  on  the  flanks.  The  belly  is 
more  white,  the  spots  smaller  and  fainter. 

Hab.  Rocky  basins  at  Lancerolta,  among  sea-weeds. 


Ophisurus  fasciatus.     Thunberg.     [Murwtia). 


Ophisurus  pardalis.     Valenciennes. 

Ophisurus  pardatis,  Valenc.  Webb,  et  Bertli.  Canaries,  p.  90,  PI.  16, 
tig.  2. 

Though  I  have  not  seen  a  specimen  of  this  fish,  yet,  to 
render  the  account  of  the  species  more  complete,  I  have 
transferred  the  subjoined  description  of  it  from  M.  Valen- 
ciennes' able  account  published  in  Webb  and  Bertholet's 
book  on  the  Canaries. 

It  belongs  to  the  group  of  OpJiisuri,  which  have  blunt 
teeth  and  rudimentary  pectorals.  Its  cylindrical  body  be- 
comes gradually  conical  at  the  end.  The  mean  height  of 
the  trunk  is  contained  thirty-seven  times  and  a  half  in  the 
whole  length  ;  and  the  distance  from  the  end  of  the  snout 
to  the  base  of  the  pectoral  is  contained  twelve  times  in  the 
same  entire  length,  but  only  five  limes  up  to  the  anus. 
The  head  and  cheeks  are  moderately  swollen,  owing  to  the 
size  of  the  crotaphite  muscles.  The  mouth  is  cleft  beyond 
the  eye,  whose  diameter  is  contained  twice  between  its 
anterior  border  and  the  lip  of  the  snout,  four  times  in  the 
length  of  the  orifice  of  the  mouth,  and  twice  and  a  half 
between  the  eyes.  The  region  of  the  gills  bulges  consi- 
derably ;  the  opening  is  small.  The  obtuse  teeth  are 
ranked  in  two  series  along  the  intermaxillary  (palate-bone 
of  Owen),  which  is  articulated,  as  in  the  Aiiffuilliformes,  to 
the  posterior  border  of  the  chevron  of  the  vomer  (nasal- 
bone,  Owen),  which  projects  to  the  end  of  the  snout.  This 
whole  extremity  of  the  vomer  (nasal,  Owen)  and  its  body 
(vomer,  Owen),  are  covered  with  many  rows  of  small  obtuse 
teeth.  There  is  also  a  band  on  the  limb  of  the  mandible. 
The  two  openings  of  the  nostrils  are  tubular,  and  pierce 
the  edge  of  the  jaw  :  the  anterior  one  is  near  the  extremity 
of  the  snout,  and  its  tube  hangs  down  on  one  side  like  a 
small  barbel ;  the  posterior  one  opens  under  the  middle  of 
the  eye,  and  its  orifice  is  covered  by  a  tubular  papilla 
placed  on  its  outer  border.  When  the  skin  is  removed, 
one  perceives  a  large  nasal  sac,  which  is  covered  by  the 
great  nasal-bone  (turbinate  bone,  Owen),  which  is  vaulted 
to  make  room  for  the  nostril;  beneath  the  sub-orbitar,  in 
form  of  a  thin  plate,  edges  the  intermaxillary  (palatine, 
Owen).  On  raising  the  soft  parts  of  the  palate,  we  may  per- 
ceive a  very  thin  palatine,  succeeded  by  very  small  alar 
bones,  wholly  rudimentary,  which  nevertheless  form  the 
arch  connected  with  the  limb  of  the  mandible.  The  dorsal 
begins  at  the  nape,  ami  appears  to  become  higher  and 
lower  several  times  in  the  course  of  its  length.  The  anal 
is  more  equal.  The  pectorals  are  very  small,  but  yet  their 
rays  are  perceptible.  The  only  vestige  of  a  lateral  line  is 
a  series  of  distant  pores,  not  easily  traced. 

The  ground  colour  is  whitish,  dotted  with  round  brown 


Muriena  fasciata,  Thunberg,  Spec.  Ichtb.  t.  2,  f.  1.     An.  1789—94. 

Gymnotkorax  fasciatus,  Bl.  Schn.  529. 

Op/ihiswus  alternan-s,  Quoy  et  Gaini.  Voy.  du  Freyc.  PI.  45,  f.  2. 


Teeth  small,  short-conical  and  bluntish.  The  oval  nasal 
disk  is  covered  by  eight  or  nine  of  them,  which  are  conti- 
guous to  the  commencement  of  the  biserial  vomerine  ones. 
The  palatine  teeth  are  uniserial,  but  they  stand  alternately 
a  little  to  the  right  and  left.  Mandibular  teeth  also  uni- 
serial. Pectoral  minute,  like  a  roll  of  skin,  with  no  per- 
ceptible rays  under  a  common  lens.  Fins  low,  the  anal 
ending  3  inches  from  the  tip  of  the  tail,  but  a  furrow, 
pierced  by  a  series  of  fine  pores,  occupies  the  interval. 
Dorsal  disappearing  about  f  of  an  inch  from  the  tip  of  the 
tail.  It  is  sufficiently  distinct  at  the  occiput,  and,  like  the 
anal,  it  lowers  gradually  before  it  ceases  to  be  traceable. 
The  skin  round  the  mouth  is  papular.  The  head  is  small, 
the  snout  blunt,  and  the  mandible  shorter.  The  gape 
small.     The  body  compressed. 

The  colour  is  bluish-gray,  varied  by  thirty-three  pale 
chestnut-brown  rings,  which  cross  the  fins,  and  in  the  in- 
tervals there  is  generally  one  round  brown  sjiot,  but  occa- 
sionally two,  and  then  one  of  them  is  placed  over  the  other. 
Lateral  line  distinct. 

Length  2C'5  inches.  To  gill-opening  IS  inch.  To 
anus  12  inches. 

Tliree  specimens  exist  in  the  British  Museum,  and  there 
is  one  in  the  Leyden  Museum,  from  India,  labelled  Ophi- 
surus colubrimis. 

Hab.  Malay  Archipelago.     Indian  Ocean. 


Ophisurus  coutbrinus.     Boddaert. 

Murmna  colnbrina,  Boddaert,  apud  Pall.  Bevtr.  xi.  p.  5(3,  t.  2,  f.  3. 
Au.  1781—90. 

Murmna  aiinulala,  Thunberg,  Spec.  Ichtb.  viii.  t.  1 ,  f .  I.  An. 
1789—94. 

Gymnotkorax  unnuhUus,  Bl.  Scbn.  p.  527. 

Lacepede  (v.  p.  642,  PI.  19,  f  1)  describes  and  figures  a 
Mureenophis  colubriua,  which  he  refers  erroneously  to  the 
Murcena  coluhrbm  of  Boddaert,  Thunberg  and  Gmelin. 
The  latter  fish  has  about  sixty  rings  of  colour  on  the  body, 
which  are  alternately  black  and  white  ;  whereas  Lacepede's 
figure,  besides  representing  the  fin  as  surrounding  the 
point  of  the  tail,  shows  only  about  half  that  number  of 
rings.  Having  found  a  Murana  in  the  British  Museum, 
which  corresponds  with  I-acepede's  figure  above  quoted,  I 
described  it  above  at  page  88,  under  the  specific  name  of 
colubrina,  quoting  Commerson  as  the  discoverer,  under  the 


101 


authoritj  of  Lacepede,but  rejecting  the  synonyms  of  Bod- 
daevt  and  Thunberg,  which  relate  to  a  true  Ophisurus,  of 
which  a  specimen  exists  in  the  Museum  at  Ilaslar,  and  tiie 
description  follows. 

Teeth  short-conical,  blimtish,  small.  Nasal  teeth  about 
six,  ranged  in  two  rows,  and  alternating  so  that  there  is  an 
odd  one  in  front.  Vomerine  teeth  uuiserial  in  front,  bi- 
serial  posteriorly.  There  are  about  eight  in  each  row  pos- 
teriorly, and  four  single  ones  anteriorly,  between  which  and 
the  vomerine  disk  there  is  a  smooth  space.  The  palatine 
teeth  commence  posterior  to  the  beginning  of  the  vomerine 
teeth,  and  consequently  at  some  distance  from  the  nasal 
ones,  but  reach  rather  past  the  angle  of  the  mouth.  There 
are  fourteen  or  fifteen  on  each  side,  and  two  or  three  anterior 
pairs,  being  set  alternately,  make  the  series  double  there, 
but  the  nine  posterior  ones  stand  in  a  single  row.  The 
mandibular  teeth  are  placed  in  a  single  row  on  the  lateral 
limbs  of  the  bone,  but  at  the  symphysis  the  teeth  are  a 
little  larger,  and  two  interior  ones  on  each  side  give  a 
clustered  appearance  to  the  dentition  at  the  end  of  the 
jaw. 

This  Ophisurus  is  a  long  slender  species,  with  a  small 
head,  closely  resembling  Ophisurus  fasciatus  in  form. 
The  head  is  narrow,  but  the  upper  jaw  is  obtuse,  with  a 
tubular  nostril  sticking  out  on  each  side.  The  other  nos- 
tril and  upper  lip  have  likewise  the  generic  character. 
Lower  jaw  considerably  shorter  than  the  upper  one.  Body 
compressed,  becoming  gradually  more  so  towards  the  tail. 
Fins  low.  Pectoral  very  small  and  delicate,  but  the  rays 
are  nevertheless  perceptible  by  the  aid  of  a  common  lens. 
Dorsal  fold  commencing  over  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  and 
ending  half  an  inch  from  the  point  of  the  tail,  having  pre- 
viously gradually  lowered,  so  as  to  be  visible  only  by  aid 
of  a  lens.  Anal  ending  about  three  quarters  of  an  inch 
from  the  point  of  the  tail,  which  is  compressed,  and  tapers 
gradually.  Lateral  line  evident  to  the  naked  eye,  and 
composed  of  an  almost  continuous  waving  tube,  with  a 
pore  at  each  flexure.  Body  marked  by  a  series  of 
bluish-gray,  almost  white,  rings,  alternating  with  as  many 
blackish-brown  ones,  occupying  nearly  equal  spaces.  In 
the  specimen  here  described  there  are  twenty-eight  rings 
of  each  colour,  not  reckoning  the  white  speck  covering  the 
tip  of  the  nose.  The  first  pale  ring  encircles  the  hind 
head,  and  just  touches  the  eye  and  the  angle  of  the  mouth  ; 
the  last  one  includes  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  first  black 
bar  reaches  from  the  anterior  nostril  to  the  eye,  and  takes 
in  most  of  the  lower  jaw. 

Length  18' 5  inches.  To  anus  8"5  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  1  inch.     Height  of  body  0"2  inch. 

A  specimen  in  the  British  Museum,  measuring  26  inches 
in  total  length,  and  12'5  inches  from  tip  of  snout  to  anus, 
has  thirty  rings  of  each  colour;  and  the  anal  can  scarcely 
be  traced  beyond  two  inches  and  a  half  from  the  tip  of  the 
tail,  though  its  existence  farther  on  a  little  way  is  indicated 
by  a  furrow.  A  specimen  in  the  Museum  at  Leyden  re- 
sembles the  one  described  above  in  having  twenty-eight 
black  rings :  this  individual  was  obtained  in  India.  Ano- 
ther, taken  at  the  Moluccas,  and  preserved  in  the  same 
Museum,  has  thirty-two  dark  or  blackish  bands,  which  do 
not  meet   on  the  belly.     The  ground  colour  is  whitish. 


These  fish  being  kept  in  jars  closed  by  bladder  and  varnish, 
no  examination  of  their  teeth,  &c.,  could  be  instituted.  A 
third  specimen  at  Leyden  has  been  named  as  the  alternaus 
of  Quoy  and  Gaimard,  but  it  wants  the  intermediate 
spots. 

Hab.    Malay     Archipelago.       Moluccas.      Polynesia. 
India. 


Ophisurus  fallens.     Richardson. 

Nasal  teeth  five  in  number,  the  odd  one  in  front.  Vo- 
merine teeth  triserial.  Palatine  teeth  biserial,  meeting  the 
vomerine  ones  immediately  behind  the  nasal  disk.  Man- 
dibular teeth  biserial  in  Iront,  uniserial  posteriorly.  All 
the  teeth  are  short  and  conico-subulate  or  conic  and  acute; 
the  nasal  and  front  mandibular  ones  are  stouter  and  more 
prominent  than  the  others.  Dorsal  and  anal  ending  opposite 
to  each  other,  within  two  lines  of  the  tip  of  the  tail.  The 
general  appearance  of  this  Ophisurus  is  like  that  of  Iiijalu. 
Its  lateral  line  is  similar,  and  the  pectoral  consideraV/iy 
smaller.  The  vertical  fins  are  low,  and  taper  gradually 
away.  The  dorsal  commences  as  far  behind  the  gill- opening 
as  that  is  distant  from  the  ti]5  of  the  snout.  The  colour  is 
a  pale  honey-yellow  or  faint  wood-brown,  lighter  on  the 
belly,  and  without  spots.  The  specimen  was  brought  from 
China,  and  presented  to  the  British  Museum  by  John 
Reeves,  Esq.  It  has  been  immersed  in  spirits  for  some 
years. 

Length  lit)  inches.  To  anus  4'4  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  085  inch.  Length  of  pectoral  0'40  inch.  Gape 
0-35  inch. 

Hab.  China. 

Obs. — I  described  this  specimen  in  the  '  Report  on  the 
Ichthyology  of  China,'  p.  313,  as  referrible,  though  with 
doubt,  to  the  Ophisurus  harancha  of  Buchanan-Hamilton, 
but  on  further  consideration  I  think  it  safer  to  give  a  pro- 
per name  to  the  Chinese  specimen,  which,  had  it  been  ori- 
ginally as  dark  as  the  harancha  is  represented  to  be  in 
number  302  of  Hardwicke's  Indian  drawings,  could 
scarcely  have  become  so  pale  by  simple  maceration  in 
spirits  as  it  is  now.  I  suspect  that  an  eiTor  has  crept  into 
my  notes  with  regard  to  the  specimen  of  harancha  from 
India,  which  I  have  mentioned  in  my  Report  on  Chinese 
Fish  as  existing  in  the  British  Museum,  since  I  could  not 
find  it  on  my  recent  examination  of  the  species  in  that  col- 
lection, and  I  cannot  therefore  speak  of  the  characters  of 
harancha  from  the  actual  inspection  of  a  specimen. 

In  the  Museum  of  the  Cambridge  Philosophical  Institu- 
tion there  is  an  Ophisurus,  procured  at  Canton  by  the  Rev. 
George  Vachell,  which,  on  inspecting  it  there,  but  without 
a  comparison  with  the  specimens  in  the  British  Museum, 
seemed  to  me  to  possess  the  characters  ascribed  by  Bu- 
chanan-Hamilton to  harancha.  I  find  that  I  have  noted 
it  as  a  slender  species  with  very  low  fins,  having  a  pecto- 
ral of  an  elliptical  form,  supported  by  thirteen  rays,  with 
its  lip  just  passing  the  small  depression  or  pit  which  marks 
the  origin  of  the  dorsal.  The  termination  of  the  dorsal 
and  anal  could  not  be  distinctly  made  out,  but  the  lip  of 


102 


the  tail  shows  an  edge  of  sliin  above  and  below  without 
rays.  The  mouth  is  cleft  past  the  eye.  The  teeth  are 
stoutly  subulate.  The  nasal  ones  taller  than  the  rest. 
Palatine  ones  biserial,  the  rows  short.  Mandibular  ones 
uniserial  posteriorly,  biserial  in  front,  the  rows  farther 
apart  than  the  palatine  ones.  Vomerine  teeth  biserial  in 
front,  uniserial  posteriorly.  It  thus  differs  from  pallens  in 
the  vomerine  teeth.  Its  colour  is  brown  on  the  back,  pale 
beneath.  Length  14^^  inches.  To  anus  5*3  inches.  To 
dorsal  19  inch.  To  gill-opening  5'55  inches.  Length  of 
pectoral  ^  an  inch.       Hab.  Chinese  Seas. 


Ophisurus  hijala.     Buchanan-Hamilton. 


Ophisurvs  hijala,  Bticli. -Hamilton,  Ganges,  p.  20  and  263,  PI.  5, 
f.  .5.     Hardw.  Icon.  ined.  Brit.  Mas.  300. 


This  is  a  vermiform  s]iecics,  with  a  rather  small,  but  not 
a  rudimentary,  pectoral.  The  specimen  described  below 
was  bequeathed  to  the  British  Museum  by  General  Hard- 
wicke. 

The  teeth  are  short,  conico- subulate  and  acute,  stoutest 
on  the  nasal  bone  and  in  front  of  the  mandible.  There  are 
five  on  the  nasal  disk,  viz.,  two  on  each  side  and  an  odd 
one  in  front.  The  vomerine  teeth  are  biserial,  and  com- 
mence in  contact  with  the  nasal  disk.  The  palatine  teeth 
are  also  biserial,  and  the  mandibular  ones  biserial  in  front 
but  uniserial  laterally. 

The  head  is  small ;  the  body  long,  roundish  and  slender, 
the  conical  tip  of  the  tail  being  compressed,  but  yet  convex 
on  the  sides.  The  dorsal  commences  behind  the  tip  of 
the  pectoral,  and,  like  the  anal,  gradually  lowers  till  very 
near  the  tip  of  the  tail,  where  they  terminate.  In  Buchanan- 
Hamilton's  figure,  the  dorsal  approaches  a  little  nearer  to 
the  tip  than  the  anal,  M'hich  is  usual  in  the  genus,  but  this 
part  of  the  form  could  not  be  clearly  made  out  in  the  spe- 
cimen, owing  to  the  lowness  of  the  fins  and  their  contrac- 
tion in  the  spirit.  The  lateral  line  is  marked  by  a  groove, 
which  was  probably  a  tube  in  the  recent  fish,  with  pores 
at  distant  intervals  descending  from  it. 

Length  14-8  inches.  To  anus  5-7  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  1'15  inch. 

Buchanan-Hamilton  describes  this  Ophisurus  as  being 
of  a  whitish  hue  beneath  and  thickly  covered  with  green 
dots  above,  the  dots  descending  below  the  lateral  line  be- 
fore the  vent,  but  terminating  at  it  posteriorly.  There  is 
also  a  series  of  pale  round  contiguous  spots  on  the  lateral 
line  before  the  vent.  He  states  the  rays  as  "  P.  8 ;  D. 
from  230  to  240  ;  A.  170."  General  Hardwicke's  drawing 
is  coloured  very  pale  green  on  the  back,  with  minute 
specks,  whitish  on  the  belly,  and  aurora-red  on  the  vertical 
fins.  In  the  Retjiie  Animal  (ii.  p.  351,  note)  the  hijala  of 
Buchanan-Hamilton  is  quoted  as  a  synonym  of  the  Oph. 
ophis,  Bl.  1.54,  but,  evidently  by  a  typographical  error,  the 
line  separating  distinct  species'haviug  been  omitted. 

Hab.  India.  General  Hardwicke's  specimen  was  pro- 
cured from  a  salt-water  lake. 


Ophisurus  maculosus.     Cuvier .? 


Ophisurus  maculosus,  Cuv.  Eegne  Anim.  ii.  p.  351,  i 
Ophisure  ophis,  Lacep.  ii.  PI.  6,  tig.  2. 


The  fish  described  below  agrees  with  Lacepede's  figure 
above  quoted,  which  does  not  represent  the  Miircetia  ophis 
of  Bloch,  but  his  description  (ii.  p.  196),  which  notices 
"  dents  recourbees,"  most  probably  refers  to  Bloch's  fish. 
Not  having  seen  an  authenticated  specimen  of  Cuvier's 
maculosus,  the  only  reason  1  have  for  supposing  tliis  to  be 
the  same  is  that  author's  reference  to  Lacepede's  figure. 
It  has  much  resemblance  to  the  Ophisurus  pardalis  of 
Valenciennes,  and  without  a  comparison  of  specimens, 
which  I  have  not  the  means  of  instituting,  I  cannot  point 
out  the  difl'erences  clearly.  They  are,  however,  inhabitants 
of  different  oceans. 

The  teeth  are  all  small,  conic  and  acute ;  eight  stand  ir- 
regularly on  the  oval  disk  of  the  nasal  bone.  The  vomerine, 
palatine  and  mandibular  teeth  are  biserial.  Valenciennes 
mentions  "  de  dents  obtuses  sur  plusieurs  rangs"  as  existing 
in  his  similarly-marked  pardalis  on  the  nasal  bone  and  vo- 
mer, or,  as  he  names  these  bones,  the  chevron  and  body  of 
the  vomer.  The  fish  is  slender,  becoming  compressed  to- 
wards the  tip  of  the  tail.  The  pectoral  is  of  a  semicircular 
form,  small  and  delicate,  but  easily  visible  to  the  naked 
eye,  and  is  supported  by  fifteen  rays.  Only  twelve  rays 
are  described  as  belonging  to  the  pectoral  of  pardalis. 
The  distance  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  to  the  gill-opening 
is  contained  eight  times  in  the  distance  between  the  snout 
and  anus,  and  eighteen  times  in  the  total  length  of  the 
fish,  which  places  the  gill-opening  farther  forward  than  in 
pardalis.  The  dorsal  begins  at  the  occiput,  and,  in  com- 
mon with  the  anal,  gradually  lowers  towards  the  end  of  the 
tail.  They  terminate  opposite  to  each  other,  very  near  the 
extreme  tip  of  the  tail.  The  body  is  marked  with  round 
brown  spots,  disposed  in  three  rows  in  a  quincnncial  man- 
ner. The  spots  of  pardalis  are  more  oblong  and  less 
regular. 

Length  22  inches.  To  anus  9'25  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing r25  inch. 

Two  specimens  exist  in  the  British  Museum. 

Hab.  Madagascar.' 


Ophisurus  intertinctus.     Richardson. 

The  teeth  generally  are  subulate  and  acute,  more  or  less 
slender,  and  mostly  inclined  backwards.  The  nasal  disk 
is  set  round  the  edge  with  five  small  ones,  the  odd  one  be- 
ing at  the  point  of  the  rather  acute  snout,  and  there  are 
three  larger  teeth  on  the  mesial  line,  the  foremost  of  which 
is  stoutly  subulate,  but  not  so  tall  as  the  second  one.  The 
biserial  vomerine  teeth  commence  close  to  the  nasal  disk, 
and  run  backwards  for  two-thirds  of  the  way  to  the  angle 
of  the  mouth.  The  palatine  teeth  are  biserial  in  the  mid- 
dle, where  the  inner  row  is  composed  of  thirteen  teeth,  not 
so  tall  as  the  outer  ones.  There  are  four  tall  ones  anteri- 
orly in  a  single  row,  and  four  small  ones  at  the  corner  of 


103 


the  mouth,  following  the  double  rows.  The  mandibular 
teeth  are  biserial  on  the  sides  of  the  bone,  the  outer  row 
being  taller  and  more  widely  set,  the  inner  row  being  close, 
even  and  move  numerous.  In  front  there  are  six  longer 
teeth  in  a  single  row  on  each  limb,  the  posterior  of  these 
being  the  tallest,  the  others  gradually  lessening  towards 
the  symphysis. 

This  Ophisitrus  resembles  ocellatus  in  the  snout  not 
being  truncated  between  the  anterior  tubular  nostrils,  but 
projecting  in  a  conical  form  beyond  these  organs,  and  in 
the  lower  jaw  not  being  conspicuously  shorter.  The  gape 
is  also  prett}'  large,  in  accordance  with  its  well-developed 
prehensile  teeth,  and  the  pectoral  visible  enough,  though 
not  large.  The  dorsal  commences  some  little  way  behind 
the  tip  of  the  moderately  large  pectoral,  or  three  quarters 
of  an  inch  behind  the  gill-opening,  and  ends  opposite  to 
the  end  of  the  anal,  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  from  the 
apex  of  the  tail.  Both  fins,  having  previously  become 
verj'  low,  dilate  a  little  gradually  before  they  terminate. 

The  head  is  brownish  above,  with  small  dark  spots  and 
specks,  and  there  are  minute  dots  on  the  lower  jaw.  There 
are  about  sixteen  large  oval  or  round  blackish-brown  spots 
on  the  sides,  mostly  above  the  lateral  line ;  one  or  two 
only  come  below  the  line,  and  a  few  on  the  dorsal  alternate 
with  the  others. 

Length  12'7  inches.  To  anus  5'9  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  1'4  inches. 

Hab.  West  Indies.  The  specimen  described  is  in  the 
British  Museum. 

Obs. — An  OphisHJUs  labelled  rnaculatus  in  the  Leyden 
Museum,  and  noted  as  having  come  from  Surinam,  is,  I 
suspect,  this  species ;  but  being  enclosed  in  a  permanently 
covered  jar,  I  could  examine  it  only  through  the  glass.  I 
have  had  no  opportunity  of  knowing  what  the  Ophisurus 
yuttcdus  of  Cuvier  is  like,  and  consequently  run  the  hazard 
of  its  being  one  of  the  species  1  have  described.  A  spe- 
cimen in  the  Leyden  Museum,  labelled  "  Ophisunis  gut- 
tatus,  Valenciennes,"  is  marked  with  large  white  spots,  and 
has  pale  fins,  and  may  probably  be  a  variety  of  Le  Sueur's 
ocellatus.  Another  individual,  from  Cura^oa,  in  the  same 
Museum,  labelled  "  Oph.  guttatus,  Cuvier,"  has  black 
spots  with  white  centres. 


Ophisurds  spadiceus.     Richardson. 


Ophisurus  spadiceus,  Richaidsou,  Fishes  of  China,  Report  to  Brit, 
see.  for  1845,  p.  313. 


Teeth  short,  even,  conico-subulate,  acute.  Nasal  disk 
armed  by  five,  disposed  in  a  row  on  each  side,  with  the  odd 
one  in  front.  Vomerine  teeth  alternate  or  sub-biserial  an- 
teriorly, but  ranged  more  exactly  in  one  line  posteriorly. 
Palatine  teeth  uniserial  and  close  set,  extending  from  the 
comer  of  the  mouth  to  the  commencement  of  the  vomerine 
series,  and  with  those  of  the  opposite  bone,  giving  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  cluster  at  the  point  of  contact  of  the  three 
rows.  There  are  twenty-two  in  each  palatine  bone. 
Mandibular  teeth  uniserial,  without  doubling  at  the  sym- 
physis. 


Body  vermiform.  Head  small.  Snout  narrow,  but 
truncated  at  the  tip,  with  short  tubular  nostrils  on  its  sides; 
the  posterior  nostrils  minute,  with  the  usual  lobulets  on 
the  edge  of  the  lip.  Lower  jaw  considerably  .shorter  than 
the  upper  one,  rounded  at  the  end.  Throat  plaited  and 
swelling.  Pectorals  lanceolate,  acute,  moderately  large, 
supported  by  eleven  rays.  Dorsal  and  anal  fins  low,  de- 
creasing on  the  tail,  but  becoming  gradually  a  little  higher, 
and  again  lowering  just  before  terminating  verj'  near  the 
tip  of  the  tail.  The  dorsal  commences  behind  the  tip  of 
the  pectoral.  The  rays  of  the  fins  can  be  readily  seen. 
Lateral  line  a  conspicuous  fold  of  skin. 

The  colour  of  the  .specimen,  after  some  years  of  macera- 
tion in  spirits,  is  darkish  wood-brown  above  the  lateral 
line,  and  whitish  beneath,  without  any  defined  spotting. 

Length  I  Si-  inches.  To  anus  4-8  inches.  Length  of 
pectoral  0'5.5  inch.  Height  of  body  0'4  inch.  In  the  Re- 
port to  the  British  Association  above  quoted,  the  distance 
between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and  the  anus  has  been  errone- 
ously given  as  5'8  inches. 

Hab.  Canton.  The  specimen  was  presented  to  the 
British  Museum  by  John  Reeves,  Esq. 


Ophisurds  versicolor.     Richardson. 

This  is  a  banded  species,  like  coliibriinis  and  fasciatitu, 
though  its  acute  subulate  teeth  place  it  in  a  different  sec- 
tion. The  nasal  disk  is  armed  with  nine  slender  reflex 
teeth,  viz.,  four  in  each  row  and  an  odd  one  in  front.  The 
vomerine  teeth  are  seventeen  in  number,  a  few  of  the  an- 
terior ones  being  inclined  alternately  to  the  right  and  left, 
and  the  remainder  strictly  uniserial.  Palatine  teeth  uni- 
serial, anteriorly  biserial  in  the  middle  after  the  sixth,  and 
then  uniserial  again  towards  the  corner  of  the  mouth,  where 
they  are  of  equal  height,  close,  reflex,  and,  like  the  others, 
acutely  subulate.  Mandibular  teeth  uniserial,  about  nine- 
teen on  each  limb,  all  reflex  and  subulate,  with  a  broadisli 
toothless  interval  at  the  symphysis. 

The  body  of  this  species  is  less  slender  and  more  rounded 
than  that  oi  fascial  us  or  coluhriiius,  the  pectoral  is  more 
conspicuous,  and  the  dorsal  and  anal  increase  gradually  in 
height  to  a  small  extent  before  they  begin  to  slope  away 
and  disappear  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  from  the  end  of 
the  tail.  The  dorsal  is  low,  and  commences  immediately 
behind  the  gill-opening.  The  body  is  varied  by  twenty- 
seven  purplish-brown  rings,  considerably  broader  than  the 
intervals  between  them ;  most  of  the  rings  are  further  di- 
vided more  or  less  completely  by  narrower  white  lines  or 
imperfect  circles.     Tips  of  the  snout  and  tail  white. 

Length  20"8  inches.     To  anus  lO'l  inches. 

Hab.  Moluccas.  Specimen  in  the  British  Museum  pur- 
chased of  Franks,  who  had  it  from  the  Leyden  Museum. 


Ophisurus  sugillatus.     Richardson. 

The  Ophisurus  semicinctus  and  pardalis,  which  are 
spotted  much  like  sugillatus,  differ  in  their  much  smaller 
pectorals  and  conical-obtuse  teeth,  with  smaller  mouths : 


104 


maculosm  and  intertbictus,  which  are  spotted  in  a  similar 
way,  have  also  smaller  pectorals. 

Gape  of  the  mouth  moderately  large,  exceeding  one 
third  of  the  distance  between  the  point  of  the  snout  and 
the  gill-opening,  and  equal  to  the  greatest  height  of  the 
body.  Eye  midway  between  the  tubular  anterior  nostrils 
and  angle  of  the  mouth,  small.  Snout  narrow  and  projecting 
some  way  beyond  the  nostrils,  but  not  acute.  Second 
nasal  opening  on  the  edge  of  the  lip,  under  the  eye,  with  the 
usual  lobulets.  Lower  jaw  rounded  at  the  end,  a  very  little 
shorter  than  the  upper  one.  The  integuments  of  the  head, 
above  and  below,  including  the  jaws,  the  neck,  the  throat, 
and  the  belly  half-way  to  the  anus,  are  wrinkled  by  short 
furrows,  which  for  the  most  part  run  longitudinally  and 
parallel  to  each  other.  The  height  of  the  body  equals  the 
twenty -eighth  part  of  the  whole  length.  The  pectoral  is 
moderately  large,  equalling  in  length  the  distance  from  the 
jjosterior  part  of  the  orbit  to  the  point  of  the  snout.  The 
dorsal  commences  a  short  way  farther  back  than  the  tip  of  the 
pectoral,  and  terminates  within  half  an  inch  of  the  acute  point 
of  the  tail,  oppo.site  to  the  end  of  the  anal,  both  fins  having 
previously  gradually  lowered.  The  lateral  line,  consisting 
of  a  continuous  series  of  short  tubes  with  porous  openings, 
is  conspicuous  enough.  The  jaws  and  nape  are  covered  with 
large  black  blotches,  sepai'ated  by  smaller  pale,  probably 
yellowish,  intervals.  The  nuchal  black  patch  descends  like 
a  ring  a  little  way  behind  the  mouth,  and  runs  forward  on 
llie  under  surface  between  the  limbs  of  the  mandible,  and 
backwards  nearly  to  the  gill-opening.  There  is  a  yellow- 
ish patch  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth,  and  another  on  the 
side  of  the  throat.  The  top  of  the  head  and  temples,  and 
the  back  and  sides  of  the  neck,  have  a  bluish-gray  colour, 
with  many  round  black  dots  the  size  of  swan-shot.  The 
back  and  sides  are  marked  by  many  large  brownish-black 
roundish  or  oval  spots,  from  the  size  of  a  chestnut  down  to 
that  of  a  pea,  irregularly  disposed,  but  with  three  principal 
rows,  the  middle  one  being  on  the  lateral  line  and  num- 
bering about  twenty-seven  spots  :  these  mostly  alternate 
with  the  series  on  the  top  of  the  back.  The  spots  on  the 
belly  are  small  and  distant.  The  colours  are  described 
from  the  dried  specimen,  and  have  faded  on  the  fins,  which, 
however,  retain  traces  of  spots. 

Teeth  rather  stoutly  subulate,  longish  and  considerably 
recurved.  The  small  and  narrow  nasal  disk  is  ai-med  by 
five,  one  in  front,  one  on  each  side,  and  two  in  contact 
with  the  commencement  of  the  vomerine  series,  which  is 
strictly  single,  and  contains  ten  or  eleven  larger  than  the 
nasal  ones,  and  more  recui'ved.  Palatine  teeth  biserial, 
the  two  rows  differing  little  in  the  size  of  the  teeth,  and  the 
outer  one  being  less  crowded.  There  are  three  small  teeth 
in  a  single  series  before  the  beginning  of  the  two  rows,  and 
perhaps  some  also  behind ;  but  the  mode  in  which  the 
specimen  has  been  prepared  prevents  me  from  seeing  dis- 
tinctly the  dentition  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The 
mandibular  teeth  are  also  biserial. 

Length  56  inches.  To  anus  26  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing .5'6  inches.  Length  of  gape  2  inches.  Height  of  body 
about  2  inches. 

The  origin  of  the  specimen  deposited  in  the  Museum  at 


Haslar  is  unknown,  but  it  is  supposed  to  have  come  from 
the  West  Indies. 


Ophisurus  ocellatus.     Le  Sueur. 


MurtBtwpsis  ncellaia,  Le  Sueur,  Jt 
phia,  V.  PI.  4,  f.  3. 


Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  of  Philadel- 


All  the  teeth  slenderly  subulate  or  acicular,  except  the 
five  marginal  nasal  teeth,  which  are  subulate  and  acute. 
Twelve  or  fourteen  uniserial  vomerine  teeth  commence 
close  to  the  small  nasal  disk.  Palatine  teeth  biserial,  Irom 
eighteen  to  twenty  in  each  row ;  the  outer  ones  inclined  to- 
wards the  corner  of  the  mouth,  acicular,  not  coming  quite 
forward  enough  to  meet  the  vomerine  teeth  ;  inner  row  a 
little  taller,  and  inclined  towards  the  mesial  line.  Mandi- 
bular teeth  also  biserial ;  the  inner  row  not  so  tall  as  the 
outer  one  ;  both  rows  inclined  the  same  way  as  the  corre- 
sponding palatine  ones.  Gape  of  the  mouth  pretty  large, 
and  the  jaws  possess  considerable  lateral  extensibility. 
Snout  depressed,  but  when  seen  from  above  appearing 
conical  and  acute.  The  short  tubular  anterior  nostrils 
have  a  very  small  acute  snout  projecting  between  them. 
Under  jaw  shorter  and  more  rounded  at  the  tip.  A  con- 
spicuous row  of  pores  on  the  limbs  of  the  mandible,  and 
many  pores  on  the  upper  lip  and  snout.  Eye  over  the 
middle  of  the  gape. 

Pectoral  rather  large,  lanceolate,  and  supported  by  sixteen 
rays.  Other  fins  low  throughout.  The  dorsal  commences 
over  the  tip  of  the  pectoral,  and  ends,  together  with  the 
anal,  about  two  lines  from  the  tip  of  the  slender  conical 
point  of  the  tail.  Lateral  line  a  raised  tube,  with  a  series 
of  pores  beneath  it.  A  fine  white  porous  line  crosses  the 
occiput,  makes  a  sudden  rectangular  flexure  forwards  on 
the  temples,  and  then  descends  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth. 
When  the  skin  is  viewed  through  an  eye-glass,  it  appears 
to  be  finely  furrowed  longitudinally,  both  on  the  back  and 
belly.  The  general  colour  is  grayish-brown,  which  is  due 
to  a  multitude  of  microscopical  blackish  dots  on  a  fawn- 
coloured  ground.  The  belly  is  whitish.  There  are  from 
nineteen  to  twenty-one  round  milk-white  spots  on  the 
lateral  line,  about  the  size  of  peas  ;  the  first  one  placed 
over  the  gill-opening,  and  five  small  white  dots  on  the  top 
of  the  neck  over  this  lateral  spot.  A  pale  brown  stripe 
runs  on  each  side  of  the  anal. 

Length  I3'5  inches.  To  anus  6"1  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  16  inch.     Length  of  gape  0-65  inch. 

Hab.  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

A  specimen  exists  in  the  Museum  at  Haslar,  and  there 
is  another  in  the  British  Museum.  An  Op/iisiirux  in  the 
Leyden  Museum,  labelled  as  having  belonged  to  "  L'ancien 
cabinet,"  is  most  likely  referrible  to  this  species.  The  in- 
dividual, in  the  same  Museum,  which  is  labelled  "  Oph. 
gutlatus  of  Valenciennes,"  has  larger  white  spots  and  a 
less  acute  tail ;  but  1  write  from  imperfect  recollection, 
not  having  made  descriptions  or  drawings  of  the  Leyden 
fish. 


105 


Ophisdrus  PARiLis.     Ricliurtlsoii. 


Opiiisurus  rostellatus.     Ricliavdson. 


Teeth  slenderly  subulate  or  acieular  ;  the  nasal  ones 
standing  on  so  narrow  a  disk  as  to  appear  clustered,  with  an 
odd  one  in  front;  about  nine  in  all.  Vomerine  teeth  bi- 
serial,  numerous.  Palatine  teeth  also  biserial ;  both  the 
rows  even  and  pretty  closely  set ;  those  of  the  outer  row 
rather  shorter,  and  inclined  towards  the  corner  of  the 
mouth  ;  the  inner  ones  considerably  inclined  towards  the 
mesial  line,  and  extending  forwards  to  meet  the  vomerine 
series  at  its  commencement  close  to  the  nasal  disk.  Man- 
dibular teeth  biserial,  extending  from  the  symphysis  to  the 
corner  of  the  mouth  ;  the  teeth  in  both  rows  inclined  back- 
wards ;  those  of  the  inner  row  more  closely  set,  and  even. 

Pectoral  rather  long,  elliptical,  acute.  Dorsal  com- 
mencing over  the  posterior  quarter  of  the  pectoral,  ending 
with  the  anal  close  to  the  tip  of  the  tail,  both  having  pre- 
viously expanded  slightly,  and  being  low  throughout. 
Lower  jaw  a  little  shorter  than  the  u]iper  one.  Eye  placed 
over  the  middle  of  the  mouth.  Colour  an  unii'orm  dull 
brown,  paler  beneath.     ( In  spirits). 

Length  19  inches.  To  anus  615  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing ry  inch.     Length  of  gape  08  inch. 

Hai3.  West  Indies.     Specimen  in  British  Museum. 


Ophisurus  dicellurus.     Richardson. 


Ophhtirxs  dicelhirm,  Ricliardsoii,  Ichtli.  Voy.  nf  Sulph.  p.  106,  PI. 
48,  f.  2,  3,  4.     Ee|iort  to  Brit.  Ass.  Ami.  1845,  p.  312. 


The  head  is  about  as  high  as  it  is  wide,  but  the  body 
becomes  gradually  more  compressed  towards  the  tail. 
Snout  bluntish,  and  very  slightly  passing  the  tip  of  the 
lower  jaw.  Gill-openings  lax,  and  approaching  nearer 
than  usual  in  the  genus  to  each  other  beneath.  Teeth 
slenderly  subulate,  not  long,  inclined  backwards.  Vomer- 
ine teeth  uniserial,  larger,  three  in  number.  Palatine 
teeth  biserial.  Mandibular  ones  biserial  in  front,  uniserial 
laterally.  Pectoral  ovate,  acute,  moderately  large,  sup- 
ported by  foin-teen  rays  :  dorsal  commencing  over  its  tip, 
and  keeping  at  an  equal  height  until  near  the  end  of  the 
tail,  where  it  lowers,  and  then  dilates,  so  as  to  form  with 
the  anal,  which  is  similar,  an  oval  lobe,  that  rounds  off 
at  the  tip  of  the  tail  more  suddenly  than  it  rises.  The  last 
rays  of  both  fins  are  very  short,  and  approach  as  near  as 
possible  to  the  extreme  point  of  the  tail,  but  do  not  go 
round  it.  The  colour  has  faded  in  spirits,  and  if  any 
markings  existed  they  are  no  longer  discernible.  Lateral 
line  distinct. 

Length  9'55  inches.  To  anus  .3'84  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  132  inch. 

Hab.  Estuary  of  the  Yang  tze  keang,  China. 

I  have  not  seen  the  Ophtsaius  remiger  of  D'Orbigny, 
which  is  a  West  Indian  species,  and  resembles  this  one 
much  in  the  form  of  the  tail.  (D'Orbigny,  Voy.  dans 
rAmerique  merid.  PI.  12,  f.  2). 


The  snout  is  narrow,  but  rounded  and  slightly  dilated  at 
the  end,  exceeding  the  lower  jaw  very  little.  The  nasal 
disk  is  bordered  anteriorly  by  five  small,  subulate,  acute 
teeth  :  a  little  farther  back,  on  the  mesial  line,  there  is  a 
stouter  tooth,  which  is  very  acute,  and  in  front  of  it  two 
small  subulate  ones.  The  vomerine  teeth  are  uniserial, 
the  row  commencing  by  two  tall  subulate  teeth  like  the 
mesial  vomerine  one,  with  a  small  interval  between  them, 
and  followed  by  seven  closer  set,  recurved,  subulate  teeth. 
Palatine  teeth  biserial,  the  outer  row  being  composed  of 
about  eighteen  widely  set  subulate  teeth,  which  are  tallest 
near  the  middle  of  the  gape,  and  become  shorter  and  closer 
near  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  inner  row  consists  of 
twenty-eight  more  slender  and  very  acute  teeth,  much  in- 
clined towards  the  mesial  line  and  a  little  backwards,  and 
not  reaching  so  far  posteriorly  as  the  outer  row,  but  going 
forwards  to  the  nasal  disk.  Mandibular  teeth  biserial ;  the 
outer  row  more  widely  set,  taller,  and  reaching  from  the 
symphysis  to  the  angle  of  the  mouth  ;  the  inner  row  re- 
sembling the  inner  palatine  one,  but  confined  to  the  fore 
quarter  of  the  jaw,  and  terminating  opposite  the  com- 
mencement of  the  outer  palatine  row.  The  jaws  are  nar- 
row and  expand  laterally,  like  those  of  inferlinciua,  and  in  a 
much  less  degree  than  those  oiregius.  The  eyes  are  placed 
in  the  middle  of  the  large  gape,  and  the  interval  between 
them  and  the  top  of  the  head  does  not  exceed  the  diameter 
of  the  orbit.  7'he  gill-openings  are  large.  The  pectoral 
is  oval  and  large :  the  dorsal  commences  just  behind  its 
tip,  is  nowhere  high,  and  lowers  gradually  to  within  three 
lines  of  the  tip  of  the  tail,  where  it  terminates.  The  anal 
ends  two  lines  from  the  tip,  there  being  no  previous  ex- 
pansion of  either  fin.  Colour  of  the  specimen  kept  in 
spirits  chestnut-brown. 

Length  3.3  inches.  To  anus  14-4  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 3-50  inches.     Length  of  gape  ISo  inch. 

Hab.  Senegal.  The  Earl  of  Derby  presented  a  speci- 
men to  the  British  Museum. 


Ophisurus  compar.     Richardson. 

The  uniform  brown  colour  of  this  species  and  of  the  fol- 
lowing one,  after  immersion  in  spirits,  and  their  general 
form,  renders  them  so  like  O.  cancrivorus  that  an  exami- 
nation of  the  dentition  becomes  necessary  for  their  dis- 
crimination. 

Nasal  disk  armed  with  five  short  acute  teeth,  the  odd 
one  in  front.  Vomerine  teeth  uniserial,  the  row  somewhat 
uneven,  and  the  front  pair  close  to  the  nasal  disk  standing 
abreast.  Twenty-two  conico-subidate,  acute,  palatine 
teeth,  even  and  close  set,  ranged  in  a  single  somewhat  un- 
dulating series.  Mandibular  teeth  small  and  low,  also 
conico-subulate  and  acute,  numbering  twenty-six  on  each 
limb,  uniserial  laterally,  biserial  in  front.  The  mouth  is 
small,  the  snout  bluntish,  and  the  lower  jaw  a  little  shorter. 
Eye  nearer  to  the  angle  of  the  mouth  than  to  the  tip  of 


106 


the  snout.  Pectorals  large  :  the  dorsal  commences  be- 
tween their  tips,  and  terminates  with  the  anal  close  to  the 
extreme  tip  of  the  tail.  Both  fins  are  very  low  posteriorly, 
but  expand  gradually  and  .slightly  before  they  slope  away 
to  the  point  of  the  tail.  Colour  of  the  fish,  in  spirits,  an 
uniform  brown. 

Length  lOS  inches.  To  anus  7-5  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  2  inches. 

Hab.  Sumatra.     A  si:)ecimen  in  British  Museum. 


Length  35  inches.  To  anus  18'5  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 4  inches.     Length  of  gape  17  inch. 

1  think  it  probable  that  this  may  be  the  O.  ophis  of 
authors,  but  in  that  case  Bloch's  figure  differs  in  the  rela- 
tive position  of  the  anus  and  the  greater  length  of  naked 
tail,  and  fails  in  giving  the  characters  of  the  dejnessed 
conical  head  and  jaws. 


Ophisokus  serpens.     Linn.     (Muraiia). 


Ophisurus  REGIUS.     Shaw. 
"  An.  Ophisurus  ophis  ?     Auctorum." 


An  Ophisurus  in  the  British  Museum,  labelled  as  above, 
has  the  following  characters. 

Seven  nasal  teeth,  ranged  round  the  terminal  border  of 
the  acute  snout,  and  on  the  mesial  line ;  more  ])0£teriorly 
there  is  a  double  row  of  six,  set  alternately  tliree  in  each 
row,  as  in  some  Mnrtente.  These  are  succeeded  by  a  sin- 
gle row  of  thirteen  on  the  vomer,  both  nasal  and  vomerine 
teeth  being  subulate,  acute  and  recurved.  The  palatine 
teeth  ai-e  biserial,  and  are  all  pretty  long,  subulate,  more 
slender  and  very  acute  ;  the  outer  row  is  inclined  back- 
wards towards  the  corner  of  the  mouth  ;  and  the  inner  one, 
which  are  rather  taller,  is  inclined  to  the  mesial  line,  and 
is  preceded  by  a  single  row  of  four  teeth,  by  which  they 
are  connected  with  the  mesial  nasal  row.  Mandibular 
teeth  iniiscrial,  curved  backwards  and  inwards. 

Head  greatly  de])ressed,  so  that  the  very  small  eye  is 
on  the  U])per  surface.  The  breadth  is  great  at  the  angles 
of  the  mouth,  and  diminishes  evenly  to  the  acute  end  of 
the  jaws,  which  are  of  equal  length,  and  are  laterally  very 
extensible.  Anterior  nostrils  tubular,  as  usual,  and  jdaced 
on  the  side  of  the  snout.  Posterior  nostril  j)laced  before 
the  eye,  preceded  by  a  conical  papilla  on  the  edge  of  the 
lip,  and  covered  by  a  membranous  lid. 

Body  thickish  for  an  Ophisurus,  round  throughout,  and 
tapering  towards  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  lateral  Hne, 
formed  by  an  elevated  tube  with  pores  beneath  at  intervals, 
is  conspicuous.  The  pectoral,  supported  by  fifteen  rays, 
is  of  moderate  size,  measuring  six  lines  in  length ;  and  the 
dorsal,  beginning  half  an  inch  behind  its  tip,  ends  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  from  the  end  of  the  tail,  while  the  anal 
ends  a  quarter  of  an  inch  farther  forwards,  or  half  an  inch 
from  the  tip  of  the  tail.  The  fins  are  tolerably  high  ante- 
riorly, with  conspicuous  rays,  and  lower  gradually  towards 
their  termination. 

The  specimen  has  been  immersed  in  spirits  many  years, 
and  many  of  its  markings  have  doubtless  disappeared. 
The  tint  of  the  upper  parts  appears  to  have  been  reddish 
or  brownish.  Twenty-three  large  pale  brown  spots  or 
bars  still  exist  on  the  lateral  line ;  dots  and  lines  of  the 
ground  colour  traverse  the  spots;  and  the  whole  space, 
from  the  summit  of  the  back  to  some  way  below  the  lateral 
line,  is  marbled  by  small  round  pale  brown  spots,  which 
occupy  as  much  space  as  the  ground  colour. 


Five  marginal  teeth  at  the  extremity  of  the  nasal  bone, 
and  nine  longer,  acute,  subulate  mesial  ones,  all  posterior 
to  the  marginal  ones.  Thirteen  short,  acute,  reflex,  uni- 
serial  vomerine  teeth.  Palatine  bone  armed  by  an  outer 
row  of  sixty  short,  compressed,  acute,  inclined  teeth,  which 
commence  at  the  sixth  mesial  nasal  tooth ;  and  by  an  in- 
terior row  of  about  twelve  short,  conical,  acute  teeth,  just 
showing  through  the  soft  i)arts,  set  widely  apart  and  not 
in  a  straight  line.  Under  jaw  armed  laterally  by  a  single 
even  row  of  close-set,  reflex,  subulate  teeth,  like  the  ex- 
terior palatine  ones. 

Snout  slender  and  pointed.  Gill-rays,  according  to  Cu- 
vier,  only  twenty.  Pectoral  tolerably  large.  Body  having 
a  silvery  or  nacry  aspect,  like  many  of  the  Scoiiibrisidee. 

Two  specimens  exist  in  the  British  Museum ;  one  of 
them  taken  in  the  Bay  of  Naples,  and  the  other  in  the  At- 
lantic. In  the  Leyden  Museum  there  is  an  Ophisurus 
from  Ja])an,  labelled  serpens,  but  I  had  no  means  of  insti- 
tuting a  comparison  between  it  and  the  Mediterranean 
fish.  Another  similarly  named,  in  the  same  Museum,  is 
noted  as  having  been  captured  at  tlie  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

Hab.   Mediterranean.     Atlantic  Ocean. 

The  Ophisurus  roslratiis,  or  Ophisure  long  museau  of 
Quoy  and  Gaimard,  Voy.  du  Freycenet,  PI.  51,  f.  1,  seems 
to  be  allied  to  serpens,  but  I  have  seen  no  example  of  it, 
and  can  therefore  add  nothing  to  the  description  to  be 
found  in  the  work  above  quoted.  There  is  a  considerable 
length  of  naked  tail,  the  dorsal  ending  before  the  anal  :  the 
])ectoral  is  pretty  long,  and  the  gape  large,  with  the  eye 
placed  nearer  to  the  angle  of  the  mouth  than  to  the  end  of 
the  snout. 


Ophisurus  vimineus.     Richardson. 


Op/iisuruK  vimineus,  RieliavrlsdU,  Iclitli.  of  Suliiluir,  p.  107,  PI.  ivi. 
f.  16—20.     Repurl  ou  Fish  of  China,  p.  311. 

This  Ophisurus  stands  by  itself  in  the  genus,  in  having 
an  elongated  acute  snout,  minute  pectorals,  and  no  visible 
vertical  fins.  The  teeth  are  short,  subulate  and  very  acute. 
Four  are  placed  alternately  in  two  rows  on  the  narrow 
nasal  disk.  The  palatine  teeth  are  uniserial,  recurved,  and 
meet  in  front  behind  the  nasal  disk.  Mandibular  teeth 
also  uniserial.  No  vomerine  teeth  could  be  perceived,  but 
this  was  probably  owing  to  their  minuteness,  and  the  roof 
of  the  mouth  having  been  injured. 


107 


Head  small.  Snout  slender,  acute,  projecting  much  be- 
yond the  mandible.  The  tubular  anterior  nostrils  placed 
on  each  side  near  the  tip.  Throat  elastic,  from  the  inter- 
lacing of  the  gill-rays,  of  which  at  least  twejity-two  can  be 
made  out  through  the  integuments,  but  it  is  jirobable  that 
the  correct  number  is  more.     Gill-openings  small,  lateral. 

Body  slender,  round,  vermiform,  tapering  a  little  towards 
the  acute  point  of  the  tail,  which  is  very  slightly  com- 
pressed. Pectoral  minute,  transparent,  and  scarcely  visi- 
ble, except  by  aid  of  a  lens.  It  is  supported  by  eight 
rays.  Thirty-three  chestnut-brown  bands,  not  quite  meet- 
ing on  the  belly,  alternate  with  an  equal  number  of  rather 
narrower  white  ones,  the  tip  of  the  tail  being  dark. 

Length  8  incbes.  To  anus  S'S  inches.  To  gill-opening 
0'5  inch.     Height  of  body  O'lS  inch. 

Hab.  China. 


CONGRUS. 

The  British  Museum  possesses  comparatively  few  Con- 
gers, and  I  have  not  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  an 
extensive  series  elsewhere,  but,  as  far  as  I  have  ascertained, 
the  genus  differs  from  Aiiguilla  by  the  definite  character 
of  the  absence  of  dermal  scales,  as  well  as  by  those  noticed 
by  Cuvier  in  the  Regiie  Animal, — the  more  prominent 
snout  and  forward  origin  of  the  dorsal  fin. 

The  species  which  I  have  seen  maybe  arranged  by  their 
dentition  as  follows. 

1.  Palatine  and  mandibular  teeth  slender,  but  chisel- 

shaped  at  the  points,  and  arranged  so  closely  as 
to  produce  an  incisorial  edge. 
Congrus  vulgaris;  C.  leucophmus. 

2.  Palatine  and  mandibular  teeth  acerose  or  acicular, 

and  villiform. 
C.  ntyrus  ;  C.  leptiirus. 

3.  Teeth  mostly  conical,  and  more  or  less  blunt. 
C.  habettatus. 

4.  Vomerine    teeth    strong,    compressed,   sharp-edged 

and  tricuspid.       Mandibular  teeth  resembling  the 
.  vomerine  ones.     (Mur.enesox,  Mc  Clelland). 
C.  jirolernis ;  C.  iriciispiclatus ;  C.  atigustidens  ;  C. 
hrevicmpis ;  C.  hanio. 

5.  Vomerine   teeth  tricuspid.      Mandibular  teeth  like 

the  palatine  ones.     (Mdr^nesox,  Mc  Clelland). 
C.  curvidens. 


Congrus  vulgaris.     Auctorum. 

MurcEiia  coiir/er,  Blocli,  1.55. 

The  skull  of  the  common  conger  of  the  British  Channel 
has  much  the  same  shape  posteriorly  with  that  of  Murama, 
but  the  hypotympanic  pedicle  of  the  lower  jaw  inclines 
forwards,  so  that  the  strong  bony  preoperculum,  and 
equally  large  but   thinner  interoperculum,  do  not  project 


backwards  beyond  the  occiput.  The  operculum,  which  is 
also  strong  and  moderately  large,  has  a  deep  crescenlic 
notch  in  its  upper  border,  embracing  more  than  a  quarter 
of  the  otherwise  circular  circumference  of  the  bone.  Tiie 
narrow  meniscoid  suboperculum  borders  the  under  half  of 
the  operculum.  Taken  together,  the  gill-plates  and  the 
branchiostegous  rays  are  not  inferior  in  size  and  strength  to 
those  of  many  acanthopterygian  fishes,  and  far  exceed  the 
delicate  and  diminutive  opercula  of  the  MuramcB.  A  bone, 
which  may  be  considered  as  the  confluent  pterygoid  and 
entopterygoid,  and  which  does  not  exist  in  A^urce na,haiS  the 
shape  of  a  long  plate,  forming  the  floor  of  the  orbit.  Its 
anterior  end  joins  the  prefrontal  process  of  the  vomer  un- 
derneath the  groove,  for  lodging  the  olfactory  nerve,  and 
its  posterior  end  is  ])artly  confluent  with  the  hypotymjjanic, 
partly  joined  to  it  by  suture.  The  palatine,  as  in  Miirteini, 
performs  the  ordinary  function  of  the  maxillary  bone,  but 
it  is  shorter  and  stronger  than  in  that  genus,  and  is  articu- 
lated by  a  flat  head  to  the  side  of  the  vomer  and  hinder 
part  of  the  small  nasal  disk,  at  the  fore  part  of  the  olfactory 
sac,  close  to  the  end  of  the  snout,  the  prominent  tip  of  the 
snout  being  formed  by  the  nasal  disk  or  chevron.  In  Mu- 
rcena,  the  articulation  of  the  end  of  the  palatine  with  the 
preorbital  process  of  the  confluent  vomerine  and  nasal 
bones  is  just  at  the  border  of  the  orbit.  In  the  common 
conger,  the  large  triangular  preorbitar  flanks  the  end  of  the 
snout,  covering  the  anterior  third  of  the  palatine.  The 
rest  of  the  suborbitar  chain  remains  in  the  condition  of  a 
cartilaginous  tube,  except  a  short  piece  at  the  posterior  in- 
ferior angle  of  the  orbit,  which  is  ossified.  The  integu- 
ments of  the  side  of  the  snout,  and  part  of  the  upper  lip, 
are  strengthened  by  a  tough  ligamentous  substance,  ap- 
proaching to  cartilage  in  firmness.  The  Congrus  mystax 
is  described  by  Laroche  as  having  two  transverse  bony 
rays  in  the  upper  lip  of  each  side,  but  I  cannot  help  sus- 
pecting that  he  alludes  to  the  preorbitar  and  the  posterior 
ossified  portion  of  the  suborbitar  chain.  In  Congrus  com- 
munis, the  uro-hyal  is  a  strong  bone,  nearly  cyliudiical  in 
the  middle,  dilated  anteriorly,  where  it  is  attached  to  the 
basi-hyals,  which  are  confluent  with  the  stout  cerato-hyals, 
and  compressed  posteriorly  at  its  connection  with  the 
lower  points  of  the  firm  well-developed  coracoid  bones. 
The  gill-rays,  nine  in  number,  are  also  strong  and  rigid, 
except  towards  their  points,  and  all  the  pai-ts  of  the  hyoid 
bone  and  humeral  arch  are  much  firmer  and  stronger  than 
in  Murcena  or  Ophisurus.  The  stomach  is  a  long,  thick, 
cylindrical  sac,  with  a  short,  narrow,  slightly  tapering,  ob- 
tuse, coecal  process  at  its  fundus.  The  pyloric  orifice  is 
near  the  top,  leaving  eleven  parts  of  twelve  in  the  length 
of  the  viscus  beneath  it,  and  the  canal  passes  obliquely 
through  the  coats  of  the  stomach,  ascending  till  it  reaches 
externally  thejimction  of  the  oesophagus;  it  then  makes  a 
sudden  turn,  and  runs  downwards  along  the  back  of  the 
stomach,  a  valve  being  formed  at  the  curve  by  an  inflection 
of  the  inner  coat  of  the  gut.  At  the  lower  quarter  of  the 
stomach,  the  gut,  still  tied  down  to  it  by  a  short  mesentery, 
makes  three  loops,  which,  together  with  five  or  six  valvular 
inflections  of  the  inner  coat  at  the  several  curves,  perform 
in  some  degree  the  functions  of  a  spiral  valve,  by  detaining 
the  ali-nentary  matters  in   their  passage,  and  giving  in- 

S  2 


108 


creased  surface  for  absorption.  The  gut  ends  in  a  short, 
straight  and  rather  wider  canal,  which  arrives  at  the  anus 
very  soon  alter  passing  the  ccecal  point  of  the  stomach. 

The  end  of  the  snout  is  formed  by  the  rounded  extremity 
of  the  nasal  bone,  whose  dental  disk,  nearly  twice  as  broad 
as  it  is  long,  is  closely  set  with  small,  short,  stoutly  subu- 
late, acute,  somesvhat  recurved  teeth.  A  smooth  furrow 
separates  this  disk  from  the  ratlier  prominent  elliptical 
dental  surface  of  the  vomer,  which  is  armed  with  similar 
teeth,  but  which  are  less  crowded  on  the  mesial  line.  The 
vomerine  teeth  do  not  go  so  far  back  as  the  prefrontal  pro- 
cess. The  principal  series  of  teeth  on  the  palatines,  when 
looked  at  in  situ,  appear  to  be  slenderly  cylindrical,  some- 
what like  the  teeth  of  a  Clnelodon,  but  they  are  in  fact 
wedge-shaped,  being  transversely  wider  at  the  base,  and 
obliquely  chisel-shaped  and  acute  on  the  edge.  Being  very 
closely  and  evenly  set,  the  series  as  a  whole  is  incisorial. 
Close  to  their  roots  interiorly  a  ievf  minute  teeth  may  be 
detected,  situated  so  as  to  be  ready  to  replace  any  of  the 
main  series  that  may  be  injured;  and  at  a  very  small  in- 
terval there  is  a  very  low,  even  row,  forming  an  interior 
acute  ridge,  just  visible  above  the  soft  parts.  Near  the 
symphysis  this  ridge  terminates  in  a  narrow  band  or  cluster. 
On  the  outside,  near  the  anterior  end  of  the  palatine  bone, 
the  main  dental  ridge  is  supported  by  a  villiform  band  of 
small  subulate  teetli,  which  is  broadest  where  it  touches 
the  nasal  disk,  and  tapers  off  to  a  point  posteriorly,  not 
reaching  above  one-third  of  the  length  of  the  bone.  The 
mandibular  teeth  arc  similar  to  the  palatine  ones,  but  the 
outer  villiform  cluster  at  the  symphysis  is  broader.  The 
small  inner  teeth  of  both  jaws  are  concealed  by  the  soft 
parts  in  the  recent  fish.  The  upper  and  under  pharyngeals 
are  densely  covered  with  very  fine  villiform  teeth,  which 
are  slightly  coarser  on  the  inner  borders  of  the  bones. 

The  pretty  large,  ovate  pectoral  is  supported  by  seven- 
teen rays.  The  dorsal  commences  over  the  last  quarter  of 
the  pectoral,  and  contains  about  three  hundi-ed  rays,  while 
the  anal  is  supported  by  two  hundred  and  fifty.  They  are 
bordered  with  black,  as  is  the  case  in  the  majority  of  Con- 
gers. The  lateral  line  has  a  series  of  white  pores  be- 
neath it. 

Length  from  5  to  7  or  8  feet. 

IIab.  European  Seas. 


CoNGRDS  LEUCOPH.EUS.      Richardsou. 

Small  subacute  teeth,  densely  crowded  at  the  end  of  the 
ujjper  jaw,  the  cluster  ending  posteriorly  in  a  short  acute 
point,  just  behind  the  articulation  of  the  palatine  bones  to 
the  nasal  di.sk,  that  is,  extending  a  very  short  way  on  the 
vomer.  Palatine  and  mandibular  teeth  uniserial,  and 
evenly  and  closely  set,  producing  an  incisorial  ridge,  as  in 
the  common  conger.  Their  cusps  are  compressed,  acute- 
edged,  or  chisel-shaped,  and  oblique  enough  to  form  an 
angle  or  point  posteriorly.  A  few  at  the  fore  end  of  the 
mandible  are  more  pointed,  and  not  so  closely  and  evenly 
set.  The  head  is  depressed  and  flattish  above,  tlie  snout 
rounded.     The  dorsal  begins  just  behind  the  tip  of  the 


pectoral,  and,  with  the  anal,  is  of  a  pale  colour,  distinctly 
bordered  with  black.  The  body,  after  maceration  in  spi- 
rits, is  brownish. 

Length  \Q\  inches.  To  anus  7\  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 2'2  inches. 

The  specimen  exists  in  the  British  Museum,  but  with- 
out any  record  of  its  native  place. 


CONGRUS    MYRUS.       RisSO  > 


Mureena  mi/rus,  Risso,  Ichtli.  de  Nice,  p.  20? 


I  have  referred  the  conger  whose  description  follows  to 
the  nii/nis  of  authors,  chiefly  because  of  the  white  lines 
about  the  occiput,  and  on  account  of  its  habitat.  It  does 
not  agree  at  all  with  Lacepede's  figure  2,  PI.  3,  f.  3,  in  the 
position  and  size  of  the  eye. 

Roundish  or  slightly  oval  nasal  disk,  armed  with  short, 
conical,  acute  teeth,  biscrial  on  the  border,  the  outer  series 
formed  of  about  fifteen,  and  the  inner  one  of  eight ;  in  ad- 
dition to  which  there  are  two  on  the  mesial  line  larger 
than  the  others,  the  posterior  one  being  placed  a  little  be- 
hind the  circle  of  the  disk.  Dental  surface  of  the  vomer 
elliptical,  and  acute  at  both  ends,  armed  with  small  teeth 
of  various  sizes,  some  of  them  flattish  and  rounded,  others 
more  acute.  About  six  stand  abreast  in  the  middle  of  the 
ellipse.  Palatine  teeth  acerose  or  short,  slender,  cylin- 
drical and  more  or  less  acute,  crowded  without  order,  but 
standing  four  or  five  in  the  width  of  the  bone,  which  abuts 
anteriorly  against  the  nasal  di.sk.  The  mandibular  teeth 
are  similar  to  the  palatine  ones,  but  form  a  slightly  nar- 
rower band. 

The  body  of  this  conger  tapers  considerably.  The  head 
is  longish  and  narrow.  The  snout  is  obtuse  when  seen 
from  above,  but  being  rather  depressed  looks  acute  in  pro- 
file. The  eyes  are  large,  and  placed  rather  more  than  a 
vertical  diameter  of  the  orbit  apart,  over  the  posterior  an- 
gle of  the  mouth.  The  gape  is  large,  exceeding  the  mode- 
rate-sized pectoral  in  length.  The  lateral  line  is  formed 
by  a  series  or  chaplet  of  little  elliptical  elevations,  with 
white  dots  at  intervals.  The  dorsal  begins  over  the  tip  of 
the  pectoral.  The  fins  are  pale,  with  black  edges.  The 
body  is  brownish-gray  above,  after  maceration  in  spirits, 
the  colom-  being  partly  produced  by  densely-crowded  very 
minute  dark  ash-gray  dots  ;  and  the  belly  is  whitish,  with 
thinly  set  blackish  dots.  A  porous  white  band  crosses  the 
occiput ;  another  runs  along  the  temples,  over  the  base  of 
the  pectorals :  one  passes  under  the  eye,  and  the  pores 
form  variously  figured  lines  on  the  snout.  There  are  also 
three  short  longitudinal  white  bars  on  the  top  of  the  head, 
before  the  transverse  occipital  band. 

Length  23j  inches.  To  anus  9?  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 2j  inches. 

Hah.  Bay  of  Najjles.  Specimen  presented  to  the  Bri- 
tish Museum  by  J.  Pratt,  Esq. 


109 


CoNGRUs  LEPTura's.     Richardson. 

Congrus  Icpturus,  Richardson,  Ichlli.  Voy.  of  Suliihuv,  p.  10(5,  PI. 
oti,  fig.'l-(i 

Teeth  acicular.  The  nasal  ones  disposed  in  two  vows 
of  five  each,  the  posterior  outer  one  on  each  side  being 
the  tallest.  The  vomer  is  armed  in  front  by  two  teelh, 
like  the  latter  one,  one  before  the  other.  The  palatine  teeth 
are  biserial,  the  rows  being  regular,  with  a  space  between 
them,  and  the  inner  row  rather  taller  and  abutting  against 
the  nasal  disk  before  the  vomerine  teeth.  Mandibular  teeth 
like  the  palatine  ones,  and  biserial,  but  at  the  symphysis 
there  are  three  rows,  the  posterior  row  being  formed  by 
four  acicular  teeth  behind  the  other  two  rows. 

Tail  tapering  and  slender,  and  more  acute  than  in  most 
congers.  Lower  jaw  nearly  as  long  as  the  obtuse  snout. 
Dorsal  commencing  over  the  axilla  of  the  pectoral.  Gill- 
openings  rather  large,  the  space  between  them  on  the 
throat  about  equal  to  the  length  of  one  opening. 

Colour  bluish-gray  above,  pale  or  whitish  below  ;  the  fins 
pale  and  edged  with  black. 

Length  9  inches.  To  gill-opening  TOo  inch.  To  anus 
2"7  inches.     To  dorsal  I'lo  inch. 

Hab.  China  Seas. 


Congrus  habenatus.     Richardson. 

Radii:— B.  8;  D.  184;  A.  l-2-2;  =  .306;  P.  10. 

Plate  L.,  figs.  1—5. 

This  species  differs  from  the  preceding  ones  in  its  denti- 
tion, the  teeth  on  the  roof  of  the  mouth  being  fitted  for 
crushing  or  grinding  the  food. 

Body  thicker  than  the  head,  nearly  cylindrical,  its  height 
exceeding  its  transverse  diameter  only  by  one-fifth  (fig.  5), 
the  compi-ession  augmenting  rapidly  betvveen  the  anus  and 
tip  of  the  tail.  The  muscular  flakes  are  very  visible 
through  the  smooth,  shining,  silvery  skin  ;  and  the  lateral 
line,  which  gradually  descends  from  the  nape  to  the  middle 
height,  which  it  attains  some  way  behind  the  anus,  is 
marked  out  by  a  series  of  pores,  commencing  at  the 
occiput.  A  depression,  descending  from  the  occiput,  se- 
parates the  muscles  of  the  cheek  from  the  gill-cover.  The 
eye  is  large,  encroaches  on  the  profile,  and  is  contained 
rather  less  than  four  times  and  a  half  in  the  distance  be- 
tween the  end  of  the  snout  and  the  gill-opening.  The 
space  between  the  eyes  is  less  than  the  vertical  diameter 
of  the  eye-ball.  Snout  rather  broad  and  obtuse.  A  mesial 
fold  of  loose  skin,  uniting  with  the  upper  lip,  gives  a 
bridled  appearance  to  the  snout.  The  posterior  nostril  is 
open,  and  is  situated  just  before  the  eye;  the  anterior  one 
is  a  short  tube,  placed  on  one  side  of  the  tip  of  the  snout. 
The  under  jaw  is  shorter  than  the  upper  one,  and  the  gape 
of  the  mouth  is  cleft  to  beneath  the  centre  of  the  eye. 
The  upper  lip,   commencing  just  behind  the  tubular  an- 


terior nostril,  runs  back  to  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  where 
it  curves  over  the  end  of  the  lower  lip  to  be  inserted  into 
the  lower  jaw.  It  is  continuous  with  the  integuments 
which  cover  the  preorbitar  and  suborbitar  chain,  and  is 
separated  interiorly  by  a  deep  furrow  from  an  inner  lip  or 
swelling  gum,  which  runs  along  the  base  of  the  jialatine 
teeth.  Three  small  cartilaginous  bodies  are  imbedded  in 
that  part  of  it  which  is  attached  to  the  preorbitar,  and  are 
seemingly  connected  with  pores  on  the  edge  of  the  lip. 
The  \mder  lip  is  broader  and  folds  back  on  the  sides  of  the 
lower  jaw,  but  runs  evenly  to  the  roots  of  the  teeth,  with- 
out any  interior  furrow  as  in  the  upper  lip.  Conspicuous 
pores  exist  on  the  end  and  top  of  the  snout,  on  the  upper 
lip,  the  suborbitar  chain,  across  the  head  behind  the  orbits, 
on  the  hinder  part  of  the  mandible,  and  across  the  occiput, 
where  they  connect  the  lateral  lines  with  each  other. 

The  nasal  teeth  are  conico-subulate,  short  and  acute,  and 
stand  in  a  small,  dense,  triangular  cluster,  on  the  jjoint  of 
the  jaw,  anterior  to  the  apex  of  the  mandible  when  the 
mouth  is  closed.  They  are  followed,  without  an  interval, 
by  four  rows  of  flatly-rounded  vomerine  teeth,  the  middle 
rows  containing  the  largest  ones.  The  vomerine  teeth 
extend  as  far  back  as  the  front  of  the  eye.  The  palatine 
bones  are  armed  by  an  even,  outer  series  of  somewhat 
subulate,  but  not  veiy  acute  teeth,  with  interior,  rounded, 
granular  ones  considerably  lower,  and  about  three  deep, 
but  not  ranged  in  determinate  rows.  The  mandibular 
teeth  are  similar  to  the  palatine  ones,  but  the  dental  surface 
increases  gradually  in  width  from  the  corner  of  the  mouth 
to  the  symphysis,  where  the  teeth  are  five  or  six  deep  (figs. 
4  and  5).     Tongue  smooth. 

The  distance  between  the  end  of  the  snout  and  the  gill- 
opening  is  equal  to  one-sixth  of  the  total  length,  and  the 
anus  is  a  little  anterior  to  the  middle  of  the  fish.  The 
dorsal  commences  over  the  axil  of  the  pectoral  or  lower 
angle  of  the  gill-opening,  and  its  rays  are  more  delicate 
and  crowded  towards  the  end  of  the  tail,  where  it  unites 
with  the  anal.     The  pectoral  is  rather  small. 

The  stomach  is  ccecal,  wide  and  obtuse,  and,  in  the  in- 
dividual here  described,  was  completely  filled  by  a  large 
shrimp,  which  was  doubled  up,  and  but  little  broken.  It 
has  no  small  appendix  such  as  exists  at  the  fundus  of  the 
stomach  of  the  Congrus  vulgaris.  The  gut  goes  off  from 
a  funnel-like  recess  at  the  upper  end  of  the  stomach,  and 
descends  straight  to  the  anus,  being  bound  to  the  stomach 
by  membrane  as  far  as  that  viscus  extends.  The 
stomach  and  rather  more  than  half  the  gut  were  of  a  pur- 
plish-black colour,  apparently  proceeding  from  their  con- 
tents, the  under  part  of  the  canal,  below  the  fundus  of  the 
stomach,  being  pale.  The  air-bladder,  long  and  slender, 
descends  as  low  as  the  anus  :  its  lower  end  tapers,  and  its 
upper  one  divides  into  two  tapering  branches,  one  of  the 
branches  being  continuous  with  the  tube  which  communi- 
cates with  the  cesophagus,  The  heart  and  pericardium 
have  a  shining  nacry  appearance,  and  are  connected  to 
each  other  by  strong  membranous  bands.  This  individual 
was  killed  when  spawning,  its  belly  being  full  of  roe,  and 
the  eggs  were  in  the  act  of  passing  through  the  distended 
anus. 

Length    12-7   inches.      To   anus  57  inches.      To  gill- 


no 


opening  21  inches.      Height  of  body  0'75  inch.      Thick- 
ness 0'60  inch. 

Hab.  Cook's  Strait,  New  Zealand. 


CoNGUUS  PEOTERvus.     Richardson. 


The  head  only  of  this  species  is  preserved  in  the  Bri- 
tish Museum,  and  the  locality  where  it  was  taken  is  un- 
known. It  belongs,  with  those  that  follow,  to  Mc  Clelland's 
genus,  Murteiiesox,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  identify 
any  of  the  specimens  that  I  have  seen  with  the  species  which 
he  has  figured  and  described  in  the  Calcutta  Journal  of 
Science. 

Nasal  disk  a  nearly  circular  dilatation  at  the  end  of  the 
narrow  upper  jaw,  set  round  its  anterior  half  with  four  sub- 
ulate acute  teeth,  inclined  backwards,  and  a  smaller  tooth 
enveloped  in  the  soft  parts  lietween  eacli  pair.  There  is  a 
deep  smooth  cavity  on  each  side  of  the  mesial  ridge  behind 
the  nasal  disk;  the  ridge  itself  is  undulated,  being  first 
depressed  in  a  curve  and  then  arched.  The  descending 
curve  behind  the  nasal  disk  is  armed  by  a  row  of  four 
acute  conical  teeth,  scarcely  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  and 
after  a  small  interval  follow  fifteen  tricuspid  and  pretty 
large  teeth,  on  the  arched  part  of  the  vomerine  ridge. 
These  teeth  are  compressed,  with  an  acute  anterior  and 
posterior  edge,  and  very  sharp  central  cusps.  The  lateral 
cusps  are  small  and  rounded,  and  placed  near  the  roots  of 
the  teeth  :  they  are  largest  on  the  ])osterior  teeth.  The 
seventh,  eighth  and  ninth  of  the  tricus]3id  teeth  are  the 
largest,  the  anterior  and  posterior  ones  diminishing  gra- 
dually as  they  recede  fiom  them.  The  series  is  flanked  on 
each  side  by  many  small,  compressed,  but  obtuse  and 
rounded  teeth,  not  set  in  regular  order,  Ijut  in  some  ])laces 
phiced  three  or  four  dee]i,  in  others  only  one.  Palatine 
dental  surface  a  long  narrow  ellipsis,  acute  at  each  end, 
and  covered  with  many  small  teeth,  like  the  lateral  vomerine 
ones,  the  outer  marginal  ones  being  larger,  atjd  rising  above 
the  rest ;  and  in  the  middle  of  the  concave  dental  plate  there 
is  a  smooth,  irregularly  wide,  line,  on  which  the  teeth  are  not 
developed.  Tiie  palatine  teeth  come  in  contact  with  tlie 
vomerine  series  at  the  seventh  vomerine  tooth,  just  before 
the  posterior  nostril.  The  lateral  mandibular  teeth  are 
like  the  mesial  vomerine  ones,  but  tlie  series  is  more  even, 
and  the  basal  lobes  less  evident.  Minute  compressed  and 
blunt  teeth  flank  each  side  of  the  principal  series,  mostly, 
but  not  wholly,  arranged  in  one  row.  The  symphysial 
apex  of  the  mandible  forms  an  oval  disk,  which  is  armed, 
on  the  margin  on  each  side  of  the  symphysis,  by  nine 
small,  acute,  subulate  teeth  ;  and  there  are  on  each  side 
williin  the  disk  three  tall,  stout,  subulate,  very  acute  teeth, 
the  middle  one  of  each  side  being  the  tallest. 

Anterior  nasal-openings  small,  tubular,  on  each  side 
of  the  snout ;  posterior  ones  before  the  eyes,  midway  be- 
tween the  mouth  and  top  of  the  forehead.  Eyes,  over  the 
posterior  third  of  the  mouth,  silvery.  Head  brownish  and 
mottled. 

Hab.  Unknown. 


CoNGRUS  TRicusPiDATUs.     McClelland.     [Murainesox) . 


Murctnesox  tricuspidata,  McClelland,  Calcutta  Jouin,  iv.  t.  21,  f.  1. 
Eicliaidson,  Iclitli.  Vov.  of  Sulphur,  p.  105,  PI.  51.  (.  2.  Icon.  Reeves, 
a.  41.     Hardvv.  295,  Brit.  Mus. 


Nasal  teeth  long  and  strong,  three  on  each  side  of  the 
symphysis.  Vomerine  teeth  uniserial,  tricuspid,  the  mid- 
dle cusp  being  much  larger  and  taller  than  the  lateral  ones. 
The  largest  tooth  is  the  third  from  the  last,  and  the  others 
gradually  diminish  in  size  as  they  recede  from  it.  In 
some  of  the  small  anterior  ones  the  lateral  cusps  are  obso- 
lete, but  they  are  sufficiently  distinct  in  the  nine  posterior 
ones.  Palatine  teeth  uniserial,  small,  sharp-edged,  but  not 
pointed,  ranged  in  an  even  cutting  series.  When  examined 
by  a  lens,  these  teeth  show  a  slight  indication  of  side  lobes. 
Mandibular  teeth,  like  the  palatine  ones,  with  an  outer 
row  of  small,  acute  and  closely-set  teeth.  At  the  end  of 
tlje  jaw  there  are  three  tall  subulate  teeth  on  each  side  of 
the  symphysis.  The  dorsal  commences  over  the  gill- 
o]jening.  Lateral  line  marked  by  a  series  of  oval  white 
spots.  In  the  recent  fish  the  colour  of  the  upper  parts  is 
oil-green,  with  a  glazing  of  duck-green  along  the  lateral 
line  and  top  of  the  head.  The  vertical  fins  edged  with 
black. 

Length  15f  inches.  To  anus  5'4  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  2'1  inches. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  China  and  India.  The  Chinese  name 
it  the  "  hook-nosed  "  or  "  stork  eel." 


CoNGRUS  ANGU3TIDENS.     Richardsou. 

Nasal  disk  armed  by  eight  tall,  subulate,  marginal  teeth, 
and  three  small  subulate  ones  on  the  mesial  line.  Vomer- 
ine teeth  eight,  distantly  set,  taller  and  much  narrower 
than  those  of  proferi-tis,  with  sharp  edges,  and  a  very  acute 
tapering  point,  the  lateral  cusps  being  small,  narrow  and 
obtuse.  In  front  of  these,  on  the  mesial  line,  close  to  the 
nasal  disk,  there  are  three  small  acute  teeth ;  and  on  each 
side  an  irregular  row  of  compressed  teeth,  of  various  sizes 
and  heights,  the  bigger  ones  ap]jroaching  the  large  tricuspid 
ones  in  form.  Palatine  teeth  small,  ranged  exteriorly  in  an 
even  row  composed  of  lanceolate,  rather  acute,  cutting  teeth, 
witli  small  ones  at  the  base  of  the  row  outside,  standing  for 
the  most  part,  but  not  regularly,  two  deep  ;  and  interiorly 
forming  a  band  of  short,  slender,  cylindrical  obtuse  teeth, 
placed  two  or  three  deep.  Mandibular  teeth,  like  the  prin- 
cipal vomerine  ones,  not  much  smaller,  but  very  slightly  in- 
clined backwards  and  close  set.  They  are  highest  in  the 
,  middle  of  the  limb  of  the  jaw,  and  become  gradually  lower 
in  each  direction.  There  are  one  or  two  irregular  rows  of 
minute  granular  teeth  within,  and  on  the  outside  of  the  chief 
series  there  is  a  very  even  row  of  small,  rounded,  compressed 
teeth.  The  disk  at  the  end  of  the  jaw  is  bordered  with 
acute  and  subulate  teeth,  and  there  are  on  each  side  within, 
four  stout,  subulate,  tall  and  very  acute  teeth.  The  lower 
jaw  is  conspicuously'  shorter  than  the  upper  one.      Eye 


Ill 


three  diameters  from  the  tip  of  the  snout,  and  three- 
quarters  of  a  diameter  from  tlie  corner  of  the  mouth,  whose 
gape  is  equal  to  four  diameters  and  three  quarters.  Pec- 
toral very  long,  equal  to  three-fourths  of  the  length  of  the 
gape. 

Length  37  inches.     To  anus  16  inches. 

Hab.  China.  The  British  Museum  possesses  a  dried 
specimen  which  was  presented  to  it  by  John  Reeves,  Esq. 


CoNGRUS  BREVicusi'is.      llichardson. 

Nasal  disk  bordered  on  its  anterior  half  by  about  ten 
moderately  tall  and  sli-ong  subulate  acute  teeth,  and  in  the 
middle  of  the  disk  there  are  nine  small  conical  acute  ones, 
placed  so  as  to  represent  a  cross  witli  short  lateral  arms. 
The  depression  of  the  vomerine  ridge  next  the  nasal  bone 
is  considerable.  Tlie  nine  principal  vomerine  teeth  have 
short  acute  middle  cusps,  with  larger  rounded  lateral  ones 
than  in  protervus,  and  they  are  ilanked  on  each  side  by  a 
row  of  compressed,  rounded,  oblique  cutting  ones,  neither 
closely  nor  evenly  set.  The  outer  row  of  palatine  teeth  is 
composed  of  evenly-set,  conqjressed,  obtuse  cutting  teeth. 
The  long  elliptical  dental  plate  is  wholly  covered  uitli  in- 
numerable minute  rounded  teeth,  without  any  snio')t]i 
space  in  the  middle.  The  palatine  teeth  abut  against  the 
vomer  at  tlie  sixth  tuoth.  The  mandibular  teeth  are  like 
the  vomerine  ones,  but  they  are  not  so  regular,  the  alternate 
ones  being  often,  but  not  uniformly,  lower.  The  outer 
row  is  composed  of  even,  close-set,  semicircidar,  sharj}- 
edged  small  ones,  applied  to  the  base  of  the  chief  row,  and 
the  inner  ones  can  scarcely  be  detected.  The  disk  at  the 
end  of  the  mandible  is  armed  by  five  or  six  acute,  subulate, 
marginal  teeth,  and  three  taller  ones  within  on  each  side, 
the  posterior  pair  being  high  and  stout. 

The  eye  is  placed  three  diameters  of  the  orbit  from  the 
end  of  the  snout,  and  a  diameter  before  the  corner  of  the 
mouth,  whose  gape  is  equal  to  five  diameters  of  the  orbit. 
The  space  between  the  eyes  is  transversely  convex,  and 
its  breadth  rather  exceeds  the  vertical  diameter  of  the 
orbit.  The  pectoral  is  elliptical  and  long,  and  the  dorsal 
commences  over  the  gill-opening. 

Colour,  in  spirits,  pale  brown  above,  silvery  beneath. 
The  fins  silvery  and  black-edged. 

Length  23  inches.  To  anus  Q\  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 3'4  inches.     Sjiecimen  in  the  British  Museum. 

Hab.   Unknown. 


CoNGRUs  HAMo.     Schlegel. 

Conyrus  hamo,  Tenim.  et  Selil.  Fauna  Jap.  p.  202,  PI.  114,  fig.  2. 

Jaws  generally  similar  to  those  oi' protervus,  but  the  na- 
sal disk  is  less  dilated,  and  the  vomerine  arch  not  so 
curved.  Nasal  teeth  about  six,  with  small  ones  in  the  solt 
parts  between.  Vomerine  teeth,  four  or  five  small  mesial 
ones  on  the  slightly  depressed  part  of  the  ridge  next  the 


vomer.  Six  conspicuous  tricuspid  mesial  ones  on  the 
arch  of  the  ridge,  having  small  obtuse  basal  lobes.  The 
small  teeth  on  each  side  of  the  mesial  ones  are  close-set 
and  uniserial,  but  not  very  regularly  so.  Palatine  dental 
surface  a  long  narrow  ellipsis,  as  in  protervus,  and  the 
teeth  very  similar ;  an  outer  regular  row,  a  smooth  space 
in  the  middle,  and  an  inner  band  two  or  three  deep  where 
widest.  The  palatine  teeth  meet  the  vomer  at  the  third 
tooth.  Mandibidar  teeth  like  the  vomerine  ones,  but  the 
principal  series  uneven,  that  is,  there  is  a  lower  and  less 
shar])  tooth  generally,  but  not  uniformly,  between  each  ]3air 
of  taller  ones.  The  outer  series  of  minute  ones  have  chisel- 
shaped,  acute,  oblique  cusps,  and  form  an  incisorial  row. 
The  inner  ones  are  in  a  single  row  very  close  to  the 
bases  of  the  principal  series.  The  rounded  dilatation  at 
the  end  of  the  mandible  is  armed  on  the  margin  by  a  series 
of  small  teeth,  and  on  each  side  within  by  three  subulate 
ones,  the  posterior  one  being  the  tallest.  The  dorsal  be- 
gins before  the  gill-opening.  The  snout  is  slender,  and  the 
eyes  are  ]ilaced  about  two  diameters  and  a  quarter  of  the 
orbit  from  the  tip  of  the  snout,  and  half  a  diameter  anterior 
to  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  Gill-rays  about  twelve  in 
number.  Tlie  colour  of  the  specimen,  which  is  preserved 
in  spirits,  is  jiale  brown,  minutely  dotted  with  black  ;  the 
sides  and  belly  silvery.  The  fins  also  silvery,  with  black 
edges.  Lateral  line  a  series  of  short  tubes,  with  intervals 
between  them. 

Hab.  Philippines.  Specimen  in  the  British  Museum 
obtained  from  Mr.  Cuming.  South-west  coasts  of  Japan 
[Fauna  Japon.) 


CoNGRUS  CURVIDENS.     Ricliardson. 

Nasal  teeth  stoutly  subulate,  strouger  than  in  other  spe- 
cies, ranged  in  a  cluster  without  order,  the  tallest  in  the 
middle,  followed  on  the  mesial  line  by  four  minute  round 
ones  in  two  rows,  which  may  be  considered  as  the  anterior 
vomerine  ones.  The  mesial  row  of  tricuspid  vomerine 
teeth,  placed  on  the  ridge  of  the  bone,  which  is  arched, 
have  oblique  curved  cusps,  and  are  close  set.  The  lateral 
cusps  are  small,  round,  and  at  the  root  of  the  tooth.  Li 
the  posterior  teeth  the  central  cusps  are  worn  down  to  the 
level  of  the  lateral  ones.  Small  teeth  on  each  side  of  the 
principal  series,  rounded,  not  compressed,  and  of  unequal 
sizes,  not  disposed  in  rows,  and  seldom  more  than  two 
abreast.  Palatine  teeth  of  the  principal  row  rounded  on 
the  crowns,  but  generally  with  a  mesial  acute  line  :  there 
is  an  irregular  row  of  minute  granular  teeth  on  the  outside, 
and  a  band  of  two  or  three  on  the  inside,  with  a  furrow  be- 
tween thein  and  the  main  series.  The  palatines  abut 
against  the  vomer  at  the  sixth  tooth.  The  mandibidar 
teeth,  instead  of  being  like  the  vomerine  ones,  as  in  the 
preceding  species,  more  resemble  the  palatine  teeth  in  the 
]irincipal  series ;  and  there  is  also  a  row  of  uneven  granu- 
lar teeth  on  the  outside,  and  two  irregular  rows  on  the  in- 
side. Twelve  subulate  but  not  very  acute  teeth  border 
the  end  of  the  mandible,  and  there  are  two  taller  subulate 
ones  within  the  half  circle  on  each  side. 

Eye  large,  placed  a  diameter  and  a  half  of  the  orbit  from 


112 


the  end  of  the  snout,  and  half  a  diameter  from  the  corner 
of  the  mouth.  Lateral  line  a  series  of  short  tubes,  each 
having  a  porous  mouth  posteriorly,  and  beneath  an  oblong 
mark.  The  gill-rays  are  seventeen,  and  the  dorsal  com- 
mences over  the  gill-opening. 

Length  Q7  inches.  To  anus  ]3'5  inches.  Length  of 
rictus  of  mouth  .3  5  inches. 

A  dried  skin  preserved  in  British  Museum. 

Hab.   Unknown. 

We  must  refer  to  Dr.  Mc  Clelland's  able  paper  so  often 
quoted  for  the  Indian  species  of  Murceneso.v,  of  which  he 
describes  six  species,  viz.,  il/.  iriciispulatn,  above  noticed  ; 
M.  laiiceolata,  which  has  biserial  mandibular  teeth,  and 
the  vomerine  teeth  with  a  single  lanceolate  cusp,  the  lateral 
cusps  being  absent,  or  at  least  obsolete;  M.  exoJentata, 
with  triserial  mandibular  teeth,  the  points  of  the  exterior 
row  directed  horizontally  outwards  ;  M.  serridenlata,  dis- 
tinguished by  serrated  vomerine  teeth.  Dr.  Mc  Clelland 
considers  this  species  to  be  the  Ophidiiim  tulnbon  of 
Russell  (38)  ;  and  among  Hardwicke's  drawings  of  Indian 
fish,  preserved  in  the  British  Museum  (No.  292),  I  find 
one  marked  Congriis  talahon  (Gray),  with  a  reference  to 
Russell,  which  shows  the  dorsal  commencing  far  before  the 
gill-opening,  and  a  tapering  jioinled  tail.  Its  colour  is 
darkened  by  minute  crowded  black  dots.  No.  294  in  the 
same  collection  of  drawings  is  named  the  "Jungle  conger," 
and  is  of  a  pale  greenish  and  silvery  hue.  Its  rays  are 
stated  to  be  Br.  7,  D.  138  ;  A.  108,  C.  24  =  270.  An  en- 
larged sketch  of  the  jaws  in  figure  296  shows  it  to  be  a 
]\Iirncneso.v,  probably  allied  to  ciirvidens.  The  Chinese 
Coii</riis  fascialtis  of  Gray  ( Richardson's  Report  on 
the  Ichtli.  of  China)  is  figured  in  Nos.  291  and  293  of  the 
same  collection.  Il  has  an  ochre-yellow  ground,  but  with 
irregular  purplish-black  blotches  descending  from  the  dor- 
sal fin  to  the  middle  of  the  sides,  several  of  them  en- 
closing spots  of  the  ground  colour.  The  top  of  the  head 
is  black,  with  three  dark  spots  on  the  hind  head.  The 
cheeks,  under  surface  of  the  head  and  the  anal,  have  the 
bright  ochraceous  ground  tint,  the  fin  being  edged  with 
black.  The  dorsal  and  pectorals  are  mountain-green.  I 
have  seen  no  specimen  of  this  fish. 

Since  this  sheet  was  set  up  in  type  the  fifteenth  decade 
of  the  FaimaJnpoiiica,  containing  the  Congers,  has  reached 
me.  !M.  Schlegel  enumerates  Congrus  luh/aris  among  the 
Japanese  fish,  but  says,  at  the  same  time,  that  having  only  a 
dried  specimen  to  judge  from  he  cannot  be  certain  of  its  ab- 
solute specific  identity  with  the  common  conger  of  Europe. 
The  next  species,  Coiigrus  aiwgo,  PI.  cxiii,  fig.  1,  differs  in 
aspect  from  any  that  we  have  described,  and  is  considered 
by  M.  Schlegel  as  the  analogue  or  representative  of  the 
Mnrcena  balearica  of  Delaroche,  Ann.  da  Miisee,  tome  13, 
p.  327,  PI.  20,  fig.  3.  Congrus  hamo  belongs  to  Dr. 
Mc  Clelland's  genus  Muranpsox,  and  seems  to  be  identical 
with  a  conger  in  the  British  Museum,  which  was  discovered 
in  the  Phili]5pines  by  Mr.  Cuming.  I  had  given  this  spe- 
cimen a  ]irovisional  specific  ajjpcllation,  which  I  have 
changed  liu-  Iniiiin  since  the  fortunate  arrival  of  the  decade 
of  the  FaiiiKi  .Idjiiiiiica  before  the  sheet  was  printed  off. 
M.  Schlegel  states  ihat  the  talahon  is  the  common  species  of 
the  equatorial  seas,  and  mentions  the  Straits  of  Sunda  as 


one  of  its  habitats,  but  none  of  the  specimens  from  the 
Malay  Archipelago  which  I  have  seen  show  the  character- 
istic serratures  of  the  teeth  which  have  been  noticed  by 
Dr.  Mc  Clelland,  whose  excellent  opportunities  lor  study- 
ing the  fish  described  by  Russell  and  Buchanan-Hamilton 
give  great  weight  to  his  authority  in  the  determination  of 
their  species. 

As  to  Conger  urolophus  and  C.  tiropterus  of  the  Fauna 
Japon/ca,  they  are  evidently  Ophisttri,  having  the  naked 
tip  of  the  tail,  the  lobed  upper  lip,  form  of  the  gape,  and 
comparatively  small  eye,  which  distinguish  the  Uphisiiri 
from  the  Congri;  and  I  doubt  not  but  dissection  would 
show  the  numerous  hair-like  gill-rays  of  the  genus.  Ophi- 
siinis  urolophus  seems  to  be  distinct  from  any  that  we 
have  described,  but  O.  nropterus  is  perhaps  identical  with 
O.  sinensis  of  this  work,  p.  98.  O.  porphyrus  is  quite  dis- 
tinct from  any  species  in  the  British  Museum,  and  it  ap- 
pears to  have  small  teeth  on  the  entopterygoid,*  as  well  as 
on  the  u.sual  dentiferous  bones,  for  so  I  understand  M. 
Schlegel  when  he  says  "  II  existe  des  dents  dans  I'inter- 
maxillaii-e,  dans  les  machoires,  dans  le  vomer,  et  dans  les 
palafins,  et  elles  sont  dans  tons  ces  os  distribue  sur  un 
seule  rangee,  pointues,  un  pen  comprimees  et  un  pen  diri- 
gees  en  arriere.  Celles  des  deux  tiers  anterieurs  du  vomer 
sont  au  nombre  de  trois,  et  assez  vigoureuses  et  grandes, 
leur  largueur  egalant  le  diametre  de  Toeil ;  celles  de  deux 
tiers  anterieurs  de  la  machoire  inferieure  sont  au  nombre 
de  trois  a  quatre,  et  de  plus  de  moitie  plus  petites  que  ces 
grandes  dents  vomerieuses ;  les  dents  des  autres  parties 
sont  plus  petites  encore,  et  peu  serrees." 

Murtcna  Iddako,  p.  266,  Plf  cxvii.,  and  M.  albimargi- 
iiafa,  p.  267,  PI.  cxviii.,  differ  from  any  that  we  have 
described  ;  but  it  is  probable  that  il/.  pordalis  will  prove 
to  be  merely  the  adult  of  M.  paronina,  p.  90  (Ichth.  of 
Voy.  of  Sulphur,  p.  110,  PI.  53,  f.  1—6),  and  also  the 
'^ calamaia  pawn'"  of  Russell,  xxxii.,  and  perhaps  the 
M.  punctata  of  Schneider,  though  there  are  some  diffe- 
rences in  the  figures  and  descriptions  to  reconcile.  The 
figure  in  the  Fauna  Japonica  wants  the  elongated  tubular 
pores  on  the  points  of  the  snout  and  mandible,  which  were 
conspicuous  in  our  smaller  specimen. 


Anguilla  australis.     Richardson. 

Ai!f/uilla  australis,  Richardson,  Zool.  Trans,  iii.  p.  157. 

Plate  XL  v.,  figs.  1—5. 

This  eel  is  ]iroporlionally  a  more  slender  species  than 
lahrosa,  and  its  lips,  which  have  the  same  structure,  are 
less  thick  and  large.  Its  profile  is  depressed  or  slightly 
concave  before  the  eye,  and  its  snout  rounded  at  the  end. 
The  eye  is  moderately  large  for  an  Anguilla,  and  is  placed 
over  tiie  angle  of  the  mouth.     The  anus  is  before  the  mid- 

*  TLat  is,  if  this  hone  exists  in  the  genns,  which  I  do  not  know  for 
certain,  as  1  have  not  seen  a  skeleton  of  an  Ophisunis. 


113 


die  of  the  fish,  and  the  distance  between  it  and  the  gill- 
opening  falls  a  little  short  of  one-third  of  the  whole  length 
of  the  fish.  The  dorsal  commences  about  the  eighth  of  an 
inch  before  the  vent  in  the  specimen  here  described,  which 
is  equal  to  a  fifth  or  sixth  part  of  the  vertical  height  there. 
In  the  figure  (Plate  XLV.),  owing  to  the  bend  given  to  the 
body  by  the  artist,  the  dorsal  appears  to  come  farther  for- 
ward than  it  actually  does.  The  whole  integument  of  the 
body,  fins  and  head,  is  covered  with  minute  delicate  scales, 
arranged  in  the  same  lettice-work  way  as  in  Inbrosa,  the 
individual  scales  being  oblong,  oval  and  more  obtuse  at 
one  end,  but  not  tapering  so  much  towards  the  apex  as  in 
that  species.  Under  the  microscope  the  scales  appear 
to  be  entire  at  the  edges,  and  their  disks  show  concen- 
tric rows  of  cells.  The  lateral  line  is  a  continued  porous 
tube,  and  is  conspicuous  enough  from  the  gill-opening 
to  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  whole  skin  is  perforated  by 
innumerable  minute  raised  pores,  which  are  particularly 
conspicuous  on  the  inside  of  the  upper  lip,  the  tongue 
and  roof  of  the  mouth,  looking  through  a  lens  like  villi. 
The  pores  of  the  upper  lip  terminate  near  the  teeth  by  a 
well-defined  line,  which  appears  as  if  fringed  by  them. 
The  dental  surfaces  of  the  several  b(5nes  are  slightly  convex, 
and  set  densely  in  a  villiform  manner  with  short,  slender, 
cylindrical,  acute  teeth,  not  ranged  in  definite  rows.  The 
dental  plates  are  broadest  at  the  symphyses  of  the  jaws, 
and  taper  gradually  towards  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  but 
not  so  much  as  represented  in  figures  3  and  4,  nor  do  they 
end  so  acutely.  The  palatine  bones  flank  the  nasal  bone 
to  the  edge  of  the  snout,  but,  owing  to  their  lateral  position 
and  the  rounded  form  of  the  snout,  they  do  not  run  quite 
so  far  forward  as  the  end  of  the  nasal  bone.  The  lower 
jaw  is  slightly  longer  than  the  upper  one.    Pectoral  small. 

Length  of  the  Tasmanian  specimen,  which  is  figured  in 
Plate  XLV.,  17^  inches.  To  anus  7|-  inches.  To  gill- 
opening  2  inches.  Another  specimen,  from  Auckland 
Islands,  measures  19  inches.  To  anus  8't)  inches.  To 
gill-opening  2'4  inches.  And  one  from  New  Zealand, 
which  was  presented  to  the  British  Museum  by  Dr.  Sin- 
clair, Colonial  Secretary,  measures  18  inches  in  length, 
8"2  inches  to  the  anus,  and  2'3  inches  to  the  gill-opening. 
This  example  is  proportionally  thicker  in  the  body,  and  its 
dorsal  commences  half  an  inch  before  the  anus,  which  is 
farther  forward  than  in  the  others.  Its  eyes  are  not  sym- 
metrically placed,  the  left  one  being  over  the  comer  of  the 
mouth,  and  the  right  one  a  little  farther  forward,  but  its 
dentition  corresponds  with  australis,  and  I  can  detect  no 
specific  differences. 

Hab.  Tasmania.     New  Zealand      Auckland  Islands. 


Anguilla  dieffenbachii.     Gray. 

Anguilla  dieffenbachii,  J.  E.  Gray,  Dieffenbach's  Travels  in  New 
Zealand.    Append,  p.  225. 

This  eel  has  a  larger  pectoral  than  australis,  and  its 
dorsal  begins  an  inch  before  the  anus  in  a  specimen 
17  inches  long,  but,  on  examining  the  individual  contained 


in  the  British  Museum,  I  detected  no  other  difference  be- 
tween it  and  australis. 


Anguilla  aucklandii.     Richardson. 
Plate  XLV.,  figs.  7—13. 

In  this  species  the  height  of  the  body,  and  especially  of 
the  tail,  is  greater  than  in  australis;  and  the  end  of  the 
tail  with  the  fins  spread  out  is  more  rounded,  the  lips  are 
less  porous,  and  the  tongue  more  pointed.  The  teeth  also 
are  disposed  in  narrower  bands,  and  the  vomerine  patch 
tapers  more  and  runs  farther  back.  The  most  tangil)le 
difference,  however,  is  in  the  origin  of  the  dorsal,  which  is 
considerably  farther  forward.  The  eye  also  is  placed 
rather  before  the  corner  of  the  mouth,  not  over  it.  The 
profile  of  the  forehead  is  more  concave,  and  the  two  jaws 
are  more  nearly  equal  in  length. 

Length  of  the  fish  20  inches.  To  anus  9  inches.  To 
gill-opening  Sg-  inches.  To  beginning  of  dorsal  GS  inches. 
Distance  between  gill-opening  and  anus  6j  inches.  The 
dorsal  begins  before  the  anus  almost  2  inches,  or  4^  inches 
posterior  to  the  gill-opening. 

Hab.  Auckland  Islands. 


Anguilla  labkosa.     Richardson. 

The  eel  described  below  was  taken  by  K.  L.  Sutherland, 
Esq.,  Paymaster  and  Purser  of  the  '  North  Star,'  in  the 
South  Seas,  but  the  exact  locality  is  not  recorded,  and  we 
do  not  know  whether  it  be  a  fresh-water  or  marine  fish. 
It  has  the  general  aspect  of  an  eel,  and  also  the  conspicu- 
ous tessellated  scales  which  many  of  the  true  Aiiguillw 
jjossess ;  but  its  dorsal,  commencing  rather  nearer  to  the 
gill-opening  than  to  the  anus,  excites  a  doubt  as  to 
whether  it  ought  not  to  be  classed  with  the  Congers,  which 
are  artificially  separated  from  the  Anguilla;  by  the  more 
anterior  commencement  of  the  dorsal.  In  the  nature  of 
the  dentition  lahrosa  is  allied  to  Anguilla  hrevirostris  of 
McClelland  (Calc.  Journ.  t.  5,  f.  1),  but  the  forms  of  the 
dental  plates  are  not  precisely  the  same. 

The  skin  is  clothed  throughout,  except  on  the  lips,  with 
narrow  oblong  scales,  which  taper  considerably  at  one  end, 
but  are  not  absolutely  acute.  When  examined  with  a  mi- 
croscope, their  edges  are  perceived  to  be  quite  entire,  and 
their  whole  disks  to  be  densely  studded  with  oval  and 
rounded  cells.  In  situ  the  scales  are  ranged  in  short 
rows,  which  meet  each  other  nearly  at  right  angles,  and, 
being  covered  with  a  darker  pigment  than  the  dusky  brown 
integument,  are  very  conspicuous,  giving  a  tesselated  or 
interwoven  appearance  to  the  surface  of  the  skin.  The 
scales  cover  the  fins,  as  well  as  the  body  and  head.  The 
head  is  depressed,  flatly  rounded  on  the  top,  and  wider  at 
the  gill-openings  than  it  is  high.  The  compression  of  the 
body  begins  immediately  behind  the  pectorals,  and  in- 
creases to  the  end  of  the  tail,  which,  with  its  investing  fins. 


114 


is  much  rounded  in  the  outline  of  the  tip.  The  depression 
of  the  head  augments  to  the  end  of  the  snout,  which  has 
very  little  vertical  height,  and  is  obtuse  transversely  :  it 
nearly  equals  the  lower  jaw  in  length,  and  its  breadth 
is  augmented  by  thick  scaleless  lips,  that  can  be  made 
to  stand  out  laterally  like  wings.  lu  this  position  the 
breadth  of  a  single  lip  is  equal  to  three-fourths  of  the 
width  of  the  snout,  and  it  gradually  narrows  off  to  the 
corner  of  the  mouth,  just  in  the  same  proportion  that  the 
width  of  the  jaw  increases.  The  under  jaw  is  furnished 
with  a  lip  of  similar  shape  and  size,  pierced  by  rows  of 
large  pores,  and  the  scaly  integument,  ending  abruptly  at 
the  bases  of  both  lips,  produces  at  first  sight  the  appearance 
of  an  exterior  lip,  but  there  is  not  actually  a  distinct  fold 
of  the  skin  there.  The  short  tubular  anterior  nostrils  are 
placed  on  the  margin  of  the  snout,  just  where  the  lip  joins 
it,  and  the  naked  circular  orifice  of  the  posterior  one  is  on 
a  level  with  the  upper  mai-gin  of  the  orbit,  and  about  one- 
third  as  far  before  it  as  the  eye  is  distant  from  the  anterior 
nostril.  Eye  small,  and  situated  over  the  posterior  third  of 
the  mouth,  which  is  of  the  usual  size  in  the  A nguilla,  hni 
small  if  compared  with  the  Congri.  The  distance  between 
the  eyes  equals  the  distance  between  the  orbit  and  end  of  the 
snout,  aud  is  contained  four  times  in  the  distance  between 
the  end  of  the  snout  and  the  gill-opening.  The  length  of 
the  gape  is  contained  thrice  and  one  half  in  the  last-men- 
tioned distance. 

Vomerine  and  nasal  teeth  in  one  cluster,  without  any 
perceptible  line  of  separation,  forming  a  brush-like  plate, 
which  tapers  to  a  point  on  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  and  does 
not  extend  so  far  back  by  one  quarter  as  the  palatines. 
The  individual  teeth  are  short,  sleudcr,  cylindrical  and 
slightly  recurved,  with  small,  compressed,  acute  tips. 
The  palatine  bones  are  armed  witli  a  main  series  of  teeth, 
resembling  those  of  the  common  conger  in  being  chisel- 
shaped  and  somewhat  oblique  at  the  tips,  and,  from  their 
uniform  height  and  close  arrangement,  fitting  the  series  for 
an  iucisorial  fiuiction.  On  the  inside  of  this  row  there  is 
a  lower  even  range  of  more  pointed  teeth,  whose  tips  ai-e 
inclined  inwards  towards  the  mesial  line.  A  deep  smooth 
furrow  separates  the  two  rows.  On  the  outside,  close  to 
the  root  of  the  main  palatine  series,  there  is  a  row  of 
shorter  acute  teeth,  resembling  the  nasal  ones.  Anteriorly 
these  acute  teeth  increase  in  number  to  three  or  four  deep 
on  the  outside,  aud  also  fill  up  the  furrow  between  the 
principal  rows,  which  there  becomes  wider,  so  that  the 
fore  end  of  the  palatine  bones  presents  a  dental  surface  al- 
together similar  to  that  of  the  nasal  and  vomerine  bones  ; 
and  the  ends  of  the  palatines,  instead  of  articulating  to  the 
posterior  edge  of  the  nasal  disk,  as  in  most  of  the  congers, 
go  forward  to  the  end  of  the  snout,  flanking  the  nasal  bone, 
on  which  they  have  a  slight  lateral  motion,  so  that  the  line 
separating  their  dental  surfaces  can  be  traced.  The  man- 
dibular teeth  are  like  the  palatine  ones,  and  there  are  about 
nine  teeth  in  the  width  of  the  dental  surface  near  the  sym- 
physis. 

The  gill-openings  are  rather  large,  and  the  pectorals 
small  and  rounded.  Their  length  about  equals  the  dis- 
tance from  the  posterior  edge  of  the  orbit  to  the  end  of  the 
snout ;  and  the  dorsal  commences  at  the  distance  of  thrice 
the  length  of  the  i)ectoral  from  the  gill-opening. 


Length  36  inches.  To  anus  16^  inches.  To  gill-open- 
ing 4'8  inches.  Height  of  body  behind  the  pectorals 
3  inches.     Thickness  2  inches. 

In  Anguilla  brevirostris  the  anterior  interior  palatine 
teeth  are  represented  as  forming  an  obtuse  cluster  on  the 
side  of  the  vomerine  teeth.  The  dental  plate,  though  wide 
anteriorly  in  labrosa,  does  not  form  the  same  lobe-hke 
cluster,  aud  the  vomerine  teeth  taper  more  regularly  and 
rapidly  to  an  acute  point. 


Platycephalus  cirronasus.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— -B.  7  ;  D.  9|— 12  ;  A.  11  ;  C.  9i  ;  P.  20  ;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  LI.,  figs.  7—10. 

The  body  of  this  Plalycephalus  is  thickest  where  it  joins 
the  head.  At  that  place  its  width  exceeds  its  height  by  a 
fourth  or  fifth  part,  and  its  back  rounds  imperceptibly 
down  to  the  belly,  which  is  flat.  It  tapers  gradually  from 
the  shoulders  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin.  The  head, 
when  the  upper  jaw  is  retracted,  forms  just  one-third  of  the 
total  length  of  the  fish,  and  its  breadth  at  the  gill-covers 
exceeds  its  height  by  a  third  part.  Viewed  from  above  its 
outline  is  semi-elliptical,  the  snout  being  rounded.  In 
profile  the  snout  is  almost  horizontal,  with  an  abrupt  rise 
from  the  nostrils,  produced  by  the  prominence  of  the 
orbits,  and  a  more  gentle  ascent  from  the  eyes  to  the 
dorsal.  The  under  jaw  is  the  width  of  its  lip  longer  than 
the  upper  one,  but  the  latter  can  be  protracted  so  as  to 
equal  the  mandible.  The  anterior  nostril  is  furnished 
with  a  pointed  thin  membranous  barbel,  and  the  posterior 
one  has  a  lower  semi-tubular  margin.  The  eyes  are  oval, 
approaching  to  round,  being  only  slightly  longer  than  thej' 
are  high.  In  figure  7  they  have  a  more  oblong  shape, 
fi-om  their  upper  parts  being  seen  in  perspective.  Their 
diameter  is  contained  about  five  times  and  a  half  in  the 
length  of  the  head,  and  the  distance  between  their  orbits 
is  equal  to  half  a  diameter.  The  superior  margins  of  the 
orbits  are  tliin,  elevated  and  acute,  producing  a  semicircu- 
lar canal  between  the  eyes.  In  the  fore  part  of  this  canal, 
before  the  orbits,  there  is  a  very  slight  obtuse  mesial  ridge, 
which  entirely  disappears  between  the  eyes.  There  is  no 
vestige  of  an  orbitar  barbel  such  as  exists  in  P.  ientacula- 
tus  of  Iviippcll,  from  which  this  species  also  differs  in  its 
shorter  and  more  depressed  snout  aud  larger  eye.  The 
following  are  the  spines  with  which  the  head  is  armed. 
The  prefrontal  shows  a  small  blunt  point,  covered  with  in- 
tegument on  the  outside  of  the  posterior  nostril.  There  is 
one  acute  spinous  point  at  the  anterior  end  of  the  orbital 
border,  and  two  posteriorly,  the  last  one  being  wholly  be- 
hind the  orbit,  and  rather  exterior  to  the  one  which  pre- 
cedes it ;  a  low  ridge  leading  from  the  last  orbitar  spine, 
inclining  slightly  to  the  mesial  line,  and,  augmenting  in 
height  as  it  runs  back,  ends  in  an  acute  point  on  the  hinder 
part  of  the  cranium.  On  the  tenqiles  there  is  a  small  acute 
spine  immediately  behind  the  orbit,  and  a  short  acute  ridge 
which  springs  from  its  base,  and  inclines  a  little  outwards. 


115 


terminates  in  another.  The  supra-scapular  furnishes  one 
small  acute  spine,  and  the  superior  bone  of  the  humeral 
chain  forms  an  elevated  thin  ridge  at  the  upper  border  of 
the  gill-opening,  which  ends  posteriori^'  in  a  pungent  an- 
gle. Immediately  posterior  to  this,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  lateral  line,  there  are  two  moveable  pungent  points, 
like  spinous  scales,  being  the  only  armature  percepti- 
ble on  the  line.  The  upper  extremity  of  the  maxillary 
forms  a  small  bluntish  point  at  the  end  of  the  snout  on 
each  side,  but  the  preorbitar  appears  to  be  wholly  without 
any  angular  points  that  are  perceptible  through  the  integu- 
ments. The  second  suborbitar  is  traversed  by  a  thin,  pro- 
minent, perfectly  smooth  ridge,  which  abuts  against  the 
base  of  the  upper  preopercular  spine.  In  the  figure,  the 
under  edge  of  the  disk  of  the  suborbitar  is  also  shown,  but 
this  becomes  visible  only  when  the  integuments  are  allowed 
to  shrivel  by  drying,  and  is  not  prominent.  The  preoper- 
culum  has  three  small  spines,  of  which  the  upper  one  pro- 
jects farthest  back,  and  the  lowest  one  is  minute,  but  none 
of  them  are  readily  found  in  the  thick  integument  unless 
sought  for.  In  the  presence  of  these  sjiines  the  species 
resembles  P.  pristiger  of  Quoy  and  Gaimard,  but  none  of 
the  bony  ridges  of  the  head  are  rough,  either  to  touch  or 
sight ;  neither  can  any  angular  points  be  detected  on  the 
inter-operculum.  The  operculum  is  armed  by  two  small 
spines,  the  upper  one,  which  is  the  most  posterior,  termi- 
nating the  upper  edge  of  the  bone.  The  flexible  cartilagi- 
nous point  of  the  suboperculum  projects  far  bej'ond  them, 
and  is  bordered  by  a  thin  membrane  above,  which  restricts 
the  gill-opening  there,  and  by  the  gill-membrane  beneath. 
The  head  is  mostly  covered  with  a  spongy  integument,  like 
that  which  prevails  among  the  Scorpcoice,  and  the  same 
kind  of  covering  envelopes  the  scales  of  the  back  and 
sides,  being  the  part  on  which  the  brilliant  colours  of  the 
fish  depend.  None  of  the  streaks  or  sculptures  on  the 
cranium,  which  exist  in  some  PlatycephaU,  are  to  be  seen 
in  this  species. 

The  teeth,  disposed  in  smooth  shaven  villiform  bands, 
arm  the  premaxillaries,  mandible  and  palatines.  The 
bands  are  broadest  on  the  premaxillaries,  and  very  nar- 
row on  the  palatines.  There  are  also  two  small  oval 
patches  on  the  prominent  chevron  of  the  vomer,  separated 
from  each  other  by  a  deep  smooth  mesial  furrow.  The 
wide,  thin,  serai-cartilaginous,  truncated  tongue  is  smooth. 

The  lateral  line,  which  runs  parallel  to  the  back,  on  a 
level  with  the  upper  part  of  the  gill-opening,  is  traced  on 
fifty-eight  scales,  and  is  keeled  particularly  posteriorly, 
but  not  strongly  even  there.  One  of  these  scales,  with  its 
short  tubes  diverging  laterally  from  the  central  one,  is  re- 
presented at  figure  9  ;  and  an  ordinary  scale,  with  its  pte- 
noid  disk,  at  figure  10.  They  are  all  clothed  with  thick 
integument. 

The  first  dorsal  spine  stands  above  the  posterior  lobe  of 
the  gill-cover,  and  behind  the  attachment  of  the  pectoral ; 
the  third  dorsal  spine  is  opposite  to  the  base  of  the 
ventrals  ;  and  the  last  spine  is  so  closely  tied  down  to  the 
back  as  not  to  be  very  obvious.  It  requires  to  be  forcibly 
raised  to  be  seen  as  represented  in  figure  7.  There  are  no 
spines  in  the  second  dorsal  or  anal. 

The  patterns  of  colour  which  are  to  be  traced  on  the 


specimen  after  long  maceration  in  spirits  will  be  best  un- 
derstood by  consulting  the  figure.  Most  of  the  shaded 
parts  on  the  head,  body  and  fins  are  aurora-red :  the 
cross  bars  on  the  lips,  however,  some  spots  on  the  maxil- 
lary, others  immediately  beneath  the  eye,  a  few  minute 
specks  on  the  top  and  sides  of  the  head,  a  large  patch  on 
the  gill-membrane  including  the  upper  two  rays,  and  the 
border  of  the  first  dorsal,  are  brown.  Some  spots  on  the 
upper  plate  of  the  coracoid  bone,  others  in  the  axilla;  of 
the  pectorals  and  ventrals,  and  a  series  of  round  ones  at 
the  bases  of  the  rays  of  the  first  and  second  dorsal,  are 
brownish-black.  A  large  saddle-shaped  patch,  which 
descends  from  the  whole  length  of  the  first  dorsal  well 
down  the  sides,  is  red,  mixed  and  outlined  with  black. 
The  bars  on  the  tail  have  also  some  dark  or  blackish 
shadings.  The  ground  colour  is  generally  gray.  The 
transverse  lines  on  the  caudal,  ventrals  and  pectorals,  and 
the  oblique  ones  on  the  two  dorsals  and  anal,  are  aurora- 
red. 

Length  9j  inches.  Length  of  head  3  inches.  Length 
from  end  of  snout  to  anus  4-6  inches.  Height  at  shoulder 
1-2  inch. 

Hab.  Botany  Bay. 


PsAMMOPERCA.     Richardson. 

This  name  has  been  devised  to  express  one  of  the  cha- 
racters by  which  an  Australian  fish  may  be  distinguished 
from  the  other  PEECiDiE,  namely,  the  granular  form  of  its 
teeth  ;  the  term  being  compounded  of  ^aa/x/xuS'ni,  areiiatus 
and  CTifxa.  The  depth  of  the  notch  between  the  spinous 
and  jointed  portions  of  the  dorsal  fin  induces  us  to  com- 
pare this  fish  with  the  "  Perches  proprement  dites  "  of  the 
'  Histoire  des  Poissons,"  but  it  difi'ers  from  Perca  not  only 
in  its  dentition,  but  also  in  the  want  of  a  well-marked  pre- 
opercular disk,  in  the  dorsals  being  rather  more  connected, 
and  in  general  aspect ;  from  Lates  in  the  absence  of  large 
angular  teeth  on  the  lower  limb  of  the  preoperculum,  and 
in  the  perfectly  entire  preorbitar;  from  Perca-labrux  in 
its  smooth  tongue  and  its  solitary  opercular  spine  ;  and 
from  the  other  described  forms  of  this  group  by  still  more 
obvious  characters.  Among  the  Percoids  with  a  single 
dorsal,  Ceniropristes  is  the  only  genus  with  which  it  assi- 
milates ;  and  indeed  it  has  an  equal  claim  to  be  placed  in 
the  genus  with  Centropristes  scorpenoides,  which  has  a  pre- 
operculum aimed  beneath  with  recurved  spinous  teeth, 
and  in  that  respect  differs  from  the  rest  of  the  group  as 
much  as  Plectropoma  does  from  Serraxus.  It  has  been 
already  remarked,  in  pages  27  and  30,  that  the  admission 
of  these  anomalous  species  among  the  Centropristes  makes 
the  group  unnalural,  and  it  would  be  better  to  separate 
both  them  and  the  Australian  Cetitrojrristes — truttaceus, 
sahir,  georgianns,  &c. — which  have  the  even  dorsals  and 
general  habit  of  a  Casio  or  Smaris,*  from  the  typical  mem- 
bers of  the  genus.  On  this  account,  therefore,  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  present  practice  of  ichthyologists,  we 


Vide  Hist  des  Poiss.  iii. 


T  2 


116 


keep  Psammoperca  distinct,  without  venturing  to  decide 
whether  the  group  ought  to  be  considered  as  of  generic 
value,  or,  as  Cuvier  has  done  in  similar  cases,  merely  as  a 
minor  division.  The  blunt  granular  form  of  the  minute 
teeth,  the  form  and  structure  of  the  preopercukim,  the 
scaliness  of  its  imperfect  inferior  disk,  and  the  deep  notch 
of  its  dorsal,  are  its  most  obvious  external  differences  from 
Centropristes. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  principal  characters 
of  Psammoperca. 

Piscis  acanthopterygius  efamilid  Percidarum. 

Dentes  premaxillarmn,  mandibulce,  vomeris,  ossiumque 
palati  minuti,  rofundati,  numerosissimi,  conferti:  canini 
nullL 

Os  preorbitale  integerrirnum,  simul  ac  nasus  et  man- 
dibula  iioromm,  squamisque  carens.  Maxillae  partim 
squamis  minutis  iectcs.  Genae  operculaque  prorsus  squa- 
inosce. 

Prteoperculum  disco  inferiori  arclo  squamis  exiguis  te- 
neris  iecto,  margiiieque  integei  riiim  niiiiii/iim.;  anguloque 
ejus  in  spinavi  acutam  decurrenti ;  liiiihoqite  erecto  acute 
pectiimto-dentato.  Operculum  spina  gracdi,  solitarid  ar- 
vtatum,  lobo  memhranaceo  desinens. 

Anus  medianiis. 

Squamae  ptenoidea,  basi  flabellaiim  sulcaUe.  Linea  la- 
teralis aritice  arcuata. 

Corpus  compresstim,  a  latere  ellipticum. 

Os  humile,  terminale. 

Membrana  branchiostega  radiis  septem  sustentata. 

Pinna  dorsi  profunde  emarginata,  spinis  validis,  (sque 
ac  pinna  ani  in  thecd  squamosa  movens.  Pinnae  ventris 
sub-axiUas  pinnarmn  pectoris  positce ;  squamis  longis, 
compositis  extra  interque  fuUce.  Pinna  caudae  valde  ro- 
tundata.  Membranae  omnium  pinnaruni  squamis  teneris 
arete  appressis  obrelatcB  ;  prwter  membranam  spinas  dorsi 
interpositam  in  qua  squamce  ordinatce  juxta  spinas  tan- 
tum  adsunt. 


Psammoperca  datnioides.     Richardson. 

Radii:— B.  7;  D.  8|12;  A.  3|9  ;  C.  15|;  P.  15;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  LVII.,  figs.  1,  2. 

Body  compressed,  profile  elliptical,  its  height  about  the 
middle  rather  exceeding  a  fourth  of  the  length  of  the  en- 
tire fish.  The  length  of  the  head  is  more  exactly  a  quarter 
of  the  total  length.  Orifice  of  the  mouth  rather  small,  low 
and  terminal.  The  profile  rises  evenly,  and  with  a  slight 
convexity,  at  an  angle  of  .37°  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  to 
the  beginning  of  the  dorsal,  which  is  at  the  first  third  of 
the  whole  length  of  the  fish  ;  and  gradually  joins  the  arch 
of  the  back,  whose  summit  is  towards  the  end  of  the 
spinous  dorsal,  or  a  very  little  before  the  middle  of  the 
fish,  caudal  included.     The  curve  of  the  belly  is  much 


more  flat  anteriorly,  but  posterior  to  the  anus  the  ascent 
to  the  trunk  of  the  tail  is  equal  to  the  descent  of  the  back. 
Height  of  the  tail  between  the  three  vertical  fins  contained 
twice  and  one  half  in  the  greatest  height  of  the  body. 
Orbit  placed  near  the  profile,  oval  and  rather  large,  its 
greater  axis  being  equal  in  length  to  one-fourth  part  of  the 
length  of  the  head.  Forehead  between  the  orbits  flat,  not 
equal  in  width  to  the  vertical  diameter  of  the  eye.  Nos- 
trils, two  round  openings  on  each  side,  in  a  smooth  mem- 
brane, which  reaches  from  the  orbit  to  the  end  of  the 
snout,  the  posterior  and  larger  opening  being  close  to  the 
eye,  and  the  anterior  one  near  the  fore  comer  of  the  pre- 
orbitar.  Mouth  rather  small,  cleft  horizontally  to  beneath 
the  fore  part  of  the  eye.  Premaxillaries  slightly  pro- 
tractile. Maxillary  stouti.sh,  dilating  gradually  towards 
the  lower  end,  which  is  truncated,  passes  the  corner  of  the 
mouth,  and  moves  over  the  limb  of  the  lower  jaw :  it  does 
not  glide  under  the  preorbitar,  and  its  posterior  corner  is 
clothed  with  minute  scales.  Even  flattish  bands  of  minute 
roundish  or  granular  teeth  arm  the  jaws,  vomer,  and  edges 
of  the  palate  bones.  The  dental  band  of  the  inter-maxil- 
laries  is  broadest,  and  a  little  convex,  and  the  more  exterior 
teeth  are  a  little  larger  than  the  interior  ones.  On  the  un- 
der jaw  the  band  is  much  narrower,  while  on  the  small 
three-cornered  clievron  of  the  vomer,  and  the  edges  of  the 
palate  bones,  the  teeth  are  still  more  minute,  but  have  the 
same  granular  form.  Roof  of  the  mouth  plaited  poste- 
riorly. 

Preorbitar  meniscoid,  with  a  slightly  convex  entire  edge  ; 
its  disk  is  widest  under  the  posterior  nostril.  Rest  of  the 
suborbitar  chain  very  narrow.  The  scaly  integument  ter- 
minates in  a  convex  line  between  the  eyes;  the  .snout, 
whole  of  the  suborbitar  chain  and  lower  jaw  being  covered 
by  porous  skin.  The  cheek  and  gill-j)ieces  are  wholly 
seal}'.  Between  the  curve  of  the  preoperculum  and  the 
eye  there  are  about  eight  rows  of  scales,  and  also  several 
rows  on  the  inter-operculum,  which  graduate  into  smaller 
scales  on  the  adjoining  bases  of  the  gill-rays.  The  scales 
of  the  operculum  almost  equal  those  of  the  body  in  size. 
Small  tender  scales  cover  the  lower  limb  of  the  preoper- 
culum, a  very  narrow  line  of  membrane  showing  obscurely 
beneath  them.  When  the  integument  is  removed,  the  un- 
der limb  of  this  bone  is  seen  to  be  composed  of  two  thin, 
even,  edges  of  bone,  with  a  deep  furrow  between,  and 
some  pits  in  the  bottom  of  the  furrow.  The  upper  limb  of 
the  bone  is  strongly  and  acutely  toothed  in  a  very  regular 
pectinate  manner,  the  teeth  decreasing  gradually  in  size  as 
they  recede  both  ways  from  the  middle  of  the  series.  The 
angle  of  the  bone  is  prolonged  into  a  short,  flat,  spinous 
point,  between  which  and  the  lowest  tooth  of  the  upper  limb 
there  is  a  small  rounded  notch  filled  with  membrane.  A 
solitary,  slender,  subulate  spine  projects  from  among  the 
scales  of  the  upper  part  of  the  operculum,  the  lobular  tip 
of  the  gill-cover  and  the  narrow  edge  of  the  suboperculum 
being  membranous.  Gill-opening  pretty  large,  cleft  for- 
ward to  beneath  the  middle  of  the  eye.  Gill-membrane 
narrow,  sustained  by  seven  moderately  long  curved  rays. 
Disk  of  supra-scapular  covered  by  small  scales,  its  border 


17 


being  a  line  of  porous  integument,  except  at  the  crenated 
posterior  bonj'  tip.  A  scaleless  temporal  furrow  runs  from 
the  eye  to  the  upper  angle  of  the  gill-opening.  Supra-ax- 
illarj-  plate  of  the  coracoid  bone  bicuspidate.  Lateral  line 
arched,  and  traced  on  about  fifty  scales,  exclusive  of  small 
ones  on  the  base  of  the  caudal,  the  line  being  continued 
past  the  middle  of  the  fin  ;  and  there  are  about  fifteen  or 
sixteen  scales  in  the  height  of  the  body,  seven  of  them  be- 
ing above  the  lateral  line. 

Pectorals  small.  Ventrals  attached  rather  behind  the 
pectoral  axilla,  and  beneath  the  first  dorsal  spine.  Third 
dorsal  spine  rather  the  tallest,  but  scarcelj^  exceeding  the 
fourth.  The  eighth  spine  nearly  equals  the  seventh,  but  is 
only  about  one-third  of  the  length  of  the  longest  spine,  or 
of  the  soft  rays.*  Anal  more  rounded  than  the  soft  dorsal, 
and  embraced  like  it  at  the  base  by  a  scaly  sheath.  The 
anal  spines  are  short  and  rather  stout,  the  second  being 
the  thickest,  and  nearly  as  long  as  the  third.  Caudal 
much  rounded.  A  tapering  row  of  scales  is  applied  to  the 
front  of  each  dorsal  spine  on  alternate  sides  of  the  mem- 
brane. The  rest  of  the  fin-membranes  are  covered  with 
appressed,  tender,  tiled  scales.  A  tapering,  tiled,  com- 
pound scale  flanks  the  outside  of  each  pectoral,  and  there 
is  a  broader,  loose,  scaly -pointed  plate  between  these  fins. 

Length  of  the  specimen  9  inches ;  of  the  head  2"4  inches. 
Height  of  the  body  2'38  inches.  Diameters  of  the  orbit 
5'8  and  4"5  inches.     Width  between  the  eyes  0'4  inch. 

Figure  1,  Plate  LVIL,  is  a  view  of  a  dried  section  of  the 
fish  preserved  in  the  British  Museum.  Figure  2  is  a  scale 
from  the  middle  of  the  lateral  line. 

Hab.  Australia. 


Plectropoma  dentex.     Cuv.  et  Val. 
Radii:— B.  7;  D.  10|18;  A.  318;  C.  17  ;  P.  15;  V.  1|5. 


Plectropoma  dentex,  C.  et  V.  ii.  p.  394 ;  Quoy.  et  Gaim.  Voy  de 
I'Astrol.  p.  660,  PI.  4,  f.  2  ;  Neills  Australian  Fish,  MSS.  Br.  Mus., 
No.  23,  PI.  23.     Specimen  iu  British  Museum  numbered  46,  I,  31,  71. 


without  an  angle.  Its  disk  narrow,  its  upper  limb  minutely 
toothed  ;  lower  one  irregularly  crenated,  with  the  anterior 
toothlet  near  the  articulation  of  the  lower  jaw  turned  for- 
wards. Three  flat  opercular  s])ines,  the  middle  one  farther 
back  and  larger.  Second  anal  spine  stouter,  and  as  long 
as  the  third  one. 

One  strong  and  long  canine  tooth  is  implanted  into  each 
intermaxillary  not  far  from  the  symphysis  (vide  fig.  4),  and 
on  the  limb  of  the  bone  there  is  an  exterior  row  of  short 
subulate  teeth,  with  a  narrow  irregular  baud  of  minute  vil- 
liform  teeth  at  their  bases  within.  The  dental  band  at  the 
symphysis  is  broader  and  coarse,  resembling  the  dentition 
of  a  Sen-anus.  Five  tall  and  very  strong  canine  teeth  arm 
each  I'imb  of  the  lower  jaw,  the  anterior  tooth  and  the  two 
posterior  ones  being  larger  than  the  intermediate  ones. 
The  villiform  teeth  occupy  less  space  at  the  symphysis 
than  in  the  upper  jaw,  and  on  the  sides  of  the  bone  they 
are  reduced  almost  to  a  single  series,  but  behind  the  last 
canine  they  again  increase  to  two  or  three  rows.  Chevron 
of  the  vomer  acute.  The  villiform  teeth  which  arm  it, 
and  the  very  narrow  bands  on  the  palatine  bones,  are 
finer  than  those  on  the  jaws. 

The  original  colours  cannot  be  described  from  the  dried 
specimen,  but  the  forms  of  the  markings  seem  to  be  very 
perfectly  preserved.  Along  the  back  there  remains  a  double 
row  of  dark  or  blackish  cloud-like  spots,  mixed  with  oval 
and  roundish  white  ones,  which  exist  also  on  the  sides  and 
belly,  and  are  there  larger.  There  are  also  on  the  back 
and  upper  half  of  the  sides  three  or  four  rows  of  narrow 
longish  spots,  which  have  still  a  bluish  colour.  The 
spinous  dorsal  and  scaly  base  of  the  soil  part  of  the  fin  are 
marked  like  the  back.  On  the  head  the  three  kinds  of 
markings  also  exist,  but  the  spots  are  smaller  much  more 
crowded,  and  the  black  spots  extend  to  both  jaws  and  the 
whole  side  of  the  head.  A  few  black  spots  exist  on  the 
basal  half  of  the  pectoral  and  base  of  the  caudal.  The  ar- 
ticulated portions  of  the  vertical  fins  are  rather  broadly 
bordered  with  black,  the  anal,  especially  one  half  of  it, 
being  of  that  tint.     The  tip  of  the  ventral  is  also  black. 

Length  of  fish  17'25  inches.    Length  of  head  4-8  inches. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound. 


Plate  LVIL,  figs.  3—5. 


Centropristes  georgianus.     Cuv.  et  Val. 


This  fish  is  stated  by  Assistant-Commissary-General 
Neill  to  be  good  eating,  but  not  a  common  species  in 
Western  Australia.  It  is  caught  with  a  hook,  and  if  the 
fisherman  be  not  on  his  guard  it  is  apt  to  use  its  remarka- 
bly strong  canine  teeth  very  effectively,  and  to  bite  him 
severely.  It  derives  its  native  name,  'Taang'  or  '  Taa,' 
from  these  teeth,  but  the  sealers  name  it  '  the  perch.' 
Though  the  species  has  been  already  figured,  I  have 
thought  it  advisable  to  give  another  representation  of  it, 
executed  fi-om  a  dried  specimen  in  a  very  good  condition. 

Under  jaw  and  maxillary  minutely  scaly.  Preopercu- 
lum  curved  in  an  arc  rather  greater  than  a  third  of  a  circle, 

*  There  is  no  recumbent  spine  in  front  of  the  dorsal. 


Centropristes  georgianus,  Cuv.  et  Val.  vii.  p.  451 
Arripis  georgianus,  Jenyns,  Zool.  Beagle,  p.  14. 


Radii:— B.  7;  D.  OjlO,  interdum  14  ;  A.  3|10,  vel  11  ; 
C.  17^;  P.  15;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  LIV.,  figs.  3—6. 

Full  descriptions  of  this  fish  are  contained  in  the  His- 
toire  des  Poissons,  and  in  the  Rev.  L.  Jenyn's  account  of 
the  Ichthyology  of  the  Voyage  of  the  Beagle.  Its  resem- 
blance to  the  C.salar,  noticed  above  at  p.  29,  and  described 
in  the  third  volume  of  the  Zoological  Transactions,  and 


Hi 


figured  on  Plate  XX.,  is  very  great.  It  is,  however,  rather 
more  compressed,  and  the  scales  are  somewhat  smaller,  the 
snout  shorter,  the  eye  large,  so  as  exactly  to  equal  the 
breadth  of  the  flat  forehead  between  the  edges  of  the 
orbits,  and  the  anal  has  a  much  slighter  curve  or  notch. 
The  row  of  scales  on  the  maxillary,  being  very  deciduous, 
has  fallen  from  the  specimens,  and  was  omitted  by  the 
artist  in  his  drawing,  but  traces  of  it  exist  on  the  fish. 
There  are  fifty-four  scales,  with  tubes  on  the  lateral  line, 
and  five  or  six  rows  on  the  base  of  the  caudal,  making 
about  sixty  in  all  between  the  gill-opening  and  caudal. 

Length  5j  inches. 

Hab.  The  south-eastern  and  south-western  coasts  of 
Australia.  Norfolk  Island.  Port  Jackson.  King  George's 
Sound. 


Grystes  macquariensis.     Cuvier. 

Grysles  mncquariensis,  Cuv.  et  Viil.  Hist,  ties  Poissons,  iii.  p.  58. 


Radii:— B.  7;  D.  10|15,  vel  11|1(5;  A.  3|13;  C.  18^; 
P.  17,  vel  19;  V.  1|5. 


Plate  LII I.,  figs.  8,  9, 

In  Mitchell's  Expeditions  in  Australia,  PI.  6,  f.  1  repre- 
sents a  fish  locally  named  '  cod  perch,'  and  to  which  the 
author  has  given  the  specific  name  of  Grystes  peelii,  be- 
cause it  varies  in  some  respects  from  the  description  of  G. 
macquariensis  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  and  does  not 
correspond  with  Guerin's  figure  in  the  Iconographie  de 
Regne  Animal.  Our  specimens  have  the  pale  margins  to 
the  dorsal  and  anal,  which  exist  in  macquariensis,  but 
which  peelii  is  said  to  want.  Their  form,  however,  is  that 
of  Mitchell's  fish,  and  as  they  agree  sufficiently  with  the 
detailed  description  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  the  pro- 
bability seems  to  be  that  macquariensis  and  peelii  are  but 
one  species,  and  that  Guerin's  figure,  as  in  many  other  in- 
stances, has  been  carelessly  drawn.  The  account  oi mac- 
quariensis in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  is  sufficiently 
detailed  ;  and  we  shall  merely  add,  that  the  scales  are 
small,  deeply  imbedded  in  a  mucous  skin,  and  cover  almost 
every  part  of  the  surface  of  the  fish  :  they  exist  on  the  pec- 
torals, ventrals,  caudal  and  first  dorsal,  and  entirely  clothe 
the  second  dorsal  and  anal.  They  are  found,  though  mi- 
nute, even  on  the  membrane  joining  the  limbs  of  the  lower 
jaw  ;  also  on  the  gill-rays,  snout,  preorbitar,  maxillary, 
disk  of  the  preoperculum,  as  well  as  on  the  gill-plates  and 
rest  of  the  head. 

Mitchell  desci'ibes  the  colour  of  peelii  as  being  "  light 
yellow,  covered  with  small,  irregular,  du.sky  spots,  which 
get  more  confluent  towards  the  back.  The  throat  is  pink- 
ish, and  the  belly  white."  The  original  tints  of  our  speci- 
mens have  been  altered. 

Length  from  6  inches  to  18  inches. 

Hab.  The  Macquarrie,  and  several  other  Australian 
rivers. 


Datxia  elliptica,     Richardson. 

Radii:— B.  6;  D.  12|13;  A.  3|8  ;  C.  15^;  P.  15;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  LII.,  figs.  4—8. 

At  page  24,  and  in  Plate  XVIIL,  fig.  3, 1  have  described 
and  figured  a  fresh-water  fish  which  differs  from  the  group 
of  Therapon,  Datnia,  Pelates  and  Helotes,  in  having  an 
undivided  air-bladder,  and  fi-om  each  of  these  genera  in 
some  other  peculiarity  of  structure.  On  the  whole  it  agrees 
best  with  Datnia.  In  Plate  LII.  we  have  given  a  repre- 
sentation of  another  fresh-water  species  very  similar  to  D. 
caiidavittata  of  Plate  XVIIL,  but  differing  from  it  in  its 
more  oblong  form,  its  less  elevated  cheek  and  broader 
operculum,  which  is  covered  by  nine  rows  of  scales.  Its 
teeth  are  villiform  on  both  jaws,  the  outer  row  being  a  little 
stronger,  but  still  small.  The  teeth  stand  at  the  symphy- 
sis about  six  or  seven  deep.  There  are  none  on  the  vomer 
or  palate  bones.  The  prcorbitars  are  finely  striated  in 
correspondence  with  minute  marginal  crenatures.  The 
preoperculum  is  strongly  serrated  at  its  rounded  corner, 
and  becomes  gradually  less  so  towards  the  extremities  of 
both  its  limbs ;  and  the  small,  flat,  opercular  spines  are 
grooved  at  their  tips  so  as  to  appear  double.  The  hume- 
ral bone  and  supra-axillary  plate  of  the  coracoid  are  fur- 
rowed and  crenated  like  the  preorbitar. 

Length  65-  inches. 

Hab.  Rivers  in  Western  Australia. 


Lethrinus  cheysostomus.     Richardson. 


Radii:— B.  6;  D.  10|8;  A.  3|8;  C.  174;  ?•  ^  J  V.  1|5. 


Nearly  fifty  species  of  Lethrinus  are  described  in  the 
Histoire  des  Poissons,  but  as  they  are  not  characterised  by 
any  well-marked  peculiarities  of  structure,  description  fails 
to  convey  such  an  idea  of  each  species  as  will  render  it 
easily  recognizable.  The  comparative  notices  in  that  ex- 
cellent work  are  chiefly  of  use  when  the  ichthyological 
student  has  a  good  series  of  specimens  for  his  guide,  but 
do  not  suffice  for  the  determination  of  isolated  examples, 
particularly  when  the  colours  of  the  fish  have  perished ; 
and  we  have  not  access  to  more  than  seven  or  eight  figures 
which  may  help  in  this  process.  The  specimen  described 
below  was  taken  at  Norfolk  Island,  and  except  as  to  colour, 
which  has  doubtless  changed  by  immersion  in  spirits,  is  in 
excellent  condition.  In  drawing  up  the  description,  I  have 
been  very  particular  as  to  the  position  of  the  eye,  and  the 
relative  proportions  of  the  parts  of  the  head,  especially  in 
regard  to  the  dimensions  of  the  preorbitar,  whose  size 
greatly  influences  the  physiognomy  of  the  Lethrini.  And  I 
have  also  attended  to  the  teeth,  that  the  species  may  be 
the  more  easily  identified  when  it  is  examined  on  the 
coasts  of  Australia. 

The  profile  resembles  that  of  genivittatus  more  nearly 


19 


than  that  of  any  of  the  figures  given  in  the  Histoirc  des 
Poissons,  Riippell's  Neiic  WirlhcHiiore,  or  by  Russell, 
but  it  has  a  higher  body,  shorter  dorsal  sijines,  and  its  eye 
is  placed  proportionally  farther  from  the  end  of  the  snout, 
being  fully  three  longitudinal  diameters  of  the  orbit  from 
the  extremity  of  the  upper  jaw  when  closely  retracted,  and 
only  one  diameter  from  the  nuchal  scales.  The  Lethrinus 
harak  of  Rlippell  has  a  shorter  snout,  a  more  concave  pro- 
file of  the  face,  and  a  more  delicate  and  less  strongly 
arched  spinous  dorsal. 

Our  fish  has  a  profile  ascending  fi-om  the  snout,  with  a 
scarcely  perceptible  concavity,  to  the  lower  nostril,  and 
then  straightly,  or  rather  couvexly,  to  the  nape,  where  it 
passes  without  abruptness  into  the  longitudinal  curve  of 
the  back.  The  face  makes  an  angle  of  45°  with  the  hori- 
zontal rictus  of  the  mouth  ;  the  back  is  moderately  convex, 
and  the  belly  less  so  ;  the  throat  and  under  surface  of  the 
mandible  having  a  slight  ascent  when  the  mouth  is  closed. 
The  head  is  considerably  compressed,  its  thickness  at  the 
orbits  being  rather  less  than  one-third  of  its  height  there, 
and  at  the  nape,  which  is  a  little  thicker,  the  proportion  to 
the  height  is  nearly  the  same.  The  top  of  the  head  and 
snout  is  rounded  off;  the  sides  of  the  head  are  flat  and 
vertical.  The  distance  from  the  anterior  edge  of  the  pre- 
orbitar  lip  to  the  first  dorsal  spine  is  exactly  equal  to  one- 
third  the  length  of  the  fish,  caudal  included,  and  the  long 
diameter  of  the  eye  forms  one-fifth  of  this  same  distance, 
and  also  of  the  length  of  the  head,  measured  from  the  front 
of  the  intermaxillary  lip  to  the  apex  of  the  gill-cover. 
Again,  the  long  diameter  of  the  eye  is  contained  thrice  in 
the  height  of  the  cheek  between  the  orbit  and  inferior  edge 
of  the  interoperculum,  and  the  height  of  the  head  at  the 
nuchal  scales  is  equal  to  the  distance  from  these  scales  to 
the  intermaxillary  lip  with  retracted  jaws,  but  is  less  than 
the  length  of  the  head  measured  to  the  hinder  edge  of  the 
gill-flap.  The  whole  head,  except  the  operculum,  is 
covered  with  thick  porous  skin,  which  projects  beyond  the 
edges  of  the  opercular  pieces,  forming  acute,  but  very 
smooth,  flaps.  The  preoperculum  is  free,  or  capable  of 
being  raised  round  its  whole  posterior  and  under  border, 
no  part  of  the  bone  appearing  through  the  integument;  and 
the  depth  of  the  flap  at  its  rounded  comer  is  about  a  quar- 
ter of  an  inch.  The  nearly  vertical  posterior  edge  is 
slightly  concave.  The  integument  is  continued  evenly 
over  the  disk  of  the  bone,  the  cheek,  preorbitar,  and  across 
the  snout,  its  inferior  edge  forming  the  preorbitar  lip, 
whose  flap  is  a  quarter  of  an  inch  dee]) :  its  edge  is  quite 
even.  The  height  of  the  intero])ercnlum  is  likewise  in- 
creased by  an  even  and  rather  firm  cutaneous  border. 
The  operculum  is  covered  on  the  disk  with  six  rows  of 
scales,  and  behind  the  last  row  the  rounded,  thin,  flat  edge 
of  the  bone  appears  covered  with  smooth  skin.  The  flex- 
ible cartilaginous  point  of  the  interoperculum  underlies 
this  bony  process,  and  the  soft  skinny  border  of  the  gill- 
flap  forms  a  rounded  corner  or  lobe  behind  all.  There  are 
no  points  such  as  exist  on  the  bony  operculum  oi genivit- 
tatus,  luljaitus,  and  some  others. 

The  mandible  is  articulated  under  the  posterior  nostril, 
and  when  the  mouth  is  fully  open  it  is  depressed  so  as  to 
form  an  angle  of  about  100°  with  the  throat,  the  premax- 


illaries  being  at  the  same  time  protruded  about  half  an 
inch.  In  this  state  the  flat,  broadly  rounded,  lower  end  of 
the  maxillary,  enveloped  infolds  of  skin,  comes  from  under 
the  preorbitar,  which  wholly  conceals  it  when  the  mouth  is 
closed.  The  lips  are  densely  studded  with  small,  soft, 
smooth,  roundish  papillas,  and  towards  the  roots  of  the 
teeth  are  lined  with  folds  of  soft  fringe-like  villi.  The 
jaws,  when  the  mouth  is  closed,  are  of  equal  length,  and 
each  armed  at  the  extremity  by  four  canine  teeth,  that  is, 
two  on  each  premaxillary  and  limb  of  the  mandible : 
they  are  of  moderate  size,  and  the  intermediate  pair  is 
smaller  than  the  outer  ones,  particularly  on  the  mandibles; 
but  they  are  followed  on  the  limbs  of  the  upper  jaw,  and 
about  a  tooth's  breadth  more  interiorly,  by  a  row  of  ten  or 
eleven  smaller,  stoutly  subulate  teeth,  which  increase 
slightly  in  size  and  become  more  conical  from  the  first  to 
the  seventh :  this  one  equals  the  middle  pair  of  canines, 
and  the  last  three  lateral  teeth  are  smaller,  lower  and  more 
blunt,  but  not  actually  flat-crowned.  Behind  the  canines 
there  is  a  band  of  densely  villiform  teeth,  which  tapers  off 
on  the  sides  of  the  jaw,  and  ends  at  the  seventh  lateral 
tooth.  The  limbs  of  the  lower  jaw  are  armed  by  twelve 
teeth  similar  to  the  premaxillary  ones,  but  a  little  larger  : 
they  augment  in  size  from  the  first  to  the  ninth,  and  the 
last  three  are  lower  and  blunter.  The  tongue  is  narrow, 
pointed  and  smooth. 

The  supra-scapulars  are  each  covered  by  a  cluster  of  six 
scales,  whose  disks  are  clothed  with  porous  skin  ;  and  a 
row  of  five  or  six  similar  scales  descends  on  the  temples 
before  the  upper  end  of  the  preoperculinn.  The  nuchal  or 
first  row  of  scales  are  also  invested  with  porous  integument, 
and  the  first  bone  of  the  humeral  chain  takes  its  place 
among  them,  being  distinguishable  chiefly  by  its  somewhat 
greater  size.  There  are  forty-six  scales  in  a  row  between  the 
gill-o])ening  and  the  caudal  fin,  excluding  the  band  of  small 
ones  which  invest  the  bases  of  the  rays,  and  about  eighteen 
rows  on  the  height  behind  the  axilla  of  the  pectoral.  The 
species  is  one  of  the  highest  and  stoutest  among  the  Lethrini, 
the  height  of  the  body  being  equal  to  the  length  of  the  head 
or  one-third  of  the  total  length  of  the  fish,  agreeing  in  this 
respect  with  abbreviatus  and  some  others  described  in  the 
Histoire  des  Poissons.  The  first  dorsal  spine  stands  over 
the  space  between  the  gill-opeuing  and  base  of  the  pecto- 
ral, and  is  a  trifle  too  far  forwards  in  our  figure.*  It  is 
scarcely  half  the  height  of  the  third  spine,  which  is  the 
tallest  :  the  following  ones  gradually  decrease  to  the 
eighth,  which  is  about  one-fourth  shorter  than  the  third 
one,  and  is  very  slightly  exceeded  in  height  by  the  ninth 
and  tenth.  The  solt  rays  are  about  equal  in  length  to  the 
third  spine.  The  spines  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  set 
with  their  broad  sides  turned  alternately  to  the  right  and 
left.  The  third  anal  spine  is  the  tallest.  The  pointed 
scales  above  and  between  the  ventrals  are  three-cornered, 
and  possess  considerable  rigidity.  The  caudal  when  ex- 
tended is  notched  to  about  a  third  of  the  length  of  its  mid- 
dle rays,  and  its  corners  are  rather  acute. 

The  colours  in  a  fresh  state  were  not  recorded,  but  the 

*  The  artist  has  inadvertently  represented  eleven  spines  instead  often, 
and  this  error  has  advanced  the  commencement  of  the  tin  a  little. 


120 


(laik  parts  in  the  plate  have  a  deep  brown  hue  in  the  spe- 
cimen, which  has  been  long  in  spirits ;  and  the  inside  of 
the  mouth  is  of  a  bright  reddish-orange,  which  also  tinges, 
though  not  so  deeply,  the  corner  of  the  mouth  and  the 
parts  which  are  exposed  by  the  protraction  of  the  inter- 
maxillaries. 

Length  of  the  specimen  13j  inches. 

Hab.  Norfolk  Island. 


Crenidens  simplex.     Richardson. 
Radii  :— B.  6  ?  D.  15|12  ;  A.  3ll2 ;  C.  15| ;  P.  16  ;  V.  1|5. 

Only  one  member  of  this  genus  is  described  in  the  His- 
toire  des  Poissons,  namely,  the  Crenidens  forskaUi,  which 
has  the  cutting  edge  of  each  tooth  divided  by  notches  into 
five  even  cusps.  Several  other  members  of  the  group  in- 
habit the  seas  of  China  and  Australia.  One  of  these,  C. 
punctata  (Richardson,  Rep.  of  Br.  Assoc,  for  1845,  p.  242  ; 
Girelln  pitnciata,  Gray,  111.  Ind.  Zool.,  PI.  98,  figs.  3,  4) 
has  tricuspid  teeth,  as  has  also  C.  triglyphus  (page  36  of 
the  present  work,  and  Plate  XXV.,  fig.  2)  and  C.melanich- 
thyn  (Temm.  et  Schl.  Faun.  Jap.  p.  75,  PI.  39;  Rep.  Br. 
Assoc,  p.  243).  The  teeth  of  C.  tephrteops  of  King 
George's  Sound,  described  above  in  page  69,  and  figured 
on  Plate  XLL,  fig.  1,  are  also  tricuspid  ;  but  the  cusps, 
instead  of  being  equal  as  in  the  preceding  species,  have 
tlie  middle  one  considerably  wider  and  longer  than  the 
side  ones.  C.  zebra  (p.  70  mipra)  and  C.  leoniniis  are 
described  from  drawings,  and  the  forms  of  their  teeth  are 
unknown  to  me  ;  but  one  species  which,  like  triffli/phtis, 
is  an  inhabitant  of  Port  Jackson,  has  all  the  external  cha- 
racters of  the  genus,  except  that  the  teeth  are  entire,  and 
not  in  accordance  therefore  with  the  scientific  appellation 
of  the  group.  The  following  description  was  drawn  up 
iiom  a  dried  specimen,  numbered  46,  10,  22,  11,  in  the 
British  Museum. 

The  general  form  is  not  very  dissiiTiilar  to  that  of  C. 
forskalU  or  trif/lyphus,  but  the  profile  of  the  forehead  is 
more  sloping.  The  height  of  the  body  is  contained  thrice 
and  one-third  in  the  total  length  of  the  fish.  The  head 
forms  a  fifth  part  of  the  whole  length.  The  diameter  of 
the  eye  is  equal  to  a  quarter  of  the  length  of  the  head. 
Two  small  round  nostrils  are  placed  immediately  before 
the  eye  on  each  side.  The  maxillary  is  slender,  and  lies 
in  a  deep  furrow  behind  the  premaxillaries,  being  hidden 
when  they  are  retracted  :  the  dilated  end  is  visible  behind 
the  corner  of  the  month,  and  glides  under  the  edge  of  the 
preorbitar.  The  premaxillaries  and  lower  jaw  are  armed 
with  many  rows  of  teeth,  which  have  narrow  bases,  and 
dilate  gradually  towards  their  truncated,  entire,  cutting 
edges.  The  four  outer  rows  on  the  edges  of  the  jaws  are 
slightly  incurved,  and  in  consequence  of  their  position  are 
separated  by  a  gap  from  a  dense  cluster  of  much  smaller, 
but  otherwise  similar  teeth,  covering  the  more  interior  sur- 
face of  the  jaws.  In  the  recent  fish  these  inner  teeth,  ow- 
ing to  their  tips  only  being  visible,   may  be  mistaken  for 


granular  teeth,  but  they  have  the  same  form  with  the  larger 
outer  ones,  and  are  evidently  destined  to  replace  them 
when  they  are  worn  down,  in  the  same  manner  that  the  in- 
ner teeth  of  a  shark  roll  outwards  on  the  edge  of  the  jaw 
as  they  are  needed.  The  four  outer  rows  are  obliquely 
tiled,  the  innermost  of  them  being  the  highest.  A  circular 
plate  on  the  vomer  is  rough  with  minute  teeth,  invisible  to 
the  naked  eye ;  and  there  is  a  smaller  plate  of  the  same 
kind  on  the  fore  end  of  each  palate  bone,  which  is  sepa- 
rated from  the  vomerine  plate  by  a  narrow  interval.  The 
tongue  is  porous,  the  isthmus  smooth ;  the  under  pharyn- 
geals are  armed  by  short,  subulate,  recurved,  densely 
crowded  teeth.  The  branchial  arches  are  each  furnished 
by  two  rows  of  thin  crests  placed  transversely,  and  bristly 
with  minute  hair-like  teeth.  Jaws,  snout,  preorbitar,  nar- 
row snborbitar  chain,  temples,  disk  of  preoperculum,  inter- 
operculum,  suboperculum  and  lower  half  of  operculum, 
with  the  scapular,  scaleless.  Seven  rows  of  scales  cover 
the  cheek  between  the  curve  of  the  preoperculum  and  the 
orbit,  and  there  are  about  as  many  on  the  upper  half  of  the 
operculum.  Bony  operculum  widely  notched  ;  the  upper 
corner  of  the  notch  greatly  rounded  oft',  the  lower  part  of 
the  curve  much  more  sudden,  and  terminated  by  an  acute 
corner,  which  is  passed  by  the  narrow  tip  of  the  suboper- 
culum. The  notch  is  filled  in  the  recent  fish  by  smooth 
membrane.  The  scales  of  the  body  have  the  same  oblong 
form  with  those  of  the  other  species  described  in  this  work. 
A  meniscoid  segment  of  the  exposed  disk  of  each  scale  is 
traversed  by  rough  radiating  lines,  which  end  in  minute 
marginal  teeth.  The  middle  of  the  disk  is  smooth  and 
shining,  and  more  posteriorly  the  lines  of  structure  are  lon- 
gitudinal and  parallel.  Fifty-five  scales  complete  the 
lateral  line,  and  there  are  about  ten  rows  of  scales  above 
it,  and  twenty  below,  where  the  height  of  the  body  is 
greatest.  The  scales  are  smallest  on  the  nape,  breast  and 
belly,  and  largest  on  the  sides  below  the  lateral  line,  and 
on  the  tail  generally.  A  fillet  of  small  scales  runs  along 
the  base  of  the  dorsal,  and  another  along  the  anal.  Small 
scales  also  cover  the  base  of  the  caudal,  and  there  are  mi- 
nute scales  on  the  membranes  of  the  solt  dorsal  and  anal, 
with  narrow  tapeiing  fillets  running  up  behind  the  alternate 
sjjines,  as  in  the  triglyphus.  Lateral  line  considerably 
above  the  middle  of  the  height,  following  the  curve  of  the 
back,  and  unbroken.  Ventral  spine  slender,  one-third 
shorter  than  the  soft  rays,  and  standing  under  the  third  dor- 
sal spine  and  attachment  of  the  lowest  pectoral  ray.  In 
triglyphus  and  tephrxops  the  ventral  spine  is  under  the  be- 
ginning of  the  dorsal.  Dorsal  spines  rather  slender,  very 
acute,  and  about  equal  in  height  to  the  soft  rays.  Anal 
spines  stouter,  the  third  scarcely  taller  than  the  second, 
and  about  one-third  longer  than  the  first  one,  which  stands 
under  the  last  dorsal  spine.  Soft  part  of  the  fin  higher 
than  the  dorsal  and  much  rounded.  Caudal  moderately 
concave  at  the  end. 

Length  of  specimen  12  inches. 

Hab.  Port  Jackson. 


121 


SCOKPIS  GEORGIANUS.      Ciiv.  et  Val. 

Scorpis  geoi-jjianus,  Cuv.  et  Val.  viii.  p.  503,  PI.  245. 

Radii:— "B.  7;D.  10|23;  A.  3|-25  ;  C.  17;  P.  15;  V.  1|5." 
— Histoiie  des  Poissoiis. 

This  fish  is  represented  in  Mr.  Neill's  drawings  (No.  6), 
and  is  stated  by  him  to  be  a  very  common  inhabitant  of 
rocky  shores,  and  to  take  the  hook  readily.  He  says  that 
it  is  a  gross  feeder,  but  is  an  agreeable  article  of  food.  It 
is  the  "  striped  sweep  "  of  the  sealers,  the  "  pomfret "  of 
the  settlers  of  King  George's  Sound,  and  the  "  mudeur"  of 
the  Aborigines,  who  also  name  it  "  teutuck  "  or  "  karloch," 
from  the  shape  of  the  fins.  The  drawing  measures  12j 
inches  in  length,  and  the  body  is  7j  inches  high.  The 
colour  is  blackish-brown,  deepening  to  brownish-black  on 
the  snout,  back,  edges  of  the  dorsal  and  anal,  and  on  the 
whole  of  the  other  fins.  There  is  a  dai'k  bar  on  the  gill- 
cover  and  temples,  another  broad  one  descends  from  the 
whole  length  of  the  spinous  dorsal  to  the  belly,  and  two 
from  the  soit  part  of  the  dorsal.  The  lips,  lower  jaw  and 
ej'e  are  yellowish. 

I  have  seen  no  example  of  this  species. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound,  Australia. 


ScoKris  ^QUiPiNNis.     Richardson. 


"  The  Sweep,"  Neill's  drawings  of  the  Fish  of  King  George's  Sound 
(inMus.  Brit.),  No.  43. 


Radii:— D.  10|27;  A.  3|26  ;  C.  17| ;  P.  19;  V.  1|5. 


The  premaxillary  teeth  are  short,  and  disposed  in  dense 
villiforni  bands,  the  outer  row  being  a  little  stronger  and 
longer  than  the  others,  but  apparently  not  so  much  so  as 
in  (jeorgicmiis.  The  villiform  bands  cease  about  midway  to 
the  angle  of  the  mouth,  and  the  exterior  row,  gradually  di- 
minishing in  the  size  of  its  teeth,  disappears  a  little  farther 
on.  The  mandibular  teeth  are  similar,  but  reach  to  the 
corner  of  the  mouth,  the  interior  band  thinning  off  to  a 
point.  The  chevron  of  the  vomer  and  edges  of  the  palatine 
bones  are  armed  with  rather  stronger  villiform  teeth.  The 
teeth  on  the  pterygoid  bones  are  scarcely  to  be  detected, 
even  in  the  younger  specimens,  with  a  good  lens.  The 
preoperculum  is  finely  and  acutely  toothed  along  its  lower 
limb  and  round  the  angle,  the  teeth  being  visible  to  the 
naked  eye,  but  on  the  edge  of  the  lirab  there  is  merely  a 
slight  irregularity.  The  operculum  is  elliptically  notched  on 
its  edge,  without  pungent  angles.  The  cheek,  suborbitar 
chain,  disk  of  the  preoperculum,  rest  of  the  opercular 
pieces,  lower  jaw,  gill-cover,  throat,  and  most  of  the  head, 
are  scaly ;  the  lips,  membranous  parts  about  the  mouth 
and  nostrils,  and  the  maxillary,  being  smooth.  The 
spinous  parts  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  have  scaly  sheaths  at 
their  bases;  the  rest  of  the  vertical  fins  are  covered  with 
minute  scales.  The  scales  of  the  body  seem  to  have  a 
more  convex  free  edge  than  those  oi  georgianus :  they  are 
strongly  toothed  on  the  edge,  and  most  of  them  have  three 
or  four  raised  lines  near  to  the  free  edge  and  parallel  to  it. 

The  drawing  is  coloured  neutral  tint,  fading  to  pale  blue 
or  bluish-gray  on  the  lower  parts,  and  deepening  on  the 
caudal,  dorsal  and  edge  of  the  anal  almost  to  black.  The 
top  of  the  head  and  back  are  also  blackish,  and  the  mem- 
branes of  the  pectorals  and  ventrals.  The  lips  and  eye  are 
yellow. 

Length  of  the  specimens  from  4  to  10  inches ;  of  Mr. 
Neill's  drawing  I65-  inches. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound,  Australia. 


This  fish  is  the  "  sweep  "  of  the  Sealers,  the  "memon" 
or  "  meemon"  of  the  Aborigines  of  King  George's  Sound. 
It  is  ver}'  common  on  the  rocky  shores,  and  is  stated  by 
Mr.  Neill  to  be  a  bold  voracious  fish,  easily  speared  or 
taken  by  the  hook.  "  The  method  employed  by  the  na- 
tives for  spearing  the  fish  is  extremely  simple.  They  gene- 
rally select  a  rock  jutting  far  out  into  the  sea,  and  sitting 
there  on  their  haras,  with  a  little  stone  before  them,  beat 
crabs  to  fragments  and  throw  them  into  the  water ;  then 
the  fish,  coming  to  seize  upon  the  bait,  is  transfixed  by 
the  spear,  which  the  native  holds  ready  and  poised  in  his 
hand.  He  rarely  throws  it  without  securing  a  prey  on  its 
barbed  point."  (Neill  /.  c.)  This  species  is  but  a  poor 
article  of  food. 

This  is  a  more  oblong  fish  than  S.  georgianus,  and  the 
summits  of  its  dorsal  and  anal  are  not  falcate,  or  very 
slightly  so,  even  in  the  largest  individuals.  The  height  of 
the  body  is  contained  nearly  thrice  in  the  total  length,  in- 
stead of  only  twice  and  a  half  as  in  georgianus.  The 
length  of  the  head  is  contained  five  times  and  a  quarter  in 
the  whole  length,  and  the  diameter  of  the  eye  thrice  and  a 
half  in  the  length  of  the  head. 


Argentina  retropinna.     Richardson. 


Radii:— B.  6;  D.  11;  A.  20;  P.  11  ;  V.  6. 
Plate  LIT.,  figs.  1—3. 


Form  fusiform  and  compressed,  so  that  the  height,  which 
is  one-seventh  of  the  length,  is  nearly  twice  the  thickness. 
The  sides  are  flattish,  the  back  obtuse,  and  the  belly  also 
rounded,  but  with  a  low,  acute,  mesial  cutaneous  seam, 
which  runs  from  the  pectorals  to  the  anal,  and  is  most  visi- 
ble posterior  to  the  ventrals.  The  profile  ascends  in  an 
arc  to  the  occiput,  and  from  thence  to  the  dorsal,  which  is 
far  back,  it  is  horizontal,  with  a  slight  convexity.  The 
under  profile  nearly  corresponds  with  the  upper  one,  except 
that  when  the  fish  is  full  of  roe,  as  in  the  specimen  which 
is  figured,  the  belly  is  rather  more  convex.  The  length 
of  the  head  is  one-fifth  of  the  whole  length  of  the  fish. 
The  scales  are  very  delicate,  of  an  obtusely  oval  form,  the 


122 


outline  undulating  inegulailj'.  The  lines  of  structure  cor- 
respond with  the  outline,  and  are  remote  from  each  other, 
being  few  in  number.  There  are  no  diverging  fan-like 
furrows.  As  they  are  very  deciduous  but  few  remain  on 
any  of  the  specimens,  and  the  number  of  their  rows  cannot 
be  stated.  The  lateral  line,  which  has  been  omitted  in 
figure  1,  is  straight,  and  rather  above  the  mid-height. 

On  opening  the  belly  of  a  specimen,  laid  upon  its  back, 
much  roe  became  visible,  and  beneath  it  lay  the  remains  of 
the  liver  covering  the  upper  half  of  the  stomach.  The 
stomach,  which  is  not  black  like  that  of  Argentina  sphy- 
r(e/ia,  and  lias  an  obtuse  fundus,  is  divided  more  than  half- 
way down  into  the  a3sophageal  and  pyloric  branches.  The 
pylorus,  which  is  close  to  the  diaphragm,  is  much  con- 
tracted, and  the  intestine  descends  from  it  in  a  straight 
line  to  the  anus,  there  being  neither  coeca  nor  convolutions. 
No  air-bladder  was  discovered  on  inspection  of  three  or  four 
specimens,  none  of  them  in  perfect  condition.  The  abdo- 
men and  the  inside  of  the  gill-plates  are  lined  with  a  bright 
silvery  membrane  sprinkled  with  black  dots,  which  are  raised 
above  the  surface  as  if  they  were  formed  by  drops  of  some 
thick  pigment.  A  stripe  along  the  spine,  within  the  abdomen, 
which  appears  when  the  intestines  are  removed,  is  honey- 
yellow  with  black  dots.  The  intestines  contained  frag- 
ments of  minute  marine  Crustacea,  and  there  were  many 
small  parasitical  worms.  The  pectorals  are  attached  near 
the  ventral  surface,  and  below  the  level  of  the  eye.  They 
are  supported  by  eleven  rays,  of  which  the  upper  one  is 
longest.  The  ventrals  are  attached  about  a  tenth  of  the 
whole  length  before  the  middle  of  the  fish,  caudal  included. 
The  fore  part  of  the  dorsal  is  about  as  much  behind  the 
middle.  The  anal  commences  immediately  behind  the 
anus,  and  under  the  middle  of  the  dorsal,  ending  opposite 
to  the  adipose  fin.  It  is  slightly  excavated  on  its  margin. 
Its  front  ray,  like  that  of  the  dorsal,  is  short,  and  incumbent 
on  the  second  one.  The  caudal  is  considerably  forked, 
and  is  supported  by  eighteen  rays,  which  are  divided  into 
two  equal  groups  by  a  well-marked  mesial  membranous 
line.  The  outer  ray,  above  and  below,  is  unbranched,  and 
broader  than  the  others,  which  are  forked.  Tlie  end  of  the 
tail  is  embraced,  for  a  little  space,  by  thirteen  short  and 
successively  decreasing  rays  above,  and  as  many  below. 
The  rays  of  all  the  fins  are  jointed. 

The  length  of  the  head  is  comprised  five  times  and  one 
half  in  the  total  length.  The  lower  jaw  is  conspicuously 
longer  than  the  upper  one,  and,  when  the  jaws  are  closed, 
ascends  considerably,  with  the  gape  of  the  mouth,  which 
reaches  nearly  to  the  eye,  but  from  the  great  shortness  of 
the  snout  is  small.  The  general  a.spect  of  the  head  and 
of  the  fish  generally,  irrespective  of  the  backward  position 
of  the  dorsal,  is  that  of  a  young  trout.  The  top  of  the 
head  and  snout  are  smooth  and  rounded,  but  the  snout  is 
not  obtuse.  The  eye  is  large,  touching  the  profile,  but 
scarcely  rising  above  it,  one  diameter  and  a  half  distant 
from  the  gill-opening,  and  less  than  a  diameter  from  the 
end  of  the  snout.  Nostrils  two  contiguous  round  openings, 
with  raised  margins,  placed  nearer  the  end  of  the  snout 
than  to  the  orbit.  Preorbitar  and  rest  of  suborbitar  very 
narrow.  Cheek  nacry,  but  soft,  and  not  naked  or  bony  as 
in  Hydrocijon.      Preopercnlum  with  a  narrow  nacry  disk, 


and  the  two  limbs  meeting  in  the  rectangular  corner.  Gill- 
cover  shaped  as  in  Salmo,  nacry ;  the  suboperculum  hori- 
zontal, and  not  having  more  than  the  fifth  of  the  height  of 
the  operculum.  Gill-opening  amply  cleft,  the  membranes 
uniting  to  the  narrow  isthmus  opposite  to  the  hinder  part 
of  the  eye.  Membranes  nanow,  supported  by  six  flat,  thin 
rays;  which  become  gradually  narrower  towards  their  con- 
nection with  the  hyoid  bone.  The  premaxillaries  form 
one  half  of  the  upper  border  of  the  mouth,  and  are  armed 
with  fourteen  or  sixteen  setaceous  teeth  in  a  single  row. 
They  are  moderately  curved,  corresponding  with  the  arc  of 
the  upper  lip,  and  have  no  pedicle,  but  merely  an  increase  of 
width  to  their  mesial  halves.  The  maxillary  is  narrowly  do- 
labriform,  the  posterior  and  thicker  border  being  straight. 
Its  wider  end  plays  over  the  limb  of  the  lower  jaw,  while 
the  middle  part  of  its  fore  edge,  for  more  than  one-third  of 
its  length,  completes  the  upper  margin  of  the  mouth,  and 
is  armed  with  about  fifteen  teeth  like  the  premaxillary 
ones.  Mandibular  teeth  similar  and  uniserial.  The  vo- 
merine teeth  are  rather  larger,  and  the  palatine  ones  slightly 
smaller.  Both  sets  are  uniserial,  but  they  are  slightly 
moveable,  and,  being  inclined  alternately  to  right  and  left, 
they  appear  to  be  biserial,  except  in  the  skeleton,  when 
the  palatine  is  seen  to  be  a  very  narrow  bone,  and  the  teeth 
strictly  uniserial.  The  vomerine  teeth,  about  six  in  num- 
ber, are  ranged  transversely,  close  to  the  premaxillaries 
and  parallel  to  them.  The  entopterygoid,  which  forms  the 
floor  of  the  orbit,  is  armed  with  three  crowded  rows  of  short 
subulate  teeth,  the  interior  row  projecting  conspicuously 
from  the  roof  of  the  mouth.  The  soft  parts  adjoining  these 
teeth  and  the  palatines  are  studded  with  minute  papillae, 
looking  like  additional  rows  of  teeth.  The  tongue  is 
armed  by  two  rows  of  curved  teeth  stronger  than  any  of 
the  others,  and  the  isthmus  of  the  branchial  arches  is  co- 
vered with  a  crowd  of  minute  ones.  The  upper  pharyn- 
geals are  small  cushions  studded  with  microscopical  teeth. 
There  are  four  branchial  arches,  furnished  with  two  rows  of 
rakers,  the  anterior  row  of  each  arch  being  long  and  subu- 
late. 

The  original  colours  of  the  specimen  must  have  been 
considerably  altered  by  the  decadence  of  most  of  the  scales. 
In  their  present  state  the  back  has  a  honey-yellow  hue,  with 
many  black  dots,  and  a  broad  stripe  on  the  sides  is  silvery. 

Length  Irom  2  to  83^  inches. 

Hab.  Bay  of  Islands,  New  Zealand. 

The  specimens  were  taken  in  a  net. 


Gadopsis  marmoratus.     Richardson. 

Radii  :— B.  6  ;  D.  10|2.5,  vel  26  ;  .\.  3|19  ;  P.  17  ;  V.  1. 

Plate  LIX.,  figs.  6—11. 

I  have  seen  only  a  single  dried  skin  of  this  fish,  and 
cannot  therefore  venture  to  otter  a  full  description  of  its 
generic  peculiarities.  It  appears  to  belong  to  the  Blenni- 
oid  family,  and  to  be  a  form  hitherto  undescribcd. 


123 


The  general  shape  of  the  body,  its  rather  prominent  bell)-, 
large  head,  obtuse  snout,  projecting  conspicuously  beyond 
the  lower  jaw;  and  its  slender  jugular  ventrals  give  it  a 
good  deal  the  aspect  of  a  codfish,  whence  its  generic  name. 
The  body  tapers  gradually  towards  the  tail,  whose  height 
between  the  three  vertical  fins  is  contained  about  twice 
and  one  half  in  the  height  of  the  fish  at  the  shoulders. 
The  head  forms  one  quarter  of  the  whole  length,  caudal  fin 
included  :  it  is  obtuse  on  the  crown  and  rounded  on  the 
sides,  the  height  before  the  eyes  scarcely  exceeding  its 
width,  but  augmenting  in  proportion  posteriorly,  where  the 
compression  increases.  The  profile  rises  from  the  obtuse 
end  of  the  snout,  with  a  very  gentle  convexity  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  dorsal ;  and  the  curve  of  the  opposing 
ventral  surface  is  similar  to  the  upper  profile.  The  eye, 
placed  laterally  and  near  the  profile,  is  of  moderate  size, 
and  a  little  nearer  to  the  end  of  the  snout  than  to  the  gill- 
opening.  The  anterior  nostrils,  opening  through  short 
tubes,  are  on  the  sides  of  the  snout  near  its  end  ;  the  pos- 
terior ones  are  plain  openings  near  the  eye.  The  gape  of 
the  mouth  reaches  to  the  fore  part  of  the  eye.  The  preor- 
bitar  does  not  show,  but  the  hinder  edge  of  the  maxillary 
slips  a  short  way  under  the  fold  of  the  scaly  integument 
which  covers  it.  The  maxillary  is  slender,  and  dilates  gra- 
dually towards  its  lower  extremity,  which  is  always  ex- 
posed, and  lies  on  the  lower  jaw  behind  the  corner  of  the 
mouth.  It  is  scaleless,  like  the  lips  and  top  of  the  snout 
back  to  the  posterior  nostrils.  The  slender  premaxilla- 
ries,  lengthened  out  by  membrane,  form  the  upper  margin 
of  the  mouth,  and  are  not  at  all  protractile  at  the  symphy- 
sis. The  curved,  unarmed  preoperculum  has  a  narrow 
disk  covered  with  scaly  integument,  like  the  cheek  and 
rest  of  the  gill-cover.  It  is  pierced  by  a  row  of  conspicu- 
ous pores,  which  are  continued  forwards  along  the  limb  of 
the  lower  jaw.  The  triangular  operculum  ends  in  a  flat, 
acute  point,  which  does  not  rise  through  the  integument, 
and  is  underlaid  by  the  flexible  tip  and  bordering  mem- 
brane of  the  suboperculum.  The  interoperculum  and  gill- 
membrane  are  also  scaly.  Gill-opening  large,  the  division 
of  the  membranes  extending  forwards  to  beneath  the  eye. 
The  gill-membranes  are  supported  by  six  rays. 

The  scales  are  all  small,  cycloid  and  oval,  those  taken 
from  the  body  having  generally  about  six  furrows  diverging 
from  the  centre  like  the  sticks  of  a  fan,  and  producing  five 
crenatures  or  lobes  on  the  margin.  The  scales  extend  to 
the  fins,  and  all  parts  of  the  head,  except  the  lips,  maxil- 
lary and  end  of  the  snout.  The  lateral  line  runs  near  the 
back,  following  its  curvature.  The  dorsal  fin,  commencing 
over  the  axilla  of  the  pectoral,  occupies  most  of  the  back, 
and  has  an  even,  horizontal  outline,  the  greater  length  of 
the  posterior  rays  compensating  for  the  descending  curve 
of  the  back.  It  is  supported  anteriorly  by  ten  slender,  but 
rigid  and  pungent  spines,  which  are  followed  by  simple, 
flexible  and  jointed  rays.  In  the  posterior  part  of  the  fin 
the  soft  rays  split  at  their  tips  into  two  branches,  which  do 
not  however  separate.  The  anal  commences  a  little  before 
the  middle  of  the  fish  by  three  slender  spines,  of  which  the 
third  one  is  the  tallest,  and  equals  the  soft  rays  in  height : 
it  ends  a  little  before  the  end  of  the  dorsal,  leaving  more  of 
the  tail  naked,  and  its  posterior  rays  are  not  quite  so  high 


as  the  dorsal  ones  :  neither  of  the  fins  liave  their  posterior 
rays  bound  to  the  tail  by  membrane.  The  caudal  is  round, 
and  embraces  the  obtuse  end  of  the  tail  by  short  rays 
above  and  below.  Pectoral  rounded.  The  ventrals  are 
jugulai-,  and  are  attached  beneath  the  preoperculum  and 
well  before  the  pectorals.  Only  a  single  jointed  ray,  with 
a  forked  tip,  can  be  detected  on  each,  and  no  spine ;  nei- 
ther is  there  any  spine  in  the  pectoral. 

The  teeth  are  in  fine  narrow,  card-like  plates,  on  the 
premaxillaries,  vomer,  palatines  and  mandible,  and  are  un- 
equal in  height:  about  six  on  each  limb  of  each  jaw,  in 
the  exterior  row,  appear  so  much  taller  than  the  others 
when  examined  through  a  lens,  as  almost  to  deserve  the 
appellation  of  canines.  The  few  teeth  on  the  chevron  of 
the  vomer  are  taller  than  the  crowded  ones  on  the  edge  of 
the  palate  bones.  The  pharyngeal  bones  and  all  the  vis- 
cera have  been  removed  from  the  specimen. 

Length  of  fish  nearly  4  inches. 

Hab.  Rivers  in  the  southern  parts  of  Australia. 

The  colour  of  the  dried  skin  is  pale  brown,  marked  on 
the  dorsal  and  caudal  fins,  head,  back  and  sides,  with  irre- 
gular spots  of  liver-brown.  The  spots  on  the  tail  assume 
somewhat  of  a  banded  arrangement.  The  anal  is  edged 
with  dark  brown. 


Hemeroccetes   acanthorhynchus.      Forster. 
{Callionymus). 

Callionymus  acanthorhtjnchus,  J.  R.  Forster,  MSS.  ii.  30,  apud  BI. 
Scbn.  p.  41.  Idem,  Descr.  An.  Licht.  edit.  p.  117.  G.  Forster,  tig. 
pict.  2,  t.  175  in  Bibl.  Banks. 

C  monopterygiiis,  Bl.  Schn.  1.  c. 

Hemeroccetes  acanthor/iipiclws,  Cuv.  et  Val.  xii.  p.  311.  Richardson, 
App.  to  Dieffenbach's  New  Zeal.  p.  212. 

Radii:— B.  7;  D.  39  ad  41  ;  A.  36,  vel  37  ;  C.  8| ;  P.  21  ; 
V.  1|5. 


Plate  LIV.,  figs.  7—12. 

In  the  zoological  appendix  to  the  narrative  of  Dr.  Dief- 
fenbach's Travels  in  New  Zealand,  I  described,  at  consi- 
derable length,  a  specimen  of  this  fish,  brought  by  that 
gentleman  from  Wangaroa  Bay,  in  New  Zealand.  The 
figure  in  Plate  LIV.  was  drawn  from  an  individual  obtained 
by  Captain  Sir  Everard  Home,  Bart.,  in  Cook's  Straits; 
and  a  few  particulars  of  the  splanchnology  and  osteology 
are  added  from  a  third  example,  which  was  greatly  de- 
cayed. The  following  description  is  a  revised  copy  of  the 
one  mentioned  above. 

Form  elongated,  the  height  not  exceeding  one- thirteenth 
of  the  whole  length :  the  width  at  the  gill-covers,  where  it 
is  greatest,  exceeds  the  height.  The  outline  of  the  de- 
pressed head  slopes  gradually  to  the  end  of  the  snout ; 
the  jaws  when  closed  form  the  thin  extremity  of  the  head 
when  seen  in  profile  (fig.  7).  Viewed  from  above  (fig.  8)  the 
head  has  a  semi-lanceolate  form :  it  is  flatly  convex,  trans- 
versely, and  the   same   depressed  rounded  form  extends 

i:  2 


124 


backwards  to  the  dorsal,  with  an  acute,  though  not  ele- 
vated, mesial,  scaly  ridge,  extending  from  the  fin  to  the 
occiput.  At  the  beginning  of  the  dorsal  the  body  is  round, 
and  from  thence  it  tapers  gradually  to  the  base  of  the  cau- 
dal fin,  the  tail  being  slightly  compressed.  The  muscles 
of  the  back  and  belly  swell  so  as  to  place  the  dorsal  and 
anal  fins  in  grooves.  The  length  of  the  head  is  comprised 
four  times  and  three  quarters  in  the  total  length,  caudal 
included,  and  its  height  at  the  eyes  is  less  than  a  third  of 
its  own  length.  The  large  oval  orbits,  being  very  near 
each  other,  have  a  vertical  and  outward  aspect.  Their 
margins  are  smooth  and  slightly  raised  above  the  narrow- 
isthmus  between  them,  and  the  full  eyes  swell  above  the 
line  of  the  profile.  The  integument  round  the  ball  of  the 
eye  forms  a  loose  fold,  and  I  can  detect  no  other  a]ipear- 
ance  of  the  nictitating  membrane  mentioned  by  Forster. 
The  preorbitar,  large  and  triangular,  with  its  apex  pointing 
forward,  has  a  smooth,  even  edge,  with  some  low  smooth 
ridges  radiating  forward  on  its  surface.  The  preorbitar  lip, 
stretching  over  the  pedicles  of  the  premaxillaries,  is  cor- 
rectly described  by  Forster,  "  C.  labia  siiinmo  semilunaio, 
aiitrorsiim  bispiiioso,"  the  spiny  tips  of  the  crescent  being 
the  subulate  shoulders  of  the  maxillaries  (figs.  8,  9).  The 
maxillary  comes  into  view  when  the  jaws  are  fully  ex- 
tended, but  when  the  mouth  is  closely  shut  it  is  retracted 
entirely  under  the  preorbitar  and  scaly  edge  of  the  cheek. 
The  premaxillaries,  with  very  slight  development  of  lip, 
form  the  entire  upper  jaw,  and  play  beneath  the  preorbitar 
lip,  descending  when  protruded,  but  not  altering  the  hori- 
zontality  of  the  gape.  The  mandible  is  rather  more  acute 
and  a  very  little  shorter :  it  is  bordered  by  a  thin  mem- 
branous lip,  which  widens  towards  the  corner  of  the 
mouth,  and  folds  back  when  the  jaws  are  closed.  The 
gape  extends  back  to  the  front  of  the  orbit.  The  nostrils 
are  situated  a  short  way  before  the  eye,  close  to  the  upper 
edge  of  the  preorbitar.  Forster  says,  "  A'ares  inter  oculos 
minimcB,  orbiculnres,  coutiguce"  but  he  evidently  mistook 
for  them  a  small  cluster  of  pores  (fig.  10).  The  preorbitars 
are  bordered  with  pores,  and  there  are  clusters  of  others  on 
the  mandible  and  disk  of  the  preoperculum  (vide  figs.  8,9, 
10).  These  parts,  the  gill-membrane,  and  the  isthmus  be- 
tween the  eye,  are  scaleless.  Moderately  large  scales  co- 
ver the  entire  cheek,  except  the  very  narrow  suborbitar 
chain  :  the  operculum,  suboperculum  and  interoperculum 
are  also  densely  scaly.  The  bones  of  the  gill-cover  are 
thin,  smooth  and  transparent.  The  operculum  is  triangu- 
lar, and  tapers  posteriorly  to  a  point,  which  shows  like  a 
minute  spine  among  the  scales,  at  the  upper  part  of  the 
gill-cover,  close  to  the  supra-scapulars.  The  subopercu- 
lum is  considerably  larger  in  all  its  dimensions,  and  has  a 
smooth  convex  surface,  with  a  tapering  point,  forming  the 
apex  of  the  gill-cover,  and  is  not  scaly  like  the  rest  of  the 
gill-fiap  (fig.  9).  The  gill-opening  is  ample,  running  for- 
ward on  each  side  of  the  nape,  and  also  beneath,  to  the 
root  of  the  tongue.  The  gill-membrane,  which  is  tolerably 
large,  is  completely  concealed  when  the  jaws  are  closed  by 
the  approaching  limbs  of  the  mandible  and  scaly  inter- 
operculum.    Its  rays  are  long,  slender  and  curved. 

The  teeth  are  short  and  setaceous.     They  stand   in  a 
band  four  or  five  deep  on  the  premaxillaries  and  mandibu- 


lar bones ;  also  in  a  small  irregular  tuft  on  each  exterior 
corner  of  the  end  of  the  vomer,  the  mesial  space  being 
smooth.  They  are  crowded  on  the  pharyngeals,  forming  a 
hemispherical  cluster  on  each  upper  bone,  and  a  more  flat 
dental  surface  on  the  lower  ones.  There  are  no  teeth  on 
the  isthmus  of  the  gills  or  on  the  tongue.  The  rakers  of  the 
branchial  arches  are  sessile  knobs.  Within  the  mouth,  be- 
fore the  vomer,  there  are  two  prominent  knobs,  which  are 
each  formed  by  a  cushion  of  integument,  covering  a  short 
tubular  process  of  the  maxillary  which  runs  beneath  the 
premaxillary  pedicle. 

The  scales  are  moderately  large,  and  of  an  irregular, 
semi-ovate  form,  most  of  them  having  an  acute  point  in 
the  middle  of  the  free  edge,  and  being  cut  transversely  at 
the  base  by  a  waving  line,  which  produces  a  very  shallow 
middle  lobe.  There  are  from  eighteen  to  twelve  fan-like 
striae  on  the  base,  which  do  not  produce  crenatures  on  the 
margin.  The  free  edge  is  perfectly  entire.  The  lines  of 
structure  are  nearly  obsolete  on  the  disk,  fine  and  trans- 
verse behind,  and  longitudinal  in  a  triangular  space  on  the 
sides,  where  they  are  also  more  evident.  The  scales  of  the 
lateral  line  (fig.  12),  which  is  straight  or  with  a  slight 
descent  in  the  humeral  region,  have  a  short  mesial  tube, 
and  their  free  edges  are  laciniated :  there  are  from  forty- 
four  to  forty-eight  scales  on  this  line,  the  specimen  figured 
having  forty-four. 

The  pectorals  are  oval  and  rounded.  The  elliptical, 
acute  pointed  ventrals  are  attached  before  the  ventrals  un- 
der the  superior  angle  of  the  gill-opening :  their  short 
slender  spine  has  a  flexible  tip.  The  scaly  space  between 
them  exceeds  the  width  of  one  of  their  bases  in  breadth, 
and  their  tips  when  laid  back  touch  the  first  anal  ray. 
The  dorsal,  commencing  nearly  over  the  middle  of  the 
pectorals,  and  extending  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
caudal  fin,  has  an  even  outline  ;  the  posterior  rays,  how- 
ever, becoming  gradually  somewhat  shorter.  The  third  or 
fourth  ray  stands  over  the  anus.  All  the  rays  are  jointed, 
tapering  and  flexible,  except  one  or  two  of  the  middle 
ones,  which  are  split  at  the  tip,  and  the  last,  which  is 
forked.  The  anal  commences  close  to  the  anus,  is  not 
quite  so  high  as  the  dorsal,  and  is  also  supported  by  jointed 
rays,  the  first  one  being  unbranched,  and  the  others  uni- 
laterally branched  at  their  tips.  The  membrane  of  both 
fins  is  very  delicate  and  readily  torn,  and  was  not  complete 
in  any  of  our  specimens.  The  caudal  is  composed  of  eight 
forked  rays,  and  four  graduated  unbranched  ones  above 
and  three  below.  The  rays  being  very  brittle  the  fin  is 
easily  mutilated,  and  consequently  some  uncertainty  exists 
as  to  its  proper  form.  Forster  drew  it  as  being  lunate  at 
the  end  ;  Dr.  Dicflenbach  as  being  truncated,  with  an 
elongation  of  the  upper  angle  ;  and  in  our  specimens  it  ap- 
pears round,  but  is  not  perfect. 

Forster  describes  the  body  as  being  coloured  of  a  livid 
red  ;  the  dorsal  as  being  marked  with  scattered  red  spots, 
and  the  other  fins  as  reddish  ;  the  iris  reddish  and  silvery. 
Dr.  Dieffenbach's  sketch,  which  is  unfinished,  is  coloured 
wax-yellow,  with  five  oblique  blue  streaks  on  the  cheek, 
and  some  blue  streaks  in  blotches  on  the  sides  ;  purplish 
and  red  lines  on  the  dorsal  and  edge  of  the  anal ;  the  rest 
of  the  latter  fin,  the  pectorals  and  ventrals,being  aurora-red. 


125 


The  stomach  is  an  oval  sac,  with  the  pyloric  orifice  of 
the  intestine  situated  one-third  of  its  height  from  the  fun- 
dus. The  gut  is  short,  folding  onl}'  once  in  its  way  to  the 
anus,  and  there  are  no  coeca.  The  supra-occipital  has  a 
thin  crest  hehind,  extending  as  far  back  as  the  corners  of 
the  par-occipitals,  which  project  so  as  to  produce  an  angu- 
lar notch  in  the  occiput.  The  top  of  the  skull  is  smooth 
and  flatly  rounded.  The  large  oval  orbits  are  sepai-ated 
by  a  narrow  bridge,  which  is  concave,  forming  a  furrow ; 
and  the  margin  of  the  orbit  beneath  is  completed  by  the 
narrow,  tubular,  suborbitar  chain.  The  nearly  quadrantal 
preorbitar  is  traversed  by  several  radiating  flat  elevations, 
which  are  hollow  beneath.  The  preoperculum  is  curved 
to  rather  less  than  a  right  angle  :  its  lower  limb  is  some- 
what longer  than  the  upper  one,  and  its  edge  is  perfectly 
smooth.  There  are  ten  abdominal  vertebrae  and  thirty- 
seven  caudal  ones :  the  pleurapophysial  processes  of  the 
former  are  mere  angles.  The  inferior  processes  in  the 
caudal  vertebrae  are  slender  and  subulate,  like  the  neural 
spines,  of  all  the  column. 

Length  from  6  to  8  or  9  inches. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  New  Zealand.  Wangaroa  Bay.  Cook's 
Strait.     Queen  Charlotte  Sound. 


Chironectes  caudimaculatus.     Riippell. 


Chirniiectes  caudimaculatm,  Ruppell,  Neue  VVirlb.  p.  141,  Tab.  33, 
fig.  2. 

Radii  :— D.  1-1-1-13 ;  A.  7  ;  C.  9  ;  P.  9  ;  V.  5. 


Plate  LX.,  figs.  8,  9. 


Notwithstanding  some  slight  differences  in  form,  as 
shown  by  the  drawings,  I  have  ventured  to  refer  this  fish 
to  the  candimaculaius  of  Ruppell,  on  account  of  the  close 
accordance  of  his  description,  and  the  general  resemblance 
of  his  figure.  The  differences  to  which  I  allude  are,  the 
different  positions  of  the  first  dorsal  ray,  which  in  our 
specimen  is  very  near  the  upper  lip,  and  decidedly  before 
the  eye,  while  in  the  Neue  IVirlebel/iiere  it  is  represented  as 
over  the  orbit,  and  close  to  the  base  of  the  second  ray.  If 
this  be  not  an  error  in  the  delineation  of  the  Arabian  fish, 
it  may  be  considered  as  an  indication  of  a  specific  distinc- 
tion. The  membranous  filament  was  broken  in  the  speci- 
men Ruppell  has  figured,  so  that  the  form  of  that  part  in 
our  figure  is  to  be  considered  as  the  correct  one.  A 
slighter  difference  of  form  is  the  greater  height  of  the 
second  and  third  dorsal  rays  in  Riippell's  fish,  but  this  I 
attribute  to  these  parts  being  shrivelled  in  our  example, 
which  is  a  dried  one.  The  anal  and  dorsal  are  connected 
by  membrane  close  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  in  the  Aus- 
tralian fish,  while  there  is  a  portion  of  the  trunk  of  the  tail 
free  in  the  Arabian  one  ;  and  the  spots  are  represented  as 
mere  points,  instead  of  the  meandering  and  anastomosing 


lines  well  exhibited  in  onr  figure.  As  there  is  great  vari- 
ety in  the  markings  of  individuals  of  the  same  species  in 
this  genus,  I  have  not  separated  the  Australian  fish  from 
caudimaculatus,  on  the  latter  account ;  and  some  of  tlie 
other  differences  may  be  fairly  attributed  to  the  different 
condition  of  the  individuals  when  sketched,  as  the  laxity 
of  the  integuments  in  a  fresh  specimen  admits  of  the  form 
being  varied,  by  their  stretching  in  different  directions. 
The  distribution  of  the  dark  lines  and  other  markings  is 
different  from  that  which  chai-acterises  C.  hispidus  and 
other  Indian  species  described  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons. 
C.  furcipilis  has  two  spots  on  the  fins. 

in  our  example  of  caudimaculatm,  the  first  free  dorsal 
ray  is  slender,  flexible,  smooth,  unjointed,  and  tipped 
with  a  thin  bifid  membrane.  It  springs  from  a  small  tu- 
bercle situated  above  the  nostrils,  and  rough  like  the  ad- 
joining integuments.  The  second  and  third  rays  are 
covered  with  the  prickly  skin,  which  entirely  conceals 
them,  and  forms  of  them  two  obtuse  ridges  or  humps, 
rough  like  the  adjoining  parts  of  the  back.  The  foremost 
of  these  humps  is  a  little  free  at  the  top  ;  the  other  is 
bound  down  to  the  back  its  whole  length.  The  forms  of 
the  other  fins  will  be  easily  understood  from  the  figures. 
The  skin  is  rough  to  the  touch  over  the  whole  fish,  and 
when  examined  closely  appears  to  be  equally  studded  with 
very  small  hemispherical  eminences,  which,  along  the  la- 
teral line,  the  space  between  it  and  the  dorsal,  on  the  top 
of  the  head,  the  snout,  upper  jaw,  preoperculum,  round  the 
orbits  and  on  the  rays  of  the  fins,  each  support  a  minute, 
rigid,  bifid  spine,  very  rarely  a  trifid  one.  Along  the  back, 
these  minute  spinules  look  like  short  hairs  to  the  naked 
eye.  Below  the  lateral  line,  only  a  very  few  spines  can  be 
detected,  but  the  little  eminences  are  many  of  them  sur- 
mounted by  a  point  of  membrane.  By  dissection  each 
eminence  is  found  to  be  based  on  a  thin  circular  scale, 
with  an  excentric  umbo,  from  which  a  few  wrinkles  radiate; 
but  there  are  no  fan-like  furrows,  and  the  lines  of  structure 
cannot  be  made  out  with  a  simple  lens  of  high  power. 
The  margin  of  the  scale  is  quite  entire.  The  lateral  line 
runs,  as  described  in  the  Neue  JViilbetJdere,  from  the 
symphysis  of  the  upper  jaw,  over  the  eye  and  along  the 
back,  in  an  undulating  manner,  to  the  middle  of  the  dor- 
sal, where  it  ends.  Throughout  its  whole  lenglli  it  emits 
short  vertical  branches,  which  are  most  conspicuous  on 
the  face  and  scapular  region,  and  it  is  also  furnished 
with  short  filaments  ;  a  few  membranous  barbels  are  scat- 
tered over  the  sides,  and  one  is  appended  to  the  chin  or 
external  projection  between  the  limbs  of  the  mandible, 
produced  by  the  depression  of  the  tongue.  There  is  a 
prominence  at  the  symphysis  of  the  mandible,  which  is 
mentioned  by  Dr.  Ruppell.  The  teeth  on  the  jaws,  vomer 
and  upper  and  under  pharyngeals  are  in  card-like  patches, 
the  pharyngeals  being  best  armed,  and  the  vomer  least  so. 
The  chevron  of  the  latter  is  saddle-shaped,  the  mesial  hol- 
low being  smooth,  and  the  side  eminences  furnished  with 
small  patches  of  teeth.  The  eyed  spots  on  the  tail  are 
transparent  in  tlie  dried  fish. 

Length  4:^  inches. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  Australia.     Red  Sea. 


126 


Labrus  teteicus,  vel  Tautoga  tetrica.     Richardson. 

Labnis  tetricus,  Richardson,  Zool.  Trans,  iii.  p.  136. 

Radii:— B.  6;  D.  9|11  ;  A.  3ll0;  C.  14  ;  P.  13  ;  V   \\o. 

Plate  LV.,  figs.  1—4. 

In  the  Zoological  Transactions,  as  above  quoted,  I 
described  this  species  and  three  other  Lahri  forming  part 
of  a  collection  of  fish  made  at  Port  Arthur,  Van  Diemen's 
Land,  by  Assistant-Commissary-General  Lempriere.  Of 
these  four  fi.sh  I  there  remarked,  that  "  they  are  all  true 
Ijubri,  and  bear  a  general  resemblance  to  the  L.  bergylta 
of  the  Hifstoire  des  Poissoiis,  but  the  scales  which  clothe 
their  opercula,  though  in  fact  much  larger  than  in  that 
species,  being  imbedded  in  a  mucous  skin,  are  scarcely 
discernible  in  the  recent  specimen.  The  opercular  scales 
overlie  the  junction  of  the  suboperculum,  as  in  many  Eu- 
ropean species,  leaving  however  the  greater  part  of  the 
latter  bone  naked.  There  are  no  scales  whatever  on  the 
interoperculum,  in  which  respect  these  wrasses  differ  from 
L.  bergylta,  mixtim,  irimaculat;ts  and  titrdus.  The  scales 
of  the  cheek  are  small,  and  as  their  distribution  varies  they 
furnish  us  with  a  ready  means  of  distinguishing  the  species 
from  each  other.  In  all  the  four,  the  teeth  are  longer  and 
stronger  at  the  symphyses  of  the  jaws  than  in  L.  bergylta 
or  niLvtus ;  and  the  posterior  ones  being  small,  their  dimi- 
nution is  more  rapid,  as  in  the  genus  Julis.  They  resem- 
ble Tautoga  in  possessing  a  pretty  regular  interior  row  of 
minute  teeth.  All  have  a  canine  tooth  at  the  angle  of  the 
mouth  directed  forwards.  The  preorbitar  lips  are  not 
greatly  developed,  and  do  not  conceal  the  swelling  plaited 
ones  of  the  upper  jaw.  The  lower  lip  folds  back  in  a 
rounded  plait  on  each  limb  of  the  jaw.  The  maxillaries 
lie  under  the  preorbitars,  their  lower  ends  coming  out  when 
the  mouth  is  open.  In  the  number  of  their  fin  rays  they 
agree  nearly  with  L.  pmcilopleura  of  New  Zealand,  and 
their  dorsal  fins  have  more  soft  rays  than  spines,  in  which 
respect  they  differ  from  the  European  wrasses." 

Labrus  tetricus  has  a  short  and  rather  bluflfhead,  which 
is  only  one-fourth  of  the  total  length,  caudal  included. 
The  height  of  the  occiput  equals  the  length  of  the  head, 
and  that  of  the  tail  between  the  three  vertical  fins  is  nearly 
one  half  of  the  height  of  the  body  at  the  pectorals.  The 
greatest  height  of  the  body  is  contained  thrice  and  four- 
fifths  in  the  whole  length,  or  less  than  four  times.  The 
head  is  clothed  with  a  porous  skin,  which  conceals  the 
bones  and  scales  in  the  recent  fish  ;  but  as  the  integu- 
ments dry,  the  cranium,  preorbitar,  margin  of  the  orbit  and 
preopercular  disk,  become  prominent,  rough  and  irregular. 
Four  vertical  rows  of  large  thin  scales,  about  half  the  size 
of  the  scales  of  the  body,  cover  the  operculum  and  two- 
thirds  of  the  suboperculum :  the  large  interoperculum, 
which  is  rendered  wider  by  a  membranous  edge,  and  the 
broad  disk  of  the  preo])ercuIum,  which  has  also  a  thin 
membranous  free  border,  are  naked  ;  with  the  exception 
of  three  rows  of  very  small  deeply-imbedded  scales,  which 


descend  from  the  temples,  close  to  the  inner  edge  of  the 
preopercular  disk,  as  far  as  its  curve  :  the  large  cheek  is 
also  scaleless,  but  very  porous.  The  preorbitar,  with  its 
membranous  border  or  lip,  is  but  little  inferior  in  width  to 
the  space  between  the  orbit  and  upper  angle  of  the  gill- 
opening.  The  preorbitar  lips  have  a  free  edge  at  their 
union  over  the  premaxillary  pedicles.  The  premaxil- 
lary  lips  are  thick,  and  plaited  into  seven  or  eight  shallow 
folds,  the  inner  fold  being  studded  with  minute  wart-like 
papillae. 

There  are  eleven  teeth  on  each  premaxillary  bone,  ex- 
clusive of  a  stout  canine  tooth  standing  forwards  from  the 
angle  of  the  mouth,  and  implanted  into  the  tip  of  the  same 
bone.  The  mandibular  teeth  are  also  eleven  in  each 
limb  ;  and  on  both  jaws  there  is  a  single  series  of  minute 
interior  teeth,  which  are  visible  enough  in  the  dried  spe- 
cimen, but  can  scarcely  be  detected  in  the  recent  one. 
Interior  teeth  of  the  same  description  exist  in  many  of  the 
European  Labri,  but  they  are  seldom  disposed  in  such 
regular  rows ;  and  as  this  inner  dental  series  is  one  of  the 
principal  characters  of  Tautoga,  the  Australian  Labroids 
here  described  ought  perhaps  to  be  referred  to  that  genus. 
It  is  to  be  observed,  however,  that  the  species  we  shall 
have  to  notice  have  the  gill-covers  more  extensively  scaly 
than  the  Tautogw  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  and  differ 
from  the  European  Labri  chiefly  in  the  interoperculum 
being  naked.  The  teeth  of  tetricus  are  disposed  in 
straight  lines,  so  that  when  the  open  mouth  is  viewed  in 
front  they  form  a  rectilinear  rhomb,  differing  in  this 
respect  from  L.  fucicola,  in  which  the  lines  of  teeth  are 
convex.  There  are  about  thirty-six  lower  pharyngeal 
teeth,  six  composing  the  anterior  group,  being  conical- 
subulate  ;  the  rest  are  smooth  and  rounded  grinders,  of 
which  the  biggest  is  the  posterior  mesial  one.  There  are 
about  twenty-two  on  each  upper  pharyngeal  bone,  the  exte- 
rior ones  being  more  conical  and  less  worn  than  the  interior 
ones.  The  scales  covering  the  body  are  large  and  thin, 
with  membranous  edges.  There  are  twenty-six  rows  be- 
tween the  gill-opening  and  caudal,  besides  three  rows  more 
crowded  on  the  bases  of  the  caudal  rays,  and  a  fillet  of 
small  scales  running  a  short  way  on  the  membrane  between 
the  rays.  The  lateral  line  makes  an  abrupt  downward 
descent,  a  little  beyond  the  dorsal  and  anal,  tor  the  entire 
breadth  of  a  scale,  and  then  i-esumes  its  straight  course 
through  the  centre  of  the  tail.  It  is  marked  on  each  scale 
by  a  slender  undulating  tube,  which  suddenly  branches  by 
three  or  four  successive  bifurcations  in  an  arbuscular  man- 
ner. The  number  of  bi-anchlets'  diminishes  on  the  poste- 
rior scales.  The  fine  fan-like  streaks  on  the  scales  are 
about  thirty  in  number. 

The  ventral  fins  are  pointed.  The  eleventh  dorsal  spine 
exceeds  the  first  in  length  by  nearly  one-third,  the  others 
being  of  intermediate  height :  they  are  all  overtopped  by 
little  strips  of  membrane.  The  soft  portion  of  the  fin  has 
a  slightly-arched  outline,  somewhat  higher  than  the  spines  ; 
and  the  anal,  similar  in  form,  has  shorter  spines.  The 
spines  of  both  fins  are  slender,  subulate  and  acute.  The 
caudal  is  even  at  the  end,  or,  when  fully  spread  out,  a  lit- 
tle rounded. 

When  the  specimen  was  taken  from  the  spirits,  the  soft 


127 


dorsal  and  anal  appeared  very  dark,  the  other  fins  yellow- 
ish or  orange.  The  body  also  looked  dark,  but  on  detach- 
ing a  scale  from  the  back,  the  membranous  pouch  which 
enclosed  it,  was  found  to  be  of  a  lively  purplish-red.  All 
traces  of  coloured  zones  or  spots,  if  any  ever  existed,  had 
disappeared.  The  skin  and  membranes  generally  were 
very  tough,  and  the  fin-membranes  thick  and  opaque. 

The  intestinal  canal  is  a  wide  tube,  the  stomach  being 
of  a  larger  diamet«r  than  the  rest,  and  having  its  internal 
coat  densely  villous.  The  villous  plaits  are  reticulated, 
and  become  more  and  more  delicate,  until  they  disappear 
altogether,  leaving  the  fourth  part  of  the  tube  next  the 
anus  smooth.  The  first  caudal  vertebra  has  a  narrowly 
linear-lanceolate  inferior  process,  with  a  broad  thin  shoul- 
der or  plate  on  each  side  where  it  joins  the  body  of  the 
vertebra.  Two  holes  for  the  passage  of  vessels  exist  in 
this  process  :  each  of  the  succeeding  inferior  processes  of 
the  spine  have  only  one  hole. 

Mr.  Lempriere  informs  me  that  this  wrasse  and  the  fol- 
lowing one  form  a  coarse  food,  disagreeable  to  some 
palates,  but  not  unwholesome.  Judging  from  the  contents 
of  their  stomachs  their  food  consists  chiefly  of  Crustacea. 

Length  18  inches. 

In  a  manuscript  account  of  the  fish  of  Albany,  King 
George's  Sound,  with  drawings  by  Deputy  Assistant-Com- 
missary-General Patrick  Neill,  belonging  to  the  British 
Museum,  I  observed  a  Labroid  which  is  named  "  brown 
rock  fish  "  by  the  sealers,  and  "  pokong  "  by  the  natives, 
which  has  much  resemblance  in  form  to  L.  tetricus.  The 
drawing  is  coloured  dark  blackish -green  on  the  upper 
parts  and  chestnut-brown  below,  with  about  nine  obscure 
dark  bands  crossing  the  back,  and  three  or  four  on  the 
head.  The  pectorals  and  caudal  are  dark ;  the  ventrals, 
anal  and  dorsal  brownish.  The  drawing  is  not  finished 
minutely. 

Hab.  Tasmania. 

Labrus  fucicola,  rel  Tautoga  fucicoi^\.     Richardson. 


:  fucicola,  Richardson,  Zoo!.  Proceed.,  June  25, 
p.  137. 


Radii:— B.  6;  D.  9|11;  A.  3|10;  C.  14;  P.  13;  V.  1\o. 

PlateLIV.,  figs.  1,2. 

In  this  species  the  bones  of  the  head  are  less  uneven 
than  in  L.  tetricus,  and  the  opercular  scales  are  more  irre- 
gular, some  small  round  ones  being  scattered  among  the 
larger  ones.  The  cheek,  as  far  forward  as  the  fore  part  of 
the  eye,  and  near  to  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  is  protected 
by  four  rows  of  small  scales,  the  uppermost  of  which  runs 
close  to  the  narrow  suborbitar  chain,  and  the  lower  one  is 
more  distant  from  the  preopercular  disk  than  in  tetricus. 
As  the  scales  rise  before  the  vertical  limb  of  the  preoper- 
culum  towards  the  temples  they  are  restricted  to  three 
rows.  The  scales  covering  the  body  are  a  little  smaller 
than  in  the  species  just  named,  and  the  lateral  line,  which 


makes  the  same  almost  vertical  dip  at  the  end  of  the  dor- 
sal, is  traced  on  twenty-seven  scales,  in  addition  to  which 
there  are  four  rows  on  the  base  of  the  caudal  rays,  exclu- 
sive of  the  short  scaly  fillets  between  the  rays.  The  divi- 
sions of  the  mucous  tube  on  the  scales  of  the  lateral  line 
(fig.  2)  are  less  numerous  and  bush-like  than  in  tetricus: 
The  teeth  are  comparatively  stronger,  and  are  disposed  in 
very  slightly  convex,  not  straight  lines,  which  gives  a 
greater  fullness  to  the  upper  jaw  when  viewed  in  front  or 
from  above,  and  less  of  the  rectilinear  rhomboid  form  which 
characterises  the  dental  arrangement  of  tetricus  and  many 
species  of  Julis.  The  canine  tooth  at  the  angle  of  the 
mouth  is  slightly  curved,  and  the  interior  rows  of  small 
teeth  are  more  evident  than  in  tetricus.  The  caudal  is 
considerably  rounded  at  the  end,  the  anal  is  somewhat 
arched,  and  the  fore  part  of  the  soft  dorsal  is  a  little  higher 
than  its  posterior  part.  The  dorsal  and  anal  spines  are 
similar  in  form  and  proportions  to  those  of  tetricus. 

The  only  traces  of  the  original  markings  remaining  in 
the  specimens  when  received  were  some  faint  lines  curving 
over  the  cheek  and  nose,  a  dark  bar  crossing  the  pectoral 
at  a  third  of  its  length,  and  a  black  spot  at  the  base  of  that 
fin  and  on  its  first  ray. 

This  species  possesses  nine  abdominal  vertebrse  and  six- 
teen caudal  ones.  The  first  of  the  latter  differs  from  the 
corresponding  one  of  the  preceding  species  in  its  inferior 
process,  having  an  acute  shoulder  instead  of  a  rounded 
one,  in  its  limb  being  narrowly  linear,  not  lanceolate,  and 
in  its  lower  opening  being  elliptical  and  much  larger  than 
the  round  one  next  the  centrum  of  the  vertebra. 

Length  of  two  specimens  procured  at  Port  Arthur,  11  ^ 
and  15  inches. 

A  drawing  of  a  wrasse,  made  at  the  port  just  named,  by 
a  convict  under  Dr.  Lhotsky's  inspection,  and  closely  re- 
sembling this  species,  represents  the  general  colour  of  the 
upper  parts  as  dark  plum-purple,  the  belly  fading  to  bufi', 
with  four  pale  spots  on  the  back,  one  of  them  on  the  supra- 
scapular, another  close  to  the  eighth  Spinous  ray  of  the 
dorsal,  and  two  others  touching  the  base  of  the  soft  dorsal, 
the  distances  between  the  three  posterior  ones  being  equal. 
Our  figure  in  Plate  LIV.,  being  executed  from  a  dried 
specimen,  shows  the  lips  less  fully  developed,  especially 
the  preorbitar  ones,  than  in  the  recent  fish  ;  and  the  artist, 
fancying  that  he  could  distinguish  the  pale  spots  under 
the  dorsal,  has  introduced  them,  but  he  has  omitted  the 
bar  on  the  pectoral  which  remains  in  the  dried  fish. 

The  Labroid  represented  in  No.  9  of  D.  A.  C.  G.  Neill's 
drawings,  already  quoted,  is  probably  this  species.  It  is 
called  by  the  sealers  the  "  common  rock  fish,"  by  the  na- 
tives "  paril,"  and  is  said  to  be  very  common  on  rocky 
shores  and  to  take  the  hook  readily. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  Tasmania  and  South  Australia. 

Another  of  Mr.  Neill's  drawings  may  also  be  noticed 
here.  It  is  numbered  37,  and  is  named  "  black  fish  "  by 
the  sealers,  and  "  paril,"  "  kuhoul  "  or  "  bimburn  "  by  the 
natives.  It  is  considered  by  Mr.  Neill  to  be  a  variety  of 
the  "  common  paril "  above  mentioned,  is  stated  by  him  to 
be  also  an  inhabitant  of  rocky  shores,  and  to  grow  to  some 
size.  It  is  most  probably  a  distinct  species  of  the  genus 
Labrus  or  Tautoga.      Mr.  Neill's  figure  is  coloured  dark 


128 


neutral  tint,  paler  towards  the  belly,  and  nearly  black  on 
the  top  of  the  head,  sides  and  fins.  It  is  thickly  and  irre- 
gularly speckled  down  to  the  middle  of  the  height  of  the 
body  and  head  with  rust-coloured  dots,  which  are  largest 
on  the  back,  and  much  smaller  on  the  sides,  there  being 
many  on  each  scale.  There  are  no  spots  on  the  fins.  The 
spotting  of  this  fish  corresponds  in  some  respects  with  the 
L.  fiecilopleura  of  New  Zealand  {Hht.  des  Poiss.  xiii. 
p.  95),  and  it  is  possible  that  the  drawing  may  be  designed 
to  represent  that  species,  but  the  general  tint  appears  to 
be  much  darker. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound. 


Labrus  laticlavids,  vel  Tautoga  laticlavia. 
Richardson. 


Labrus  laticlavins,   Richardson,   Zool.  Proceed.,   March  10,  1840. 
Zool.  Trans,  iii.  p.  139. 


Radii  :— B.  5  ;  D.  9|  11 ;  A.  3|  10 ;  C.  I24  ;  P.  12  ;  V.  1 15. 


Plate  LVI.,  figs.  3—6. 


This  very  handsome  wrasse  seldom  exceeds  a  foot  in 
length,  has  a  more  elegant  form  than  the  three  species 
we  have  already  described,  and  comes  nearer  to  Tautoya 
in  having  fewer  scales  on  the  cheek.  Its  general  aspect  is 
that  of  a  Julis.  The  head  is  neat  and  small,  its  length  be- 
ing contained  four  times  and  nearly  one  half  in  the  total 
length,  caudal  included.  The  membranous  flap  of  the 
gill-cover  is  produced  so  as  to  form  a  rounded  lobe,  which 
extends  nearly  its  own  breadth  beyond  the  supeiior  at- 
tachment of  the  operculum.  In  L.  (etricus,  fiicicola  and 
iiiscriphis,  the  operculum  is  joined  to  the  shoulder  by  a 
membranous  production,  which  reduces  the  gill-opening  to 
a  vertical  slit,  not  a  curved  one  as  in  the  present  species. 

The  scales  which  cover  the  operculum  and  part  of  the 
suboperculum  are  thin  and  large,  and  a  vertical  row  of  six 
small  scales  descends  from  the  temples,  before  the  limb 
of  the  preoperculum,  not  quite  to  its  curve,  the  rest  of 
the  cheek  being  naked.  The  integuments  of  the  head 
are  less  spongy  and  porous  than  in  the  Labri  already 
described,  and  the  gill-membrane  is  narrow.  There  are 
eleven  teeth  on  each  side  of  each  jaw,  with  a  tolerably 
strong  canine  tooth  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth  :  the  inner 
row  of  small  teeth  is  about  as  numerous  as  the  outer  one, 
and  in  the  dried  specimen  they  are  tolerably  prominent, 
especially  in  the  upper  jaw.  There  are  about  forty-five 
teeth  in  the  lower  pharyngeal  bone,  and  twenty  in  each  of 
the  upper  ones  (figs.  5,  6). 

Tile  scales  of  the  body  have  equally  thin  membranous 
edges  with  those  of  tetricus  and  fiwicola,  but  their  fan-like 
streaks  are  more  strongly  developed.  The  lateral  line  is 
composed  of  twenty-six  scales,  exclusive  of  two  without 
tubular  elevations  on  the  base  of  the  caudal,  aud  the  short 


fillets  of  scales  between  the  rays,  and  it  curves  as  usual 
opposite  to  the  end  of  the  dorsal  to  the  depth  of  one  entire 
scale.  Its  tubular  elevations  have  a  compact  arbuscular 
form,  springing  first  fi-om  the  central  tube  in  a  palmated 
manner,  and  dividing  into  simple  and  forked  tubes.  Most 
of  the  tubes  are  pierced  by  pores  or  lateral  openings.  The 
spinous  dorsal  is  even,  and  a  little  lower  than  the  soft  part. 
The  ventrals  are  acute  pointed  ;  and  their  membranes,  and 
those  of  the  pectorals,  are  delicate  and  transparent.  The 
pectorals  and  caudal  are  rounded. 

A  drawing,  made  by  a  convict  at  Port  Arthur,  of  this 
species,  presents  the  following  colours.  Ground  tint  of 
the  head,  back  and  sides  dark  green.  A  lake-red  stripe 
commencing  at  the  supra- scapular,  and  another  beginning 
above  the  base  of  the  pectorals,  run  parallel  to  the  back, 
and  unite  behind  the  dorsal  into  a  single  stripe,  which  runs 
to  the  extremity  of  the  caudal.  Over  the  beginning  of  the 
anal  a  large  blotch  from  the  under  stripe,  but  of  a  deeper 
colour,  descends  nearly  to  the  ventral  surface.  The  breast, 
belly  and  sides  of  the  tail  along  the  base  of  the  anal,  are 
tinged  with  a  more  dilute  and  purplish  lobe.  All  these 
stripes  are  bounded  by  Berlin-blue  lines,  composed  of  a 
series  of  streaks,  one  on  each  scale.  The  cheek  is  blue, 
and  the  rest  of  the  head  green,  traversed  by  lake-red  lines. 
The  pectorals  and  ventrals  are  carmine,  the  dorsal  purplish- 
red,  with  many  small  blue  dots  between  the  summits  of  the 
rays,  a  narrow  vermilion  border,  and  an  extreme  edging  of 
clear  blue.  The  anal  has  a  narrow  stripe  of  vermilion 
along  its  base,  then  a  broad  bar  of  primrose-yellow,  edged 
above  and  below  with  blue,  and,  lastly,  a  band  of  purple 
as  broad  as  the  yellow  one,  spotted  thickly  with  blue  and 
edged  with  the  same.  The  caudal  is  plum-purple,  dotted 
with  pale  blue  at  the  end.  The  specimens,  though  long 
kept  in  spirits,  still  show  some  of  these  markings,  and  the 
lake-red  lines  maybe  enumerated  more  precisely  from  them 
than  from  the  drawing,  viz.,  two  of  them  cross  the  preorbitar, 
three  descend  from  the  orbit  over  the  cheek,  and  two  cross 
the  temples  to  the  nape,  besides  some  undulating  lines  on 
the  interoperculum.  I'hese  lines  are  blue  in  the  specimens 
and  red  in  the  drawings,  but  a  similar  change  of  colour  is 
common  among  the  Labri  after  death.  The  specimens 
also  show  five  short  plum-blue  lines  on  each  side  beneath 
the  pectorals,  and  three  such  lines  on  each  side  of  the 
anal,  not  shown  in  the  drawing.  Mr.  Lempriere  states, 
that  when  newly  taken  this  fish  exhibits  all  the  colours  of 
the  rainbow. 

The  vertebrae  are  nine  abdominal  and  sixteen  caudal 
ones.  The  first  caudal  one  has  its  descending  process  com- 
posed of  two  slender  arms,  which  spring  directly  from  the 
centrum,  and  meet  only  at  their  tips,  enclosing  a  single, 
wide,  elliptical  arch.  The  contents  of  the  stomach  were 
small  Crustacea,  mixed  with  littoral  sea-weeds. 

In  Deputy  Assistant-Commissary-General  Neill's  draw- 
ings of  the  fish  of  King  George's  Sound,  there  is  a  repre- 
sentation (No.  47)  of  this  fi.sh,  under  the  name  of  "  kanup- 
parill "  or  green  fish.  He  states  it  to  inhabit  the  rocky 
shores  of  that  locality,  and  to  be  rare.  Mr.  Lempriere 
says,  that  at  Port  Arthur  it  is  prized  as  an  article  of  food. 

Length  11  inches. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  Tasmania  and  South  Australia. 


129 


Labrus  psittaculus,  vel  Tadtoga  psittacula 
Richardson. 


Labrus  psittaculus,  Bichardson,  Zool.  Proceed.,  March  10,   1840. 
Zool.  Trans.  Hi.  p.  141. 


Radii:— B.  5;  D.  9|11;  A.  3|10;  C.  1-2| ;  P.  1.3;  V.  1|5. 


ing  ])rocess  of  the  next  succeeding  veitebra  is  also  broad, 
and  perforated  by  two  holes. 

The  specimen  in  spirits  had  an  uniform  hyacinth-red  co- 
lour, without  any  other  spots  tlian  five  or  six  rows  of 
honey-yellow  dots  on  the  soft  dorsal  and  anal,  and  a  few 
streaks  behind  the  corner  of  the  mouth. 

Length  lOj  inches. 

Hab.  Shores  of  Tasmania. 


Plate  LVI.,  figs.  7—10. 

In  this  species  there  are  about  fourteen  or  fifteen  teeth 
on  each  side  of  each  jaw,  and  the  pair  next  the  symphysis 
are  proportionally  larger  than  in  the  species  already 
described.  The  canine  at  the  angb  of  the  mouth  is 
slightly  curved,  the  inner  row  of  small  teeth  is  con- 
spicuous on  the  front  third  of  the  jaws,  but  fails  posteriorly 
altogether  on  the  lower  jaw,  and  there  are  merely  some 
obscure  indications  of  interior  teeth  on  the  posterior  halves 
of  the  premaxillaries.  The  pharyngeal  teeth  are  repre- 
sented in  figures  9  and  10. 

The  body  is  more  compressed  than  is  usual  in  a  Labius: 
the  greatest  depth  of  the  body  a  little  exceeds  the  length 
of  the  head,  which  forms  one-fourth  of  the  total  length. 
The  operculum  and  half  of  the  suboperculum  are  covered 
with  large  round  scales,  and  there  are  four  rows  of  scales 
on  the  cheek,  which  cover  nearly  as  much  of  it  as  in  L.  in- 
scriptiis.  The  lobular  tip  of  the  gill-cover  is  narrower 
than  that  of  X.  Itjticlariiis,  hut  the  gill-opening  is  as  much 
closed  by  membrane  at  the  shoulder  as  in  inscriptus. 

The  lateral  line,  containing  twenty-six  scales,  curves  at 
the  nineteenth,  to  be  continued  straight  through  the  tail. 
There  is  one  scale  in  addition  on  the  base  of  the  caudal 
rays  without  the  tubular  eminence,  making  twenty-seven  in 
all,  and  small  scaly  fillets  exist  as  usual  between  the  rays. 
The  central  tube  branches  in  a  palmate  mannei-,  but  the 
forks  are  generally  fewer  than  in  latidavius,  the  ultimate 
branchlets  seldom  exceeding  eight  or  nine  on  the  anterior 
scales,  or  half  that  number  on  the  tail,  nor  are  they  perfo- 
rated by  pores  as  in  latidavius. 

The  dorsal  spines  increase  gradually  in  height  from  the 
first  to  the  ninth,  which  is  one-third  taller.  The  soft  dor- 
sal is  rather  higher,  and  its  rays  increase  slightly  in  length 
to  the  penultimate  one,  which  is  the  tallest.  The  soft  rays 
of  the  anal  are  nearly  all  of  one  length,  and  its  shorter 
spines,  and  those  of  the  dorsal,  are  overtopped  by  mem- 
branous points.  In  this  species  and  latidavius  the  anal 
and  dorsal  are  oppo.site  to  each  other,  while  in  L.  tetricus, 
fucicola  and  inscriptus  the  anal  ends  a  little  further  from 
the  base  of  the  caudal.  The  caudal  has  its  lower  angle 
rounded  slightly,  and  its  upper  one  pointed  and  projecting 
a  little.  L.  psittaculus  and  latidavius  have  a  gill-ray 
fewer  than  tetricus,  fucicola  or  inscriptus.  The  European 
Lahri  and  American  Tautoga  are  noted  in  the  Histoire 
des  Poissoiis  as  having  five  gill-rays  like  psittaculus. 

The  spine  is  composed  of  nine  cervical  and  sixteen 
caudal  vertebrae.  The  first  caudal  one  differs  from  that  of 
latidavius  in  the  limbs  of  the  elliptical  arch,  formed  by  its 
pleurapophyses,  being  broader,  and  uniting  above  so  as  to 
enclose  a  small  opening  next  the  centrum.     The  descend- 


The    "  KNELMICK,"    "  MINAME  "    Or    "  MINAMEN  "    of  the 

natives  of  King  George's  Sound,  which  is  named  "  parrot 
fish"  or  "  common  rock  fish  "  by  the  sealers  of  the  same 
locality,  seems  to  be  another  species  of  this  group,  and  to 
resemble  L.  psittaculus  closely  in  the  form  of  its  body 
and  caudal  fin.  Its  soft  dorsal  appears,  however,  to  be 
more  pointed.  I  have  seen  no  specimen,  but  a  drawing  of 
it  by  Deputy  Assistant-Commissary-General  Neill  (No.  18) 
enables  me  to  describe  the  colours.  Some  scales  are  ob- 
scurely indicated  on  the  cheek  and  gill-cover,  and  from  one 
scale  taken  from  the  back,  and  another  from  the  belly,  which 
accompanies  the  drawing,  the  scales  generally  appear  to 
be  rather  smaller  than  those  of  psittaculus.  The  ground 
tints  of  the  head  and  body  are  green,  with  faint  longitudi- 
nal lines  of  lake  corresponding  to  the  rows  of  scales.  The 
spinous  part  of  the  dorsal  and  basal  half  of  the  soft  portion 
are  dark  green :  the  upper  part  of  the  latter  and  all  the 
other  fins  are  deep  lake-red.  Mr.  Neill  numbers  the  rays 
as  follows:  "  D.  8|11;  A.  2|10;  P.  12;  V.  1|.5."  It  is 
probable  that  a  short  spine  at  the  beginning  of  the  dorsal 
and  one  at  the  anal  have  been  overlooked.  Length  of 
drawing  7j  inches. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound. 

The  "KNELMICK,"  "kielmick"  or  "kielnmick"  of  the 
natives  of  King  George's  Sound,  is  evidently  another  spe- 
cies of  this  group,  much  resembling  L.  latidavius  in  its 
profile.  Deputy  Assistant-Commissary-General  Neill,  by 
whose  drawing  alone  the  species  is  known  to  us,  enumerates 
the  rays  as  follows :  "  D.  2-2  ;  A.  14  ;  P.  1:3  ;  V.  5."  He 
says  that  it  is  a  common  inhabitant  of  rocky  coasts,  and  is 
a  very  indifferent  article  of  food.  It  is  taken  with  the 
hook.  The  scales  are  smaller  than  those  of  any  of  the 
species  described  above,  and  the  drawing  represents  them 
as  covering  the  entire  gill-covering,  including  the  inter- 
operculum,  but  it  is  possible  that  this  may  have  been  an 
oversight.  The  dorsal,  anal  and  back  are  coloured  brown- 
ish-red, the  head  shows  a  more  dilute  tint  of  the  same,  and 
the  caudal  is  reddish-orange.  The  body  and  vertical  fins 
are  traversed  by  stout  blue  bars,  forming  horizontal  rows, 
about  three  in  number  on  each  of  the  fins,  and  ten  on  the 
body.  The  blue  lines  on  the  back  are  oblique  ;  in  the 
middle  of  the  tail  they  are  replaced  by  round  spots ;  and 
on  the  caudal  they  run  throughout  the  fin  between  the 
rays.  Three  blue  lines  descend  from  the  eye  and  snout 
over  both  jaws,  and  three  curve  downwards  from  a  large 
blue  patch  on  the  preoperculum  over  the  cheek  and  inter- 
operculum.  There  is  also  a  blue  chevron  on  the  supra- 
scapular. The  pectorals  and  ventrals  are  pale,  with  reddish 
rays.     The  drawing  is  9|  inches  long. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound. 

X 


130 


Labrus  luculentus,  vel  Tautoga  l0culenta. 
Richardson. 


Radii:— B.  5;  D.  9|11  ;  A.  3|10;  C.  11,  vel  1-2|;  P.  12; 

V.  1|5. 


T  am  indebted  to  Dr.  Mc  William,  so  well  known  by  his 
humane  exertions  on  the  Niger  Expedition,  for  five  speci- 
mens of  a  Labrus  from  Norfolk  Island,  closely  allied  to 
the  preceding  species.  A  dried  specimen  in  the  British 
Museum,  which  was  brought  from  Western  Australia  by 
Mr.  Gould,  shows  that  its  range  is  extensive. 

The  profile  is  elliptical,  the  jaws  forming  the  acute  apex 
anteriorly,  while  behind  the  ellipse  ends  in  the  trunk  of  the 
tail,  whose  height  is  contained  twice  and  one-third  in  the 
height  of  the  body,  and  this  again  thrice  and  one-third  in 
the  total  length,  caudal  included.  The  descent  from  the 
dorsal  to  the  mouth  is  an  even,  long  slope,  with  a  slight 
convexity  :  the  belly  is  rather  more  convex  than  the  back, 
and  the  compression  of  the  body  is  considerable,  its  thick- 
ness being  contained  twice  and  two-thirds  in  its  height. 

The  head  forms  two-sevenths  of  the  whole  length  of  the 
fish,  caudal  included.  The  eye  is  of  moderate  size,  and 
the  diameter  of  the  perfectly  round  orbit  is  equal  to  one- 
fifth  of  the  length  of  the  head,  measured  to  the  extreme 
edge  of  gill-flap.  It  is  situated  near  the  profile,  and  two 
diameters  from  the  symphysis  of  the  intermaxillaries.  The 
breadth  of  the  preorbitar  is  greater  than  the  diameter  of 
the  eye,  and  the  preorbitar  lip  is  developed  about  as  much 
as  in  the  Australian  species  already  described.  The  cheek 
is  protected  by  small  tiled  scales,  which  fill  up  the  curve 
of  the  preoperculum,  where  there  are  six  rows  :  they  come 
close  to  the  disk  of  the  preoperculum,  but  leave  a  broad 
smooth  margin  beneath  the  orbit,  and  also  a  space  at  the 
corner  of  the  mouth.  The  preorbitar,  mandible,  snout  and 
whole  top  of  the  head  are  also  smooth,  as  is  likewise  the 
broad,  thin  and  flexible  interoperculum.  When  this  bone 
is  complete  it  laps  over  its  fellow,  and  completely  conceals 
the  gill-membrane  ;  but  it  is  more  or  less  deficient  in 
four  of  the  specimens  out  of  five,  either  on  sides  of  the 
fish  or  on  one  only.  The  operculum  and  subopercu- 
lum  are  covered  by  three  or  four  vertical  rows  of  large 
scales,  which  are,  however,  smaller  than  those  of  the  body. 
There  are  twenty-seven  scales  on  the  lateral  line,  with 
three  rows  above  it  and  seven  or  eight  below.  On  the  an- 
terior scales  the  lateral  line  is  formed  by  a  small  sparingly- 
divided  cluster  of  branchlets  at  the  end  of  a  long  tube. 
The  branchlets  are  mostly  above  the  tubular  line,  and  di- 
minish in  number  posteriorly,  so  that  at  the  flexure  under 
the  end  of  the  dorsal  only  one  upward  branchlet  remains. 
The  scales  are  nearly  as  strongly  striated  on  their  unco- 
vered disks  as  on  their  bases,  the  striae  embracing  all  the 
circumference  except  a  very  small  triangular  portion  on 
each  side.  The  base  of  the  dorsal,  and  in  a  less  degree 
that  of  the  anal,  is  protected  by  a  scaly  sheath.  The  base 
of  the  caudal  is  also  sheathed.  The  dorsal  and  anal  spines 
arc  slender,  round,  pungent,  and  tipped  behind  with  small 
membranous  processes.  The  soft  rays  are  a  little  longer, 
but  the  outline  of  each  of  these  fins  is  even,  and  they  end 


acutely,  though  not  by  prolonged  points.  The  pectoral  is 
acute  above  and  rounded  beneath.  The  ventrals  are  rather 
small,  and,  when  fully  s])read,  obtuse.  The  membranes 
of  the  fins  generally,  and  especially  of  the  ventrals  and 
pectorals,  are  delicate  and  transparent. 

The  tooth  next  the  symphysis  on  both  jaws  is  about 
twice  the  size  of  the  second  one,  and  the  rest  diminish  re- 
gularly to  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  They  are  subulate 
and  acute,  and  about  twelve  in  number  on  each  premax- 
illary  and  limb  of  the  mandible.  There  is  also  a  small 
canine  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  inner  small  teeth 
are  very  distinct,  particularly  the  mandibular  ones,  but 
the}-  are  confined  to  a  single  series  on  the  front  of  the  jaws, 
and  do  not  run  farther  back  than  the  third  exterior  tooth. 

The  following  tracings  of  colouring  and  markings  re- 
main, after  several  years  of  maceration  in  spirits.  A  faint 
reddish  tint  prevails  on  the  body,  strongest  along  the  dor- 
sal and  lateral  line,  giving  indications  of  stripes.  Below 
the  lateral  line  each  scale  is  marked  at  its  base  by  a  some- 
what oblique  descending  silvery  bar:  this  mark  belongs  to 
the  integument  beneath  the  scale  and  shines  through. 
One  dark  purple  line  runs  from  the  orbit,  along  the  upper 
edge  of  the  preorbitar,  to  the  tip  of  the  snout.  Another 
runs  beneath  the  preorbitar,  along  the  under  margin  of  the 
orbit,  to  the  tip  of  the  gill-cover.  A  series  of  purple  dots 
trace  out  the  line  of  the  occiput,  and  there  is  a  row  on  the 
temples.  The  tip  of  the  gill-cover  appears  to  have  been 
coloured,  and  the  cheek  to  have  been  brighter  than  the 
rest  of  the  head.  The  pectoral  shows  a  purplish-black 
ring  at  its  base,  with  a  silvery  and  reddish  axilla.  A  black 
mark  embraces  the  first  two  dorsal  spines,  and  there  is  a 
black  spot  on  the  scaly  sheath  embracing  the  two  first  soft 
dorsal  rays,  with  indications  of  a  smaller  spot  at  the  fillh 
and  sixth  soft  rays. 

Length  6  inches. 

Hab.  Eastern  and  western  coasts  of  Australia.  Norfolk 
Island. 


Tautoga  melaptera.     Bloch.     {Labrus.) 


Labrus  melamptems,  Bl.  285,  Sclm.  247. 

Tautoga  melapterus,  Cnv.  et  Val.  xiii.  p.  311.     Richardson,  Aunals 
and  Mag  of  Nat.  Hist.  xi.  p.  358. 


Radii 


-B.  5;  D.  9|10;  A.  2|10;  C.  13f;  P,  13;  V.  1|.5. 


This  species  is  known  to  the  natives  round  Port  Essing- 
ton  by  the  name  of  "  ardilga."  The  reader  is  referred  to 
the  Histoire  des  Poissons  and  the  Annals  of  Natural  His 
lory  as  above  quoted  for  an  account  of  it. 

Length  I3|^  inches. 

Hab.  Sea  of  Java,  Torres  Straits  and  the  coasts  of 
North  Australia. 


131 


Lachnolaimus,  rel  Cossyphus  cyanodus.     Richardson. 


I.abnis  ci/anodus,  Richardson,  Ann.  and  Mag.  of  Nat.   Hist.  xi. 
p.  355. 


Radii:— B.  6;  D.  1.3|7  ;  A.  3|10;  C.  12|;  P.  15  ;  V.  l|5. 
Platu  LV.,  figs.  5—7.     {L.  arilca.) 

This  fish  wants  the  flexible  filamentous  prolongations  of 
the  anterior  dorsal  spines,  which  give  such  a  peculiar  cha- 
racter to  the  Lac/inolaimi  of  the  Caribbean  Sea;  and  it 
differs  from  them  in  its  more  elevated  profile,  and  conse- 
quently in  its  general  physiognomy,  which  is  more  like 
that  of  Noracula,  especially  in  the  face.  It  has  the  preor- 
bilar  lips,  the  scaly  gill-covers  and  cheeks,  with  the  conti- 
nuous lateral  line,  and  other  general  characters  of  Lahnis, 
but  it  differs  from  that  genus  in  the  dentition  both  of  the 
jaws  and  pharyngeals,  in  which  it  agrees  with  Lachno- 
laimus. In  the  structure  of  its  jaws,  the  upper  one  es- 
pecially, it  corresponds  nearly  with  Cosayphus  atrolumbiis, 
and  most  likely  with  some  others  of  that  genus,  the  Cos- 
syphi  merely  having  the  teeth  on  the  edge  of  the  jaw  a  little 
more  prominent,  and  those  incorporated  with  the  bone  in- 
teriorly so  much  developed  as  to  render  the  surface  granu- 
lar. Though  the  vertical  fins  of  our  fish  move  in  scaly 
sheaths,  they  are  much  less  evident  than  in  Cossyphus,  and 
enclose  only  the  bases  of  the  fins.  It  seems  to  have  the 
closest  aflinitj'  to  the  Lahrtis  macrodontus  and  Japouicus, 
and  to  the  Cossyphus  schwnleinii  of  the  Histoire  des 
Poissons,  diff'ering  from  them  rather  in  specific  characters 
than  generic  ones,  and  agreeing  with  them  in  dentition 
and  in  the  number  of  the  fin  rays.* 

This  fish  obtains  the  names  of"  'nguvmin"  and  "  arilka" 
from  the  native  tribes  in  the  vicinity  of  Port  Essington. 
The  specimen  we  have  figured  was  taken  in  Endeavour 
Straits,  on  the  reef  which  surrounds  Bramble  Island. 

The  profile  of  the  snout  rises  at  an  angle  of  45°,  with  a 
slight  concavity  opposite  the  preorbitars,  and  a  convexity 
at  the  nostrils,  where  it  begins  to  round  gradually  over 
the  eye  into  the  nearly  horizontal  curve  of  the  nape. 
Along  the  whole  extent  of  the  dorsal,  the  outline  of  the 
back  descends  to  join  the  concave  sweep  of  the  trunk  of 
the  tail.  The  outline  of  the  belly  wants  the  bold  convex- 
ity of  the  forehead  and  nape,  but  is  otherwise  nearly  simi- 
lar to  the  dorsal  line.  The  height  of  the  trunk  of  the  tail 
exceeds  one-third  of  the  greatest  height  of  the  body,  and 
its  length  between  the  dorsal  and  caudal  is  nearly  one- 
sixth  of  the  total  length  of  the  fish. 

The  length  of  the  head  is  contained  thrice  and  two- 
thirds  in  the  length  of  the  fish,  and  its  height  is  not  above 
a  ninth  or  tenth  part  less  than  its  length.  The  eye,  of  a 
moderate  size  and  round,  is  situated  above  the  level  of  the 

*  See  also  Cossyphus  cyannstolus  and  onunoplcrns  of  '  The  Report  on 
the  Ichthyology  of  China,'  p.  256,  257,  which  agree  generically  with  the 
species  named  above,  and  in  the  numbers  of  the  rays.  Labrus  reticula- 
ris of  the  Fauna  Japonica  has  a  different  number  of  dorsal  rays,  but  si- 
milar construction  of  the  jaws  with  the  other  species  of  this  group. 


angle  of  the  gill-cover,  having  a  very  high  cheek  and  in- 
teroperculum  beneath  it,  and  a  large  preorbitar  descending 
obliquely  before  it.  It  is  two  diameters  of  the  orbit  from 
the  end  of  the  snout,  and  rather  farther  from  the  tip  of 
the  gill-cover.  The  nostrils  arc  very  small  simple  ojjcn- 
ings,  situated  nearer  to  the  eye  than  to  the  edge  of  the 
snout.  The  preorbitar  lip  is  wide,  and  contiiuious  over 
the  premaxillary  pedicles  and  cheek,  forming  a  covering 
for  the  whole  of  the  maxillary  and  the  outer  half  of  the 
premaxillary  when  the  jaws  are  retracted.  The  obtuse 
end  of  the  maxillary  just  appears  at  the  corner  of  the 
iiiouth  when  the  jaws  are  extended.  The  premaxillary 
lips  are  full  and  plaited,  and  the  mandibular  one  folds 
back  on  the  limb  of  the  jaw.  The  gape  of  the  mouth 
is  low  down,  and  scarcely  extends  as  far  back  as  the 
anterior  nostril.  The  mandible  when  depressed  is  equal 
in  length  to  the  premaxillary  when  fully  protracted,  and 
ascends  a  little  when  the  jaws  are  retracted.  The  preraaxil- 
laries  are  moderately  protractile  :  each  is  armed  anteriorly 
by  two  strong  canines,  the  one  next  the  symphysis  being 
the  largest :  they  are  conical,  slightly  curved,  directed  for- 
wards and  downwards,  and  both  are  closely  incorporated 
with  the  bone,  so  that  there  appears  to  be  no  line  of  sepa- 
ration between  the  root  of  the  tooth  and  substance  of  the 
bone.  The  jaw  interiorly  is  naked  and  polished,  as  if 
worn  or  enamelled,  for  a  considerable  breadth,  and  its 
edge,  which  is  rather  obtuse  throughout,  is  a  little  swollen 
behind  the  canines ;  and  close  to  the  symphysis  there  is  a 
small  conical  tooth  immediately  behind  the  largest  canine, 
and  two  or  three  minute  granular  ones  appear  as  if  passing 
out  of  the  bone  on  the  lateral  edge  of  the  jaw.  The  man- 
dible exhibits  the  same  polished  edge  and  interior  surface 
as  the  premaxillary,  and  is  also  armed  with  two  stout  ca- 
nines directed  forwards  and  upwards.  There  is  no  small 
interior  conical  tooth  at  the  symphysis,  but  a  series  of  very 
small  granular  teeth  on  the  edge  of  the  jaw  is  visible  to 
the  naked  eye,  particularly  two  or  three  of  them  behind  its 
middle.  There  is  no  canine  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth. 
The  upper  pharyngeals  (fig.  6)  are  two  small  bones  with 
flat  granular  disks,  and  the  teeth  shining  through,  as  on 
the  jaws  of  a  Scar  us.     The  teeth  and  jaws  are  greenish. 

The  cheek  is  protected  by  small,  remote,  round  scales, 
forming  five  or  six  rows  between  the  orbit  and  curve  of  the 
preopercular  disk.  There  are  six  in  a  single  series  on  the 
interoperculum,  and  the  operculum  and  suboperculum  are 
covered  by  six  rows  of  larger  ones  closel}'  tiled.  The  disk 
of  the  preopercuhim  is  naked,  and  the  interoperculum  is 
very  broad,  its  edge  being  membranous.  The  gill-cover  is 
also  bordered  with  smooth  membrane,  beneath  whose  edge 
the  rather  narrow  gill-membrane  folds.  The  rays  of  the 
latter  are  long,  slender,  curved  and  flexible.  The  tip  of 
the  gill-cover  is  a  rounded  lobe,  rendered  more  prominent 
by  a  wide  curve  narrowing  the  suboperculum. 

The  lateral  line  is  traced  on  twenty-nine  or  thirty  scales, 
the  last  two  of  which  are  as  large  as  the  others,  and  sheath 
the  base  of  the  caudal  rays.  The  exposed  disks  of  the 
scales  are  without  striae;  their  bases  are  marked  by  twenty- 
five  or  thirty,  diverging  in  a  fan-like  way.  The  scales 
forming  the  lateral  line  have  each  a  long  tube,  with  six  or 
seven  spreading  divisions   at  the  end.      On  the  posterior 


132 


scales  the  branches  are  rather  fewer  and  spread  less 
(fig.  7). 

The  dorsal  spines  are  slender,  subulate  and  acute,  and 
increase  gradually  in  height  to  the  last  or  thirteenth,  which 
is  nearly  twice  as  tall  as  the  first :  a  small  point  of  mem- 
brane overtops  each  of  them.  The  soft  rays  rise  above  the 
last  spine  nearly  in  the  same  degree  that  it  exceeds  the 
first  one.  The  anal  is  similar  to  the  posterior  part  of  the 
dorsal,  and  ends  a  little  nearer  to  the  caudal.  The  latter 
is  truncated  at  the  end,  with  a  slight  acute  projection  of 
the  upper  corner.  The  pectoral  is  rather  large  and  trian- 
gular, the  ventrals  comparatively  small  and  pointed.  There 
are  no  small  scales  on  the  fins. 

The  specimen  here  described,  and  figured  in  Plate  LV., 
is  a  dried  one,  and  measures  8j  inches.  Another,  mea- 
suring I2j  inches,  was  taken  at  Port  Essington,  and  has  the 
dorsal  and  anal  more  pointed.*  One  example  in  the  Haslar 
Museum,  presented  by  John  Gould,  Esq.,  is  twenty-two 
inches  long,  and  differs  from  the  preceding  in  its  teeth  and 
jaws  not  being  green,  and  in  having  a  stout  canine  directed 
outwards  from  the  angle  of  the  mouth.  The  upper  limb 
of  its  preopercuhim  is  finely  and  acutely  serrated,  the  ser- 
ratures  pointing  upwards.  This  is  most  probably  a  dis- 
tinct species,  and  the  British  Museum  possesses  a  large 
mounted  specimen  of  it  which  was  also  obtained  from 
Mr.  Gould. 

Hab.  Northern  coasts  of  Australia. 


CossYPHUs,  vel  Lachnolaimds  gouldii.     Richardson. 

Lahrus  gouldii,  Richardson,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  xi.  p.  353. 

Radii:— D.  lljlO;  A.  3|10;  C.  14|;  P.  17;  V.  I|5. 

In  the  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  as 
above  quoted,  I  described  a  Western  Australian  fish,  which 
in  its  dentition  makes  a  near  approach  to  L.  cijfuiodus.  I 
stated  there  that  the  specimen  consisted  of  the  dried  skin 
of  one  side  of  the  fish,  with  the  bones  of  the  head 
cut  away,  so  that  the  pro])er  form  of  the  profile  could 
not  be  ascertained  ;  but  since  that  was  written  I  have  re- 

*  In  the  specimen  which  is  figured  the  colours  were  effaced.  The 
one  described  in  the  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History  (ix.  355) 
retained  some  indications  of  the  darker  tints,  viz.,  "  The  top  and  sides 
of  the  head  have  a  dark  brownish  hue,  which  is  separated  from  the  in- 
ferior orange  or  reddish-yellow  parts  by  an  even  line  running  beneath 
the  pectoral  fin  and  preopercuhim  to  the  angle  of  the  mouth.  There  is 
a  purplish-brown  patch  on  the  chin.  The  light  tints  of  the  under  sur- 
face rise  in  the  axilla  of  the  pectoral  to  the  middle  of  the  side,  and  are 
continued  at  that  height  to  the  caudal.  The  upper  parts  have  a  leaden 
hue,  not  very  unif(mn.  Three  dark  bars  descend  from  the  spinous  part 
of  the  dorsal  to  the  lateral  line,  there  is  a  fourth  before  the  fin,  and  a 
fifth  is  more  obscurely  seen  at  the  end  of  the  soft  part  of  the  fin,  all 
these  bars  being  broader  than  the  intermediate  paler  spaces.  There  are 
no  markings  on  the  dorsal,  though  the  colour  of  the  spinous  part  is 
somewhat  deeper  than  that  of  the  soft  part.  Two  diaphanous  lines  tra- 
verse the  middle  of  the  anal,  and  five  similar  ones  cross  the  caudal,  fol- 
lowed by  dots  on  the  end  of  the  fin.''  The  length  of  this  specimen  was 
10  inches. 


cognized  the  species  among  D.  A.  C.  G.  Neill's  drawings 
of  the  fish  of  King  George's  Sound.  It  bears  among  the 
natives  the  various  names  of  "  koojemick,"  "  quejiumuck" 
or  "  know],"  and  grows  to  a  large  size.  Mr.  Neill  men- 
tions one  weighing  28  tt>s.,  which  was  speared  by  a  native, 
but  not  killed  till  after  a  long  struggle,  the  fish  being  very 
powerful. 

In  the  drawing  the  profile  from  the  snout  to  the  nape  is 
a  low  arc,  but  in  the  specimen  it  forms  about  the  sixth  of 
a  circle.  The  head  is  short,  the  belly  more  arched  than 
the  back,  and  the  trunk  of  the  tail  thick,  the  fish  being 
clumsily  made.  The  preorbitar  lip  is  simple,  the  premax- 
illary  one  thick  and  plaited.  Each  premaxillary  and  limb 
of  the  mandible  is  armed  in  front  with  two  stout,  conical, 
bluntish  teeth,  whose  roots  are  incorporated  with  the 
bone,  all  of  them  having  a  narrower  stem  or  neck,  which 
is  evidently  covered  by  the  soft  parts  in  the  recent 
fish.  The  tooth  next  the  symphysis  above  and  below 
points  obliquely  forwards  ;  the  other  one  outwards  and 
downwards  or  upwards,  as  it  is  above  or  below.  The  sur- 
faces of  both  jaws  are  smooth  and  naked,  and  the  bone 
swells  out  slightly  behind  the  canines,  but  forms  a  flattish 
ridge  on  the  lateral  parts  of  the  jaw.  On  the  intermaxil- 
lary there  is  a  small  blunt  tooth,  no  bigger  than  a  pin's 
head,  immediately  behind  the  front  canine,  and  many  still 
more  minute  rounded  teeth  appear  as  if  ready  to  burst 
from  the  bone  all  over  its  surface,  but  are  scarcely  promi- 
nent enough  to  render  it  uneven :  the  outer  edge  of  the 
ridge  is  a  little  uneven,  but  only  two  minute  angles  can 
be  considered  as  teeth.  There  is  no  canine  at  the  corner 
of  the  mouth.  On  the  mandible  there  are  two  small  gra- 
nular teeth  at  the  symphysis  behind  the  front  canine ; 
minute  rounded  teeth  incorporated  with  the  bone  all 
over  its  surface,  and  merely  shining  through  ;  and  also  an 
exterior  range  of  nine  or  ten  small  conical  or  rounded 
teeth  :  of  these  the  middle  ones  are  the  most  prominent, 
and  are  the  only  ones  that  rise  above  the  edge  of  the 
grinding  ridge.  The  snout,  mandible,  top  of  the  head  to 
the  occiput,  preorbitar,  a  considerable  space  bordering  the 
eye  beneath,  broad  disk  of  the  preopercuhim,  and  lines 
surrounding  the  supra-scapular  and  temporal  clusters  of 
scales,  are  naked.  The  preoperculum  has  its  free  edge 
augmented  by  an  even  membranous  border,  without  any 
visible  serratures.  The  cheek  is  furnished  with  small,  ver- 
tically oval,  remote,  impressed  scales,  which  form  seven  or 
eight  rows  in  the  curve  of  the  preopercular  disk,  but  di- 
minish to  two  towards  the  temples,  where  the  scales  are 
larger.  The  operculum  is  covered  by  five  rows  of  scales, 
which  increase  rapidly  in  size  towards  the  edge  of  the  gill- 
flap.  One  row  of  larger  scales  conceals  the  suboper- 
cuhun  ;  and  five  rows  of  smaller  ones,  though  not  so  small 
as  those  on  the  cheek,  cover  the  interoperculum,  the  lower 
edge  of  this  bone  being  smooth.  The  scales  of  the  body 
are  large,  there  being  only  forty  on  the  lateral  line,  and 
six  rows  above  it.  The  scales  of  the  nape  and  breast,  and 
those  covering  the  supra-scapulars,  are  smaller :  the 
largest  are  on  the  flanks  ;  and  one  taken  from  that  part  of 
the  individual  mentioned  by  Mr.  Neill  as  having  weighed 
28  tbs.,  measures  1'3  inch  in  length  and  Tl  in  width.  It 
is  boimded  by  three  nearly  straight  sides  and  an  elliptical 


133 


curve  on  the  free  edge,  and  is  oblique  angled.  The  base 
is  marked  by  about  thirty-three  slightly-radiating  striic, 
many  of  them  terminating  short  of  the  edge,  and  the  sides 
are  bordered  by  some  elevated  lines,  the  greater  part  of  the 
disk  being  smooth,  except  the  exposed  part,  which  is  co- 
vered by  integument  that  becomes  somewhat  granular  in 
drying.  The  scales  of  the  back,  and  those  on  the  base  of 
the  caudal,  are  more  oblong,  with  fewer  radiating  stria;, 
more  numerous  lateral  lines  and  a  less  smooth  disk.  The 
scales  composing  the  lateral  line  show  much  smaller  disks 
in  situ  than  those  above  and  below  them,  and  a  raised  tube 
on  each  scale  ends  in  a  bushy  cluster,  the  branches  of 
which  are  not  very  distinct  in  the  dried  specimen.  The 
line  is  very  slightly  arched  anteriorly,  and  becomes  quite 
straight  in  the  trunk  of  the  tail. 

The  spinous  part  of  the  dorsal  is  moderately  arched, 
and  is  lower  than  the  articulated  portion,  which  ends  in  a 
point  formed  by  the  penultimate  and  two  preceding  rays, 
the  eighth  soft  ray  being  the  longest.  The  spines  are  of 
a  very  unusual  form,  being  very  strong,  but  compressed, 
like  the  blade  of  a  knife  with  a  blunt  or  rounded  point,  the 
last  three,  however,  being  more  cylindrical  and  acute. 
The  membrane  is  deeply  notched  behind  each  spine.  The 
soft  part  of  the  anal  corresponds  with  the  dorsal,  bat  the 
spines  are  even  broader  and  more  obtuse  than  the  dorsal 
ones.  It  would  appear  from  Mr.  NeilFs  observations,  that 
some  individuals  have  only  one,  others  but  two  anal 
spines.  A  few  small  scales  exist  on  the  bases  of  the  jointed 
portions  of  the  anal  and  dorsal ;  and  these  fins  seem  to 
move  in  a  low  furrow,  not  nearly  so  much  developed  as 
the  usual  scaly  sheaths  of  the  Cossyphi.  The  ventral  is 
pointed  ;  and  its  greatly  compressed,  wide,  blunt  spine,  is 
only  half  as  long  as  the  second  and  third  jointed  rays, 
which  form  the  point  of  the  fin.  The  pectoral  is  ranch 
rounded,  and  the  anal  is  even  with  the  angles  rounded. 
Mr.  Gould  reports  the  colour  as  an  uniform  dark  olive  tint, 
and  Mr.  Neill's  drawing  is  coloured  with  a  dark  neutral 
tint,  approaching  to  grayish  or  purplish-black  along  the 
dorsal  aspect  and  on  the  fins,  and  fading  to  blackish-gray 
on  the  sides. 

Length  .38^  inches. 

Hab.  Western  Australia. 


Odax  lineatds.     Quoy  et  Gaimard.     {Malacanthus). 

Malacanthe  rayi,  Quoy  et  Gaimard,  Zool.  de  rAstrul.  p.  717,  PI.  19, 
f.2. 

Cheilio  lineatus,  Cuv.  et  Val.  xiii.  p.  354. 

Radii:— B.  5;  D.  20|10;  A.  4|9;  C.  25;  P.  12;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  LX.,  figs.  1—5. 

This  fish  has  hitherto  been  known  to  ichthyologists  only 
by  the  figure  published  by  Quoy  and  Gaimard,  the  speci- 
men having  been  lost  after  the  drawing  was  made  by  M. 
Gressien,  an  officer  of  the  Astrolabe,  who  presented  it  to 
M.  Quoy.       It  is  probable,  from  the  terms  in  which  this  is 


mentioned  by  M.  Quoy,  that  he  never  saw  the  fish,  but 
described  it  from  the  drawing,  which  would  account  for 
the  errors  in  the  account  of  the  jaws,  dentition,  gill-cover, 
&c.,  and  his  not  discriminating  the  simple  from  the  jointed 
rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal.  A  very  perfect  and  beautifully 
coloured  drawing  of  the  species,  now  in  the  possession  of 
Robert  Brown,  Esq.,  had  been  made  long  before,  on  Flin- 
ders' voyage,  by  Mr.  Bauer ;  and  a  specimen  in  tolerable 
preservation,  from  which  our  figure  was  taken,  enables  us 
to  give  the  following  description. 

This  fish  is  moderately  compressed,  with  a  fusiform  pro- 
file, the  tail  becoming  gradually  higher  at  the  base  of  the 
widely  elliptical  and  acute  caudal.  The  height,  which  is 
greatest  under  the  middle  of  the  dorsal,  is  about  equal  to 
one-seventh  of  the  whole  length  of  the  fish,  and  the  nar- 
rowest part  of  the  tail  is  equal  to  half  that  height.  The 
length  of  the  head,  including  the  tip  of  the  gill-cover,  forms 
less  than  one-third  of  the  total  length,  caudal  included. 
The  eye  is  equidistant  from  the  extremity  of  the  upper  jaw 
and  ti])  of  the  gill-cover,  and  is  near  the  upper  profile,  but 
does  not  actually  touch  it :  its  diameter  is  about  one-fifth 
of  the  length  of  the  head,  and  equals  exactly  the  distance 
between  the  orbits.  The  thickness  at  the  nape  is  one 
quarter  less  than  the  height  there. 

The  posterior  nostril,  which  is  close  to  the  eye,  is  a 
small  open  orifice  ;  the  anterior  one  can  be  closed  by  a 
valvular  lip.  The  scales  on  the  top  of  the  head  are  not 
much  smaller  than  those  of  the  body,  and  are  separated 
from  the  nape  and  supra-scapular  scales  by  a  smooth 
transverse  line,  which  is  bent  at  each  temple  to  run  back- 
wards to  the  upper  angle  of  the  gill-opening.  The  mar- 
gins of  the  orbits  are  smooth,  but  the  scales  come  forward 
between  them  to  the  posterior  nasal-opening.  The  oper- 
culum, most  of  the  suboperculum  and  the  cheek  are  scaly 
(fig.  2),  and  there  is  also  a  row  of  scales  on  ihe  iuteroper- 
culum  ;  but  the  snout,  jaws  and  disk  of  the  preoperculuni 
are  more  or  less  porous.  The  thin  and  flexible  interoper- 
culum  is  quite  entire,  but  when  held  up  to  the  light  it  ap- 
pears striated  on  its  edge.  The  border  of  the  suboper- 
culum is  smooth,  and  its  cartilaginous  strap-shaped  tip 
projects  over  the  axilla  of  the  pectoral.  This  process  is 
fissile,  and  splits  into  sixteen  or  eighteen  pointed  teeth. 
The  operculum  is,  as  is  common  in  the  Labri,  connected 
by  its  upper  edge  to  the  shoulder,  but  the  gill-opening  ex- 
tends well  forwards  below. 

The  mouth  is  cleft  horizontally  as  far  back  as  the 
anterior  nostril.  The  preorbitar,  of  a  semi-lanceolate 
form,  covers  a  space  into  which  the  side  of  the  jaw  glides, 
but  there  is  no  preorbitar  lip,  the  integuments  of  the  snout 
being  continuous  with  the  well-developed  premaxillary 
lips.  These  and  the  lower  lip  fold  back  over  their  respective 
jaws,  even  at  the  symphyses.  The  jaws  have  the  usual 
narrow  spoon-shaped  form  peculiar  to  Oda.v,  with  the 
quincuncial  incorporated  teeth  shining  through.  The  thin 
edges  of  the  jaws  are  irregularly  and  minutely  crenated  ;  a 
few  of  the  projections,  particularly  four  or  five  on  the  up- 
per jaw,  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  appearing  like  minute 
teeth.  There  are  also  five  small,  conical,  acute  teeth, 
springing  from  the  outside  of  the  upper  jaw  posteriorly 
(figs.  2,  3).  The  upper  pharyngeals  are  small,  but  thick, 
triangular,  five-sided  bones,  one  of  the  sides  only  attached 


134 


to  the  roof  of  the  gullet,  the  others  showing  the  incorpo- 
rated teeth,  which  form  a  snioothish,  granular  surface,  as 
in  Cossjjphus  or  Lachnolainins.  The  under  pharyngeals 
have  the  general  shape  of  the  same  bone  in  Labrus,  but 
the  teeth  are  incorporated  with  it,  and  merely  produce  the 
same  kind  of  granular  surface  that  exists  in  the  upper  pha- 
ryngeals. 

The  scales  are  of  moderate  size,  of  various  breadth  in 
different  parts,  but  generally  have  the  free  edge  curved 
in  the  arc  of  a  circle,  the  sides  straight  and  parallel,  and 
the  bases,  which  show  a  slight  indication  of  a  middle  lobe, 
are  marked  by  from  twelve  to  twenty-two  fan-like  furrows. 
The  lines  of  structure  on  the  sides  are  longitudinal,  and 
the  free  edge  is  striated  with  minute  corresponding  teeth 
or  crenatures  on  the  edge.  There  are  about  thirty-eight 
scales  on  the  lateral  line,  each  with  a  simple  sti'aight  tube 
(fig.  5)  :  this  line  makes  a  descending  curve  over  the  end 
of  the  pectoral,  and  then  runs  straight.  The  dorsal  com- 
mences over  the  base  of  the  pectoral :  its  spinous  rays  are 
slender,  and  become  as  fine  and  flexible  as  hairs  at  their 
tips :  the  first  one  is  the  tallest,  and  rather  exceeds  the 
height  of  the  body  ;  the  others  decrease  rapidly  to  the 
fourth,  which  is  almost  one  half  shorter,  and  then  in- 
crease more  gradually  to  the  fifteenth,  diminishing  again 
slightly  to  the  soft  rays,  which  also  decrease  a  little, 
giving  an  undulated  outline  to  the  fin.  The  anterior 
jointed  rays  are  unbranched,  the  ]5osterior  ones  merely 
forked  at  the  tips.  The  anal  has  four  unjointed  rays,  the 
first  one  being  short  and  closely  incumbent  on  the  second, 
but  having  also  a  hair-like  tip.  The  last  jointed  ray  is  di- 
vided quite  to  the  base  ;  the  anterior  ones  are  unbranched. 
The  fin  ends  farther  from  the  caudal  than  the  anal.  The 
caudal  is  widely  elliptical,  with  an  acute  tip  like  some  of 
the  Gobioids,  and  embraces  the  rounded  end  of  the  tail  by 
its  short  lateral  rays.  The  pectorals  are  rounded,  and  the 
ventrals,  which  are  attached  under  the  third  and  fourth 
dorsal  spines,  have  the  first  and  second  jointed  rays  pro- 
longed. The  spinous  ray  ends  in  a  fine  hair-like  point,  like 
those  of  the  dorsal  and  anal :  it  is  represented  in  the  figure 
as  jointed,  through  oversight. 

In  Mr.  Bauer's  drawing  the  ground  colour  of  the  body 
is  mountain-green,  with  three  orange-red  lines  running 
along  the  back,  and  seven  deep  yellow  streaks  on  the  sides. 
The  uppermost  of  these  streaks  includes  the  fore  part  of 
the  lateral  line,  and  rises  above  it  posteriorly.  The  lateral 
line  is  orange  throughout.  The  head  is  yellow,  with  blue 
lines,  which  posteriorly  pass  into  the  green  of  the  body. 
The  dorsal  is  green,  marked  by  four  reddish -yellow  lines, 
and  an  oblong  deep  blue  stripe  at  the  base,  traversed  by  a 
yellow  line.  The  anal  is  green,  with  two  reddish-yellow 
streaks  ;  and  the  rays  of  the  caudal  are  orange,  with  blue 
tips.  The  ventrals  are  green,  without  markings;  and  the 
pectorals  are  reddish.  The  lines  shown  on  the  figure  are 
drawn  from  the  specimen  in  which  the  colours  have 
changed,  the  lines  on  the  back  to  carmine,  the  large  spot 
on  the  back  to  black  with  carmine  hues,  and  the  caudal  to 
brown.* 

*  I  suspect  that  Mr.  Gvessein's  figure  was  painted  from  a  specimen 
which  had  ah'eady  begun  to  decay,  so  that  its  green  had  changed  to 
blue,  &c. 


The  stomach  is  a  straight  tube,  passing  evenly  into  a 
delicate  and  more  slender  intestine,  but  too  much  decayed 
in  the  specimen  for  exact  examination.  The  air-bladder 
is  large,  with  an  obtuse  end  touching  the  diaphragm,  and 
the  other  extremity  tapering  to  a  fine  point,  which  runs  a 
little  past  the  anus. 

Length  7|-  inches. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound. 


The  "toobitooit"  or  "toobetoobit"  of  the  natives  near 
Albany,  King  Geoi-ge's  Sound,  seems  to  be  allied  either  to 
Oda.v  or  Scants.  Dep.  Ass.  Comm.  Gen.  Neill,  from 
whose  drawing  alone  the  species  is  known  to  us,  reckons 
the  rays  as  follows:  "D.  17  soft  and  11  fleshy;  A.  11 
fleshy  ;  P.  11  ;  V.  4  strong  rays."  His  figure  (No.  3-3  lib. 
citat.)  represents  a  subfusiform  fish,  tapering  gradually 
from  the  pectoral  region  to  the  tail,  which  is  about  half  the 
height  of  the  nape.  The  back  is  less  convex  than  the 
belly,  the  head  less  obtuse  than  a  Scarus,hni  more  so  than 
is  usual  in  Oda.v.  The  lateral  line  straight  and  continuous. 
The  jaws  scaroid.  Ventrals  under  the  middle  of  the  pec- 
torals, and  beginning  of  the  dorsal.  Dorsal  spinous  rays, 
which  would  appear  from  Mr.  Neill's  note  above  quoted  to 
be  flexible,  decreasing  in  height  from  the  first  to  the  seven- 
teenth, which  is  less  than  half  as  high.  The  jointed  por- 
tion of  the  fin  rises  abruptly  to  a  greater  height  than  any 
of  the  spinous  rays,  and  the  anal  is  like  to  it.  The  naked 
trunk  of  the  tail  forms  a  fifth  of  the  whole  length  of  the 
fish.  The  caudal  has  the  upper  and  under  angles  pro- 
jecting considerably,  but  is  otherwise  even  at  the  end. 
The  fish  is  black,  with  a  greenish  tinge  on  the  belly.  A 
spot  round  the  anterior  nostril,  the  inner  part  of  first  pec- 
toral ray,  and  a  stripe  next  the  upper  and  under  caudal 
rays,  of  a  brilliant  blue.  The  scales,  of  which  three  ac- 
company the  drawing,  are  moderately  large,  oblong,  and 
rounded  at  both  ends.  Their  bases  are  marked  by  ten  or 
twelve  fan-like  lines,  and  their  exposed  disks  covered  with 
thick  epidermis.  This  fish  is  an  inhabitant  of  rocky 
shores,  and  is  rare.  The  specimen  was  speared  by  a  na- 
tive, and  as  it  is  said  to  be  unknown  to  the  sealers  it  most 
likely  does  not  take  a  hook.  From  the  form  of  its  jaws  it 
feeds  most  probably  either  on  sea-weeds  or  corallines. 
Length  of  drawing  13  inches. 

Hab.  King  George's  Sound. 


Labros  inscriptus,  vel  Tautoga  inscripta.     Richardson. 

Radii:— B.     ;  D.  9|14;  A.  3|10;  C.  12|;  P.  13;  V.  1|5. 

Plate  LVL,  figs.  1,  2. 


The  profile  of  this  fish,  when  its  jaws  are  fully  retracted, 
is  a  regular  ellipse,  with  a  vertical  diameter  equal  to  one- 
third  of  the  transverse  one.  The  head  is  acute  in  profile,  but 
the  ellipse  is  lost  in  the  trunk  of  the  tail,  whose  height  is 


135 


contained  twice  and  a  quarter  in  the  height  of  the  body. 
The  total  length  of  the  fish,  caudal  included,  is  three  times 
and  a  half  greater  than  its  height,  and  four  times  greater 
than  the  length  of  the  head.  The  thickness  is  rather  less 
than  half  the  height.  The  jaws  are  considerably  pro- 
tractile, the  premaxillary  pedicles  going  as  far  back  as  the 
middle  of  the  orbit.  The  premaxillary  lips  are  well  deve- 
loped and  plaited,  and,  together  with  the  mandibular  ones, 
are  lax,  and  capable  of  being  turned  back  even  at  the  sym- 
physes of  the  jaTes.  Each  limb  of  each  jaw  is  armed  by 
about  twelve  teeth  in  the  principal  series,  strongest  as 
usual,  and  longest  next  the  symphysis,  and  diminishing 
rapidly  towards  the  corners  of  the  mouth.  Tliere  is  also  a 
canine  tooth  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth,  implanted  in  the 
tip  of  the  premaxillary,  and  a  distinct  interior  row  of  small 
teeth  above  and  below.  The  jaws  can  be  so  retracted  un- 
der the  preorbitar  that  even  the  lower  parts  of  the  premax- 
illaries  are  covered.  The  eye,  small,  round  and  near  the 
profile,  is  two  diameters  of  the  orbit  from  the  point  of  the 
head,  with  the  jaws  fully  retracted,  and  three  diameters 
from  the  edge  of  the  gill-opening.  The  latter  is  restricted 
above  by  membrane,  which  connects  the  whole  upper  edge 
of  the  operculum  to  the  shoulder.  Three  rows  of  round 
scales  cover  the  operculum  and  suboperculum,  except  the 
lower  angle  of  the  latter,  which,  with  the  broad  semi-mem- 
branous interoperculum  and  disk  of  the  preoperculum,  are 
clothed  with  smooth  skin.  The  cheek,  as  far  forward  as 
the  front  of  the  orbit  and  hind  corner  of  the  preorbitar,  is 
protected  by  small  round  scales,  which  descend  from  the 
narrow  suborbitars  to  the  border  of  the  preopercular  disk. 
There  are  seven  or  eight  rows  under  the  eye,  which  di- 
minish on  the  temples  to  two  or  three.  The  upper  range 
of  scales  show  a  longer  disk,  and  the  supra-scapular,  as  the 
integuments  dry,  shows  like  a  large  scale  on  the  side  of  the 
nape.  The  skin  of  the  top  of  the  head  and  round  the  eye 
is  full  of  pores.  The  lateral  line  is  traced  on  twenty-five 
scales,  exclusive  of  two  or  three  without  tubes  on  the  base 
of  the  caudal,  and  the  usual  fillets  between  the  rays.  The 
small  tubes  are  divided  by  three  successive  bifurcations, 
and  generally  diverge  considerably,  few  being  close  or 
bushy  ;  but  there  is  considerable  variety  in  the  number  of 
branches  on  the  different  scales,  without  any  regular  dimi- 
nution in  their  number  either  towards  the  head  or  tail. 

The  dorsal  spines  are  subulate  and  very  acute,  witli  the 
membranous  fillets  behind  them,  as  in  the  preceding  spe- 
cies. The  soft  rays  are  somewhat  taller.  The  pectorals 
are  rounded,  the  ventrals  acute,  and  the  caudal  even,  with 
the  corners  rounded  off. 

The  colours  are,  in  spirits,  generally  of  a  dull  and  dark 
brown  tint,  with  a  pale  mark  on  each  scale,  bearing  some 
resemblance  to  the  characters  of  the  Persian  alphabet. 
There  are  some  dark  marks  on  the  cheek  and  preopercu- 
lum, one  on  the  base  of  the  pectoral,  and  the  membrane 
connecting  the  first  three  dorsal  spines  is  blackish,  with 
pale  specks.    There  are  also  many  pale  specks  on  the  anal. 

I  have  suspected  that  this  fish  may  be  the  Otaheitian 
Inlis  boryii  of  Lesson  ( Voij.  de  la  Coquille,  PI.  36),  from 
the  similarity  of  the  markings,  but  his  figure  shows  no 
scales  on  the  cheek  or  lower  half  of  tlie  operculum,  and  all 
the  fins  have  different  forms  from  those  of  our  fish.      No 


traces  remain  in  the  latter  of  the  black  crescent  on  the  oc- 
ciput, nor  of  the  markings  on  the  dorsal,  ])cctorals,  ven- 
trals and  caudal,  which  are  shown  in  Lesson's  figm-e.  It 
is  to  be  observed,  however,  that  after  a  sketch  of  Lesson's 
specimen  was  taken,  the  fish  was  eaten,  so  that  no  compa- 
rative examination  of  the  species  has  yet  been  made. 

Length  lOg-  inches. 

Hab.  Norfolk  Island.     (Polynesia.?) 


Caranx  georgianus.     Cuv.  et  Val. 


Scomber  micans,  Solaiider,  Pise.  Austr.  MS.  p.  27.  An  Parkinson's 
fig.  No.  88  ? 

Caranx  georgianus,  Cuv.  et  Val.  ix.  p.  85.  Jcnyns,  Zool.  of  Beagle, 
p.  71.     Richardson,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  x.  p.  14. 

"  Madavvick,"  Neill's  Drawings  of  Fishes  of  King  George's  Sound, 
No.  32. 


Radii  :— B.  7 


D.  8|—  l|-27;   A.  -2 
P.  1119;  V.  1|.5. 


1|23;  C.  19| 


Plate  LVllI.,  figs.  1—3. 

This  species  was  discovered  at  Opooragi,  in  New  Zea- 
land, on  Cook's  first  voyage,  and  a  drawing  made  of  it  by 
Sidney  Parkinson,  which  is  preserved,  along  with  the  rest 
of  the  Natural-History  sketches  taken  on  that  voyage,  in 
the  Banksian  Library.  Solander's  description  is  published 
in  the  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History  as  above 
quoted.  The  specimen  described  in  the  Hisloire  des 
Poissoiis  was  procured  by  MM.  Quoy  and  Gaimard  in 
King  George's  Sound.  We  have  had  specimens  from  that 
locality  also,  and  from  the  north-west  coasts  of  Australia, 
collected  by  Surgeon  Bynoe  of  the  Royal  Navy  ;  also  from 
Norfolk  island,  through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Mc  William  ; 
besides  some  from  New  Zealand,  in  Sir  James  Ross's  col- 
lection. Mr.  Neill  mentions  that  this  fish  is  the  "  skip- 
jack "  of  the  sealers,  the  "madawick  "  of  the  aborigines; 
that  it  is  a  very  common  inhabitant  of  shallow  sandy  bays, 
and  forms  a  staple  article  of  food  for  the  natives,  who  as- 
semble in  fine  calm  days  and  drive  the  fish  into  weirs 
formed  of  branches  of  trees  and  shrubs.  It  is  occasionally 
taken  by  the  hook.  The  close  resemblance  of  the  species 
to  C.  lima  and  plalessa  is  noticed  in  the  Hisloire  des 
Poissons.  The  specimen  we  have  figured  has  a  ray  fewer 
in  the  dorsal  and  anal  than  the  numbers  stated  by  Solan- 
der,  Cuvier,  Jenyns  and  Neill.  The  scales  are  small,  and 
exist  on  the  interoperculum,  preoperculum,  suboperculum 
and  breast.  There  are  forty-one  or  Ibrty-two  scales  on  the 
straight  posterior  part  of  the  lateral  line,  twenty-two  of 
which  are  decidedly  keeled  and  cuspidate.  The  cuspidate 
scales  pass  gradually  into  the  smaller,  soft,  round  ones, 
both  on  the  base  of  the  caudal  and  anteriorly.  The  tallest 
dorsal  spine  measures  nearly  one-third  of  the  height  of  the 
bodj'  at  the  ventrals,  and  the  free  spines  are  close  to  the 
anus.  The  acute  occijjital  ridge  lowers  a  little  as  it  ap- 
proaches the  point  of  the  recumbent  dorsal  spine,  and  does 


130 


not  actually  touch  it.  From  the  anterior  third  of  the  orbit 
the  ridge  is  less  prominent,  and  more  obtuse  forward  to  the 
nostrils  (fig.  3).  The  teeth  arc  small,  and  just  visible  to 
the  naked  eye:  viewed  through  a  lens  they  do  not  appear 
acute,  and  are  seen  to  form  one  row  on  the  upper  jaw,  and 
two  irregular  crowded  rows  on  the  fore  part  of  the  mandi- 
ble. The  length  of  the  head  is  contained  four  times  and 
one  third  in  the  total  length  of  the  fish. 

Length  from  4  inches  to  20  and  more. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  and  Australia. 


of  the  ventrals.  The  accessory  keels  on  the  base  of  the 
caudal  are  conspicuous.  The  caudal  is  deeply  forked,  the 
dorsal  and  anal  falcate  at  their  t^^s.  There  is  no  recum- 
bent spine  before  the  dorsal.  The  scaleless  edges  of  the 
interspinous  bones  project  strongly  at  the  bases  of  the  anal 
rays.  The  pectoral  reaches  to  the  third  or  fourth  soft  anal 
ray. 

Length  17'5  inches. 

Hab.  Northern  coasts  of  Australia  and  Torres  Straits. 


Caranx  paraspistes.     Richardson. 


Radii  :— B.  7,  vel  8  : 


D.  8|—  I|21  ;  A.  21—  1116;  C.  18^; 
P.  1121;  V.  1]5. 


Plate  LVIII.,  figs.  6,  7. 

I  have  been  unable  to  refer  this  fish  to  any  described 
species.  It  approaches  most  closely  to  the  Caranx  djed- 
daba  of  Riippell  (Atlas  25,  f  3),  but  the  caudal  keel,  though 
strongly  shielded,  tapers  more  posteriorly,  and  the  points 
of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  not  falcate.  C.  hajad  (Idem) 
has  a  smaller  first  dorsal,  and  C.fiilvo-guitatus  (Idem,  25, 
f.  7),  has  a  less  armed  lateral  "line,  and  the  free  spines 
closer  to  the  anal.  C.  chryHophrys  (C.  et  V.  ix.  p.  37)  has 
a  conspicuous  recumbent  dorsal  spine  and  more  delicate 
caudal  shields  :  the  height  of  body  and  profile  are  also 
different. 

C.  paraspistes  frequents  brackish  lagoons  at  Port  Essing- 
ton,  and  is  known  to  the  aborigines  by  the  name  of  "  ork- 
budbood."  Its  upper  jaw  is  armed  on  each  side  by  seven 
rather  stoutly  subulate,  but  not  tall  teeth,  which  stand  some- 
what widely,  and  reach  from  the  symphysis  to  the  middle 
of  the  premaxillaries,  within  which  there  is  a  narrow  band 
of  minute  recurved  teeth,  extending  onwards  to  the  corner 
of  the  mouth.  The  mandible  presents  a  single  row  of 
short,  subulate,  curved  teeth,  reaching  to  the  corner  of 
the  mouth,  without  any  interior  band.  They  are  somewhat 
taller  near  the  symphysis,  but  are  not  above  half  the  size 
of  the  exterior  premaxillary  teeth.  A  very  narrow  stripe 
of  minute  teeth  is  visible  on  the  edge  of  the  palate-bone, 
in  the  dried  specimen,  by  aid  of  a  lens.  The  vomer  is 
toothless. 

The  breast,  temples  and  cheek  are  scaly  ;  but  the  oper- 
cular pieces,  preorbitar,  maxillary  and  lovver  jaw  are  scale- 
less.  The  supra-scapular  region  and  nape  are  scaly,  and  a 
smooth  crest,  emitting  some  scaleless  lines,  having  short 
lateral  branches,  runs  back  to  the  first  dorsal.  The  tail 
is  strongly  keeled,  and  a  lateral  view  of  the  keel,  of  the 
natural  size,  is  represented  in  fig.  7.  There  are  thirty- 
three  shields,  the  anterior  ones  gradually  diminishing,  but 
the  first  of  them,  though  small,  is  distinctly  keeled,  so 
that  there  is  no  gradual  passage  into  the  soft  scales  of 
the  curved  part  of  the  line.  It  is  situated  over  the 
axdla  of  the  second  free  anal  spine.  The  anus  is  re- 
mote from  the  free    spines,  and   lies  between  the  points 


Caranx  speciosus.     Forskal.     {Scomber). 

Scomber  speciosus,  Forskal,  p.  54 

Caranx  tres-beau,  Lacepede,  111,  p.  72,  PI.  1,  f.  1. 

Scomber  poloosoo,  Russell,  149. 

Caranx  speciosus  (Lacep.),  Riippell,  All.  p.  96,  yonnfj. 

Caranx  petaurista  (Geoffr.),  Riippell,  All.  p.  95,  PI  25,  f.  2,  adult. 

Caranx  speciosus,  Cuv.  et  Val.  9,  p.  130. 


Radii:— D.  7|—  1|19;  A.  2]—  ljl6;  C.  17|.;  P.  1|20; 
V.  1|5. 

Plate  LVIII.,  figs.  4,  5.     (C.  poloosoo). 

The  various  sj'nonyms  of  this  widely-spread  species  are 
quoted  above  on  the  authority  of  the  Histuire  des  Poissons, 
and  the  figure  of  a  fish  that  has  been  so  frequently  repre- 
sented has  been  given  partly  to  balance  the  plate,  by  filling  a 
corner,  and  partly  to  add,  as  f\ir  as  our  limits  will  allow,  to 
the  illustrations  of  Australian  fish.  A  coloured  drawing 
which  we  possess,  of  a  specimen  captured  at  Houtman's 
Abrolhos,  on  the  western  coast  of  Australia,  represents  the 
dark  bars  as  traced  on  a  bright  yellow  ground.  We  are  in- 
formed, in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons,  that  the  older  speci- 
mens lose  their  yellow  tints  and  dark  bars,  and  become 
silvery.  The  bars,  however,  are  strongly  traced  in  Rus- 
sell's figure  of  the  "poloosoo,"  which  measures  10  inches, 
and  the  profile  of  tliis  figure  agrees  better  with  our  fish 
than  the  petaurista  of  Riippell  does.  The  latter  has, 
moreover,  stronger  shields  *  on  the  tail,  even  taking  its 
greater  size  into  consideration,  than  our  specimen,  on  which 
they  are  small  and  tender.  In  the  Histoire  des  Poissons 
the  teeth  are  said  to  be  entirely  wanting  in  the  adult.  In 
our  specimen  the  jaws,  particularly  the  lower  one,  are  per- 
ceptibly rough  to  the  touch,  and  the  teeth  can  be  seen  by 
aid  of  a  common  lens.  There  is  a  recumbent  spine  be- 
fore the  dorsal. 

Length  of  specimen  2'7  inches. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  Australia.  Polynesia.  Malay  Archipe- 
lago. Indian  Ocean.  Mauritius.  Red  Sea.  M.  Bus- 
seuil,  the  naturalist  attached  to  Bougainville's  Expedition, 
first  found  it  on  the   coasts  of  New  Holland.    (Hist,  des 


*  Russell's  figure  is  noted  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  as  represent- 
ing the  shields  too  small,  and  is  therefore  quoted  with  some  doubt  as  a 
synonym  of  speciosus.  It  ap^rees  better  with  the  Australian  fish,  as  I 
have  stated  above,  than  any  of  the  other  plates  quoted  in  the  Histoire 
des  Poissons. 


137 


Eqdiila  SEERrLiFERA.     Ricliavclsoii. 


Capros  austrai.is.     Richardson. 


Radii:— B.  5;  D.  8|17;  A.  2|14;  V.  1|5;  P.  15. 


Capros  amlmlis,  Richardson,  Zoo).  Trans, 
to  Austr.  Iclith.  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.  xi.  p.  171. 


Idem,  Contr. 


Plate  LIX.,  figs.  12—14. 


Radii:— B.  8;  D.  9|.30;  A.  2|31 ;  C.  13|  ;  P.  11 ;  V.  1|6. 


I  have  many  doubts  of  this  fish  being  a  distinct  species 
from  the  Eqitula  ensifera  of  the  Histoire  des  Poissons, 
which  is  the  Scomber  edenttilus  of  Bloch,  pi.  428.  Capt. 
Ross  procured  seven  or  eight  specimens  at  Sidney,  but 
they  are  all  more  or  less  mutilated  in  the  rajs  or  mem- 
branes of  the  fins  ;  and  some  deficiencies  in  the  largest 
example,  which  is  figured  in  Plate  LIX.,  have  been  sup- 
plied from  the  smaller  ones. 

The  profile  is  steeper  between  the  nose  and  first  dorsal 
than  that  of  e)isifera,  and  the  second  dorsal  spine  is  some- 
what taller,  if  i31och's  figure  be  correct.  It  has  a  thin 
crest  in  front  of  its  whole  length,  which  M.  Valenciennes 
compares  to  the  blade  of  a  sword;  but  the  posterior  face 
of  the  spine,  instead  of  being  equally  trenchant,  is  rounded 
with  a  scarcely  perceptible  crest.  The  length  of  this  spine 
exceeds  half  the  height  of  the  body.  The  third  and  fourth 
dorsal  spines  and  the  third  anal  spine  have  broader  ante- 
rior crests  than  the  second  one  ;  but  these  crests,  instead 
of  being  quite  entire  as  in  the  latter,  are  strongly  serrated. 
M.  Valenciennes  does  not  notice  these  serrated  blades  or 
crests  in  his  descriptions  of  the  spines  of  any  of  the  spe- 
cies, but  they  are  represented  in  Buchanan-Hamilton's 
figure  of  Equida  rticonia  (Plate  12),  and  exist  also  in 
E.  iiucJialis  of  the  Fauna  Japonica,  whence  I  am  led 
to  conjecture  that  they  may  possess  a  generic  character. 
The  second  anal  spine  is  shaped  like  the  second  dorsal, 
but  has  a  rather  more  evident  posterior  crest.  All  the 
spines  in  both  fins  are  wrinkled  on  the  sides  in  a  pe- 
culiar manner.  In  other  particulars  of  structure  M.  Va- 
lenciennes' minute  description  of  ensifera  applies  to  this 
fish.  The  pectoral  and  ventral  fins  differ  in  our  figure 
from  Bloch's  representation  of  ensifera,  but  from  the 
state  of  the  specimens  I  cannot  be  certain  that  they  are 
absolutely  correct ;  and,  from  the  integuments  having 
shrunk,  the  artist  has  represented  the  interspinous  bone 
as  projecting  before  the  anal  spines  in  a  manner  which 
it  does  not  do  in  the  recent  fish.  The  teeth  are  very 
fine  and  densely  crowded,  and  take  the  curve  of  the 
edge  of  the  jaw  in  a  peculiar  manner.  Indications  of 
nine  or  ten  vertical  bars,  descending  from  the  back  down 
the  upper  half  of  the  sides,  may  be  traced  in  certain  lights, 
and  I  suspect  that  a  dark  spot  existed  on  the  spinous  dor- 
sal. One  of  the  small  specimens  shows  such  a  spot  dis- 
tinctly, but  the  height  of  the  body  of  this  individual  is  not 
quite  so  great  in  proportion  as  in  the  one  figured.  Another 
small  specimen  has  the  front  crest  of  the  second  dorsal 
spine  serrated,  so  that  there  is  either  some  variety  in  this 
respect  or  more  than  one  species  in  Sir  James  Ross's  col- 
lection, which  the  imperfect  condition  of  the  specimens 
will  not  allow  me  to  determine. 
Length  3g-  inches. 
Hab.  Coasts  of  Australia. 


Plate  LIX  ,  figs.  1—5. 

In  the  Zoological  Transactions,  as  tpioted  above,  I 
named  this  fish  from  a  drawing  made  by  a  convict  in  Tas- 
mania for  Dr.  Lhotsky  ;*  and  in  the  Annals  and  Magazine 
of  Natural  History,  as  above  quoted,  I  gave  a  full  account 
of  this  drawing,  which  proves  to  be  erroneous  in  the  num- 
bers of  the  gill  and  fin-rays,  and  in  some  minor  points. 
The  specimen  brought  home  by  Captain  Ross,  which  was 
procured  by  him  at  Sidney,  enables  me  to  give  the  figure 
in  Plate  LIX.  and  the  subjoined  description,  though  the 
tips  of  some  of  the  soft  dorsal  and  anal  rays,  and  those  of 
the  pectorals,  having  been  mutilated,  I  cannot  be  certain 
of  the  exact  form  of  these  fins.  In  the  number  of  branchi- 
ostegous  rays,  the  form  and  structure  of  the  scales,  and  in 
some  other  particulars  which  will  be  noticed  in  the  follow- 
ing description,  Capros  aiislralis  differs  from  aper. 

Its  body,  which  is  fully  as  much  compressed  as  that  of 
aper,  has  a  more  regularly-elliptical  profile,  whose  vertical 
diameter,  under  the  commencement  of  the  dorsal,  is  equal 
to  two-thirds  of  the  longitudinal  one,  measuring  the  latter 
from  the  tip  of  the  lower  jaw,  with  the  mouth  shut,  to  the 
setting  on  of  the  trunk  of  the  tail  behind  the  dorsal  and 
anal.  The  face  is  not  concave  over  the  eye,  except 
when  the  protrusion  of  the  jaws  depresses  the  profile, 
by  the  withdrawal  of  the  pedicles  of  the  intermaxillaries. 
The  eye  is  smaller  than  that  of  aper,  the  preorbitar  is 
rounde"d  and  quite  entire  on  the  edge,  instead  of  being 
crenulated  or  lobed,  and  the  maxillaries  descend  when  the 
mouth  is  projected.  When  the  mouth  is  closed  the  lower 
jaw  ascends,' and  forms  the  rather  acute  apex  of  the  ellipse. 
The  length  of  the  head  in  that  condition  is  contained 
thrice  and  a  half  in  the  entire  length  of  the  fish,  caudal 
included.  The  preoperculnm,  instead  of  resembling  that 
of  aper,  is  more  like  that  of  Zeus  faber,  and  is  even  longer, 
with  a  moderate  curvature,  a  narrow  disk,  a  minutely  and 
irregularly  crenated  thin  posterior  edge,  and  no  posterior 
rectangular  expansion  at  the  bend  as  in  aper.  The  scaly 
cheek  is  high  and  oblique,  like  that  of  faber,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  length  and  inclination  of  the  preoperculnm. 
The  bony  operculum  and  suboperculum  together  are  twice 
as  high  as  long,  and  are  truncated  at  the  tips ;  but  an  addition 
of  membrane  gives  a  somewhat  triangular  but  obtuse  form 
to  the  gill-plate.  The  suboperculum  nearly  equals  the  oper- 
culum in  size,  and  the  long  interoperculum  shows  behind 
the  preoperculnm,  both  above  and  below  its  bend.  The 
jaws  are  armed  with  fine  microscopical  teeth,  as  are  also 
the  chevron  of  the  vomer  and  edge  of  the  palatine  bones. 


*  The  conjecture  hazarded  in  page  36  as  to  this  drawing  probably  re- 
ferring to  Zeus  auslralis  proves  to  be  erroneous. 


The  nostrils  are  similar  to  those  of  aper.  The  superior 
border  of  the  orbit  is  thin,  elevated  and  finely  crenulated. 
Between  the  orbits  there  is  a  triangular  space  filled  with 
smooth  membrane,  which  covers  the  ends  of  the  intermax- 
illary pedicles  when  the  mouth  is  retracted,  and  then  it  is 
raised  into  an  acute  ridge,  but  when  the  mouth  is  pro- 
truded a  depression  is  produced  there  by  the  sinking  of  the 
membrane.  A  small  smooth  space  is  continued  from  this 
membrane  bordering  the  orbit  down  to  the  temples,  but  no 
stri«  are  perceptible  on  the  cranium  such  as  exist  in  aper. 
Behind  the  membranous  spaces  the  head  is  densely  scaly. 
The  ridges  on  the  mandible  are  quite  smooth  and  rounded, 
and  its  posterior  articular  corner  is  rectangular,  and,  with 
the  limb  of  the  bone,  is  separable  to  a  considerable  depth 
from  the  isthmus,  forming  a  flap.  The  gill-rays  are  eight 
in  number,  while  in  aper  they  are  staled  by  M.  Valenciennes 
to  be  only  five.  No  scales  exist  on  the  gill-membrane. 
The  nape  is  much  compressed,  but  not  absolutely  acute 
on  the  edge,  and  it  is  less  curved  than  that  oi  aper,  being 
nearly  straight. 

The  first  dorsal,  consisting  of  nine  tall,  slender  spines, 
with  fine  flexible  tips,  commences  a  little  before  the  anal. 
Its  first  spine  is  very  short,  the  second  is  the  tallest,  and 
its  height  is  equal  to  three-fourths  of  that  of  thebodj';  the 
others  decrease  gradually  to  the  ninth,  which  has  not  above 
the  fifth  part  of  the  height  of  the  second.  This  fin  stands 
on  much  less  space  than  that  of  aper.  The  soft  fin  has 
comparatively  short  rays  and  a  greatly  arched  outline. 
The  anal  is  nearly  similar  to  it,  and  commences  with  two 
little  spines,  the  second  one  being  the  most  diminutive. 
The  naked  part  of  the  tail  behind  these  fins  is  more  slen- 
der than  that  of  aper.  Each  ventral  is  supported  in  front 
by  a  long  slender  spine,  with  a  flexible  tip,  and  is  followed 
by  six  jointed  rays,  which  are  forked  at  the  end,  the  last 
two  rays  being  as  much  separated  at  the  base  as  the  others. 
Behind  these  fins  there  is  a  deep  smooth  fissure,  in  which 
they  lie  when  depressed,  their  tips  projecting,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  anal  spines.  The  walls  of  the  fissure  are  made 
rigid  by  the  scales  which  edge  them,  and  the  anus  opens 
into  its  fore  part  near  the  axilla  of  the  fins.  The  scales  of 
the  body  are  small  and  densely  tiled,  and  feel  very  rough 
to  the  finger  when  drawn  from  the  tail  towards  the  head. 
This  roughness  is  caused  by  a  few  short  conical  points, 
very  different  from  the  dense  villosity  of  the  scales  oi  aper. 
The  basal  half  of  the  scale  is  transversely  striated  by  the 
lines  of  structure  (see  figures  4  and  5).  The  lateral  line  is 
conspicuous  enough,  and  follows  nearly  the  curve  of  the 
back.  The  membrane  of  the  first  dorsal  and  of  the  ven- 
trals  retains  a  blackish  tint.  The  drawing  above  alluded 
to  represents  the  fish  generally  as  having  a  deep  roseate 
hue. 

Length  5  inches. 

Hab.  Coasts  of  Tasmania  and  southern  parts  of  Aus- 
tralia. 

Since  the  description  of  Zeus  australis  (p.  36,  PI. 
XXV.,  f.  1)  was  written,  I  have  seen  a  more  perfect  speci- 
men from  Western  Australia,  now  in  the  British  Aluseum, 
which  enables  me  to  make  some  additions  to  the  account 
of  the  species.  The  black  lateral  spot  exists;  the  last  rays 
of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  divided  to  the  base,  so  that  the 


formula  for  these  fins  may  be  D.  10| —  23  or  24;  A.  4|22 
or  23.  The  two  anterior  anal  spines  are  in  contact  with 
each  other,  and  spring  from  the  same  interspinous  bone, 
without  the  membranous  space  between  them,  which  is 
represented  in  our  figure.  There  is  a  flat  membranous 
space  between  the  orbits,  bounded  on  each  side  by  a  low 


Saurus  undosquamis.     Richardson. 

Radii:— 12— 12;  D.  11—0;  A.  11;  C.  17|;  V.  9. 

Plate  LI.,  figs.  1—6. 

1  have  been  unable  to  reconcile  this  species  with  any 
described  one,  but  having  only  the  insuflficient  figures  and 
descriptions  of  Bloch,  Lacepede  and  Russell  to  refer  to  for 
assistance,  in  coming  to  this  conclusion,  it  may  possibly 
prove  to  be  one  of  the  species  alluded  to  by  Cuvier  in 
the  Rec/ne  Animal,  but  of  which  I  have  seen  no  account. 
The  few  members  of  the  genus  that  I  have  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  examining,  and  which  are  described  in  the 
'  Report  of  the  Ichthyology  of  China,  &c.,"  already  quoted 
frequently,  differ  from  each  other  considerably  in  their 
dentition,  which,  if  duly  attended  to,  may  probably  furnish 
useful  characters  for  the  distribution  of  the  species  into 
groups. 

The  height  and  thickness  of  S.  undosquamis  are  about 
equal  at  the  shoulders :  the  back  is  flatly  rounded  from 
the  dorsal  to  the  occiput,  and  the  breast  is  flat  from  the 
ventrals  to  the  isthmus,  while  the  sides  are  convex  and 
more  prominent.  From  the  dorsal  to  the  caudal  fin  tlie 
compression  is  decided,  though  not  great,  and  the  sides 
are  flattened,  the  back  remaining  rounded.  Posterior  to 
the  anal  the  height  is  about  one-third  greater  than  the 
tliickness.  The  head  forms  a  fourth  of  the  length  of  the 
fish,  excluding  the  caudal,  or  rather  more  than  a  fifth  if 
that  fin  be  included.  Its  height  and  breadth  at  the  tem- 
ples are  equal,  its  sides  are  flat  and  vertical,  and  it  is  also 
flat  above,  but  excavated  by  a  wide  shallow  groove  be- 
tween the  orbits.  When  viewed  from  above  (fig.  2)  the 
upper  bone  of  the  humeral  chain  appears  like  a  tapering, 
but  not  acute  scale,  at  the  angle  of  the  gill-opening ;  the 
borders  of  the  orbits  are  seen  to  be  prominent,  and  the 
eyes  to  encroach  much  less  upon  the  upper  aspect  than 
in  a  Saurus  obtained  by  Sir  Edward  Belcher,  which  J 
have  described  in  the  Report  alluded  to,  under  the  name 
of  .S'.  ar</!/rophanes.  S.  undosquamis  further  differs  from 
this  species  in  having  the  snout  considerably  rounded  in- 
stead of  very  acute  and  more  elongated,  and  in  having  a 
small  mesial  conical  point  rising  near  its  end,  being  seem- 
ingly a  projection  of  the  symphysis  or  pedicles  of  the  in- 
termaxillaries.  The  profile  forms  a  low  arc  from  the  end 
of  the  snout  to  the  orbits,  and  from  thence  to  the  dorsal  the 
line  is  nearly  straight,  with  a  very  slight  ascent.  The  di- 
ameter of  the  eye  is  equal  to  the  length  of  the  snout  before 
the  orbit,  or  to  about  one-fifth  of  the  length  of  the  head. 


139 


and  it  is  about  one-third  less  than  the  space  between  the 
orbits.  In  the  shortness  of  the  snout  this  species  resem- 
bles Salmo  fa'tens  of  Bloch,  384,  {.  2,  5'.  varius  of  Lace- 
pede,  V.  iii.  f  3,  Osmertis  lenuiiscatus.  Idem,  v.  vi.  f.  1,  and 
Salmo  badimottah  of  Russell,  172,  but  its  form  is  not 
identical  with  any  of  these  figures. 

The  cleft  of  the  mouth  is  equal  to  two-thirds  of  the 
length  of  the  head,  and  its  middle,  when  viewed  laterally, 
corresponds  to  the  centre  of  the  eye.  The  jaw  teeth  are 
slenderly  subulate,  with  thin,  two-edged,  very  acute  and 
transparent  points,  none  of  them  being  barbed  or  hastate.* 
The  premaxillary  teeth  are  arranged  in  four  rows,  in  a 
quincunnial  order,  but  not  very  regularly,  and  they  are 
rather  remotely  placed  in  their  respective  rows.  The  teeth 
of  the  outer  row  are  very  short,  those  of  the  inner  one  are 
much  taller,  the  intermediate  rows  being  of  intermediate 
height.  The  anterior  teeth  of  the  inner  row  are  curved  in- 
wards and  backwards,  while  the  posterior  ones  are  inclined 
a  little  forwards.  The  mandibular  teeth  are  similar,  but  in 
five  rows.  The  palatine  teeth  are  more  crowded  and  regu- 
larly set,  in  two  rows,  all  inclined  towards  the  mesial  line, 
the  inner  row  being  tallest,  but  scarcely  equalling  the 
third  row  of  the  intermaxillaries  in  height.  There  is  also 
an  elliptical  patch  of  teeth  within  the  palatine  ridge,  appa- 
rently implanted  on  the  ento-pterygoid,  in  which  there  are 
five  rows,  all  inclined  inwards,  and  increasing  in  height 
from  the  outermost  to  the  innermost.f  There  are  no  teeth 
on  Jhe  vomer.     The  teeth  on  the  tongue  are  short,  densely 

*  Saurus  nehereus  of  Buchanan-Hamilton  (.S".  ophiodon,  Cuv.)  has 
long,  slender,  hastate  teeth  on  the  hrauchial  arches  ;  and  the  fish  which 
I  have  considered  to  be  the  S.  mriegatus  of  Commeison,  in  the  '  Report 
on  the  Ichthyology  of  China,'  has  hastate  mandibular  teeth. 

f  Saurus  argijrnphanes  wants  this  dental  plate,  but  has  four  rows  of 
palatine  teeth. 


crowded,  and  scarcely  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  but  by  the 
aid  of  a  lens  they  are  seen  to  bo  stoutly  subulate,  acute, 
and  directed  backwards.  The  teeth  which  cover  the  gular 
surfaces  of  the  branchial  arches  are  more  visible,  and  they 
are  similar  in  form  and  larger  on  the  pharyngeals,  but  even 
there  they  are  not  taller  than  the  second  and  third  rows  on 
the  jaws.* 

The  front  ray  of  the  ventrals  stands  a  little  before  the 
dorsal,  and  midway  between  the  end  of  the  snout  and  first 
anal  ray.  The  tip  of  the  pectorals  reaches  as  far  back  as 
the  first  dorsal  ray.  The  rays  of  the  dorsal,  anal  and  pec- 
toral are  connected  at  their  bases  to  the  body  of  the  fish 
by  small  slips  of  membrane,  which  are  represented  in 
figure  1.     The  caudal  is  deeply  forked. 

There  are  about  fifty-seven  rows  of  scales  between  the 
gill-opening  and  caudal  fin,  and  the  scales  of  the  lateral 
line  are  bent  in  the  middle,  so  as  to  form  a  ridge,  not  very 
apparent  anteriorly,  but  well  marked,  even  and  continuous, 
though  not  high  on  the  tail.  The  scales  generally  are  ir- 
regularly semicircular  or  semioval,  the  chord  or  base  being 
divided  by  three  furrows  into  four  lobes,  and  the  free  mar- 
gins, with  the  adjoining  parts  of  the  disk,  being  undulated 
(fig.  6).  A  scale  from  the  lateral  line  (fig.  5)  had  only  two 
furrows,  with  a  short  wide  central  tube.  A  range  of'more 
elongated  scales  flanks  the  dorsal  and  anal,  and  there  are 
long  pointed  scales  above  and  between  the  ventrals. 

The  colours  have  been  effaced  by  maceration  in  spirits, 
but  a  series  of  small  brown  spots  can  still  be  traced  on 
the  upper  caudal  ray. 

Length  8^  inches.     Length  of  head  1-65  inch. 

Hab.  Coast  of  North-west  Australia. 

*  Salmo  variegaius,  Commerson  (Rich.  Report,  &c.,  p.  30)  has  verr 
strong  teeth  on  the  tongue. 


THE 


ZOOLOGY 

OF   THE 

YOYAGE  OF  H.M.S.  EREBUS  &  TERROR, 

UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OF  CAPTAIN  SIR  JAMES  CLARK  ROSS,  R.N.,  F.R.S., 

DURING      THE      YEARS 
1839      TO      1843. 

BY   AUTHORITY   OF    THE   LORDS   COMMISSIONERS    OF    THE   ADMIRALTY. 

EDITED    BY 

JOHN   RICHARDSON,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c. ; 

AND 

JOHN   EDWARD   GRAY,  Esq,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c. 


CRUSTACEA. 

BY 

EDWARD    -T.   MIERS,   Junior    Assistant,   Zoological  Department,   British  Museum. 


LONDON: 

E.    W.    JANSON,    28,    MUSEUM    STREET,    W.C. 

M.DCCC.LXXIV. 


CRUSTACEA 


By  EDWAPiD  J.  MIEES,  Junior  Assistant,  ZooloCxICAl  Department,  British  Museum. 


The  greater  number  of  the  Crustacea  here  figured  have  been  described  by  Mr.  Adam  White.  The  plates  having 
been  printed  off  many  years  since,  and  the  stones  destroyed,  it  has  not  been  possible  to  alter  their  lettering,  and  bring 
it  into  correspondence  with  the  nomenclature  adopted  in  the  text ;  but  whenever  I  have  adopted  for  any  species  a 
different  generic  or  specific  name  from  that  used  by  Mr.  Wliite,  and  printed  on  the  plate,  a  reference  has  been  made 
to  the  latter  in  the  synonyma  of  the  species. 


Decapoda  Brachyura. 

Sub-tribe  Maioidea,  Dana. 
Wilke's  U.  S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIII.,  Crtist.  I.,  p.  66  (1852). 

Genus  Xenocarcinus,  White. 

App.  Juke's  Voy.  H.  M.  S.  Fhj  (1847) ;   Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p. 

119  (1847). 

(Huenioides,  Milne-Edwards,  Ann.  Soc.  Entom.  de  France, 
(ser.  4)  V.  p.  144  (1865). 

This  genus  is  referred  by  Dana  to  his  Family  Periceradce, 
of  which  the  distinctive  characters  are,  the  non-retractile 
eyes,  and  moderate  legs,  but  it  will  probably  be  necessary 
in  future  systematic  arrangements  to  unite  this  Family 
and  the  Euryjwdidce,  Dana,  or  to  modify  the  characters,  for 
the  eyes  are  often  slightly  retractile  in  the  Periceradce,  and 
the  genus  Oregonia,  placed  by  Dana  in  the  Eurypodidce,  has 
shorter  legs  than  Eurypodius,  approaching  in  this  respect 
the  genera  of  Periceradm. 

The  genus  Huenioides,  Milne-Edwards,  is  certainly 
synonjTBOus  with  Xenocarcinus.  It  agrees  with  it  in  the 
narrow  elongate  form  of  the  carapace  and  rostrum,  in  the 
eyes,  antennte,  and  outer  maxillipeds  :  also  in  having  the 
beak  covered  with  close  short  hair,  and  in  the  tarsi  being 
finely  denticulated  below.  X.  tuberculatus,  White,  may 
be  at  once  distinguished  from  X.  (Huenioides)  conicus, 
ililne-Edwards,  /.  c.  p.  144,  by  its  more  oblong  form, 
shorter,  stouter  rostrum,  and  strongly  tuberculated  carapace. 


Xenocarcinus  tuberculatus.     Tcth.  2,  Jij.  1,  a-e. 

Xenocarcinus  tuberculatus,  A.  White,  Append.  Jukes' 
Voy.  Fly,  p.  336  (1847) ;  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  119  (1847) ; 
List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  123  (1847) ;  A.  &  M.  N.  H.  {ser. 
2)  I.,_p.  221  (1848). 

Hab.  Cumberland  Group.  Type.     B.M. 

Tab.  2,  fig.  1.  Animal  twice  nat.  size.  \a  Side  view 
of  carapace  and  rostrum,  nat.  size.  Ih.  Under  surface, 
twice  nat.  size.  Ic.  Outer  mxped.  Id.  Outer  antenna. 
If.  Tarsus,  all  more  enlarged. 

In  the  British  Museum  there  are  five  specimens  (three 
male  and  two  female)  of  a  species  of  Xenocarcinus,  -which 
I  believe  is  undescribed,  and  propose  to  call  Xenocarcinus 
deprcssus,  in  allusion  to  its  flattened  carapace. 

Xenocarcinus  depressus,  sp.  n. 

Carapace  to  base  of  rostrum,  when  viewed  from  above, 
regularly  oval  in  outline ;  the  uppersurface  flattened. 
There  are  several  small  granules  behind  and  between  the 
eyes  at  the  base  of  the  rostrum,  and  irregular  indistinct 
granulated  elevations  in  the  middle  line,  and  on  either  side 
of  the  carapace,  occupying  nearly  the  same  positions  as  the 
conical  tubercles  of  X.  tuberculatus.  Eostrum  subcylin- 
drical,  densely  pubescent,  terminating  in  two  spines  and 
deeply  excavated  between  them.  Eyes,  antennae  and  outer 
maxillipeds  as  in  X.  tuhercxdatus.  First  pair  of  legs  want- 
ing in  the  females,  in  the  males  they  are  shorter  than  tlie 


second  pair,  the  palms  of  the  hands  oblong,  smooth,  the 
fingers  short,  slender,  curved,  touching  only  at  the  ex- 
tremities when  closed.  Second  pair  of  legs  longer  than 
any  of  the  succeeding  pairs.  Tarsi  stout,  curved,  spinulose 
beneath.  Abdomen  of  male  seven-jointed ;  of  female  very 
broad  five-jointed,  the  three  basal  segments  and  the  ter- 
minal segment  free  or  nearly  so,  the  intervening  seg- 
ments coalescing  and  much  enlarged.  Length  of  the  largest 
female  1  inch,  of  the  largest  male  f  inch. 

Hab.  Cape  Howe,  Australia.  Type.     B.M. 

This  species  differs  from  the  two  mentioned  above :  in 
its  broader  carapace,  stouter  limbs,  and  cylindrical  rostrum 
which  is  excavated  at  the  end.  The  flattened  granulations 
and  tubercles  are  very  different  from  the  high  conical 
tubercles  of  X.  tuberailatus,  the  female  abdomen  of  which 
is  only  three-jointed,  all  the  segments  coalescing,  except  a 
single  basal  and  the  terminal  one. 

Sub-tribe  Cancroidea,  Dana. 
U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIIL,  Crust.  I., p.  142  (1852). 

Genus  Nectocaecinus,  Milne-Edwards. 
ArcUv.  Mus.  Hist.  Nat.  X.,p.  404  (1861). 

Nectocaecinus  antaecticus. 

Portunus  antarcticus,  Romh.  &  Jacq.  Voy.  Pole  Sud.  III., 
Crvst.  p.  51,  tah.  5,  /.  1  (1853)  ;  White,  Lid  Crust.  Brit. 
Mis.,  p.  25  (1847) ;  Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror,  tah.  l,f.2 
(1874). 

Nectocarcinus  antarcticus,  Milne-Edw.  Archiv.  Mus. 
Hist.  Nat.  X.,  p.  mi  (1861). 

Hab.  South  Seas.  B.JI. 


jSTectocaecixus  integeifeoxs. 

Portunus  integrifrons,  Latr.  Encyel.  Mdth.  X,  p.  192  : 
Milne-EdvMrds,  Hist.  Nat.  Crust.  1.,  p.  445  (1834);  White, 
List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  26  (1847) ;  Zool.  Erebus  and 
Terror,  tab.  l,f.  3  (1874).     Young. 

Nectocarcinus  integrifrons,  A.  Milne-Edw.  Ann.  Sci. 
Nat.  {ser.  4)  XIV.,  p.  220  ;  Archiv.  dn  Museum  X.,  p.  406, 
pi.  38  (1861). 

Hab.  New  Zealand ;  Australia,  Port  Jackson.  B.M. 

The  young  specimens  in  the  Museum  vary  much  in  the 
pubescence  of  the  carapace,  which  is  sometimes  covered 
with  hairs,  at  others,  quite  destitute  of  them,  but  they  are 
all  much  smaller  than  the  one  figured  by  M.  A.  Milne- 
Edwards  Q.c.)  which  is  represented  as  quite  glabrous. 


Nectocaecinus  tubeeculosus. 

Nectocarcinus  tuberculosus,  A.  Milne  Edw.  Ann.  Sci. 
Nat.  {ser.  4)  XIV.,  p.  220 ;  Archiv.  du  Museum  X.,  p.  405, 
pi.  37  (1861). 

Portunus  integrifrons  jun.,  Zool.  V.  Erebus  and  Terror, 
tah.  1,/.  4  (1874).     Young. 

Hab.  Van  Diemeu's  Land  {Young).  B.M. 


Genus  Platyonychus,  Latreille. 

Eneijcl.  MMh.  X.,  p.  152  {part.) ;  Bell,  Brit.  Crust.,  p.   83 

(1853). 

It  appears  better  to  restrict  the  name  Platyonychus  to 
the  species  with  a  carapace  broader  than  long,  the  tarsal 
joint  of  the  fifth  pair  of  legs  broad,  oval  and  rounded  at 
the  end ;  and  elongated  hands,  e.g.,  Platyonychus  ocellatus, 
Herbst,  and  P.  hipustulatus,  Milne-Edwards,  and  to  retain 
Dr.  Leach's  earlier  name,  Portumnus,  for  the  species  with 
a  carapace  about  as  broad  as  long,  an  elongated,  acute, 
lanceolate  tarsal  joint  to  the  fifth  pair  of  legs,  and  small 
hands,  Portumnus  latipes  (Pennant)  Leach,  P.  nasutus,  Latr., 
and  P.  africanus,  A.  Milne-Edw.,  as  was  first  proposed  by 
Professor  Bell,  British  Crustacea,  p.  83,  but  where  the 
characters  of  the  tarsi  of  the  fifth  pair  of  legs  have  been 
inadvertently  transposed.  M.  Milne-Edwards,  in  the 
Histoire  Naturelle  des  Crustacis,  confounds  Dr.  Leach's 
original  name  Portumnus,  with  Portunus,  Fabr.,  and  refers 
all  the  species  to  Platyonychus. 


Platyonychus  bipustulatus. 

Platyonychus  hipustulatus,  Milne-Edw.  Hist.  Nat.  Crust. 
l.,p.  437,  pi.  17,  /.  7-10,  (1834) ;  White,  List  Crust.  Brit. 
Mus., p.  24  (1847) ;  A.  Milne-Edw.,  Archiv.  du  Museum's.., 
p.  413  (1861). 

Portunus  catharus,  White,  in  Bieffenb.  New  Zealand  II., 
p>.  264  (1843) ;  Zool.  Erch.  a^id  Terror,  tab.  l,f.  1  (1874). 

Corystes  (Anisopus)  punctata.  Be  Haan  Faun.  Japan,  p. 
U,pl.  2,f.  1  (1850). 

Platyonychus  purpureas,  Bana,  U.  S.  Explor.  Exped. 
XWl.,' Crust.  I., p.  291, pi.  18,/.  3  (1852). 

Hab.  Australasia,  Chili.  B.M. 

The  specimen  figured  is  the  type  of  Portunus  Cathams, 
White,  whirli  M.  A.  ]\[ilne-Edwards,  in  his  paper  in  the 
Archiv.  du  ^Museum  aliove  (iuuted,  rightly  considers  synony- 
mous with  I'lati/oiti/chus  hipustulatus,  Milne-Edwards. 


Genus  Caxcer,  Linnasus. 

Syst.  Nat.  I.  2,  p.  1038  (1767) ;   Leach,  Malac.  Pod.  Brit., 

tab.  10  (1815). 

Platvcarcinus,  Latr.,  Milne-Eclwd.,  Hist.  Nat.  Crust.  1.,  p. 
412  (1834). 

CANCEE   NOV.E-ZELANDLi). 

Platycarcinus  novre-zealandijB,  Lucas  in  Hombr.  and 
Jacq.  Voy.  Pole  Sud.,  p.  :U,  pi.  3,/.  6. 

Cancer  Novii?  Zi'al;iiiili:i',  White,  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p. 
20  (1847);  Zool.  Jurhus  and  Terror,  tab.  1,/.  5  (1874). 

Cancer  Nova'-Zelandiffi,  A.  Milne-Edw.,  Nouv.  Archiv.  dio 
Museum  I.,  p.  189  (1865). 

Hab.  New  Zealand.  B.M. 

This  species  is  very  probably  identical  with  the  C. 
pleheius,  Poeppig,  from  Chili.  The  granulated  ridges  on  the 
claws,  and  the  shape  of  the  teeth  on  the  latero-anterior 


margin  vary  much  in  the  specimens  in  the  JIuseum,  from 
both  localities,  but  M.  A.  Milne-Edwards  in  his  monograph 
above  (quoted,  considers  the  species  distinct. 

Decapoda  Anomoura. 

Sub-tribe  Porcellanidea,  Dana. 
U.S.  Ej-plor.  Exped.  XIII.,  Crust.  I., p.  400  (1852). 

Genus  Petrolisthes,  Stimpson. 
Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.  X.,  p.  227  (1858). 

Petrolisthes  elongatus. 

PorceUana  elongata,  Milne-Edw.,  Hist.  Nat.  Crust.  II., 
p.  251  (1837) ;  White,  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,i)-  62  (1847) ; 
Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror,  tah.  3,/.  3  (1874). 

Hab.  New  Zealand.  B.M. 


Sub-tribe  Paguridea,  Dana. 

U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIII.,  Crxist.  I.,  p.  432  (1852). 

Genus  Pagurus,  Fabricius. 

Ent.  Sijst.  II.,   2^-  468  (1793)  ;    Milne-Edw.  ;    Dana,  U.S. 

Explor.  Exped.  XIII.,  Ctos<.  I.,  p.  449  (1852). 

Pagurus  deformis. 

Pagurus  deformis,  Milne-Edw.  Ann.  Sri.  Nat.  (ser.  2) 
VI.,  ^.  272;  2^1-  13,/  4  (1836);  Hist.  Nat.  Crust.  II.,  ^J. 
222  (1837). 

Pagurus  cavipes,  White,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.,  p.  122  (1847) ; 
List  Cmst.Brit.  Mies.,  p.  60  (1847) :  A.  &  M.  N  H.  {ser.  2) 
l.,2J.  223  (1848) ;  Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror,  tab.  2,f.  3  (1874). 

Pagurus  cultratus,  White,  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,p.  60 
(1848). 

Pagurus  diftbrmis,  Dana,  U.S.  Ex2)lor.  Exjxd.  XIII., 
Crust.  I.,  p.  449  (1852). 

Hab.  Philippine  Is. ;  Samoa  ;  Australia  ;  Bramble  Key. 

B.M. 

I  have  no  doubt  froin  the  figure  and  descriptions  above 
quoted  that  P.  cavipes  and  P.  cultratus.  White,  are  the 
same  species  aS'  P.  dcfoi-mis,  Milne-Edwards.  The  pro- 
minent ridge  on  the  third  left  leg  gives  it  an  excavated 
appearance.  I  can  find  no  characters  by  which  to  distin- 
guish the  single  specimen  of  Pagurus  cultratus.  White,  in 
the  British  Museum,  from  the  Philippines,  from  the 
younger  specimens  of  P.  eavipics,  from  Australia.  The 
largest  specimen  of  P.  cavi2)cs  (the  one  figured)  has  the 
larger  liand  more  distinctly  tubercular  and  granulated, 
and  the  tarsus  of  the  third  leg  on  the  right  side  pro- 
portionately longer,  but  these  peculiarities  seem  due  to  the 
age  of  the  specimen.  The  figure  badly  represents  the 
excavated  tarsus  of  the  third  leg  on  the  left  side. 

Genus  Eupagurus,  Brandt. 
Middcndorf's  Sibirische  Rcise  Zool.  I.,  p.  105  (1851). 

Bernhardus,  Da7ia,  U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIII.,  Crust.  I., 
p.  440  (1852). 


Eupagurus  comptus. 

Pagurus  comptus,  Wliite,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  122  (1847)  ; 
List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  59  (1847) :  A.  &  M.  N.  If.  (ser.  2) 
l.,p.  224  (1848);  Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror,  tab.  2,  /  5,  5rt 
(1874). 

Hab.  Falkland  Islands.  Type.     B.M. 

Fig.  5,  animal,     oa,  hand  enlarged. 

Genus  Clibanarius,  Dana. 
U.S.  Expilor.  Exped.  XIII,  Crust.  I., p.  461  (1852). 

Clibanarius  strigimanus. 

Pagurus  strigimanus,  White,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.,  p.  121, 
(1847);  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  60  (1847);  A.  &  M. 
N.  H.  {ser.  2)  I.,  p.  224  (1848) ;  Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror, 
tab.  2,/.  4  (1874). 

Hab.  Van  Diemen's  Land.  Tyi^e.     B.M. 

This  species  is  very  different  in  appearance  from  most  of 
the  genus,  but  agi-ees  in  the  generic  characters. 

Sub-tribe  Galatheidea,  Dana. 
U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIII.,  Crust.  I., p.  401  (1852). 

Genus  Muxida,  Leach. 
Diet.  Sci.  Nat.  XVIII.,_p.  52. 

MUNIDA   SUBRUGOSA. 

Galathea  subrugosa,  Wliite,  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  '<>'o 
(1847) ;  Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror,  tab.  3,/.  2  (1874). 

Carapace  oblong,  the  sides  slightly  curved,  the  lateral 
margins  with  seven  teeth.  Front  three-spined,  the  middle 
spine  projecting  considerably  beyond  the  eyes,  the  lateral 
ones  not  quite  half  as  long  as  the  middle  spine,  and  not 
projecting  beyond  the  eyes.  A  second  smaller  spine  behind 
each  of  the  lateral  frontal  spines.  A  spine  on  either  side 
of  the  middle  line  in  the  gastric  region.  Second  third  and 
fourth  abdominal  segments  with  a  spine  on  either  side  of 
the  middle  line.  The  arms  are  now  wanting  in  both  the 
specimens  in  the  Museum. 

Hab.  Auckland  Islands,  Eendezvous  Cove.    Type.    B.M. 

The  specimens  obtained  in  the  U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  at 
Terra  del  Fuego,  and  referred  by  Dana  with  doubt  to  this 
species  (U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIII.,  p.  479,  pi.  30,  f.  7) 
differ  in  the  number  and  arrangement  of  the  spines  on  the 
carapace,  and  the  sliape  of  the  hands,  and  are  no  doubt 
specifically  distinct. 

Sub-tribe  Dromidea  ?  Dana. 
U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIIL,  Crust.  \.,p.  400  (1852). 

Genus  Cymopolu,  Eoux. 

Crust,  de  la  Mcditerran^e  (1827) ;  Milne-Edwd.  Hist.  Nat. 

Crust,  p.  158  (1837). 

Cymopolia  jukesii.     Tab.  3,  /.  4,  4  a-c. 

Cymopolia  Jukesii,  White,  App.  Jukes  Voy.  Fly,  p.  338, 
pi.  2,/.  1  (1847) ;  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  54  (1847). 


Hab.  Torres  Straits,  Sir  C.  Hardy's  Island.    Type.    B.M. 

Tlie  true  position  of  the  genus  Gymopolia  is  very  doubt- 
ful. M.  Milue-Edwd.,  in  tlie  Hist.  Nat.  Crust.,  considered 
it  as  intermediate  between  the  Dori])pidae  and  Crrapsidac, 
l)ut  the  square  buccal  opening  (which  however  is  im- 
perfectly closed  in  front)  is  very  different  from  that  of  the 
O.rAj^toviata,  to  which  the  Borippidae  belong.  It  has  a  great 
e.xternal  resemblance  to  the  Grapsidce,  and,  I  think,  should 
constitute  a  distinct  group  among  the  Anomoura  Grapsidica 
in  Dana's  arrangement,  although  the  articulation  of  the 
fourth  joint  of  the  outer  maxiUipeds  is  Maioid  and  not 
Gmpsoid  in  character,  as  De  Haan  has  shown  (Faun. 
Japou.,  p.  113)  on  which  account  Dana  placed  the  genus 
with  the  Dromictdae  among  the  Anomoura  Maioidea,  but 
he  had  not  seen  any  specimens. 


Degapoda  Macrouea. 

Sub-tribe  Thalassinidea,  Dana. 
U.S.  Explor.  Expal.  XIII.,  Crust.  I., p.  500  (1852). 

Genus  Gebia,  Leach. 
Malac.  Pod.  Brit,  tab.  XXXI  (1815). 

Gebia  hirtifrons.     Tab.  3,  Jir/.  5,  5a. 

Gebia  hirtifrons,  White,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  122  (1847) : 
List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  71  (1847) ;  A.  and  M.  N.  H.  (scr. 
2)  l.,p.  225  (1848). 

Hab.  South  Seas. 

Sub-tribe  Astacidea,  Dana. 
U.S.  Explor.  Expcd.  XIII.,  Crust.  I.,  p.  501  (1852). 

Genus  Paranephrops,  White. 
Graij,  Zool.  Misccll.  II.,  p.  79  (1842). 

Paranephrops  planifkons.     Tab.  2>,fig.  1. 

Paranephrops  planifrons.  White,  Gray,  Zool.  Misccll. 
II.,  p.  79  (1842) ;  Bieffenb.,  New  Zeal.  II.',  ^).  267  (1843) ; 
List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  72  (1847). 

Paranephrops  teuuicornis,  Bana,  U.S.  Explor.  Expcd. 
XIII.,  Crust.  I., p.  527, pi.  33,/.  4  (1852). 

Hab.  New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 

There  is  a  specimen  named  P.  tcnuicornis  in  the  British 
Museum,  from  New  Zealand,  presented  by  the  Smithsonian 
Institution,  "Washington,  which  appears  to  have  been 
wrongly  determined,  for  the  rostrum  is  three-toothed  on 
each  side  as  in  P.  planifrons,  whereas  P.  tcnuicornis  is 
described  and  figured  by  Dana  as  having  four  teeth  on 
each  side  of  the  rostrum. 

I  have  no  doubt,  however,  that  P.  tenuicornis  is  identical 
with  P.  planifrons,  or  at  most  only  a  variety  of  it,  for  the 
number  of  teeth  on  the  sides  of  the  rostrum  is  liable  to 
variation  in  the  latter  species,  there  being  sometimes  three 
ou  one  side  and  four  on  the  other,  in  the  same  specimen. 


Paranephrops  zelandicus. 

Astacus  Zealandicus,  Wliite,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  123 
(1847) ;  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  72  (1847) ;  A.  and  M. 
N.  H.  {scr.  2)  I.,  p.  223  (1848) ;  Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror, 
tab.  2,/.  2  (1874). 

Hab.  New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 

This  species  must  be  referred  to  Paranephrops.  The 
antennary  scales  are  not  so  much  developed  and  the  arms 
are  not  so  elongated  as  in  P.  p)lanifrons,  but  the  hands  are 
covered  with  spines,  like  those  of  the  other  species  of  the 
genus,  and  are  very  different  from  the  smooth  hands  of 
Potamobius  (Astacus),  all  the  species  of  which  inhabit  the 
northern  hemisphere.  Moreover  the  supplementary  ab- 
dominal legs  which  are  characteristic  of  the  males  of 
Potamobius  and  some  other  genera,  are  absent  in  this,  as 
well  as  in  the  other  species  of  Paro.nephrops,  in  the  British 
Museum. 

Sub-tribe  Caridea,  Dana. 
U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIIL,  Crust.  l.,p.  501  (1852). 

Genus  Alope,  Wliite. 

Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  123  (1847) ;  List  Crmt.  Brit.  Mus.,  p. 

75  (1847) ;  A.  and  M.  N.  H.  (ser.  2)  I.,  p.  225  (1848). 

Alope  palpaiis.     Tc(h.  4:,  fig.  1. 

Alope  palpaiis,  White,  Proc  Zool.  Soc,  p.  124  (1847) ; 
List  Cr%ist.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  75  (1847) ;  A.  and  M.  JV.  H. 
{scr.  2)  I.,^.  226  (1848). 

Hab.  New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 

Alpheus,  Fabricius. 
Ent.  Syst.  Suppl,  p.  404  (1798) ;  Mibic-Echcd.  Hist.  Nat. 
Cr2ist.  ll.,p.  349  {jKirt) ;  Bana,  U.S.  Explor.  Exped.  XIIL, 
Crust.  I.,  p.  534. 

*  Beak  linear,  rising  from  front  margin  of  carapace. 
(Inferior  margin  of  larger  hand  notched  at  base  of  finger. 
Orbits  over  eyes  entire.  Fingers  of  smaller  hand  not 
longer  than  the  hand  itself) 

Alpheus  edwardsil 

Alplieus  Neptunus,  White,  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  74 
(1847) ;  Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror,  tab.  4,f.  3  (1874). 

Athanasus  Edwardsii,  Aud&uin,  in  Savigny  Beser.  de 
I'Egypfe,  pi.  10,  f.  1 ;  not  Alpheus  Edwardsii,  Milne-Edwd., 
Hist.  Nat.  Crust.  II.,  ^.  352 ;  Bana,  U.S.  Explor.  Exped. 
XIIL,  Crust.  I.,  p.  542,  p.  34,  /  2.     _ 

Carapace  more  inflated  than  in  Alpheus  strenuus. 
Hand  larger,  similar  to  that  of  A.  strenuus,  but  the 
fingers  are  narrower  compared  with  the  palm.  The  first 
joint  of  the  carpus  of  the  second  pair  of  legs  is  longer  than 
the  second,  the  second  joint  longer  than  either  the  third  or 
fourth  and  about  as  long  as  the  fifth  joint.  The  smaller 
hand  is  wanting. 

The  Alpheus  Neptunus  described  by  Dana,  U.S.  Explor. 
Exped.   XIIL  Crust.  I.,  p.  553,  pi.  35,  f  5,  has  a  three- 


s})ined  front,  like   tliat  of  Alpkcus   mi  mi.';,  Say,   and  has 
nothing  to  do  with  the  Alplieus  Neptttnus  of  White. 
Hab.  Port  Essington.  B.M. 

Alpheus  strexuus. 

Alpheus  Doris,  IVhitc,  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  75 
(1847) ;  Zool.  Erebus  and  Terror,  tab.  4,/.  2  (1874). 

Alpheus  Ehode,  White,  List  Crust.  Brit.  3fus.,p.  75  (1874). 

Alpheus  strenuus,  Dana,  U.S.  Explor.  E.rpcd.  XIII., 
Crust.  I.,  p.  545,  pi.  34,  /.  2  (1852). 

Larger  hand  hairy,  especially  towards  the  fingers,  with  a 
longitudinal  groove  above  on  the  inner  surface  close  to  tiie 
upper  margin  and  an  oblique  groove  on  the  outer  surface 
of  the  palm.  Smaller  hand  opening  nearly  horizontally, 
the  outer  (moveable)  finger  flattened,  with  an  oblique  ridge 
at  its  base  on  the  outer  surface,  the  margins  thickly  ciliated. 
The  two  first  joints  of  the  carpus  of  the  second  pair  of  legs 
equal  in  length  and  each  longer  than  either  of  the  three 
following  joints. 

Hab.  Philippine  Islands.     Torres  Straits.  B.M. 


Alpheus  galathea.     Tab,  4,  Jij.  4. 
Alpheus   Galathea,    White,  Lint  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  75 
(1847). 

Hab.  Port  Essington.  Type.     B.M. 


Alpheus  alope.     Ted).  ■^,fi(j.  6. 

Alpheus  Alope,  White,  LUt  Crust.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  75  (1847). 

Hab.  Australia,  Port  Stephen.  Type.     B.M. 

The  types  of  Alpheus  galathea  and  Aljilnns  n/Dpem  the 
British  Museum  belong  to  this  section  df  ilic  uciius,  but  are 
in  too  bad  a  condition  to  be  distinctively  cliaracterised. 


**  Beak  triangular,  rising  beliind  the  front  margin  of  the 
carapace.     (Orbits  with  spines  over  the  eyes.) 

Alpheus  doto.     Tub.  4,  Jig.  5. 

Alpheus  Doto,  White,  List  Crust.  Brit.  Mus., p.  75  (1847). 

Eostrum  narrow,  triangular,  scarcely  projecting  beyond 
the  front  of  the  carai)ace.  Upper  mai-gins  of  the  orbits 
with  a  minute  s\nne.  Hands  (in  the  figure,  the  left  hand 
is  now  wanting  in  the  type)  similar,  the  left  the  smallest. 
Kight  liand  smooth,  witli  scattered  yellowish  hairs,  the 
lower  margin  straight  entire,  the  upper  convex.  Fingers 
very  small.  The  first  joint  of  the  carpus  of  the  second 
pair  of  legs  longer  than  the  second,  the  second  joint  about 
as  long  as  the  third  and  fourth  together. 

Hab.  Sir  C.  Hardy's  Island.  Type.     B.M. 


Alpheus  thetis.     Tab.  A,  fig.  7. 

Alpheus  Thetis,  White,  List  Crust.  Brit.  J/«.s.,  p.  75 
(1847). 

Hab.  New  Holland.  Type.     B.M. 

The  specimens  of  this  species  in  the  British  Museum 
are  in  too  imperfect  a  condition  to  be  well  distinguished 
from  other  species  of  the  same  section  of  the  genus.  The 
hands  are  wanting.  The  beak  projects  beyond  the  front 
margin  of  the  carapace  ;  the  first  joint  of  the  carpus  of  the 
second  pair  of  legs  is  longer  than  any  of  the  succeeding. 
In  these  respects  A.  thetis  resembles  the  Alpheiis  lacvis, 
Randall,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.  VIII.,  p.  141, 
figured  by  Dana,  U.S.  P^x'plor.  Exped.  Crust,  pi.  35,  fig.  8, 
with  which  it  may  be  identical. 


THE 


ZOOLOGY 


VOYAGE  OF  H.M.S.  EREBUS  &  TERROR, 

UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OF  CAPTAIN  SIE  JAMES  CLARK  ROSS,  R.N.,  F.R.S., 

DURING      THE      YEARS 

1839     TO     1843. 

By    AUTHORITY    OF    THE   LORDS    COMMISSIONERS    OF    THE    ADMIRALTY. 

EDITED    UY 

JOHN   RICHARDSON,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c. ; 
JOHN   EDWARD    GRAY,  Esq.,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c. 


I  N  S  E  (J  T  S  . 

HY 

ADAM  WHITE,   M.KS.,   &c., 
ARTHUR  GARDINER  BUTLER,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S.,  &c. 


LONDON: 

E.    W.    JANSON,    28,    MUSEUM    STREET,    W.C. 

M.DCCC.XLVI.— M.DCCC.LXXIV. 


INSECTS 


1.  — INSECTS  OF  NEW  ZEALAND. 


The  following  catalogue  contains  a  list  of  the  insects  hitherto  recorded  as  having  been  found  in  New  Zealand 
and  the  Auckland  Islands,  to  which  is  added  a  description  of  the  new  species  brought  home  by  the  officers  of  the 
Expedition,  and  of  others  since  obtained  from  Dr.  Sinclair,  Mr.  Earl,  and  other  persons,  and  are  either  contained  in 
the  collection  of  the  British  Museum  or  in  those  of  Capt.  PaiTy  and  W.  W.  Saunders,  Esq.,  who  have  kindly  placed 
their  collections  at  our  disposal  for  the  purpose  of  their  being  described  and  figured. 


Family  Cicindelid,^:. 

CiCINDELA    TUBERCULATA. 

Cicindela  tuberculata,  Fahr.  Sijst.  Eleuth.  I.  238,  32 
Oliv.  t.  3  f.  28.  Dejean.  spec.  gen.  II.  431.  Gueriu.  Voy. 
Coquille  t.  1.  /".  4 

Subcylindrical,  obscure  bronze.  Elytra  spotted  with 
green ;  shoulder  and  base  of  the  side  of  elytra  with  a  yel- 
lowish lunule,  connected  at  the  end  with  a  spot  in  the 
middle,  forming  a  transverse  band,  which  extends  nearly 
to  the  suture  and  is  bent  downwards  at  the  end ;  on  the 
outer  edge  it  is  dilated,  especially  towards  the  upper  lu- 
nule ;  at  the  lower  part  it  is  but  slightly  attached  to  the 
terminal  lunule  of  elytra,  which  is  narrowest  in  the  middle  ; 
the  other  parts  of  elytra  are  of  a  blackish  pui-ple,  with 
many  minute  greenish  dots ;  an  interrupted  line  on  each 
elytron  near  the  suture  of  larger  spots ;  scutellum  with  the 
sides  nearly  straight. 

Hab.  New  Zedand. 


Cicindela  Douei. 

Cicindela  Douei,  Chenu.  Guerin  Mag.  de  ZooL,  1840, 
t.  4.5. 

Elongated,  bronzed  above;  labium  and  mandibles  on 
the  sides  yellow ;  thorax  quadrate,  somewhat  flattened, 
deeply  impressed  with  two  transverse  bluish  furrows ;  ely- 


tra with  anterior  margin,  lunules  on  shoulder  and  subapi- 
cal  point,  yellow.  Body  beneath  greenish  blue,  with 
white  hairs. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Cicindela  Late-cincta.   PI.  1/.  1. 

Elytra  bordered  all  round  with  a  widish  yellow  band, 
which  extends  close  to  the  edge  ;  the  inner  edge  has  four 
slight  sinuosities  and  three  lobes,  the  middle  one  largest, 
forming  a  shortish  band,  not  quite  reaching  to  the  suture. 
Head,  thorax  and  rest  of  elytra  of  a  dark,  bronzy  brown. 
Elytra  much  elongated. 

Length  7  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Waikouaiti),  Mr.  Earl. 

Cicindela  Parryi.  PI.  1./.  2. 
Obscure  bronze ;  elytra  with  a  slight  isolated  lunule  on 
the  basal  edge  of  a  pale  yellow,  with  many  brown  dots,  a  wid- 
ish line  on  the  margin  next  to  this,  from  the  front  of  which 
a  shaipish  spot  directed  backwards  does  not  nearly  attain 
the  suture.  This,  and  a  wide,  straightish  spot  at  the  end 
of  the  elytra  are  pale  yellow,  thickly  dotted  with  brown, 
rest  of  elytra  of  a  bronzy  hue,  very  much  pustuled,  with 
many  largish,  irregularly  placed  gieenish  spots,  and  two 
deep  velvet-like,  somewhat  sagittate  marks  near  the  suture ; 
scutellum  large,  with  the  sides  rounded,  antennae  with  the 
first  joint  green,  the  other  joints  ferruginous,  fi:om  the  2nd 

B 


to  the  4th  paler;  head  narrowish;  thorax  with  the  two  lobes 
forming  upper  part  uot  so  distinct  as  in  C.  tuberculata, 
tibiae  and  tarsi  paler  than  in  C.  tuberculata;  the  elytra 
also  are  wider  and  less  long  than  in  that  species. 

Length,  5  to  b^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry.  Mus. 
Brit.,  from  Mr.  Earl's  collection. 

Family  Carabid^e. 
Cymindis  dieffenbachii. 

Cymindis  Dieffenbachii,  White.  Dieff.  Neiv  Zeal.  II. 
273. 

C.  australis,  Honihr.  and  Jacq.,  Voy.au  Pole  Sud.t.  1. 
/7. 

Of  a  brownish  black,  with  the  antennae  and  legs  tawny  ; 
the  C.  australis,  Dej.  Spec.  Gen,  II.  449,  is  a  very  different 
insect,  distinguished  from  this  by  its  size,  colour  and  form  ; 
it  is  a  native  of  Port  Jackson. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Otago),  Hombron  and  Jacquinot. 

Lebia  binotata. 

Lebia  binotata,  Hombron  and  Jacq.,  Voy.  an  Pole  Sud. 
t.  \.f.  8. 

Head  and  elytra  of  a  deep  brown,  each  of  the  latter  with 
a  longish  testaceous  spot,  widest  in  the  middle ;  thorax, 
antennae  and  legs  rufo-testaceous ;  apes  of  elytra  very 
slightly  tinged  with  testaceous ;  elytra  have  several  slight- 
ly raised  lines. 

Length,  3  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand,  (Port  Nicholson  and  Waikouaiti). 

Demetrida,  White. 

Head  as  wide  as  thorax,  narrowed  behind  the  eyes, 
which  are  very  prominent ;  last  joint  of  the  paljii  oval  and 
pointed ;  thorax  longer  than  wide,  narrower  than  elytra, 
straight  in  front,  gradually  rounded  and  narrowed  at  the 
end  ;  side  margined,  a  deep  groove  down  the  middle  ;  ely- 
tra narrow  at  base,  gradually  wider  towards  the  end,  flat- 
tened above  ;  abdomen  considerably  longer  than  elytra  ; 
tarsi  with  the  claws  small  and  serrated  on  the  edge  ;  first 
three  joints  triangular,  fourth  joint  strongly  bilobed. 

Demetrias  (Demetrida)  lineella,  PI.  I.y!3. 

Head  smooth,  but  somewhat  rugose  in  front  of  eyes, 
with  the  antennae  and  cibarial  organs  testaceous,  behind 
the  eyes  brownish  ;  thorax  testaceous,  sides  of  it  above 
with  a  brownish  band  and  finely  striated  across  ;  thoracic 
groove  in  front  divided  into  three  ;  elytra  testaceous,  with 
nine  longitudinal  punctato-striated  lines,  some  of  them 
connected  at  base  and  tip  ;  a  longish  brown  line  near  the 
outer  margin  of  each  elytron  ;  one  or  two  spots  near  the 
end  of  two  or  three  of  the  inner  striae  ;  legs  and  under  side 
testaceous. 

Length,  4  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mus.  Parry. 


Demetrida  nasuta. 

Head  produced  in  fi-ont,  with  the  antennae  rufo-testa- 
ceous ;  thorax  rufo-fuscous  ;  groove  down  the  middle,  sim- 
ple in  front,  the  upper  ]3art  with  many  delicate  transverse 
.striae  ;  elytra  rather  deeply  striated,  deep  fuscous  ;  longish 
spot  on  each  shoulder ;  narrow  side  margin  of  each  ely- 
tron, and  oblique  spot  at  the  tip  of  each  serrated  above, 
of  a  yellowish  colour  ;  under  side  deep  brown  ;  legs  yel- 
lowish. 

Length,  3  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand.     Mus.  Parry. 

Dromius  fossulatus. 

Dromius  fossulatus,  Homhr.  and  Jacq.,  Voy.  Pole  Sud. 
t.  3/.  16. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Akaroa). 

AcTENONYX.     White. 

Head  nearly  as  wide  as  the  thorax,  with  large,  but  not 
very  prominent  eyes  ;  antennae  longish,  with  oblong  joints ; 
thorax  nearly  as  wide  as  long,  straightish  in  front,  and 
behind,  where  it  is  slightly  narrowed ;  elytra  very  wide 
and  depressed,  obliquely  truncated  at  the  end ;  tarsi  with 
claws  slender  and  not  serrated ;  a  genus  in  form  approach- 
in  Calleida. 

ACTENONYX    BeMBIDIOIDES. 

Entirely  bronzed ;  head  and  thorax  greenish  ;  elytra 
with  longitudinal  shallow  strife  ;  some  of  striae  near  suture 
with  two  or  three  punctures  ;  sides  of  head  striated,  in  the 
middle  quite  smooth  ;  two  or  three  short  rufescent  hairs 
above  the  eyes  ;  thorax  finely  striated  on  the  sides  of  the 
groove. 

Length,  4  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand. 

CoLPODES    SDBMETALLICnS. 

Bronzy  brown ;  thorax  with  the  side  margins  yel- 
lowish ;  the  side  margins  of  elytra  very  slightly  yellow  ; 
Head  in  front,  with  the  sides  with  two  deepish  longitudi- 
nal impressions ;  the  edge  slightly  recurved,  scarcely 
grooved  in  the  middle  ;  elytra  with  straight  grooves  not 
punctured  ;  the  2nd  groove  (fi'om  the  suture),  near  the  end 
with  a  transverse,  very  short  impressed  hue  on  the  outside ; 
near  the  margin  a  row  of  impressed  points,  closest  near 
the  end ;  an  impressed  point  near  the  end  of  7lh  stria ; 
legs  yellowish  ;  antennae  brownish  ;  under  side  of  abdomen 
greenish. 

Length  4f  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand. 


Pristonychus  castaneus. 

Pristonyclius  castaneus,  Honihr.  and  Jticq.  Joy.  an  Pole 
Slid.  t.2./.  I. 

Hab.,  Auckland  Islands. 


Pristonychus  brevis. 
Pristonychus  brevis,   Homhr.  and  Jacq.,    Voy.  au  Pole 
Slid.  t.  2.  f.  2 

Hab.,  Auckland  Islands. 

Calathus  rubro-marginatus. 
Calathus  rubro-marginatus,  Hombr.  and  Jacq.,  Voy.   au 
Pole  Slid.  t.  2./.  3. 

Hab.,  Auckland  Islands. 

Anchomenus  elevatus. 

Anchomenus  elevatus.  Parry,  Mss. 

Head  in  front,  with  a  very  obscure  impression  on  one 
side  ;  antennae  and  palpi  ferruginous  ;  thorax,  with  a  deep- 
ish  groove  down  the  middle,  not  reaching  the  fore  or  hind 
margin  ;  the  side-margin  hollowed  out,  and  a  longish  bent 
groove  on  each  side  behind,  fading  away  in  front ;  elytra 
with  the  grooves  very  deep ;  3rd  and  4th,  and  5th  and  6th 
connected  at  the  end  ;  between  the  8th  and  9lh  a  row 
of  impressed  points,  closest  behind  ;  tibi»  and  tarsi  .slight- 
ly ferruginous. 

Length,  6j  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson) 

Anchomenus  (Ctenognathus)  Nov^  Zeelandi.e. 

Anchomenus  (Ctenognathus)  Novse  Zeelandiee,  L.  Fairm. 
Ann.  Soc.  Ent.,  1843,  12. 

Wingless,  black,  carapace  cordate,  grooved  ;  margin 
somewhat  reflexed  ;  elytra  ovate,  striated  ;  antennae,  pal- 
pi and  tarsi  of  a  pitchy  red. 

Length,  5f  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand,  Bay  of  Islands. 

Anchomenus  Colensonis. 

Head  with  very  .slight  grooves  in  front,  very  smooth  be- 
hind ;  antennae  of  a  brownish  yellow,  the  first  joint  j^alest; 
thorax  in  the  middle,  with  three  grooves,  the  outer  curved ; 
head  and  thorax  of  a  deep  brown,  the  latter  ferruginous ; 
angle  of  thorax  behind  quite  smooth ;  elytra  very  much 
depressed,  with  very  distinct  longitudinal  striae,  third  and 
fourth  and  fifth  and  sixth  united  at  the  end  ;  between  the 
eighth  and  ninth  is  a  row  of  impressed  points  ;  they  are 
of  a  reddish  brown  ;  the  legs  are  of  a  pale  yellow. 

Length,  5j  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand, — Colenso  Esq. 

Anchomenus  deplanatus. 

Head  and  thorax  shining  black  ;  elytra  dull  black  ; 
head  with  some  rather  large  impressed  points  on  the  sides 
in  front,  and  a  transverse  impressed  line  behind  the  eyes  ; 
thorax  in  the  middle,  behind  and  in  front  with  many  close 
striae,  placed  longitudinally ;  a  deejjish  groove  in  the  middle 
and  two  very  distinct,  longish  fossae  behind,  one  on  each 
.side;  elytra  above  depressed;  the  grooves  not  very  deep; 
the  second,  seventh  and  eighth  bent  at  the  end  ;  a  row  of 
dots  near  the  margin  ;  legs  black  ;  tarsi  reddish. 

Length,  5  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand,  Ca])t.  Parry. 


Anchomenus  atratus. 
Anchomenus  atratus,  Hombr.  and  Jacq.   Voy.  au  Pole 
Sud.  t.  \.f.  15. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand,  Hombron  and  Jacquinot. 

Feronia  (Platvsma)  planiuscula.     pi.  1  /  7. 

Very  deep  black  ;  the  palpi  deep  ferruginous  ;  fourth 
to  eleventh  joints  of  antennae  covered  with  short  brown 
hairs  ;  front  part  of  head  above  with  an  H-shaped  impress- 
ed mark  ;  thorax  with  a  transverse,  impressed  line  in  front ; 
another  down  the  middle,  deepest  behind  ;  two  very  deep, 
impressed  spots  near  the  posterior  angles,  from  each  of 
which  proceeds  a  ferruginous  hair ;  elytra  with  seven  lon- 
gitudinal, straight  punctured  striae  ;  the  lateral  deepest ; 
the  space  between  each  very  flat  and  smooth,  except  be- 
hind, where  each  is  narrowed  and  raised  ;  the  striae  there 
being  widened  and  more  coarsely  punctured ;  the  sides  of 
elytra  rather  deeply  sunk  and  with  a  row  of  catenulate 
points  ;  hairs  on  tibiae  and  tarsi  ferruginous. 

Length,  12^  to  13  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Wellington)  Capt.  Parry,  Mus.  Brit. 
(?  var.  Mr.  Earl. 

Feronia  (Platysma)  vigil. 

Very  deep  black  ;  hairs  on  antennae,  tibiae  and  tarsi 
ferruginous  ;  head  and  thorax  very  delicately  and  irregu- 
larly striated  ;  head  with  an  H-shaped  impressed  mark  in 
front;  thorax  with  an  impressed,  transverse,  somewhat 
bent  line  in  front ;  a  straight  one  down  the  middle,  deep- 
est behind,  but  not  reaching  the  posterior  margin  ;  two 
deep  impressions  near  the  posterior  angle  of  thorax  ;  elj'tra 
short,  with  seven  longitudinal  striae,  the  spaces  between 
slightly  raised  ;  the  lateral  margin  depressed  with  a  ca- 
tenulate row  of  points. 

Length,  lOj  lines. 

Hab.,  Port  Nicholson,  New  Zealand.     Capt.  Parry. 

Feronia  (Platysma  ?)  Australasia. 

Feronia  (Platysma?)  Au.stralasiee,  Giierin  Rev.  Zool.  Cm: 
1841,  121. 

Abax  Australasiae,  Hombr.  and  Jacq.  Voy.  au  Pole  Sud. 
t.  2./.  1.3. 

Obscure  bronze  colour  above,  black  beneath  ;  head 
smooth,  with  two  feeble  impressions  in  iiont  between 
the  antennae  ;  palpi  elongated,  with  the  last  joint  quite 
cylindrical  and  somewhat  obliquely  truncated  at  the  end  ; 
antennae  with  four  first  joints  smooth  and  black,  the  others 
hairy  and  brownish  towards  the  end ;  thorax  somewhat 
flattened,  wider  than  the  head,  smooth,  margined  ;  con- 
tracted and  somewhat  sinuated  behind ;  very  .slightly 
notched  on  the  hind  margin,  with  a  longitudinal  groove  in 
the  middle  and  a  large  fossa  on  each  side  behind  ;  scutel- 
lum  triangular,  much  wider  than  long,  with  longitudinal 
wrinkles  at  the  base  ;  elytra  rather  wider  than  the  thorax, 
at  their  base  slightly  widened  ;  rounded  on  the  sides  to- 
wards the  middle  ;  very  feebly  sinuated  towards  the  end  ; 
each  has  nine  punctured  stria;,  the  spaces  between  consi- 
derably raised ;  two  or  three  large  impressed  points  be- 
tween the  second  and  third,  fourth  and  fifth  and  sixth  and 


seventh  striae ;  eighth  and  ninth  are  not  distinct,  and  fur- 
nished with  large,  deep  points,  which  end  at  the  outer 
border  ;  beneath  smooth  ;  legs  black,  strong,  spiny. 

Length,  10  lines. 

New  Zealand.     Mus.  Brit.     Pany. 

FeRONIA    (PlATYSMA  ?)    SDB^NEA. 

Feronia  (Platysma?)  suhadxiea.,  Guerin,  Rev.Zool.  Cuv. 
1841.  122. 

Slightly  bronzed  black  above,  deep  black  beneath  ; 
body  elongated,  nearly  parallel ;  head  smooth,  with  two 
short,  slight  impressions  in  front ;  thorax  nearly  as  long  as 
wide,  somewhat  cordate,  smooth,  margined,  with  a  longitu- 
dinal median  groove,  slightly  widened  behind,  and  not 
reaching  the  hind  margin,  or  rather  wide  fossa  near  the 
hind  angles  ;  scutellum  triangulai-,  somewhat  wider  than 
long,  with  four  or  five  longitudinal  grooves  at  the  base  ; 
elytra  wider  than  the  thorax  behind  ;  nearly  twice  as  long 
as  wide  ;  rather  strongly  sinuated  behind,  the  side  slightly 
rounded ;  each  has  eight  striae  of  large  elongated  points, 
connected,  and  fonning  short  grooves  in  different  parts  ; 
the  spaces  between  slightly  raised  ;  the  spaces  between 
the  second  and  third,  fourth  and  fifth,  sixth  and  seventh 
striae  are  wider  and  more  raised  ;  the  points  forming  the 
eighth  stria  are  much  larger  and  more  distant ;  legs  are 
black  and  strong. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand. 

Feronia  (Platysma)  capito. 

Head  nearly  as  wide  as  the  thorax,  with  two  rather  long, 
deep  impressed  lines  on  front  between  antennae,  with  the 
joints  from  the  fourth  to  the  eleventh  hairy  ;  thorax  with  a 
very  distinct,  transverse,  impressed  line  in  fi-ont,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  middle  longitudinal  thoracic  line  ;  head  and 
thorax  with  a  greenish  hue,  strongest  on  the  margins  and 
posterior  angles  of  thorax  ;  elytra  with  a  very  few  scatter- 
ed, longish  hairs ;  elytra  with  a  greenish  hue,  marked  simi- 
larly to  F.  Australasiae  ;  the  sides  of  elytra  somewhat 
angiilated  instead  of  being  flat  as  in  that  species. 

Length,  ^  to  9^  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand, — Colenso  Esq. 

A  species  allied  to  F.  Australasiae,  but  distinguished 
readily  by  the  size  of  its  head,  narrower  thorax,  colour  and 
hairs  on  elytra  ;  the  insect  also  is  somewhat  smaller  ;  both 
of  these  come  near  the  genus  Omalosoma  of  Hope. 

Feronia  (Platysma)  politissima. 

Very  deep  black ;  head  with  an  H-shaped  impres- 
sion in  front :  thorax  with  two  deep,  somewhat  curved 
fossffi  behind,  one  on  each  side  ;  elytra  with  very  deep, 
longitudinal  punctured  striae,  the  fifth  and  sixth  united  at 
the  end  ;  side  with  a  row  of  catenulate  punctures. 

Length,  6  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mr.  Earl. 

Feronia  (Pterostichds)  vagepuncta. 
Deep    black ;     head    with    two  deep,    impressed   lines 
in  front ;    thorax  with  a  longitudinal  line  down  middle, 
ending  both  before  and  behind  in  a  deepish  fossa ;  behind 


on  each  side  a  deep  fossa  connected  with  the  hind  margin; 
elytra  with  longitudinal  strise  marked  with  somewhat 
intennpted,  longish  impressions. 

Length,  7  to  8  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mr.  Earl. 

Feronia  (Cophosus)  elongella. 

Head  with  an  H-shaped  impression  in  fi-ont ;  thorax 
slightly  convex,  with  a  very  deep,  pyriform  impression  on 
each  side  ;  a  deep  groove,  distinctly  striated  across,  and 
ending  in  a  deepish  fossa  both  in  fi-ont  and  behind  ;  elytra 
rather  convex  ;  considerably  sinuated  on  the  outside  at 
the  end  ;  longitudinally  striated,  the  striae  with  interrupted 
punctures,  especially  behind. 

Length,  G^  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 

Omaseus  sylvaticus. 

Omaseus  sylvaticus,  Hombr.  and  Jacq.  Voy.  mi  Pole 
Slid.  t.  2./.  5. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Akarao). 

Argutor  pantomelas. 

Argutor  pantomelas,  Homb.  and  Jacq.  Voy.  au  Pole  Sud. 
t.  '2.f.  6. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Akaroa). 

Argutor  erythropus. 
Argutor  erythropus,  Hombr.  and  Jacq.   Voy.  au  Pole 
Sud.  t.  2./.  7. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Akaroa). 


Argutor  piceus. 

Argutor  piceus,  Hombr.  and  Jacq.   Voy. 
1.  2./.  8. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand  (Akaroa). 


Pole  Sud. 


Broscds  Carenoides.     pi.  1./.  6. 

Very  deep  black  ;  head  in  front,  near  the  base  of  man- 
dibles with  two  or  three  deep  punctures  on  each  side ; 
thorax  very  narrow  behind  and  transversely  gi-ooved  ;  a 
slight,  straight  stria  down  the  middle,  across  irregularly 
striated ;  on  the  lateral  margin  are  some  points,  from 
which  proceed  longish,  reddish  hairs  ;  elytra  smooth,  with 
very  faint  indications  of  grooves,  which  behind  are  more 
distinct ;  the  spaces  between  somewhat  granulated  ;  two 
or  three  punctures  on  the  shoulders  of  the  elytra,  with 
reddish  hairs  in  them  ;  one  or  two  very  distant  points  on 
the  elytra  from  the  shoulder  to  the  tip  of  elytra ;  femora 
and  palpi  rufescent. 

Length,  13:^  lines. 

Hab.,  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 

The  greater  part  of  the  legs  and  antennae  are  broken  off 
in  the  specimen  described.  In  the  Museum  collection 
there  is  a  closely  alhed  species  from  Australia. 


BROSCUS    (PROMECODERUS  ?)    ^REUS.      PI.  \.f.  8. 

Head  above  in  front  of  the  eyes  with  several  bent  strias ; 
thorax  verj-  convex  above,  gradually  narrower  behind,  a 
k^-  distant,  longish  hairs  on  the  margin,  a  deepish  groove 
down  the  middle,  not  reaching  to  the  fore  or  hind  mar- 
gins, in  front,  on  each  side  before  its  termination  is  a 
slight,  transverse  line,  a  very  slight  point  near  each  of  the 
hind  angles  ;  scutellura  not  visible  ;  elytra  together  of  a 
longish  oval,  slightly  striated,  the  striae  with  rather  dis- 
tant punctures,  near  the  edge  is  a  row  of  rather  larger 
punctures ;  tibiae  and  tarsi  with  a  few  deep  ferruginous 
hairs. 

Length,  9  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

Promecoderus  Lottini. 
Promecoderiis  Lottini,  Brulle,  Hist.  Nat.  Insectes,  IV. 
4-50,  t.  18,/.  4. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Mecodema  sculpturatum. 
Mecodema  sculpturatum,  Homhr.  and  Jacq.    Voy.  au 
Pole  Slid,  t.  2,/.  14. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Otago). 

Heterodactylus,  Guerin. 
Labrum  transverse,  entire  ;  mandibles  not  very  promi- 
nent, bent,  without  teeth  on  the  inside,  much  widened  at 
the  base  and  ha\Hng  on  the  outer  side  a  wide  fossa  which 
receives  the  first  joint  of  antennae;  palpi  elongated,  fili- 
form, last  joint  cylindrical  and  scarcely  swollen  in  the 
middle,  obliquely  truncated  at  the  end  ;  meotum  with  the 
notch  wide,  in  the  middle  with  a  rounded  projection  ; 
tongue  wide,  very  prominent  between  the  labial  palpi ; 
antennae  filiform  ;  anterior  tibiae  strongly  notched  beneath 
only,  with  the  four  first  joints  of  the  tarsi  strongly  dilated 
in  the  males,  rounded  on  the  sides,  much  contracted  be- 
hind and  very  distinctly  cordate,  the  fourth  having  the 
inner  lobe  much  more  elongated  than  the  outer ;  interme- 
diate tarsi  with  triangular  joints  not  so  much  dilated  as 
the  anterior,  but  wider  than  those  of  hind  legs  ;  these  four 
tarsi  have  their  fourth  joint  much  prolonged  on  the  outer 
side  ;  thorax  cordate  ;  body  apterous. 

Heterodactylus  nebrioides. 

Heterodactylus  nebrioides,  Guerin,  Rev.  Zool.  Cuv. 
1841,214. 

Shining  black  ;  head  smooth,  with  two  wide  fossae 
in  front ;  mandibles  with  one  tooth,  margins  widened, 
reddish  and  slightly  transparent ;  antennae  longer  than  the 
head  and  thorax,  the  four  first  joints  smooth  and  shin- 
ing, the  second  shortest  and  the  others  downy  ;  thorax 
cordate,  truncated  in  front  and  behind,  smooth,  finely  mar- 
gined with  a  longitudinal  groove  in  the  middle,  a  feeble 
transverse  impression  in  front  and  two  rather  deep  fossae 
behind,  near  the  hind  angles  ;  scutellum  rounded,  slightly 
rugose  ;  elytra  oval,  of  the  width  of  thorax  at  base,  without 


humeral  projections,  feebly  margined,  widest  in  the  middle, 
smooth,  and  with  nine  stria3,  distinct  on  the  disk  but  nearly 
obliterated  on  the  sides  ;  these  striae  do  not  all  reach  the 
end,  the  second,  especially,  stops  a  little  beyond  the  middle, 
and  on  the  outer  margin  are  some  impressions  most  marked 
behind;  beneath  and  legs  smooth. 

Length,  7^  to  8  lines. 

Hab.  Auckland  Islands. 


Hel.eotrechus,  White 
Head  much  wider  than  thorax  ;  eyes  very  large  and 
prominent ;  thorax  in  front  rounded,  the  anterior  angles 
rounded,  behind  narrowed  ;  elytra  rather  wider  behind 
than  in  front,  behind  obliquely  truncated  ;  antennae  short, 
somewhat  hairy.  One  of  the  Subulipalpi  with  trun- 
cated elytra  in  general  appearance  with  a  conside- 
rable resemblance  to  Scopodes  boops,  one  of  the  Pericali- 
dae,  described  by  Erichson,  Arch.    1842,  p.  123,  t.  4,/.  1. 

Hel^otrechus  elaphroides,  pi.  \,f.  b. 

Head  longitudinally  striated  between  the  eyes  ;  thorax 
with  a  short  groove  down  the  middle,  not  extending  to 
hind  edge  ;  elytra  with  large,  coarse,  irregular  punctures  : 
the  insect  is  of  a  deep  black  ;  legs  yellow;  middle  of  femo- 
ra and  the  tips  with  a  brownish  band. 

Length,  2|-  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (marshes).  Dr.  Hooker. 

OoPTERDS,  Guerin. 
Palpi  ending  in  a  conical  joint,  which  is  sharp  at  the 
end  ;  the  penultimate  joint  of  maxillary  palpi  as  long  as 
the  last;  four  first  joints  of  anterior  tarsi  dilated  in  the 
males,  the  two  first  joints  wider,  somewhat  elongated  on 
the  inner  side  ;  antennae  short,  submoniliform,  with  the 
last  seven  joints  scarcely  longer  than  wide  ;    body  thick, 


OOPTERUS    CLIVINOIDES. 

Oopterus  clivinoides,  Guerin,  Rev.  Zool.  Cuv.  1841,  123. 
Homhr.  and  Jacq.  Voy.  au  Pole  Sud,  t.  %f.  16. 

Of  a  deep  shining  brown  colour;  head  oblong,  narrower 
than  the  thorax,  smooth,  with  two  wide  longitudinal  grooves 
between  the  insertion  of  antennae  about  twice  the  length 
of  the  eyes  ;  antennae  and  palpi  yellowish  brown  ;  thorax 
convex,  cordate,  finely  margined,  smooth,  with  slight, 
transverse,  short  striae  towards  the  sides  and  hind  margin  ; 
groove  in  middle  of  thorax  indistinct ;  on  each  side,  near 
the  hind  angles,  a  short  and  rather  wide  fossa,  and  in  the 
middle  of  hind  margin  some  short,  longitudinal  striae  ;  scu- 
tellum very  small,  triangular ;  elytra  at  least  twice  the 
width  of  thorax,  about  the  middle  much  arched,  forming 
a  short  oval,  smooth  and  shining,  with  longitudinal,  very 
feebly  punctured  striae,  the  spaces  between  flattened,  the 
side  stria  almost  effaced ;  margins  of  elytra  and  suture  of 
a  somewhat  fulvous  brown,  especially  behind,  black  be  ■ 
neath  ;  legs  of  a  brownish,  fulvous  yellow. 

Hab.  Auckland  Islands. 


OOPTERUS    PLICATICOLLIS. 

Oopterus  plicaticollis,  Homhr.  andJacq.,  Voij.au Pole 
Slid,  t.  2,/.  15. 

Hab.  Auckland  Islands. 

Oopterus  rotundicollis. 

Thorax  rounded,  without  any  groove,  near  the  posterior 
margin  depressed  and  closelj'  punctured  ;  elytra  with  su- 
perficial striae  formed  by  rows  of  closely  placed  points  ; 
whole  insect  of  a  pitchy  brown  ;  the  palpi  and  legs  of  a 
lighter  colour. 

Length,  2j  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Bay  of  Islands),  Dr.  Sinclair,  Chas. 
Darwin,  Esq. 

MoLOPSiDA,  White. 
Head  large;  last  joint  of  palpi  sharp-pointed  ;  antennae 
with  the  joints  somewhat  moniliform  and  bristly  ;  thorax 
without  margin,  much  wider  behind  than  in  front,  sides 
considerably  rounded,  behind  quite  straight,  the  posterior 
angles  nearly  rectangular ;  elytra  ovate,  truncated  in  front, 
considerably  convex. 

MOLOPSIDA    POLITA. 

Deep,  shining  black;  elytra  with  longitudinal  rows 
of  shallow  striae  rather  closelj'  punctured,  the  margin  with 
two  deep  grooves  connected  in  many  places  by  short, 
transverse  grooves  ;  antennae  and  palpi  ferruginous  ;  legs 
deep  rufous. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Waikouaiti),  Mr.  Earl. 

Family  SxAPHYLiNiDiE. 
Staphylinds  oculatds. 
Staphylinus  oculatus,  Fab.Ent.  Syst.  II.  521,  10.  Boisd. 
Voy.  Astral.  II.  54,  t.  9,/.  1  Erichso?i,  Staj)h.  352. 

Entirely  of  a  deep,   smooth,   shining  black  ;    head  on 
each  side  with  a  large  fulvous  spot,  forming  a  band  on  the 
under  side  of  head. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Staphylinus  (Gyrohypnus  ?)  quadri-impressus. 

Black;  elytra  somewhat  brown;  head  very  lai'ge,  squai*e, 
with  two  deep  points  between  the  eyes ;  antennae  with  first 
joint  very  long,  clubbed  at  the  end,  third  joint  very 
narrow  at  the  base  ;  thorax  somewhat  narrowed  behind, 
rounded  in  front,  with  two  deepish  points;  elytra  and 
abdomen  above  finely  punctured ;  wings  shaded  with 
brown. 

Length,  6  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Staphylinus  (Cafius)  puncticeps. 
Head  on  the  sides  behind  the  eyes  and  on  the  back  part 
coarsely  punctured,    two   large   dots  between    the  eyes ; 
head  and  thorax  with  some  scattered,  longish  hairs ;     tho- 
rax with  two  longitudinal  lines  of  impressed  dots  ;    elytra 


minutely  punctured  and  covered  with  short  hairs ;    head 
and  thorax  black  ;  elytra,  abdomen  and  legs  brownish. 

Length,  4  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand, — Colenso,  Esq. 

Family  Dyticid.*:. 
Cybister  hookeri. 

Front  of  head  with  two  impressed  dots;  thorax  be- 
hind with  a  band  of  short,  closely  placed  striae,  and  a  few 
dots  along  the  front  and  close  to  the  margin  ;  outer  mar- 
gin of  elytra  with  many  impressed  dots  and  three  distant 
rows  of  dots  on  the  back  of  the  elytra,  the  dots  far  from 
each  other,  especially  on  the  two  outside  rows ;  clypeus 
and  front  of  head  yellow  ;  lateral  margin  of  thorax  and  ely- 
tra yellow,  the  yellow  reaching  the  outer  edge,  other 
parts  of  a  very  deep  olive-brown ;  some  ferruginous- 
brown  on  two  fore  legs  ;  antenna;  fenuginous  and  brown 
mixed. 

Length,  12  lines,  greatest  width,  Q^  lines. 

Hab.  Hutt  River,  Port  Nicholson. 

Colymbetes  notatus. 

Dytiscus  notatus,  Fahr.  Ent.  Syst.  I.  195,  38. 

Brown  ;  thorax  yellowish,  with  four  black  points  and 
sometimes  an  abbreviated  black  band ;  sutural  stria  of 
elytra  yellow,  margin  of  elytra  yellowish. 

A  specimen  of  Colymbetes  from  New  Zealand  in  the 
collection  of  Mr.  Saunders  exactly  agrees  with  a  British 
example  of  the  above-named  species  in  the  Museum  col- 
lection. 

Colymbetes  rufimanus. 

Head  narrow,  between  the  eyes  black,  with  a  transverse 
reddish  line  ;  clypeus  reddish  ;  thorax  reddish,  with  a  lo- 
zenge-shaped black  spot  in  the  middle ;  elytra  yellowish, 
thickly  spotted  with  brown,  margin  without  spots,  suture 
brownish,  with  a  narrow  yellow  line  on  each  side  ;  under- 
side deep  blackish  brown  ;  two  first  pairs  of  legs  light 
rufous. 

Length,  b^  lines,  breadth,  3  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

This  species  comes  near  C.  pacificus,  Boisd.  Voy.  Astrol. 
50.  Aube.  Spec.  Gen.  Hydroc.  VI.  268. 

Family  Buprestid.*:. 
Buprestis  (Trachyides)  eremita. 

Head,  thorax  and  elytra  very  closely  punctured  and 
slightly  downy  ;  green,  sometimes  with  a  coppery  hue ; 
thorax  in  front  with  the  sides  slightly  compressed. 

Length,  2j  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

This  small  Buprestis,  the  only  representative  of  the  fa- 
mily that  I  have  seen  from  New  Zealand,  resembles  much 
in  form  the  Australian  genus  Diphucrania.  The  head, 
however,  is  not  notched  in  front. 


Family  Elateriu.e. 
Elater  acutipennis.    pi.  \,f.  9. 

Elater  acutipennis,  Parry,  MSS. 

Head  with  a  triangular  impression  between  the  eyes, 
and  slightly  punctured  ;  thorax  with  the  sides  above  hol- 
lowed out,  with  greyish  hairs,  the  posterior  angles  large 
and  sharp,  the  hind  edge  lobed  in  the  middle,  just  before 
the  scutellum  ;  elytra  gradually  tapering  to  the  end,  with 
four  longitudinal,  wide  vittae,  sparingly  covered  with  gray- 
ish hairs  ;  whole  insect  of  a  rich,  deep  brown  ;  the  ex- 
treme tip  of  elytra  ferruginous  ;  underside  of  body  and  legs 
sparingly  covered  with  greyish  hairs. 

Length,  9  to  W^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

Elater  (Limonius)  Zealandicus. 

Head,  thorax  and  elytra  brownish  black,  finely  punc- 
tured ;  the  elytra  with  nine  rows  of  punctured  striae  on 
each,  the  marginal  row  deepest. 

Length,  8j  to  \Q^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 


Elater  approximans. 

Head  having  the  clypeus  with  two  deep  impressions ; 
thorax  finely  punctured  ;  each  of  the  sides  with  a  wid- 
ish row  of  grey  hairs  placed  in  a  slight  depression  ;  elytra 
sulcato-striated,  gradually  tapering  to  the  end ;  thorax  dull 
brown  ;    elytra  ferruginous  brown. 

Length,  7f  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Elater  lineicollis. 

Elater  lineicollis,  Parry,  MSS. 

Reddish  ochrey,  with  a  brown  line  down  the  middle  of 
thorax ;  head  somewhat  depressed  between  the  eyes, 
brown,  yellowish  in  front,  with  ochrey  hairs ;  antennae 
brown  ;  thorax  dotted,  with  an  impressed  line  down  the 
middle  and  a  few  short  ochrey  hairs  ;  elytra  rather  deeply 
punctato-striate  ;  side  of  antennal  thoracic  groove  and  the 
margin  of  metathorax  black. 

Length,  5  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

Elater  cinctiger.     PI.  \,f.  IL 
Deep  reddish  brown  ;    the  side  margins  of  thorax  and 
elytra  with  a  widish  yellow  band ;    head  punctured,  with 
two  shallow  impressions  in  front ;    thorax  elongated,  rich 
brown,  shining,  closely  punctured,  a  widish  yellow  band  on 
each    side   free   from  dots  ;     elytra  elongated,  attenuated 
gradually  to  the  end,  fen-uginous  brown,  punctato-striated, 
a  widish  yellow  line  near  the  margin  of   each  ;    under- 
side rufous  brown. 
Length,  6  to  7  lines. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

Elater  lateristrigatus. 
Deep  black ;     the  side  of  elytra  with  a  long  red  vitta. 


highly  polished  and  minutely  punctulate ;  elytra  with  ob- 
scure punctured  striae  and  a  few  short  hairs,  the  apex  of 
elytra  bluntish. 

Length,  3|  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Elater  (Drasterius)  nigellus. 

Thorax  and  elytra  closely  punctured ;  thorax  with  a 
depression  on  each  side  in  middle  behind;  elytra  distinctly 
longitudinally  striated. 

liength,  2J  to  2|  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Elater  olivascens. 

Head,  thorax,  elytra  and  abdomen  of  an  olive  green, 
with  scattered  gray  hairs ;  antenna;  and  legs  yellowish  ; 
elytra  with  longitudinal  striae. 

Length,  4  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Elater  strangclatus. 

Thorax  long,  about  the  middle  on  the  side  strangulated ; 
the  whole  insect  of  a  dull  brown,  thickly  clothed  with 
short  yellowish-brown  hairs. 

Length,  8  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 

Elater  megops. 

Eyes  very  large  ;  thorax  naiTower  than  the  elytra,  with 
the  sides  nearly  parallel,  finely  j^unctured,  and  sparingly 
covered  with  short  hairs  ;  elytra  very  long,  punctato-stri- 
ated,  dullish  brown  ;    suture  of  elytra  with  purplish  gloss. 

Length,  7  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Bay  of  Islands). 

Elater  (Ctenicerus)  punctithorax. 

Head  impressed  in  the  middle  and  sprinkled  with  hairs  ; 
antennae  with  second  and  third  joints  very  small,  joints 
fourth  to  tenth  on  the  inside  at  the  end  with  a  longish  lobe, 
the  terminal  one  longest,  with  a  slight  tooth  near  the  end  ; 
thorax  very  smooth,  with  scattered  points,  two  deep,  lon- 
gitudinal impressions  before  the  middle,  and  two  lunated 
impressions  behind,  and  a  short  impressed  line  on  the  pos- 
terior margin  ;  elytra  depressed  at  the  end  and  somewhat 
blimt,  with  nine  striae  on  each,  in  some  places  deeper  than 
others,  near  the  suture,  at  the  tip,  and  near  the  side  mar- 
gin. 

Length,  8  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Elater  (Ctenicerus)  l/evithorax.     PI.  1,/.  10. 
Very  similar  to  the  last ;    the  thorax  has  not  the  deep 
punctures. 

Length,  Bf  lines. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 


8 


Family  Cebrionid.e. 
Atopida,  White. 

Head  with  the  jaws  produced,  on  the  outside  gradually 
rounded  ;  antennae  very  long,  filiform,  first  joint  somewhat 
thickened  and  flattened,  the  second  joint  small  and 
rounded  ;  the  other  joints  nearly  of  one  size,  very  slightly 
thickened  at  the  end ;  eyes  rather  large  and  prominent ; 
head  nearly  as  wide  as  thorax  ;  thorax  in  front  somewhat 
wider  than  behind,  but  not  so  wide  as  the  elytra,  wider 
than  long,  anterior  angles  sharpish,  posterior  rounded  ; 
scutellum  short,  pointed  at  the  end ;  elytra  much  elon- 
gated, sides  parallel,  shoulders  and  tips  of  elytra  rounded ; 
legs  moderate  ;  edge  of  tibis  sharp. 

This  genus  approaches  closely  to  Atopa. 

Atopida  castanea. 

Deep  chestnut  brown  ;  finely  punctured  with  short  hairs 
proceeding  from  the  punctures ;  antennae  and  legs  testa- 
ceous. 

Length,  4  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (on  Kaudi). 

Family  Clerid^. 

OpILUS   VIOLACEUS. 

Opilus  violaceus,  Khig,  Abh.  Berl.  1840,  391. 

Notoxus  violaceus,  Fair.  Enf.  Syst.  I.  210,  2. 

Pubescent,  blackish,  violaceous,  shining  ;  elytra  smooth, 
with  three  yellow  spots,  one  at  the  base,  two  approximat- 
ing near  the  middle  ;  legs  feiTuginous  ;  femora  black,  fer- 
ruginous at  the  base. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Opilus  pantomelas. 

Notoxus  pantomelas  Boisd.  Voy.  Astr.  t.  G,f.  14. 

Deep  black,  with  a  greenish  hue  on  some  parts  ;  in 
some  specimens  there  is  a  small  yellowish  spot  about 
the  middle  of  each  elytron. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mr.  Earl. 

Family  Ptinid,*:. 
Anobium  tricostellum. 

Antennae  very  long,  with  the  last  eight  joints  filiform  ; 
brownish,  testaceous,  covered  above  with  a  waved,  short 
golden  silky  pubescence  ;  each  of  the  elytra  with  three 
slightly  raised,  longitudinal  costao  ;  thorax  narrowest  on 
the  sides,  somewhat  rounded  behind  and  slightly  hol- 
lowed down  the  middle. 

Length,  4  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mus.  Saunders. 

Ptinus  suturalis. 
Pitchy  brown  ;    closely  punctured  with  shorti.sh  hairs  ; 
the  suture  with  a  pinkish  hue  ;    legs  pale  yellow. 
Length,  2|  lines. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (on  flowers  of  Leptospermum). 


lar  longish  patches 


Ptinds  murinus. 
Ptinus  murinus,  Pariy,  MSS. 
Very  deep  brown,  with  many  irregi 
of  yellowish  hairs. 
Length,  2j  lines. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Ptinus  pilosus. 
Elytra  nearly  parallel ;   light  ash  colour,  with  short,  yel- 
lowish hairs ;   thorax  behind  as  wide  as  elytra. 
Length,  Ij  line. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

Family  Nitidulid.^. 

NiTIDULA    ANTARCTICA. 

Very  dark  brown,  with  the  elytra  on  each  side  of  the 
scutellum  with  a  somewhat  lighter  spot;  legs  with  the 
femora  yellowish. 

Length,  1^  line. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

NiTIDULA    LATERALIS. 

Of  a  pitchy  brown,  closely  punctured  ;  sides  of  thorax 
widely,  and  sides  of  elytra  narrowly,  margined  with  yellow- 
ish ;    base  of  elytra  near  the  scutellum  yellowish. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Kaudi  Wood). 

NiTIDULA    ABBREVIATA. 

Nitidula  abbreviata,  Fabr.  Syst.  El.  I.  348,  5. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Family  Histerid^e. 
Saprinus  pseudo-cyaneus. 

Head  black ;  thorax  purplish  ;  elyti-a  and  abdomen 
deep  green  ;  thorax  near  the  margin  closely  punctured, 
the  points  thickest  in  front,  behind  free  from  points,  pos- 
terior edge  with  a  few  punctures  ;  elytra  near  the  shoulder 
with  two  or  three  oblique,  impressed  striae  and  several  dis- 
tinct punctures  at  the  base,  behind  with  a  lunar  mark 
of  minute  punctures  suture,  except  at  the  base,  with  an 
impressed  line  on  each  side. 

Length,  2j  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Hister  cinnamomeus. 

Smooth,  deep,  rich,  purplish  brown  ;  head  in  front  con- 
siderably hollowed  out ;  elytra  near  the  sides  with  three 
slightly  curved,  deeply  impressed  lines,  and  three  shallow 
impressed  lines  at  the  end  of  each  elytron  between  these 
and  the  suture. 

Length,  If  line. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 


Family  Lucanid.«. 
Dendroblax,  White. 

Head  narrow,  narrowest  behinil,  in  front  widened  and 
truncated ;  mandibles,  viewed  from  above,  somewhat  ovate 
and  bent  at  the  end,  hollowed,  on  the  outside  somewhat 
angled  at  the  end  ;  eyes  very  large,  well  seen  from  above  ; 
antenniE  longish,  ten-jointed,  basal  joint  nearly  as  long  as 
the  other  joints  taken  together,  the  joints  from  the  se- 
cond to  the  sixth  short  and  roundish,  somewhat  angular 
about  the  middle,  the  three  last  joints  forming  a  roundish 
head,  the  last  rather  the  largest ;  thorax  not  so  wide  as 
elytra,  with  the  sides  in  front  rounded,  in  the  middle  con- 
siderably notched  for  the  reception  of  the  head,  side 
angled  in  the  middle,  behind  rather  straight,  middle 
slightly  convex ;  elytra  very  wide,  edge  slightly  margined ; 
legs  with  the  anterior  tibiae  wide  and  strongly  toothed  on 
the  outside,  tibiae  of  middle  pair  toothed  on  the  outside, 
of  hind  pair  much  thickened  at  the  end  and  hollowed 
out  where  the  tarsi  are  inserted,  two  long  lobes  on  the 
inside  ;    tarsi  slender. 

This  genus  comes  near  Lamprima  and  Ryssonotus. 


Dendroblax  Earlii. 
Dendrobius  Earlianus. 


PI.  2,/.  9,  10. 


Deep  blackish  brown  ;  head,  thorax  and  elytra  deeply 
punctured  ;  head  above,  thorax  above,  in  front  and  behind 
with  ferruginous,  silky  hairs ;  scutellum  with  ferruginous 
hairs  ;  elytra  with  four  longitudinal  flattish  ridges,  the  outer 
obsolete ;  under  side  of  thorax  and  legs  with  many  ferrugi- 
nous, silky  hairs. 

Length,  9;^  to  \2\  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  on  the  Hutt  River,  Port  Nicholson, 
Mr.  Earl. 

MiTOPHYLLDS    IRRORATUS,    PI.  2,/  3,  4. 

Mitophyllus  irroratus,  Parry,  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond. 
IV.  56, /."l,/.  4. 

Pitchy  red,  with  dull  black  spots  scattered  over  the 
whole  body  ;  mandibles  porrect,  recurved,  in  front  sharp 
and  behind  denticulate  ;  antennae  with  the  three  last  leaflets 
very  much  elongated  and  pilose  ;  thorax  quadrate,  not  mar- 
gined ;  elytra  nearly  thrice  the  length  of  the  thorax,  of  a 
pitchy  brown,  reddish,  punctate,  with  dull  black  spots 
sprinkled  over  the  disk  ;  femora  thickened  ;  tibiae  one- 
spined,  serrated  on  the  outside ;  prosternum  and  meso- 
sternum  simple,  not  produced.     <? 

In  the  female  the  three  last  leaflets  of  antennae  are  of 
moderate  size  ;  mandibles  small,  not  much  porrect,  one- 
toothed  at  the  base  ;  body  and  thorax  more  rounded  than 
in  the  male. 

Length,  ^h  lines,  breadth,  Ij  line. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

DORCUS    PUNCTULATUS. 

Covered  over  above  with  minute  punctures  ;  elytra  with 
four  indistinct,  longitudinal  lines,  with  fewer  punctures  on 
them  ;  scutellum  punctured  ;  anterior  femora  with  six  teeth 
on  the  outside. 

Length,  6  to  7  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Wellington.) 


DoRCUS    SQUAMIDORSIS.       PI.  2,/.  2. 

Black ;  a  lunated  spot  midway  between  the  eyes  and 
another  on  the  side  of  and  behind  the  eyes,  with  deep 
punctures  and  some  yellowish  scales  on  them ;  thorax 
with  lateral  and  posterior  mai-gins  and  the  side  of  anterior 
margin  with  impressed  punctures  and  yellowish  scales  in 
them,  and  four  spots  on  the  back,  the  posterior  running 
into  the  hind  margin;  the  elytra  with  a  widish  band  round 
each,  formed  by  deep  punctures  and  scales  in  them,  and 
four  large  spots  similarly  impressed  filling  up  most  of 
the  surface  of  elytra ;  scutellum  with  a  smooth  edge  be- 
hind ;  anterior  tibiae  with  four  widish  teeth  on  the  edge, 
the  edge  itself  impressed. 

Length,  7  to  7j  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

LUCANUS    RETIC0LATUS. 

Lucanus  reticulatus,  Buqvet  MSS.  Westwood,  Proc. 
Ent.  Soc.  April  1,  1844,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  XVII. 
p.  59. 

Mandibles  short,  thick,  bluntly  toothed  within,  some- 
what depressed ;  black,  thorax  subquadrate  ;  thorax  and 
elytra  reticulated  with  scales. 

Length,  6  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mus.  Buquet. 

Family  Aphodiid^. 

OXYOMUS    EXSCULPTUS. 

Oxyomus  exsculptus.  Parry,  MSS. 

Very  deep  brownish  black  ;  the  lateral  margin  of  a  rich, 
deep  reddish  brown  ;  head  widely  notched  in  front,  above 
smooth ;  thorax  punctured,  especially  behind,  in  front 
and  spot  on  sides  smooth;  elytra  with  the  striaj  very 
deeply  punctured ;  anterior  tibiae  with  three  sharp  teeth. 

Family  Dynastid^. 
Cheiroplatys  Kirby,  Hope. 
Cheiroplatys  truncatus.     PL  2,f.  6. 
Cheiroplatys  truncatus,  Hope,  Col.  Man.  I.  85. 
Scarabaius  truncatus,   Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  1.7,  16.  Oliv.f. 
11,/.  103. 

Elytra  near  the  suture  hollowed  out,  smooth,  with 
a  few  slightly  impressed  lines  running  in  different 
directions  ;  scutellum  with  a  row  of  rather  coarse  punc- 
tures parallel  to  the  edge  ;  under  side  of  thorax  with  deep 
ferruginous  hairs. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Cheiroplatys  punctatus.  PL  2,/.  11. 
Head  with  a  flatti.sh,  somewhat  triangular  projection  on 
the  crown,  behind  which  are  two  rather  coarsely  punctured 
depressions  ;  thorax  with  a  protuberance  in  the  middle  of 
the  fore  edge,  depressed  behind  ;  the  sides  of  thorax  with 
two  depressions  on  each  side,  the  posterior  largest ;  scutel- 
lum smooth  ;  elytra  covered  with  punctures,  some  of  them 
arranged  in  lines ;  the  whole  of  the  upper  side  very  deep 
blackish  brown,  the  suture  pitchy  ;  front  of  the  head,  un- 
der side  of  body  and  legs  pitchy  brown  ;    under  side  of 

D 


10 


thorax  covered  with  long,  pale  ferruginous,  silky  hairs  ; 
raeso-tibisB  and  meta-tibite  behind  with  a  row  of  longish 
ferruginous  hairs. 

Length,  9j  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Waikouaiti),  Mr.  Earl. 

Family  Melolonthid.e. 
Rhisotrogus  Zealandicus. 

Head  dark  brown  punctured,  smooth  behind ;  clypeus 
yellowish  punctured  ;  thorax  dark  brown  in  the  middle, 
the  sides  yellowish,  a  smooth  impression  on  each  side  ; 
elytra  bulging  much  on  the  .side,  with  four  longitudinal 
lines,  the  sutiu-e  smooth  ;  head,  thorax  and  margins  of  ely- 
tra with  scattered  brownish  hairs  ;  legs  yellowish  ;  fore- 
tibiae  on  the  outside  with  three  largish  brown  teeth  ;  un- 
der side  of  abdomen  yellowLsh. 

In  one  variety  the  back  of  thorax  is  free  from  hairs  ;  in 
another  the  margin  of  elytra  is  brownish. 

Length,  5  to  5^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 


Odontria,  White. 

Head  large  ;  clypeus  rounded  on  the  sides,  in  front 
somewhat  straight,  the  edge  slightly  turned  up  ;  antennae 
eight-jointed,  first  joint  as  long  as  next  two  taken  together, 
considerably  bent  and  clubbed  at  the  end,  with  some  stiff- 
ish  bristles  directed  outwardly  and  a  fringe  of  delicate  hairs 
on  the  opposite  side,  second  joint  short,  inserted  on  upper 
part  of  first  before  the  end,  thickened  and  truncated  at  the 
lip,  third  longish,  sides  almost  parallel,  a  strong  tooth  di- 
rected backwards  at  the  base  on  the  outside,  head  formed 
of  five  leaf-like  plates,  first  the  shortest,  next  three  equal  in 
length  and  thickness,  third  thickest,  somewhat  convex  on 
outside  ;  elytra  almost  covering  the  abdomen,  sides  close 
to  the  base  slightly  bulging  ;  legs  with  the  fore-tibise  with 
three  teeth  on  the  outside,  at  the  end  very  oblique  ;  tibia; 
of  hind-legs  with  two  long  spines  on  outside  at  the  end, 
in  the  middle  hollowed  out  and  on  the  outside  crested 
round  with  sharpish  spines ;  tarsi  elongated,  each  joint 
with  several  spines  at  the  end. 

A  genus  of  Melolonthidse  not  far  from  Rhisotrogus. 
Described  from  a  male. 

Odontria  striata.    PI.  2,  /'.  5. 

Head  brown,  deeply  punctured,  behind  smooth  and  yel- 
low ;  clypeus  yellow,  with  a  brown  spot  behind  ;  thorax 
deep  brown,  the  sides  and  some  other  spots  yellowish,  co- 
vered with  longish  yellow  hairs,  with  some  black  inter- 
mixed ;  elytra  yellowish  brown,  with  nine  rows  of  blackish 
punctured  lines  and  a  few  blackish  spots  placed  irregularly 
between  some  of  these  rows,  a  few  longish  scattered  hairs 
on  the  upper  surface  ;  under  parts  of  thorax  covered  with 
soft  yellowish  hairs  ;  under-side  of  abdomen  yellow,  varied 
with  black  ;  legs  yellow,  with  some  blackish  hairs  and 
spines  on  tibiae  ;  tarsi  blackish. 

Length,  1^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Otago),  sides  of  hills  on  flowers. 


Odontria  xanthosticta. 

Head  deep  brown,  coarsely  punctured  ;  clypeus  brown- 
ish yellow  ;  thorax  and  elytra  covered  with  close-pressed, 
yellowish  brown,  silky  hairs,  the  surface  beneath  which  is 
deep  brown,  with  numerous  small  yellow  spots ;  under- 
side light  brown  ;   legs  paler. 

Length,  6  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Odontria  cinnamomea. 

Head  deep  brown  ;  clypeus  yellowish,  both  sparingly 
])unctured  ;  the  head  behind  with  a  smooth  transverse  line  ; 
thorax  and  elytra  of  an  almost  uniform  cinnamon  brown, 
covered  with  yellowish  brown  silky  hairs  ;  under-side  of 
legs  of  a  pale  yellow  ;  fore-tibiae  with  three  bluntish  teeth 
at  the  end. 

Length,  6  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  on  bushes. 


EusoMA,  White. 

Head  rather  large  ;  clypeus  rounded,  with  the  edge 
slightly  turned  up  ;  last  joint  of  palpi  the  largest,  oblong- 
ovate  ;  antennae  eight-jointed,  first  two  joints  thick  and 
rounded,  third  longish,  very  slightly  thicker  at  the  end, 
fourth  oblong,  four  last  joints  leaf-like,  the  fifth  the  short- 
est, the  last  three  nearly  equal  in  length  and  thickness ; 
thorax  transverse,  about  the  same  width  as  elytra,  the  sides 
somewhat  rounded  ;  elytra  covering  the  abdomen,  sides 
nearly  parallel ;  scutellum  longish  ;  legs  long  ;  tarsi  very 
long;  claws  simple  ;  front  tibife  on  the  outside  with  three 
teeth. 

A  beautiful  little  Lamellicorn  insect  near  Dichelony- 
cha,  Kirby. 


Edsoma  Rossii.     pi.  2,f.  1. 

Clypeus  yellow ;  head  in  front  and  spot  on  vertex  yel- 
low, space  before  and  to  the  side  of  the  eyes  deep  brown ; 
thorax  yellow,  with  three  longitudinal  lines  in  the  middle 
not  touching  the  front  margin,  the  middle  straight  and 
narrow,  the  side-lines  wider  and  somewhat  waved  ;  ely- 
tra yellow,  with  widish,  deep  brown  reticulations  ;  head 
and  thorax  with  irregular  punctures  ;  elytra  with  at  least 
nine  rows  of  longitudinal  stria; ;  legs  and  under-side  pale 
yellow. 

Length,  3;^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Kaudi). 

Pyronota,  Boisd.     Calonqta,  Hope. 
Pyronota  festiva. 
Pyronota  festiva,  Boisd.  Faune  de  VOc.  II.  214. 
Melolontha  festiva,  Fahr.  Enf.  Si/.it.  II.   166,  48.  Olir. 
t.  5,/.  48. 

Calonota  festiva,  Hope,  Col.  Man.  I.  40. 

Head    green  ;    clypeus   notched ;    antennas  ferruginous. 


11 


with  a  black  club  ;  thorax  smooth,  green,  shining,  with  a 
brown  dorsal  line  ;  elytra  green,  smooth,  with  nine  striaj, 
suture  brown ;  body  beneath  testaceous,  covered  with 
white  hairs  ■   sternum  porrect,  somewhat  horned. 

Var.  Melol.  laeta,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  166,  49,  Oliv.  t. 
6,f.  56. 

Above  of  a  golden  colour ;  line  on  thorax  and  scutellum 
of  a  red  colour. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Stethaspis,  Hope.     Micronyx,  Boisd. 
Stethaspis  suturalis.     pi.  2,Jiff.  7. 

Stethaspis  suturalis,  Hope,  Col.  Man.  I.  104. 

Melolontha  suturalis,  Fabr.  Ent.  Si/st.  II.  161,  -25.  Olii: 
t.  7,f.  85. 

Micronyx  chlorophyllus,  Boisd.    Voy.  Asirol.  II.    189. 

Rutele  chlorophylle,  Boisd.  I.  c.  Atlas,  t.  6,f.  18. 

Head  green,  unspotted,  margin  raised  ;  thorax  smooth, 
green,  the  margin  slightly  yellowish,  behind  bluntly  an- 
gled ;  elytra  smooth,  somewhat  striated,  green,  suture 
yellowish  ;  breast  and  abdomen  covered  with  white  hairs  ; 
legs  green  ;  tarsi  ferruginous. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Family  Tenebrionid^. 
Prioscelida,  White. 
Head  small,  transverse  ;  antennae  with  the  last  six  joints 
transverse  and  considerably  wider  than  the  others  ;  tho- 
rax as  wide  as  elytra,  somewhat  narrower  in  front ;  ante- 
rior tibiae  at  base  very  uan-ow  and  somewhat  cylindrical, 
on  the  inside  dilated,  on  the  outer  edge  serrated ;  nieso- 
tibiae  on  the  outside  with  many  short  spines ;  meta-tibiae 
quite  smooth  ;  femora  of  anterior  legs  thicker  than  the 
others. 

Prioscelida  tenebrionoides. 

Pitchy  brown  ;  thorax  very  slightly  margined,  polished 
and  very  delicately  punctulated  ;  elytra  with  eight  longi- 
tudinal striae  on  each,  the  striae  distinctly  punctured  ;  un- 
der-side and  legs  rather  lighter  in  colour  than  upper  part. 

Length,  Q^  to  7  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Waikouaiti),  in  sand  and  under 
stones. 

CiLIBE    granulosus. 

Cilibe  granulosus,  Breiiie,  Co.ssyph.  p.  39,  t.  7,f.  5. 

Clouded  brown,  elongated,  pointed  at  the  end,  smooth  ; 
head  porrect,  rounded ;  thorax  not  sinuated,  somewhat 
convex,  rugose,  with  the  disk  narrow,  rugose  ;  elytra  gra- 
nuled,  with  many  slight  ribs  ;  the  disk  nearly  obsolete. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 

CiLIBE    PHOSPHUGOIDES. 

Very  deep  brownish  black  ;  antennae  and  legs  slightly 
ferruginous  ;  head  and  thorax  very  closely  punctured  ; 
thorax  margined ;  elytra  very  irregularly  punctured,  and 
with  many  very  obscure  longitudinal  striae. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

A  species  resembling  the  preceding  in  many  respects, 
but  considerably  wider. 


Opatrum  tuberculicostatum.    pi.  \,J.  1.3. 

Covered  with  a  light  brown,  sponge-like  matter  ;  thorax 
with  the  side-margin  in  front  slightly  sinuated;  elytra  at  the 
base  depressed,  gradually  elevated  to  beyond  the  middle, 
then  somewhat  suddenly  inclined  to  the  tip,  each  with  four 
longitudinal  costae  in  addition  to  one  close  to  the  suture, 
on  which  are  some  warts  wider  than  the  ribs,  beyond  the 
middle  of  each  is  a  tubercle  higher  than  the  rest,  one  next 
the  suture  with  this  tubercle  farther  back  than  on  the 
others  ;  antennae  with  the  third  joint  longest. 

Length,  6  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mus.  Saunders. 

Opatrum  l^vigatum. 
Opatrum  Ijevigatum,  Fabr.  Ent.  Si/st.  I.  89,  5. 
Hab.  New  Zealand,  Banks'  Cabinet. 

Family  Helopid^. 
Adelium  harpaloides.     PL  \,f.  14. 
Greenish  olive  brown,  shining  ;  antennae  and  legs  ferru- 
ginous ;  head  and  thorax  very  finely  punctured  ;  the  head 
with  two  longitudinal  distant  grooves,  connected  in  front 
by  a  shallow  transverse  line  ;    thorax  scarcely  as  wide  as 
the  elytra,  very  finely  margined  ;  middle  and  hind  femora 
with  feiTuginous  hairs  behind. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (Waikouaiti). 

PsEtiDHELOPS,  Guerin. 
Pseudhelops  tukerculatus. 

Pseudhelops  tuberculatus,  Guerin,  Rev.  Zool.  1841, 125. 

Obscure  bronze  colour  above,  of  a  blackish  colour  be- 
neath, in  form  very  closely  approaching  Helops  caraboides, 
but  smaller,  and  a  little  more  contracted  behind ;  head 
and  thorax  very  finely  punctured  ;  two  very  feeble,  trans- 
verse impressions  on  the  head  ;  scutellum  small,  triangu- 
lar ;  elytra  oval,  convex,  somewhat  pointed  behind,  very 
finely  punctured,  with  striae  of  deep  and  oblong  points  ra- 
ther close  to  each  other  ;  each  elytron  has  behind  and 
near  the  end  four  oblong  tubercles  which  seem  to  be  form- 
ed by  the  termination  of  the  costaj,  effaced  on  the  disk  of 
the  elytra. 

Hab.  Auckland  Islands. 

Rygmodus,  White. 

Of  an  oval  shape,  very  convex  ;  the  head  and  thorax 
bent  down  ;  elytra  longer  and  wider  than  the  abdomen  ; 
legs  longish  and  somewhat  flattened;  clypeus  subquadrate, 
slightly  notched  at  the  end  ;  antennae  apparently  eight- 
jointed,  the  first  long  and  slender,  second  roundish,  third, 
fourth  and  fifth  small,  appearing  to  form  but  one  joint, 
sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  flattened  and  widened,  forming  a 
longish  club. 

Near  Amarygmus. 

Rygmodus  modestus. 
Head,  thorax,  scutellum,  under-side  and  legs  black  ;  ely- 
tra of  a  deep  metallic  green,  with  ten  longitudinal,  finely 


12 


punctured  striae,  the  marginal  not  reaching  the  base,  those 
nearest  the  suture  deepest ;  head  in  front  of  eyes  with  two 
impressed  dots,  above  very  finely  punctured  ;  thorax  with 
the  side-margin  somewhat  hollowed  above,  hind-margin 
with  two  distant  impressed  points. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Rygmodus  Pedinoides. 

Bronzy  black  ;  elytra  with  ten  longitudinal  striae,  rather 
deeply  grooved,  finely  punctured  and  running  up  close  to 
the  base  ;  clypeus  straight  in  front ;  thorax  somewhat  flat- 
tened on  the  sides,  with  two  distant  impressed  points  be- 
hind. 

In  this  species  the  legs  are  shorter  than  in  R.  modestus, 
and  the  elytra  are  less  attenuated  behind. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (under  stones). 

TlT^NA. 

Titajna,  Erichson,  Archiv.  F.  Nat.  1842,  178. 

TiT.ENA   ErICHSONII. 

Head,  thorax,  legs  and  under-side  of  a  deep  black  ;  the 
elytra  purple  ;  antennaj,  palpi  and  tarsi  ferruginous  ;  head 
and  thorax  ratter  finely  punctured,  the  latter  with  four  im- 
pressed points  on  the  disk  ;  each  elytron  with  eight  rows 
of  punctured  striaj  which  are  greenish,  the  spaces  between 
are  somewhat  raised  and  divided  into  oblong  tubercles  by 
short  transverse  grooves,  which  are  green,  but  not  punc- 
tured like  the  striae. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 

Tanychilus,  Newman,  Ent.  Mag.  V. 
Tanychilus  metallicus. 

Above  of  a  deep,  metallic,  shining  green,  darkest  on  the 
head  and  thorax  ;  under-side  of  body  and  legs  deep  black- 
ish brown  ;  head  with  the  eyes  distant,  above  finely  punc- 
tured, a  small,  smooth  space  in  the  middle  ;  thorax  very 
smooth,  with  two  or  three  impressions  behind ;  elytra  with 
eight  longitudinal,  closely  punctured  striaj,  and  one  much 
abbreviated  close  to  the  scutellum  ;  the  five  inner  rather 
deeply  grooved,  the  three  outer  quite  sui)erficial. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Wellington),  Capt.  Parry. 

Family  Diaperid,«. 
Ch.erodes,  White. 

Head  small,  wider  than  long ;  antenna3  twelve-jointed, 
first  joint  thickest,  oblong,  second  joint  very  smallj  almost 
concealed,  third  joint  rounded,  fourth  to  ninth  joints  close 
together,  somewhat  cup-shaped,  gradually  larger ;  three 
terminal  joints  wide,  cup-shaped,  nearly  equal  in  size ; 
thoraxt  ransverse,  very  convex  across,  sides  rounded,  some- 
what angulated  at  the  side  behind  ;  scutellum  very  small  ; 
elytra  ovato-quadrate,  sharp-pointed  at  the  end,  much 
arched  ;  legs  strong  ;  anterior  tibije  somewhat  flattened, 
deeply  sinuated  on  the  outside  and  ending  in  a  longish 
blunt  lobe  ;  front  tarsi  with  five  hairy  joints,  the  terminal 
widest ;  tarsi  of  middle  legs  with  five  somewhat  elongated 
joints,  the  basal  the  largest ;  hind  legs  with  four  somewhat 
cylindrical  joints,  the  basal  largest  and  thickest ;  tibia3  of 
middle  and  hind  legs  with  two  blunt  spines  at  the  end. 

Near  Phaleria. 


Ch^rodes  Trachyscelides.    pi.  ^,fi(j.  12. 

Pale  yellowish,  thickly  punctured ;  two  large  obscure 
spots  on  thorax  ;  the  greater  part  of  disk  of  elytra  with 
small  obscure  spots,  in  some  specimens  confluent ;  tibiae  of 
middle  and  hind  legs  at  the  end  thickly  covered  with  short, 
somewhat  rufous  bristles. 

Length,  3j  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Wellington),  Mus.  Saunders. 

BOLITOPHAGOS    ANTARCTICUS.       PI.   \,f.   12. 

Thorax  on  the  sides  with  three  strong  projecting  teeth, 
the  fore  and  hind  angles  also  sharp,  six  pointed  tubercles 
on  the  disk  in  two  longitudinal  rows,  the  disk  itself  cover- 
ed with  closely  placed  warts  ;  elytra  with  three  rows  of 
distant  pointed  tubercles  on  each,  the  side-margin  at  the 
end  with  two  or  three  teeth  ;  each  elytron  with  eight  rows 
of  punctured  striae.  The  whole  insect  is  of  a  rich  brown 
colour. 

Length,  Sg-  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mus.  Saunders, 
Parry. 

Pristoderus  scaber. 

Pristoderus  scaber,  Hope,  Col.  Man.  III.  181,  &.  p.  81. 
Dermestes  scaber,  Fabr.  Syst.  Ent.  57,  16. 
Hab.  N.  Zealand. 

Family  Mordellid^. 

MORDELLA    ANTARCTICA. 

Deep  black ;  a  small  spot  on  the  edge  close  to  the  base, 
and  a  waved  transverse  band  beyond  the  middle  of  each, 
white,  the  shoulder  with  a  raised  ridge  ;  imder-side  of  ab- 
domen v^'ith  a  few  whitish  spots  ;  head  slightly  hollowed 
in  the  middle  in  front. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Family  Melandryid^. 
Dry-ops  lineata. 

Dryops  lineata,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  75,  4. 

Lagria  lineata.  Fabr.  Syst.  Ent.  124,  3. 

Pale  ochrey ;  head  with  an  obscure  roundish  spot  on 
the  vertex  ;  thorax  with  three  brown  lines  ;  elytra  smooth, 
pale  ochrey,  with  a  wide  brown  vitta  not  reaching  the  tip  ; 
beneath  pale  ochrey. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

This  species  varies  much  in  size  ;  in  some  specimens 
there  is  only  one  bend  down  the  middle  of  thorax,  in 
others  there  is  a  brownish  dot  on  each  side  behind. 


Dry'op.s  strigipennis. 

Very  pale  yellowish ;  tips  of  the  mandibles  black,  be- 
tween the  eyes  brownish  ;  thorax  with  a  blackish  streak 
down  the  middle  ;  elytra  with  two  longitudinal  ribs  down 
each,  not  reaching  the  tip. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mr.  Colenso. 


13 


Family  CEdemerid.e. 

Selenopalpus,  White. 

Palpi  of  male  with  the  last  joint  very  large,  subfalcale 
and  lunate  at  end ;  head  depressed  and  somewhat  elon- 
gated; mandibles  sharp,  curved,  without  teeth  on  the  edge; 
antennsc  eleven-jointed;  second  joint  shortest,  the  other 
joints  cylindrical,  the  terminal  somewhat  thickened  about 
the  middle  and  pointed  at  the  end  ;  thorax  somewhat  lon- 
ger than  broad,  rather  depressed  above,  bulging  out  before 
the  middle  ;  elytra  elongated  ;  hind  legs  with  the  femora 
bent  and  thickened  and  grooved  beneath  ;  tibia;  flattened 
posterior  edge  undulated  ;  in  the  female  the  last  joint  of 
palpi  is  not  much  wider  than  the  preceding,  and  the 
hind-legs  are  simple  like  the  preceding. 

Selenopalpus  chalybeus. 

Deep  steel  blue ;  the  antennae,  palpi  and  jaws  black  ; 
thorax  in  front  and  behind  slightly  turned  up ;  on  the  back 
with  two  or  three  depressions ;  elytra  finely  punctured 
with  two  longitudinal  ribs  near  the  suture. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (,y  $). 

Selenopalpus  subviridis. 

Bluish-green  ;  the  elytra  with  short  depressed  hairs  ; 
thorax  above  even. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  ( 2 )  Waimate. 

The  Dryops  cyanea,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  76.  5,  seems 
closely  allied  to  this. 

Family  Bruchid^e. 
Anthribus  incertus.      pi.  3,Ji(/.  6. 

Thorax  slightly  rounded  and  ridged  behind,  in  front 
pointed  in  the  middle  ;  above  minutely  and  thickly  punc- 
tured and  slightly  grooved  down  the  middle,  sprinkled 
with  greyish  hairs ;  elytra  with  nine  longitudinal  stria; 
deeply  punctured,  nearly  obsolete  at  the  end ;  both  the 
elytra  and  thorax  in  unrubbed  specimens  are  most  likely 
covered  with  grayish  scaly  hairs ;  under-side  of  body 
closely  covered  with  ash-coloured  hairs ;  antennfe  with 
three  terminal  joints  flattened  and  much  dilated,  the  first 
eight  somewhat  moniliform. 

Length,  2f  lines. 

Hab.  N.  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 


Family  Brentid^. 
Brentus  cylinbricornis. 

Brentus  cylindricomis,  Fabr.  Ent.  Si/st.  II.  494.  9. 

Beak  dull  ferruginous;  antennne  twice  the  length  of  the 
thorax,  dull  ferruginous,  with  cylindrical  joints  ;  thorax 
rounded,  bronzy  black,  very  much  polished,  not  chanelled; 
elytra  blunt,  striated,  ferruginous,  with  numerous  short  yel- 
low lines,  which  at  the  base  and  tip  nearly  form  a  band  ; 
femora  toothed. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Brentus  barbicounis. 

Brentus  barbicomis,  Fabr.  Ent.  Si/st.  II.  491.  1.     ^ 
Brentus  assimilLs,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  491.  2.      S 

Male.  Beak  very  long,  with  a  line  of  close-set  hairs 
beneath  :  elytra  elongated,  clubbed  at  the  end. 

Female.     Beak  short,  smooth  below. 

Hab.  in  the  wood  of  Kaudi  Pine.  Dr.  Hooker,  Dr. 
Sinclair. 


Rhinaria  sex-tuberculata.     pi.  S,Jiff.  8. 

Black,  covered  with  gray  hairs  lying  in  different  direc- 
tions ;  two  black  streaks  on  thorax  parallel  with  the  sides ; 
elytra  varied  with  black  spots,  continuous  on  the  margin 
and  sutures  ;  each  of  the  elytra  ^vith  three  large,  somewhat 
compressed  tubercles,  one  near  the  base  close  to  the  suture, 
one  near  the  middle  and  rather  closer  to  the  suture  than 
the  side-margin,  the  last  near  the  tip  and  closer  to  the  mar- 
gin than  the  suture  ;  elytra  with  a  slight  tail  and  notch  be- 
tween the  suture  and  tail ;  beak  from  the  eye  to  the  end 
as  long  as  thorax,  slightly  thickened  at  the  end  ;  antennae 
as  long  as  the  head  and  thorax,  situated  midway  near  the 
lower  part;  third  joint  the  longest  and  most  slender;  fifth 
joint  slightly  thickened  at  the  end ;  the  next  five  joints 
more  so  and  flattened ;  the  terminal  joint  conical  at  the 
end  ;  thorax  narrow  in  front ;  legs  with  gray  scales  and 
hairs  ;    two  rings  of  whitish  hairs  on  the  tibia;. 

Length,  6|-  lines. 

Hab.  Port  Nicholson,  Mr.  Earl. 

This  species  is  nearly  allied  to  another  New  Zealand 
species  in  the  Banksian  cabinet,  the  Curculio  tridens, 
Fabr.  Syst.  El.  II.  537,  186.  Oliv.  Col.  t.  13,/.  154  (Rhi- 
naria tridens). 


Family  Curculionid^. 
Brachyolus,  White. 

Antennae  longish,  rather  stout,  funiculus  seven-jointed  ; 
basal  joint  of  antenna;  as  long  as  the  head,  but  not  the 
length  of  the  other  joints  taken  together;  club  ovate, 
pointed,  indistinctly  jointed ;  beak  short,  considerably 
thickened  ;  eyes  oblong,  not  very  prominent ;  thorax  near- 
ly square,  rather  wider  in  front  than  behind ;  scutellum 
not  visible  ;  elytra  taken  together  cordate  ;  at  the  base  of 
each  in  the  middle  a  tubercle  directed  backwards  ;  at  the 
tip  bluntish ;  legs  short  and  stout. 

This  genus  comes  near  Cyclomus  and  Otiorhynchus :  it 
is  densely  covered  with  scales. 

Brachyolus  punctatus.     PL  3,Jig  5. 

Pale  ochrey  yellow  ;  thorax  above  rather  deeply  pitted, 
behind  brownish  yellow  ;  elytra  with  a  transverse  yellow- 
ish brown  band,  with  many  longitudinal  lines  of  rather 
deep  points ;  on  each  elytron  near  the  end  are  two  protu- 
berances, the  innermost  largest. 

Length,  2^  to  3  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parrj'. 


14 


Platyomida,  White. 

Antennae  long,  slender,  basal  joint  nearly  reaching  the 
front  of  thorax ;  funiculus  seven-jointed,  first  two  joints 
longest,  all  the  joints  thickened  at  the  end  and  furnished 
with  longish  hairs;  club  elongated,  three-jointed,  last  joint 
pointed  ;  thorax  not  much  wider  than  the  head,  nearly  as 
wide  as  long  ;  scutellum  small,  rounded  at  the  end  ;  ely- 
tra widest  just  beyond  the  middle,  each  elytron  pointed  at 
the  end  ;  legs  longish,  femora  somewhat  clubbed  near  the 
end  ;  tibiae  of  fore  and  middle  legs  slightly  bent  at  the  end  ; 
tarsi  with  the  second  joint  small. 

This  new  genus  approaches  some  of  the  species  of  Pla- 
tyoraus. 


Hoplocnp:me  cinnamomea. 

Rich  chestnut  brown  ;  head  gi-adually  wider  behind, 
beak  ferruginous,  between  the  eyes  some  fulvous,  chestnut 
scales  ;  thorax  thickly  clothed  with  fulvous  chestnut 
scales,  with  a  few  blackish  hairs  intermixed  ;  scutellum 
pale  yellow  ;  elytra  covered  with  fulvous  chestnut  scales, 
the  sides  ferruginous,  the  back  with  many  shallow,  longi- 
tudinal lines,  with  impressed  points  ;  many  elongated, 
palish  hairs,  running  somewhat  in  lines  and  mixed  with 
the  scales  on  the  upper  part  of  the  elytra  ;  legs  ferrugi- 
nous, smooth. 

Length,  2^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand, — Colenso  Esq. 


Platyomida  binodis. 

Grayish,  with  pink  and  purplish  reflections  ;  thorax 
grooved  in  the  middle,  somewhat  warty  above  ;  elytra  with 
many  longitudinal  rows  of  deepish  points,  each  with  a 
large,  somewhat  compressed  tubercle  near  the  suture,  be- 
yond the  middle. 

Length,  5 J  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 


Otiorhvnchus  guiseus. 

Grayish  ;  beak  in  the  middle  above  with  a  short,  smooth 
keel  ;  thorax  somewhat  rounded,  rather  deeply  punctured, 
deep  brown,  with  gi-ayish  scales  ;  elytra  covered  with 
small,  gray  scales,  the  shoulder  somewhat  bluntly  keeled, 
the  back  with  longitudinal  rows  of  punctures  placed  some- 
what in  pairs,  and  with  small  hairs  proceeding  from  the  in- 
terstices ;    tibiae  with  longish,  white  hairs. 

Length,  S^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand, — Colenso  Esq. 

Rhadinosomus  acuminatus. 

Rhadinosomus    acuminatus,    Schonh.     Cure.    VI.    473. 

Curculio  acuminatus,  Fabr.  Syst.  Ent.  152,  132.  Oliv. 
PL  11,/.  139. 

Leptosomus  acuminatus,  Schonh.  Cure.  l\.  169.  Waterh. 
Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  U.  192.  PL  17,/.  2. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


HoPLOCNEME,  White. 

Antennas  moderate,  scape  reaching  to  beyond  the  eye, 
somewhat  beut,  very  little  thickened  at  the  end  ;  funiculus 
six-jointed,  first  joint  thickest,  the  next  five  somewhat  cup- 
shaped,  the  club  nearly  as  long  as  the  funiculus,  four- 
jointed,  two  first  joints  cup-shaped,  last  joint  bluntish  ; 
beak  shortish,  thick,  depressed,  antennal  groove  short, 
transverso-oblique,  beginning  near  the  end  of  beak  ;  eyes 
largish  and  prominent  ;  thorax  somewhat  strangulated  in 
front,  sides  rather  straight ;  scutellum  distinct,  sides  paral- 
lel, end  rounded  ;  elytra  straightish  at  the  base,  elongated, 
sides  nearly  parallel  ;  intermediate  and  hind  pairs  of  legs 
with  a  strong,  compressed  tooth  near  the  end  of  the  femo- 
ra ;  tibia;  slightly  curved. 

Not  far  removed  from  Orchestes. 


HOPLOCNEME    HOOKEEI. 

Bluish  black,  with  ferruginous  legs  ;  head  behind  the 
eyes  wider  than  the  thorax  in  front,  beak  smoothish  ; 
head  thickly  punctured  above  ;  scape  of  antennas  pale  fer- 
ruginous ;  thorax  thickly  punctured  above,  below  on  each 
side  with  a  widish  line  of  white,  close-pressed  hairs  ;  ely- 
tra without  scales  or  hairs,  with  many  longitudinal  lines 
with  impressed  dots,  the  interstices  with  short,  transverse 
lines. 

Length,  2  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Okopterus,  White. 
Antennae  longish,  scape  just  reaching  to  the  eye,  straight- 
ish ;  funiculus  seven-jointed,  the  last  joints  nearly  equal  in 
thickness  and  close  together,  club  ovate, joints  indistinct; 
beak  long,  considerably  curved,  cylindrical,  a  groove  on 
the  sides  for  the  scape  of  antennas;  thorax  gradually  wider 
behind,  the  sides  nearly  straight,  in  front  and  behind  ab- 
rupt ;  elytra  at  the  base  straight,  with  a  conical  protube- 
rance in  the  middle,  elytra  rounded  at  the  end  ;  legs  long- 
ish ;  femora  very  slightly  thickened  near  the  end  ;  tibiiE 
straight. 

Okopterus  coniger.    PL  S,Jig.  15. 

Pale  ferruginous  ;  beak  and  head  punctured  ;  thorax 
finely  striated  transversely  ;  elytra  rather  coarsely  punc- 
tured in  lines,  with  a  strong,  conical,  pointed  protuberance 
nearer  the  margin  than  the  suture,  smooth  and  free  fi'om 
hairs  ;  legs  paler  than  upper  parts. 

Length,  2  lines 

Hab.  N.  Zealand. 

ScoLOPTERUs,  White. 
Antennae  situated  in  a  slight  depression  on  the  side  of 
beak  near  the  tip,  moderate,  slender,  scape  reaching  be- 
yond the  eyes,  as  long  as  the  rest  of  the  antennae  ;  funicu- 
lus seven-jointed,  first  joint  equal  to  the  following  two 
taken  together,  very  distinct  from  them  and  thickened  at 
the  end,  the  others  gradually  larger  as  they  approach  the 
club,  which  is  very  long  and  very  distinctly  three-jointed, 
the  first  two  joints  cup-shaped  ;  beak  slightly  bent,  some- 
what depressed  ;  eyes  flattened  ;  thorax  gradually  wider 
behind,  the  sides  perfectly  straight,  in  fi-ont  and  behind 


15 


truncated,  longer  than  wide  ;  elytra  spined ;  femora  of 
hind  legs  with  a  strong,  compressed  spine  on  the  under- 
side near  the  end  ;    tibiae  considerably  bent  at  the  base. 

SCOLOPTERDS  TETRACANTHUS. 

Head  and  thorax  deep  black  ;  elytra  greenish  bronze, 
the  spines  pui-phsh  black,  the  femora  purplish  black,  the 
remainder  of  the  legs  purplish  feiTUginous  ;  head  and  tho- 
rax quite  smooth  ;  elytra  very  deeply  punctured  in  lines, 
the  shoulders  produced  into  a  thick  angular  spine  directed 
outwards  and  very  slightly  upwards  ;  each  elytron  about 
the  middle  with  a  strong  spine  near  the  suture  directed 
somewhat  backwards  and  tufted  with  hair  at  the  end  ;  the 
intermediate  femora  with  a  compressed  spine  below  near 
the  end. 

Length,  3f  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

SCOLOPTERUS  PENICILLATUS.    PI.  3,^(/.   10. 

Head  and  thorax  black,  the  latter  with  a  fine  purplish 
hue  ;  elytra  of  a  glossy  olive  brown  ;  legs  all  black  ;  head 
and  thorax  very  smooth  ;  elytra  punctured  in  lines,  but 
not  deeply,  the  shoulder  with  a  bluntish,  not  very  promi- 
nent angle  ;  about  the  middle  of  the  elytra  a  high,  regular 
conical  protuberance,  blunt  at  the  top  and  with  a  pointed 
tuft  of  black  hairs  ;  middle  femora  with  a  distinct  tooth 
near  the  end. 

Length,  2i  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

SCOLOPTERUS    BIDENS.     PL  S,Jll/.   12. 

Curculio  bidens,  Fahr.  Syst.  Ent.  136,  51.  Oliv.  Col. 
t.  10,/.  113. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Ancistropterus,  White. 
Head  and  thorax  much  nan-ower  than  the  elytra  at  the 
base  ;  eyes  verj-  large  ;  beak  long,  very  slightly  curved, 
somewhat  thickened  at  the  end  ;  mandibles  prominent, 
thick  and  somewhat  bent  at  the  end;  antennae  very  long, 
springing  from  a  depression  on  the  upper  side  of  the 
back  near  the  end,  the  scape  reaching  a  little  beyond 
the  eyes,  nearly  as  long  as  the  rest  of  antennas,  se- 
cond joint  as  long  as  third  and  fourth  together,  and 
at  the  end  double  their  thickness,  club  long,  somewhat 
pointed  at  the  end,  formed  apparently  of  three  joints, 
the  two  last  closely  united  ;  elytra  together  triangular,  the 
shoulders  hooked,  the  hook  standing  out,  each  elytron 
about  the  middle  with  a  strong,  somewhat  erect  spine, 
bristly  at  the  end  ;  legs  long,  femora  slightly  clavate,  with 
a  small  tooth  below  near  the  end. 

Ancistropterus  qcadrispinosos.    PI.  i,fig.  14. 
Head  and  thorax  black,  rather  coarsely  puncttired  ;  au- 
tennce  obscm-e,  scape  ferruginous  ;    thorax  down  the  mid- 
dle with  a  band  of  yellowish  hairs  ;    elytra  brownish  red, 
with  longitudinal  lines  formed  of  deepish  dots,  the  spines 


black,  a  narrow,  straight  line  of  white  hairs  runs  from 
behind  the  middle  spines  to  the  tip  of  each  elytron  ;  under 
side  of  body  black  ;  legs  light  ferruginous. 

Length,  2|  lines. 

Hab.  Port  Nicholson,  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 

PSEPHOLAX. 

Psepholax,  White,  DieffenbaclCs  New  Zeal.  H.  27.5. 

Beak  short,  perpendicularly  bent  down,  wide,  somewhat 
dilated  at  the  end  ;  antennae  spring  from  the  end  of  a  deep 
groove,  twelve -jointed,  first  joint  as  long  as  the  next  seven 
joints  taken  together,  the  tip  nearly,  if  not  quite,  reaching 
the  eye,  very  smooth  and  gradually  thickened  to  the  end,  the 
second  joint  minute,  the  five  preceding  the  club  some- 
what moniliform,  club  large,  oval,  pointed  at  the  end  (of 
four  joints  ?),  covered  with  minute  hairs  ;  eyes  roundish, 
of  an  ovate  elhptical  form  ;  thorax  behind  nearly  as  wide 
as  the  elytra  at  the  base  ;  elytra  widest  a  little  behind  the 
base  ;  legs  rather  stout,  femora  thickened,  those  of  the 
first  pair  with  the  margin  sinuated,  bulging  into  a  broad, 
blunt  tooth  ;  tibiae  of  second  pair  with  a  strong  tooth  near 
the  end. 

Psepholax  sulcatus.    PI.  3,  Jig.  1. 

Psepholax  sulcatus,  Wliite,  I.  c. 

Deep  pitchy,  brownish  black  ;  thorax  above  with  three 
distinct,  brownish  ashy  lines,  the  lateral  ones  broadest  and 
somewhat  irregular,  these  lines  are  formed  by  distinct,  co- 
loured scales  ;  elytra  ribbed,  each  with  at  least  six  raised 
ribs,  two  of  which  meet  at  the  end,  some  of  them  have 
erect  scales  along  the  irregular  edge,  between  each  is  a 
line  of  impressed  points,  the  sides  of  the  elytra  at  the 
broadest  part  are  very  hairy  ;  legs  punctate  and  like  the 
under  surface  of  the  body,  with  brownish  ashy  hairs,  long- 
est on  the  posterior  part  of  the  tibiee  and  tarsi. 

Length,  about  4  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Dr.  Sinclair. 

Psepholax  barbifrons. 

Beak  with  two  longitudinal  rows  of  ferruginous  hairs  on 
the  margin  directed  forwards  ;  thorax  thickly  punctured  ; 
elytra  narrower  than  in  P.  sulcatus,  with  eight  longitudinal 
striae,  the  intervening  spaces  flat  at  the  base,  two  of  these 
at  the  tip  raised  and  crested  with  light  brown  scales;  whole 
insect  deep  brown,  mixed  with  lighter  coloured  scales. 

Length,  4  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mr.  Earl. 

Psepholax  coron.atus.    PI.  3,  Jig.  4. 

Black  ;  thorax  punctured,  with  three  interrupted  lines 
of  grayish  scales  ;  elytra  very  slightly  grooved,  the  base 
with  many  slight,  transverse  rugosities,  on  the  posterior 
half  a  circle  of  erect  spines,  behind  which  are  two  or  three 
rows  of  shorter  spines,  near  the  base  a  transverse  band  of 
grayish  scales,  under  side  of  body  covered  with  short, 
gi-ayish  hairs. 

Length,  4  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Waikouaiti),  in  the  centre  of  a  tree, 
Mr.  Earl. 


16 


Oreda,  White. 

Antennae  with  the  first  joint  scarcely  reaching  to  the  eye, 
somewhat  bent  and  with  a  longish  club  at  the  end,  second 
joint  small,  rounded  (others  broken  off)  ;  head  not  so  long 
as  the  thorax,  beak  depressed,  with  two  very  distinct,  broad 
mandibles  at  the  end  ;  antennae  spring  from  the  end  of  a 
groove,  which  begins  before  the  middle  of  the  beak  and  ex- 
tends to  the  eye  ;  eyes  round,  moderate,  flattened,  situated 
at  the  base  of  beak  in  an  angle,  and  slightly  directed  for- 
wards ;  under  part  of  head  large,  bulging  and  rounded  ; 
thorax  in  front  above  nan-owed  and  tubular,  sides  much 
rounded,  behind  truncated  and  somewhat  bisinuated ;  ely- 
tra in  front  of  about  the  same  width  as  the  thorax  behind, 
near  the  apex  somewhat  depressed,  the  tip  rounded,  the 
edge  of  elytra  widely  sinuated  ;  pygidium  not  exposed  ; 
legs  shortish,  stout,  femora  notched  at  the  end,  a  wide 
groove  between  the  fore  legs. 

This  genus  seems  to  come  near  Piazorus,  Schonh. 


Ori 


NOTATA.       PI.  3,Jlff. 


Deep,  rich  blackish  brown,  the  beak  very  finely  punc- 
tured, a  slight  groove  in  a  small  smooth  space  on  the  up- 
per side  of  beak  between  the  antennae  ;  thorax  thickly 
punctured,  with  black  scales  in  many  of  the  punctures,  and 
two  small  spots  of  yellow  scales,  one  on  each  side  in  front, 
each  of  the  posterior  angles  with  a  transverse  line  of  yel- 
low scales  ;  elytra  with  distinct,  longitudinal  grooves, 
which  are  punctured  and  shining  black,  with  small  scat- 
tered patches  of  yellowish  scales. 

Length,  5  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

The  only  specimen  of  this  insect  which  I  have  seen  is 
much  mutilated,  the  fore  legs  and  the  greater  part  of  an- 
tennae being  broken  off.  It  has  much  the  appearance, 
at  first  sight,  of  Pissodes  Pini. 

Aldonus,   White. 

Antennae  moderate,  first  joint  not  reaching  to  the  eye, 
very  slightly  bent  and  gradually  thickened  to  the  end ;  fu- 
niculus seven-jointed,  first  and  second  joints  longish,  the 
second  longer  than  the  first  and  considerably  thickened  at 
the  end,  the  last  five  joints  somewhat  cup-shaped,  gi-adual- 
ly  wider  to  the  end,  the  club  being  hardly  distinct  from 
the  funiculus,  ovate,  slightly  pointed  and  indistinctly 
thi-ee-jointed  ;  beak  rather  long,  not  thickened  at  the  end, 
the  sides  nearly  parallel,  side  antennal  groove  beginning 
before  the  middle  and  continued  to  the  eye,  widening  be- 
hind ;  thorax  somewhat  contracted  in  front,  rounded  on 
the  sides,  with  a  considerable  lobe  on  each  side  of  hind 
margin,  which  has  two  wide  sinuations  on  the  middle  part, 
above  somewhat  depressed  ;  scutellum  very  small  and  con- 
siderably sunk  ;  elytra  with  the  sides  for  a  good  space 
parallel,  the  end  rounded  and  completely  covering  the  ab- 
domen ;  legs  moderate  in  length  and  thickness,  femora 
somewhat  compres.sed,  deeply  notched  on  the  underside 
near  the  end  ;  a  wide  groove  on  the  under  side  of  thorax 
extending  to  the  base  of  second  pair  of  legs. 


Aldoncs  hylobioides.    pi.  'i,Jig.  9. 

Black,  thickly  covered  with  grayish  yellow  scales  ;  tho- 
rax thickly  punctured  ;  elytra  with  several  longitudinal 
lines,  deeply  punctured,  thickly  covered  with  grayish  yel- 
low scales,  sprinkled  with  black,  some  small,  irregular 
black  marks  on  elytra,  especially  about  the  middle  and 
near  the  end;  under  side  of  body  black,  rather  deeply 
punctate,  with  a  few  scattered,  yellowish  gray  hairs ;  legs 
black,  rather  thickly  covered  with  yellowish  gray  hairs. 

Length,  5f  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

In  Capt.  Parry's  collection  there  is  another  specimen 
not  half  the  size  of  the  above,  and  differing  from  it  some- 
what in  marking,  but  in  other  respects  so  similar  that  I  can 
only  regard  it  as  a  small  variety.  There  is  a  waved,  black 
line  on  the  side  of  each  elytron. 

EUTHYRHINUS    SQUAMIGER.     PL  3,Ji(J.  3. 

Beak  straight ;  thorax  very  narrow  in  front,  somewhat 
flattened  above  ;  elytra  at  the  base  near  the  scutellum, 
with  a  rounded,  prominent  lobe,  between  which  and  the 
sharpish-pointed  shoulder  is  a  considerable  sinuation, 
above  .slightly  striated  longitudinally,  behind  very  sharp- 
pointed  ;  head,  thorax  and  elytra  with  round  scales  of 
black  and  white  mixed,  front  of  thorax  just  behind  the 
crown  of  head  with  two  tufts  of  whitish  hairs  ;  femora  ra- 
ther thicker  in  the  middle,  with  a  considerable  notch  at  the 
end  ;  legs  covered  with  whitish  scales. 

Length,  5  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Observatory). 

This  species  in  size  and  general  appearance  is  closely 
allied  to  Euthyrhinus  meditabundus.  Cheer.  Schonh,  (Cnr- 
culio  meditabundus,  Fairicius  Ent.  Syst.  II.  432). 

Rhynchodes,  White. 

Beak  slightly  thickened  at  the  end  and  somewhat  bent 
throughout,  the  antennal  groove  extending  to  the  eye ; 
thorax  in  front  narrowed,  sides  bulging,  somewhat  flattened 
above;  scutellum  a  roundish  raised  knob;  elytra  elongated, 
covering  the  abdomen  ;  sides  compressed  and  parallel, 
suddenly  sloping  to  the  end,  which  is  sharp-pointed  the 
back  is  very  convex,  transversely  and  longitudinally,  deeply 
grooved,  at  the  base,  near  the  scutellum  rounded,  near  the 
margin  sinuated  ;  legs  with  the  femora  nearly  of  equal 
thickness,  slightly  sinuated  beneath  near  the  end. 

This  genus  approaches  closely  to  Euthyrhinus  of  Che- 
vrolat. 

Rhynchodes  ursds.    PI.  3,/.  16. 

Deep  brown  ;  the  thorax  with  two  longitudinal  bands  of 
a  lighter  colour  near  the  side  ;  elytra  above  with  five  rows 
of  hairs,  on  each  side  of  which  is  a  row  of  very  deep  punc- 
tures, between  every  two  of  which  is  a  smoothish  ridge  ; 
across  the  elytra  are  two  obscure,  dai-k  brown  bands  ;  legs 
black,  femora  above  at  the  end  with  a  spot  of  yellowish 
brown  hairs  ;  abdomen  beneath  with  the  last  segment 
having  two  tufts  of  hair. 

Length,  10^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mr.  Earl. 


Rhynchodes  Saundersii.    pi.  3,/.  13. 

Covered  with  a  light,  gray  down,  the  hairs  of  which  run 
in  different  directions  ;  thorax  closely  punctured,  a  short 
ridge  in  the  middle  behind  ;  elytra  on  upper  part  with 
three  double  rows  of  punctures,  between  every  two  of 
which  is  a  slight  ridge  ;  antennae  more  slender  and  less 
heavy  than  in  R.  ursus  ;  femora  with  the  inside  and  the 
tips  above  with  short,  grayish  hairs. 

Length,  8^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mus.  Saunders. 

Stephanorhynchus,  White. 
Antennae  long,  slender,  inserted  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
side  of  the  beak  near  the  tip,  first  joint  reaching  to  beyond 
the  eyes,  slightly  curved  at  the  baise,  thickened  at  the  end  in- 
to a  club;  funiculus  seven-jointed,  firstjoint  longest,  thick- 
ened at  the  end  and  very  distinct  from  the  others,  the  second 
slightly  elongated,  other  five  almost  globular,  club  almost 
as  long  as  funiculus,  three-jointed,  the  first  joint  cup- 
shaped,  the  second  the  longest,  gradually  thicker  towards 
the  end,  the  terminal  joint  ovate  and  pointed  at  the  end  ; 
beak  long,  thick,  slightly  bent,  squareish  ;  an  oblique,  deep 
groove  from  the  base  of  antenns,  terminating  on  side  of 
under  part  considerably  before  the  eye,  beak  crested  in  the 
middle  in  front  of  the  eye,  and  on  the  vertex  a  considerable 
prominence  with  two  slight  tufts  ;  head  behind  the  eyes 
strangulated  ;  eyes  lateral,  round,  large,  prominent,  situ- 
ated behind  the  middle  of  head  ;  thorax  somewhat  angu- 
lated  on  the  sides,  narrow  in  front,  almost  straight  behind ; 
scutellum  longer  than  wide  ;  elytra  oblong,  widest  at  base, 
end  bluntish,  shoulders  rectangular  ;  legs  long,  femora 
thick,  clavate,  with  a  strong,  compressed  tooth  on  the  un- 
der side  ;  tibiae  slender,  those  of  first  two  pairs  of  legs 
slightly  curved,  the  tibiae  of  hind  legs  very  much  curved. 

Stephanorhynchus  ccrvipes.    PL  3,/.  11. 

Deep  yellowish  brown,  varied  with  spots  and  lines  of 
different  shades  of  colour  ;  legs  yellowish,  posterior  femora 
above  with  a  black  band  ;  elytra  with  two  longish,  keeled 
protuberances,  one  on  each  side  of  the  suture  about  the 
middle. 

This  species  seems  to  vary  much  in  colour,  some  speci- 
mens being  of  a  light,  others  of  a  darkish  gray. 

Length,  85-  to  4  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mus.  Brit.,  Parry. 

This  appears  to  be  closely  allied  to  a  Brazilian  insect 
described  by  Fabricius  from  the  Banksian  collection,  the 
Curculio  attelaboides,  Fabr.  Syst.  El.  II.  543,  227.  Olivier. 
Col.  522,  t.  14,/.  174. 

Curculio  mouestus. 
Curculio  modestus,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  IL  453,  250.    Oliv. 
Col.  t.  14,/  178. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 

EORHAMPHUS    FASCICULATUS. 

Eurhamphus  fasciculatus,  Shuckard,  Ent.  Mag.  V.  506, 
t.  18. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Dryophthorus,  Sch. 
Dryophthorus  bituberculatus.     pi.  3,/  7. 

Dryophthorus  bituberculatus,  Schonh.   Cure.  IV.  1090. 

Curculio  bituberculatus,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  I.  414,  90. 

Calandra  bituberculata,  Oliv.  t.  13,/  167. 

Pitchy  brown  ;  antennas  and  legs  reddish  ;  beak  not 
impressed  at  the  base  ;  thorax  deeply  punctured,  slightly 
constricted  within  the  tip,  slightly  rounded  on  the  sides  ; 
elytra  towards  the  tip  somewhat  attenuated,  punctato-stri- 
ated,  the  spaces  between  flattish,  the  points  over  the  body 
filled  with  grayish  scales. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (in  the  wood  of  the  Kaudi,  Dammara 
australis),  varying  much  in  size.  From  an  oversight  Fab- 
ricius has  described  the  thorax  as  two-tuberculated,  the 
elytra  where  they  begin  to  be  narrowed  project  a  little,  and 
the  name  would  seem  to  be  derived  from  this  circumstance. 
In  some  of  the  specimens,  longish,  suberect,  whitish  scales 
are  mixed  with  the  gray.  It  is  very  doubtful  whether  the 
insect  described  by  Schonherr  and  figured  here,  be  the 
Fabrician  species. 

Family  Trogositid.e. 
Trggosita,  Fabr. 
Trogosita  affinis. 
Pitchy  brown,  with  a  depression  on  the  vertex  ;  front  of 
the  head  in  the  middle  without  two  little  teeth,  both  head 
and  thorax  rather  deeply  punctured  ;    elytra  at  the  base 
near  the  shoulder  with  a  slight  depression,   the  elytra  in 
other  respects  closely  resemble  those  of  the  T.  caraboides, 
a  very  widely  distributed  sj^ecies. 
licngth,  4  to  4j  lines. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Gymnocheila,  G.  R.  Gray. 
Gymnocheila  nigro-spaesa. 

Deep,  bronzy,  greenish  black  ;  the  elytra  nearly  cover- 
ed with  gray  scales,  with  several  black  spots  ;  head  be- 
tween the  eyes  with  a  deepish  dej^ression,  and  a  notch  in 
front  of  it,  above  rather  deeply  punctured,  some  of  the 
punctures  elongated,  behind  and  over  the  eyes  a  row  of 
gray  scales  ;  thorax  with  two  longitudinal  fun-ows  down 
the  middle,  which  are  punctured  and  slightly  squamose, 
the  sides  hollowed  out  above  and  thickly  punctured,  the 
punctures  filled  with  gray  scales,  middle  of  thorax  quite 
smooth  ;  each  of  the  elytra  with  seven  longitudinal  ridges, 
the  sides  of  the  ridges  punctured,  the  interstices  filled  with 
grayish  scales,  with  some  patches  of  black  scales,  which 
aremore  erect  than  the  others,  the  margin  of  elytra  regu- 
larly tesselated  with  patches  of  gray  and  black  scales  ;  un- 
der side  and  legs  deep  pitchy  brown. 

Length,  6  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  in  Kaudi  wood,  Dr.  Hooker. 

Gymnocheila  sobrina. 
Grayish  brown,  with  a  ievf  spots  and  bands  of  a  brown- 
ish black ;  head  in  front  of  the  eyes  with  two  slight  depres- 
sions, separated  by  a  notch  ;  thorax  smooth  in  the  middle, 

F 


18 


considerably  punctured,  blackish,  sides  margined  with 
grayish  scales  ;  elytra  with  seven  longitudinal  keels,  regu- 
larly punctured  down  the  edge,  the  punctures  reddish 
brown,  the  edge  between  green,  the  interstices  between  the 
rows  with  brownish  gray  scales,  a  few  spots  and  a  trans- 
verse band  or  two  of  a  deepish  brown  colour  ;  legs  with 
the  tibia3  ferruginous. 

Length,  5  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Wellington),  Capt.  Parry. 

Family  Bostrichid.e. 

Apate  minutus. 
Apate  minutus,  Fabr.  Syst.  Etit.  54,  4. 
Hab.  New  Zealand,  Banks'  cabinet. 

Platypus  apicalis. 

Deep  brown  ;  the  basal  joint  of  antenna;,  the  metathorax 
and  femora  yellow  ;  head  sloping,  a  slight  keel  on  the  ver- 
tex in  the  middle  ;  thorax  very  smooth,  shining,  the  side 
with  a  depression  for  the  fore  legs,  with  a  notch  hardly  vi- 
sible from  above  ;  elytra  rather  deeply  channelled,  sloping 
behind,  with  a  strong,  tooth-like  projection  on  each  near 
the  end,  closer  to  the  margin  than  the  suture  ;  anterior 
tibia3  with  oblique  grooves,  which  terminate  on  the  outside 
in  teeth. 

Length,  2|  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (in  Kaudi  wood). 

Lyctus  depressiusculus. 

Deep  blackish  brown  ;  antennae  much  shorter  than  the 
thorax  ;  thorax  with  a  squareish  depression  in  the  middle, 
a  distinct  margin  on  the  sides,  coarsely  punctured  above  ; 
elytra  with  longitudinal  lines  of  longish  punctures. 

Length,  nearly  2  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

Family  Cucujid.e. 
Dendrophagus  brevicornis. 

Pitchy  brown,  varying  in  shade  in  different  specimens  ; 
antennae  when  stretched  back  reaching  only  to  beyond  the 
base  of  the  second  pair  of  legs,  first  joint  not  twice  the 
length  of  the  third  joint  ;  head  somewhat  elongated,  finely 
punctured  ;  thorax  very  slightly  depressed,  rather  widest 
in  front,  a  longitudinal  impression  on  the  disk,  with  a  very 
slight  keel  down  the  middle,  anterior  angle  with  two  or 
three  denticulations,  behind  it  is  narrowest ;  elytra  slightly 
depressed,  with  the  side  margins  somewhat  hairy,  the  ely- 
tra longitudinally  lineated,  the  lines  shallow  and  punc- 
tured ;  femora  thickish  and  somewhat  flattened. 

Length,  2|  to  .3  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Bay  of  Islands,  Port  Nicholson). 

Dendrophagus  suturalis. 

Testaceous  ;    the  elytra  paler,   a  darkish  brown  line  on 

each  suture  extending  to  beyond  the  middle,  where  it  forms 

a  transverse,  widish  brown  band  cut  off  before  the  margin  ; 

head  with  two  longitudinal,  impressed  lines,  one  close  to 


each  eye  ;  thorax  with  the  sides  straight  and  two  or  three 
small  hairs  on  the  edge,  both  the  head  and  thorax  very 
finely  punctured  ;  elytra  with  the  shoulders  rounded,  the 
upper  surface  with  shortish  subferruginous  hairs  and  seve- 
ral punctured  lines  ;  the  legs  moderate. 

Length,  2j  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

Family  Mycetophagid.e. 
Latridius  antipodum. 

Deep,  shining  black  ;  club  of  antennae  subferruginous  ; 
sides  of  thorax  slightly  sinuated  ;  elytra  somewhat  widen- 
ed about  the  middle,  suture  and  edge  of  elytra  raised,  each 
elytron  with  two  slightly  raised  keels,  the  two  inner  with 
an  elevation  beyond  the  middle,  and  two  transverse  widish 
depressions  before  the  middle. 

Length,  1  line. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 

This  species  is  very  closely  allied  to  Latridius  nodifer, 
described  by  Mr.  Westwood  in  a  note  at  p.  155  of  his 
Mod.  Class,  of  Insects,  vol.  1,  and  figured  at  p.  152,  fig. 
13,  2.3. 

Family  Engid^. 
Engis  politus. 
Engis  politus,  Hope,  AfSS. 

Deep,  smooth  black  ;    antennae  and  legs  ferruginous  ; 
head  and  thorax  finely  punctured  ;  three  terminal  joints  of 
antennae  dilated  and  flattened. 
Length, 
Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mus.  Parry. 

BiTOMA   INSULARIS. 

Head  and  thorax  deep  brown  ;  thorax  on  each  side  with 
two  parallel  keels  and  two  curved,  raised  lines  in  the  mid- 
dle behind ;  each  elytron  with  four  longitudinal  ridges 
and  two  rows  of  largish  punctures  between  each,  elytra 
palish  brown,  with  a  large,  dark  brown,  triangular  mark  on 
the  base  as  wide  as  the  elytra,  and  a  few  spots  of  different 
sizes. 

Length,  If  line. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Family  Prionid.e. 
Prionoplus,  White. 

Prionoplus,  White,  Dieffenhacli's  New  Zealand,  II.  276. 

Face  between  the  antennae  hollowed  out ;  mandibles 
shortish,  strong,  angulated  ;  trophi  prominent,  somewhat 
clubbed  at  the  end  ;  eyes  large,  separated  both  above  and 
beneath  by  a  rather  narrow  division  ;  antennae  with  the 
first  joint  strong,  short  and  thickest  at  the  end,  second 
very  small  and  somewhat  cup-shaped,  next  eight  with  a 
spine  at  the  end,  third  joint  the  longest,  the  others  gradu- 
ally shorter,  terminal  joint  bluntish  at  the  end,  last  joints 
somewhat  flattened  ;  thorax  short,  transverse,  not  nearly 
so  wide  as  the  elytra,  sides  with  a  strongish  spine  about 
the  middle,  spine  angulated  at  the  base  ;    sides  of  scutel- 


19 


lum  nearly  parallel,  abruptly  rounded  at  the  end,  a  smooth- 
ish  ridge  down  the  middle  ;  elytra  longish,  rounded  at  the 
end  and  narrowest  tliere,  margin  slightly  turned  up  ;  femo- 
ra with  two  spines  at  the  end,  tibia;  with  three  spines,  two 
shorter  on  the  inside  at  the  end  and  a  longer  one  on  the 
outside. 

Prionoplus  reticularis. 

Prionoplus  reticularis.  White,  I.  c.  Westwood,  Arc.  Ent. 
II.  25,  t.  56,  /.  1. 

Pitchy  brown,  margins  of  abdominal  segments  beneath 
paler  ;  elytra  margined  and  of  a  lighter  colom-,  with  three 
longitudinal  veins  springing  from  the  base  and  connected 
by  yellowish  ner\'ures,  forming  irregular  reticulations,  not 
con'esponding  on  each  elytron,  the  elytra  have  a  short 
spine  at  the  end  close  to  the  suture  ;  the  head,  thorax  and 
general  surface  of  the  elytra  in-egularly  punctured  and  ver- 
miculated,  thorax  covered  with  many  short,  wool-like 
hairs,  which  give  it  a  brownish  hue,  a  longer  tuft  on  each 
side  behind. 

Length,  14f  to  19  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson,  &c.). 

Family  Cerambycid.k. 

CeRAMBYX    (PhLYCT^NODES  ?)    STRIGIPENNIS. 

Cerambyx  (Phlyctsenodes  ?)  strigipennis,  Westw.  Arc. 
Ent.  II.  27,  t.  56,/.  6. 

Head  broad  in  front  before  the  eyes,  with  the  face  rather 
oblique  and  truncated,  parts  of  the  mouth  small,  mandibles 
short,  black  at  the  tip  ;  palpi  short,  maxillary  scarcely 
larger  than  the  labial  ;  antenna;  shorter  than  the  body, 
first  joint  clavate,  third  and  several  following  of  nearly 
equal  length,  base  of  the  joints  black  ;  head  with  a  dark 
central  line,  space  behind  the  eyes  dark-coloured  ;  thorax 
constricted  near  the  liont  margin  and  dilated  on  each  side 
into  a  short,  thick,  conical  spine;  disk  with  four  elevated  tu- 
bercles, the  two  front  placed  closer  together  than  the  other 
two  ;  middle  of  thorax  with  a  dark  line ;  elytra  long,  near- 
ly parallel  with  the  suture,  five  longitudinal  streaks  on  each 
of  pitchy  brown,  first  not  extending  to  the  base,  second 
and  fourth  united  near  the  tip,  third  insulated  by  them, 
fourth  much  abbreviated  at  the  base,  fifth  slender  and  sub- 
marginal  ;  feet  slender  and  simple  ;  femora  very  slightly 
clavate. 

Length,  11  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mus.  Parry. 

This  seems  to  be  nearly  related  in  generic  character 
with  Phlyctgenodes  of  Newman. 

Ophryops,  White. 
Head  scarcely  bent  down  at  the  end,  considerably  con- 
tracted behind  the  eyes  ;  antenna;  much  longer  than  the 
body,  the  joints  from  the  fifth  to  the  eleventh  nearly  equal 
in  length  and  longer  than  any  that  precede  them ;  eyes  lu- 
nated,  upper  and  middle  parts  narrow  and  nearly  equal  in 
width,  lower  part  larger,  inside  edged  with  close,  short, 
fine  hairs  ;     thorax  as  long  as  wide,  sides  smooth,  nearly 


parallel  ;  elytra  long,  narrow,  scarcely  wider  than  the  tho- 
rax, soft,  blunt  at  the  end  ;  legs  longish,  femora  gradually 
thickened  to  the  end. 

A  new  genus,  coming  near  Tricheops  and  Uracanthus. 

Ophryops  pallidus.    PI.  4,/.  8. 

Pale  yellowish  ;  three  basal  joints  of  antenna;  darker  ; 
crown  of  head  with  many  punctures  ;  thorax  with  many 
scattered  punctures  above,  two  elongated,  bent  spaces,  one 
on  each  upper  margin,  more  densely  punctured  than  the 
other  ;  elytra  with  four  longitudinal  yellow  veins,  the 
spaces  between  thickly  punctured  with  brown,  tips  of  elytra 
ciliated. 

Length,  9|^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mr.  Earl 

Eburida,  White. 

Antenna;  longer  than  the  body,  slightly  hairy  without 
spines,  first  joint  slightly  bent  and  clubbed,  last  joints  of 
palpi  truncated  at  the  end;  eyes  lunated,  lower  lobe  largest, 
slightly  sinuated  just  at  the,  base  of  mandibles  ;  thora.x 
rather  longer  than  broad,  as  wide  in  front  as  behind,  a 
small  spine  on  the  side  margin  behind,  the  sides  somewhat 
curved,  two  round,  slightly  raised  polished  tubercles  on  the 
back  in  front,  placed  transversely  ;  elytra  with  the  sides 
parallel,  the  end  bluntish  and  without  spine  ;  legs  longish, 
femora  gradually  clavate,  simple  at  the  end. 

This  genus  comes  near  Eburia  and  Phoracantha,  not  far 
from  Didymocantha,  Newman,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  V.  20. 

Eburida  sublineata. 

Pale  testaceous;  head  and  thorax  darker;  space  between 
the  antennae  and  eye  covered  with  yellowish  hairs  ;  head 
between  and  behind  the  antennae  sparsely  punctured,  with 
a  few  scattered  haiis,  largish  space  on  crown  of  head  free 
from  hairs  ;  thorax  somewhat  roughish  on  the  side,  punc- 
tured rather  coarsely  except  on  two  tubercles  and  narrow- 
ish  fine  down  the  middle,  which  are  smooth,  several  scat- 
tered, yellowish  hairs,  thickest  on  front  of  the  tubercles 
and  oil  a  line  behind  them,  triangular,  covered  with 
yellowish  hairs  ;  elytra  thickly  and  rather  coarsely  punc- 
tured, suture  and  sides  blackish  brown,  as  are  two  streaks 
on  elytra,  outer  largest  and  running  from  before  the  middle 
to  near  the  end,  the  basal  half  very  obscure,  the  inner  be- 
fore the  middle  and  very  short  ;  femora  somewhat  ferrugi- 
nous ;  tibiae  and  tarsi  rather  hairy. 

Length,  6^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 

Phoracantha  dorsalis. 
Phoracantha  dorsalis,  Newm.  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  V.  {}.  19. 
Stenochorus  dorsalis,  Macleay,  King's  Survey,  II.  451. 
Hab.  New  Zealand,  Dr.  Sinclair.  R.N. 

Brachytria  latebrosa,  Var.  pallida,  PI.  ^,Ji<j.  4. 
Brachytria  latebrosa,  Netvm.  Entomol.  p.  95. 
In  sculpture  and  form  the  New  Zealand  specimen  agrees 
with  the  two  individuals  from  Kangaroo  Island,  described 


20 


by  Mr.  Newman,  1.  c. ;  the  antennae  and  legs  are  more  ru- 
fous, the  stripe  down  the  middle  of  the  thorax  is  wider  and 
lighter  in  colour  ;  the  elytra  down  the  suture,  at  the  tip 
and  on  the  margin  are  widely  margined  with  pale  rufous, 
there  is  no  iridescence  on  the  elytra  as  in  the  type  speci- 
mens. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  ?   (Port  Nicholson),   C apt.  Parry. 

COPTOMMA    VARIEGATUM. 

Callidium  variegatum,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst,  II.  325, 32.  Oliv. 
/.  5,/.  58. 

Coptomma  vitticolle,  Newm.  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  V.  /;.  18. 

Antennae  moderate,  black,  two  last  joints  rust-coloured  ; 
head  black,  with  two  lines  and  a  transverse  stria,  whitish  ; 
thorax  smooth,  above  deep  black,  with  four  white,  longitu- 
dinal lines,  the  sides  with  numerous  minute,  yellowish 
spots ;  elytra  deep  black,  with  three  somewhat  raised,  lon- 
gitudinal ridges,  covered  with  many  minute,  yellow  spots, 
most  crowded  on  a  transverse  band  about  the  middle,  and 
two  shortish  oblique  bauds  near  the  base  ;  abdomen  deep 
black  on  each  side,  with  a  double  row  of  yellow  spots,  the 
inner  the  largest ;  legs  black,  femora  of  hind  legs  with  a 
yellowish  spot  above. 

Length,  7^  to  W^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (N.  &  S.  Islands). 

Coptomma  sulcatum. 

Calhdium  sulcatum,  Fahr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  326,  34.  Oliv. 
t.  4,/.  48. 

Tmesisternus,  Giierin,  Voy.  Coq.  II.  130. 

Antenna;  short,  brown  ;  head  ash-coloured,  line  on  the 
forehead  raised,  smooth,  black  ;  thorax  covered  with  ash- 
coloured  hairs  ;  elytra  furrowed  with  black,  smooth,  raised 
lines  and  four  white,  villous  furrows  ;  legs  griseous. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mus.  Banks. 

Coptomma  lineatum.     PL  4,f.  5. 

Callidium  lineatum,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  325,  33.  OUv. 
t.  4,  /:  50. 

Tmesisternus,  Guerin,  Voy.  Coquille  II.  130. 

Antennae  short,  first  joint  much  thicker  than  the  rest, 
ru.st-coloured,  the  others  blackish  ;  head  dark  brown,  with 
two  white  lines  meeting  in  front  ;  thorax  with  two  broad, 
whitish  lines  ;  scutellum  whitish  ;  elytra  bluntish,  rust-co- 
loured, with  four,  widish,  impressed  lines,  the  first  on  the 
outer  margin,  two  in  the  middle  joined  together  before 
reaching  the  tip,  the  fourth  on  the  suture,  these  lines  are 
filled  with  yellowish  white  hairs ;  abdomen  with  yellowish 
white  hairs,  each  segment  in  the  middle  with  a  triangular, 
rust-coloured,  smooth  mark  ;  legs  somewhat  rust-coloured, 
the  ends  of  femora  tipped  with  a  steely  black. 

Length,  8|-  to  9^^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Coptomma  acutipenne.     PI.  4i,Jlg.  2. 
Head  covered  with  grayish  hairs,  vertex  with  a  smooth, 
somewhat  raised  line  down  the  middle,  and  a  similar  line 
on  the  inside  of  each  eye  ;    thorax  smooth  in  the  middle, 


the  sides  covered  with  yellowish  hairs;  elytra  pointed  at 
the  end,  a  notch  between  the  point  and  the  suture,  four 
impressed  lines  filled  with  yellowish  white  hairs,  the  first 
on  the  margin,  the  second  running  nearly  to  the  tip,  the 
third  not  connected  at  the  end  with  the  second,  running  a 
little  beyond  the  middle,  the  fourth  on  the  suture,  but 
rising  about  one-third  down  ;  abdomen  whitish  beneath,  a 
broad,  dusky  line  down  the  middle;  legs  olive  brown,  base 
of  femora  yellowish. 

The  general  colour  is  a  deepish  black,  but  in  two  speci- 
mens the  elytra  are  of  an  olive  gi'een,  and  in  one  the  thorax 
and  head  are  of  a  deep  rufous,  without  hairs,  but  this  seems 
a  rubbed  specimen. 

Length,  4|  to  6  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson,  &c.). 

Callidium  (?)  diveksicorne. 

Antennae  with  the  third  and  fourth  joints  together  as 
long  as  fifth,  the  fourth  joint  not  half  the  length  of 
the  third  (head  and  thorax  crushed) ;  femora  ver^'  much 
clavated ;  elytra  coarsely  punctured  at  the  base,  more 
finely  about  the  middle,  and  quite  smooth  at  the  end,  very 
deep  brown,  a  longish  testaceous  mark  on  the  suture  at  the 
base,  four  longish,  oval,  testaceous  spots  across  the  elytra, 
which,  if  continued  would  form  a  cross,  a  smaD  spot  close 
to  the  shouldei-,  a  longish,  testaceous  line  on  the  margin 
just  before  the  middle,  a  large  testaceous  spot  near  the  tip  ; 
club  of  femora  deep  brown,  base  yellowish,  tibiae  black  at 
the  end,  yellow  at  the  base. 

Length,  5  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Obrium  Fabriciandm. 

Obrium  Fabricianum,  IVestiv.  Arc.  Ent.  11.  28  (not  O. 
minutum,  Auct.). 

Callidium  minutum,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  332,  60.  Oliv. 
t.  5,./:  56. 

Ciytus  minutus,  Fabr.  Syst.  El.  1.  346. 

Antennae  moderate,  first  joint  testaceous,  the  rest  white 
at  the  base,  black  at  the  tip  ;  head,  thorax,  elytra  and  legs 
tertaceous  ;  elytra  before  the  middle  with  a  white  band, 
which  does  not  reach  the  suture  ;  femora  much  clavated, 
white  at  the  base. 

Hab.  New  Zealand, — Mr.  Colenso. 


Obrium  guttigerum. 
Obrium  guttigerum,    Westw.  Arc.  Ent.   II.  28.   t.  56, 
Jig-  4. 

Violet-coloured,  shining  ;  elytra  more  purple,  somewhat 
tuberculated  at  the  base,  each  with  a  large  rounded,  slight- 
ly raised  spot  in  the  middle  ;  all  the  joints  of  the  antennae 
at  the  tip,  and  the  clubbed  tips  of  the  femora  black ;  head 
in  front  tawney  purple  ;  trophi  short,  reddish  ;  tips  of  the 
short  mandibles  black  ;  thorax  elongated  before  and  be- 
hind, the  middle  much  narrowed,  in  the  middle  rounded, 
gibbous  ;  tibia  and  tarsi  pale  testaceous. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson). 


21 


^MONA,  Newman. 

.(Emona,  Newman,  Eiit.  p.  8. 

Appearance  of  Clytus  ;  head  scarcely  prone,  immersed 
in  the  prothorax  almost  up  to  the  eyes,  elongated  in  front ; 
eyes  reniform,  dilated  behind  ;  antennae  scarcely  longer 
than  the  body,  filiform,  eleven -jointed,  third  and  fourth 
joints  somewhat  shorter  than  the  following ;  thorax  with- 
out spines,  longer  than  wide,  the  sides  nearly  parallel, 
transversely  wrinkled  on  the  disk  ;  elytra  flattened  on  the 
back,  gradually  attenuated  towards  the  tip,  the  tip  itself 
rounded  ;  legs  somewhat  elongated  ;  femora  simple. 

iEMONA    HUMILIS. 

^mona  humilis,  Newman,  Ent.  p.  8. 

Chestnut ;  eyes,  tips  of  femora  and  tarsi  brown  ;  crown 
of  head  densely  covered  with  golden  hairs,  longitudinally 
divided  down  the  middle  by  a  smooth  line  ;  scutellum 
downy,  coloured  ;  elytra  deeply  punctured,  closely  cover- 
ed with  gi-ay  hairs. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  C.  Danvin,  Esq. 

Tetrorea,  White. 

Head  notched  between  the  antennae  ;  antennae  with  the 
fourth  joint  longest  and  slightly  curved,  each  joint  ciliated 
on  the  inside  ;  thorax  short,  rather  longer  than  wide,  with 
four  tubercles,  two  transverse  in  the  middle,  two  larger, 
one  on  each  side  ;  elytra  elongated,  at  the  base  abruptly 
inserted,  the  shoulder  angled,  and  between  the  shoulder 
and  the  suture  there  is  a  tubercle,  end  of  elytra  blunlish  ; 
legs,  with  the  femora  very  thick. 

A  new  subgenus  of  Lamia,  closely  allied  to  Hypsioma. 

Tetrorea  cilipes.     PL  4,  Ji(j.  9. 

Elytra  at  the  base  and  on  the  margin  punctured,  a  line 
of  punctures  close  to  the  suture  extending  to  the  middle 
of  elytra,  near  which,  on  each  side,  is  a  small  tuft  of  light- 
coloured  hairs  ;  head  and  thorax  with  ochrey  hairs  ;  an- 
tennae gray,  sprinkled  with  brown  ;  base  of  elytra  deep 
brown,  with  two  streaks  of  yellowish  hairs,  elytra  yellow- 
ish brown,  on  the  sides  spotted  with  blackish,  near  the  apex 
is  an  oblique,  gray  spot,  sprinkled  with  black,  the  fore  part 
margined  with  a  curved  line,  white  in  front  and  ochrey  be- 
hind ;  under  side  of  abdomen  dark  gray,  four  of  the  seg- 
ments with  a  yellow  spot  on  each  side;  tibiae  on  each  side 
near  the  base  with  two  or  three  tufts  of  whitish  hairs. 

Length,  6|  to  7  lines. 

Lamia  (amniscus?)  flavipes. 

Thorax  much  wider  than  long,  with  a  strong,  somewhat 
recurved  spine  behind ;  head  and  thorax  with  yellowish 
hairs,  in  some  parts  rather  deeply  punctate  ;  base  of  elytra 
punctate,  in  the  middle  of  each  a  tubercular  wart,  elytra 
covered  with  close,  grayish  hairs,  amongst  which  are  some 
short,  stiffish  hairs  of  a  darker  colour;  four  of  the  segments 
of  abdomen  beneath  with  four  largish,  yellow  marks  on 
each  on  a  black  ground ;  basal  joint  of  antennae  and  femo- 


ra gray,  with  small  black  spots,  other  joints  of  antennae 
yellow  at  base  and  dusky  at  the  tips ;  tibiae  and  tarsi  yel- 
lowish. 

Length,  7  lines. 

Hab,  New  Zealand,  Capt.  Parry. 

Lamia  crista. 

Lamia  crista,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  H.  268,  6.  Olir.  t.  14, 
/•  101. 

Antennae  rather  longer  than  the  body,  ash-coloured, 
joints  black  at  the  tip  ;  thorax  on  both  sides  anned  with  a 
sharp  spine  and  beneath  the  spine  a  fulvous  point ;  elytra 
in  front  griseous,  with  a  large,  compressed,  three-toothed 
tubercle,  behind  palish,  with  a  small,  oblique,  black  streak  ; 
femora  clavate,  black,  club  griseous  ;  tibiae  griseous,  black 
at  the  tip. 

Length,  3  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mus.  Banks,  Mus.  Brit. 

A  very  small  species,  which  seems  to  come  near  Hebe- 
cerus. 


Lamia  (Hexatricha)  pulverulenta. 

Lamia  pulverulenta,  Westw.  Arc.  Ent.  H.  86,  t.  56, 
f.b. 

Obscure,  powdered  with  white  ;  head  rather  elongated 
behind  the  eyes,  front  pail  neai'ly  perpendicular,  behind 
with  two  whitish  lines;  palpi  short,  with  the  extremity 
somewhat  pointed  ;  antennae  eleven-jointed,  third  joint  the 
longest,  first  six  joints  fringed  on  the  outside  with  hairs, 
alternately  coloured  as  the  joints  themselves,  the  bases  of 
which  are  white  arid  the  extremities  black  ;  thorax  nearly 
rounded,  sides  unarmed ;  elytra  convex,  humeral  angles 
prominent,  hind  part  much  attenuated  and  deflexed,  the 
tips  not  spinose  but  pilose,  along  each  run  four  slender, 
fulvous,  elevated  costte,  which  do  not  extend  to  the  tip, 
the  middle  of  the  elytra  ornamented  with  two  interrupted, 
black  fasciae  ;  legs  varied  with  black  and  whitish  colours  ; 
extremity  of  tibiae  externally  pilose. 

Length,  8  to  9  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Waikouaiti).  Mr.  Earl  also  found  it 
in  the  N.  Island,  at  Port  Nicholson:  in  the  specimens  sent 
from  the  latter  locality,  the  markings  are  by  no  means  so 
distinct. 

Isodera  villosa.     pi.  ^ifg.  1- 

Saperda  hirta.  Fair.  Ent.  Syst.  H.  309,  10. 

Saperda  villosa,  Fabr.  Syst.  El.  320,  13. 

Antennae  brown,  as  long  as  the  body;  head  griseous,  four 
spots  on  the  base  yellowish ;  thorax  transversely  wrinkled; 
elytra  ferruginous,  rough,  with  griseous  hairs,  blunt  at  the 
end  ;  legs  griseous. 

Length,  9  to  12  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Mus.  Brit. 

This  species  I  cannot  refer  to  any  of  the  numerous  ge- 
nera lately  established.  The  antennae  are  somewhat  flat- 
tened ;  the  thorax  is  longer  than  wide,  nearly  cylindrical, 
above  it  is  transversely  striated  ;    the  elytra  are  elongated. 


22 


the  sides  nearly  parallel,  the  end  rounded  ;  legs  long,  sim- 
ple, anterior  femora  subclavate ;  the  middle  and  hind  libise 
somewhat  flattened.     (Isodera,  IVhite). 

Agapanthida,  White. 
Head  somewhat  notched  between  the  antennae,  palpi 
rather  long,  antennae  scarcely  the  length  of  body,  all  the 
joints  but  the  second  nearly  of  the  same  length  ;  thorax 
spined  on  the  side,  rather  broader  than  long,  somewhat 
rounded  in  front,  truncated  behind  ;  elytra  elongated, 
slightly  narrowed  behind  the  base ;  femora  clavated. 

Agapanthida  pulchella.    PI.  ^,Jig.  10. 

Covered  with  palish  gray,  somewhat  silky  scales  ;  base 
of  elytra  with  a  roundish  black  spot  on  suture,  in  front 
margined  with  deep  yellow  hairs,  across  the  middle  of  ely- 
tra there  is  an  irregular,  blackish  band,  not  reaching  the 
margin,  and  interrupted  in  the  middle,  and  a  diagonal  line 
of  yellow  hairs  near  the  end,  with  two  black  lunules  behind 
each,  separated  by  a  short,  yellow  line  ;  thorax  with  two 
black  spots  above,  one  on  each  side  ;  base  of  the  joints  of 
antenna},  beginning  at  the  third,  yellow ;  basal  half  of 
femora  yellow. 

Length,  6  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Waikouaiti),  Mr.  Earl. 

DoRCADiDA,  White. 

Antennae  with  all  the  joints  but  the  first  slender,  very 
slightly  thickened  at  the  end ;  thorax  longer  than  wide, 
very  straight  behind  and  in  front,  upper  parts  and  sides 
with  a  kw  tubercles,  the  sides  have  a  largLsh,  pointed  tu- 
bercle on  each  side ;  elytra  pointed  at  the  end,  leaving  be- 
tween them  a  deep  notch  ;    legs  and  tarsi  rather  slender. 

This,  CersDgidion  and  Microtragus  [VVJnte,  Appendix 
to  Stoke's  Voyage  of  the  Beagle),  are  closely  allied  to  Dor- 
cadion. 

DORCADIDA    BILOCULARIS.      PI.  'k,  Jig.   11. 

Dark  brown,  covered  with  very  short,  thickly  placed, 
yellowish  gray  hairs  ;  a  roundish  space  in  the  middle  of 
the  thorax  and  longitudinal  line  down  the  middle  free  from 
tubercles  ;  elytra  with  a  serrated,  raised  keel  near  to,  and 
parallel  with,  the  outer  margin,  down  the  middle  of  each 
elytron  is  a  tubercular,  raised  keel,  obsolete  towards  the 
tip  of  elytra  and  in  the  centre  enclosing  an  oval  space  ; 
under  side  of  body  yellowish,  sprinkled  with  black  spots 
and  a  widish  black  line  down  the  middle  of  abdomen. 

Length,  7  to  8^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Xylotoles,  Newman. 

Xylotoles,  Newman,  Ent.  p.  12. 

Head  prone,  antennae  longer  than  the  body,  slender,  ele- 
ven-jointed; thorax  nearly  cylindrical,  straight  on  the 
sides  ;  elytra  of  much  the  same  width  as  the  thorax,  con- 
vex on  the  sides,  pointed  at  the  end;  legs  moderate;  femo- 
ra swollen  at  the  end. 


Xylotoles  geiseus. 

Xylotoles  griseus,    Westw.  Arc.  Ent.  II.  27,  t.  56,  /.  2. 

Saperda  grisea,   Fabr.  Syst.  Ent.  168,  Syst.  El.  11.  324. 

Xylotoles  lentus,  Newm.  Ent.  12  .'' 

Lamia  heteromorpha,  Bohd.  Voy.  Astrol.  t.  9,/.  14  ? 

Griseous  ;  margin  of  scutellum  and  some  very  short  lines 
on  elytra  yellowish,  base  with  impressed  dots,  tip  scarcely 
acuminated  ;  legs  brown  ;  femora  clavated ;  antennae 
brown. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Bay  of  Islands),  on  flowers. 

Xylotoles  subpinguis. 

Grayish  brown,  sprinkled  with  dusky  spots  ;  scutellum 
yellowish  ;  some  spots  on  the  thorax  void  of  hairs  ;  each 
elytron  near  the  base  with  three  small  yellowish  specks  ; 
antennae  sprinkled  with  minute,  brown  dots. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (S.  Island),  Mr.  Earl. 

Xylotoles  gracilis. 

Slender,  with  a  grayish  pubescence  sprinkled  with 
brown  spots  and  a  lunated,  brown  mark  across  the  middle 
of  the  elytra  ;  thorax  nearly  as  wide  as  long. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Xylotoles  parvulus. 

Testaceous,  covered  with  a  grayish  pubescence  ;  base  of 
elytra  with  several  dots  and  four  rows  of  small  punctures 
in  two  lines,  extending  to  the  middle  of  elytra. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

In  Capt.  Parry's  collection  there  is  another  species  smal- 
ler than  the  preceding,  but  so  much  rubbed  and  broken 
that  I  cannot  describe  it. 

Xylotoles  bimaculatus. 

Smooth,  with  two  transverse,  impressed  lines  on  thorax, 
one  in  front  and  one  behind,  middle  of  the  thorax  above 
bulging ;  the  whole  insect  is  of  a  rich  brown  colour,  the 
margins  and  posterior  half  of  elytra  covered  with  grayish 
down,  some  spots  free  from  it,  a  large  depressed  mark  on 
the  basal  part  of  each  elytron  covered  with  yellowish  hairs. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Xylotoles  lynceus. 

Saperda  lyncea,  Fahr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  313,  27. 

Head  black  ;  antenna3  brown,  as  long  as  body  ;  thorax 
black  on  each  side,  with  a  rust-coloured  point ;  scutellum 
rust-coloured  ;  elytra  griseous,  base  punctato-sriated,  tip 
acuminated,  diverging ;  body  black;  abdomen  on  each  side 
with  four  rust-coloured  spots  ;  legs  brown  ;  femora  clavate. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Mr.  Earl. 

Xylotoles  l.etus. 
Base  of  the  elytra  with  several  punctures,  margin  of  su- 
ture with  a  few  depressed  warts;  head  and  antennae  ferrugi- 
nous, with  many  grayish  hairs,  joints  of  the  former  (from 
the  fourth)  ringed  with  black  at  the  end  ;  thorax  shining 
violet,   somewhat  rough  on  the  sides,  with  some  spots  co- 


23 


vered  with  yellowish  hairs  ;  elytra  shining  green,  sprinkled 
over  with  short,  gray  hairs,  scutellum  and  a  few  small 
spots  across  the  elytra  covered  with  yellow  hairs  ;  abdo- 
men beneath  smooth,  polished,  deep  brown ;  the  sides 
spotted  with  yellow ;  legs  somewhat  violet,  with  short, 
gray  hairs. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

PaRMENA    ANTARCTICA. 

Thorax  thickly  punctured ;  base,  sides  and  sutural  mar- 
gin of  elytra  punctured,  on  each  elytron  are  two  small  tufts 
of  hair  placed  longitudinally  ;  the  whole  of  the  insect  is 
clothed  with  a  grayish  pubescence,  amongst  which  are 
some  longer  and  stiffer  hairs  ;  across  the  middle  of  each 
elytron  is  a  triangular,  black  spot,  extending  to  the  poste- 
rior of  the  tufts,  a  large,  triangular  mark  common  to  each 
elytron  at  the  lip  ;  antennae  and  tibiae  banded  with  brown. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Port  Nicholson),  Capt.  Parry. 

Calliprason,  White. 

Calliprasou,  Wliite,  DieffenbacK's  Netv  Zealand,  II. 
277. 

Head  behind  the  eyes  not  wider  than  the  thorax  ;  eyes 
very  large,  prominent,  very  slightly  (if  at  all)  notched  near 
the  insertion  of  the  antennae;  antennae  eleven-jointed,  first 
joint  longest,  dilated  at  the  end,  second  minute,  third, 
fourth  and  fifth  the  most  slender,  third  and  fourth  knobbed 
at  the  end,  the  fifth  gradually,  and  the  terminal  joints 
shghtly,  dilated  ;  thorax  longer  than  broad,  narrowed  in 
front  and  behind,  sides  with  a  short  spine  behind  the  mid- 
dle ;  legs  long,  slender  ;  femora  clavate  ;  elytra  long,  gi-a- 
dually  growing  narrower  towards  the  end,  which  is  simple. 


narrow  line  of  yellow  on  the  side  close  to  the  margin  and 
extending  from  the  shoulder  to  near  tlie  tip ;    legs  rufous. 

Length,  9j  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  W.  W.  Saunders,  Esq. 

Family  Chrvsomelid^. 

COLASPIS    BRUNNKA. 

Chrysomela  brunnea,  Fabr.  Ent.  Syst.  II.  323,  75. 

Thorax  smooth,  shining,  with  two  blackish  green  spots  ; 
elytra  testaceous,  punctate,  suture,  and  oblique  line  from 
the  suture  blackish  green,  under  side  deep  black;  legs  yel- 
low ;  this  species  varies  much  in  colour  ;  the  above  is  the 
description  of  the  variety  known  to  Fabricius ;  in  some, 
the  spots  on  the  thorax  are  very  obscure  ;  the  elytra  are 
testaceous,  with  a  greenish  hue  ;  legs  and  under  side  of  a 
uniform  testaceous  ;  in  others  the  whole  of  the  insect  is 
deep  black,  with  a  greenish  hue,  the  femora  at  the  base 
being  ferruginous  and  the  antennae  tinged  with  the  same. 

Hab.    New  Zealand,  on  the  flowers  of  the  Leptosper- 


COLASPIS    PALLIDIPENNIS. 

Deepish  brown,  with  pale  ochrey  elytra  and  legs  ;  head 
behind  with  a  black  band,  between  the  eyes  a  testaceous 
band,  with  a  slight,  impressed  line  in  the  middle ;  thorax 
deepish  brown,  margined  with  testaceous,  thickly  and 
closely  punctured  ;  elytra  pale  ochrey,  the  margin  of  suture 
deep  brown,  the  basal  half  very  closely  and  iiTegularly 
punctured,  the  apical  portion  and  margin  with  the  punc- 
tures in  lines  ;  under  side  of  body  black  ;  the  legs  pale 
ochrey. 

Length,  If  line. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Calliprason  Sinclairi.    PI.  i,fi(j.  3. 

Calliprason  Sinclairi,  White,  I.  c, 

Stenoderus  Sinclairi,  Westwood,  Arc.  Ent.  II.  p.  27,  t. 
56,/.  3. 

Above  grass-green,  beneath  silvery  gray,  with  silky 
scales  or  hairs ;  abdomen  reddish  brown,  where  seen 
through  silvery  gray  ;  legs,  antennae  and  cibarial  organs 
reddish  ;  parts  about  the  mouth  with  gray  hairs  ;  head  and 
thorax  above  darker  than  the  elytra,  in  some  places  inclin- 
ed to  blackish  ;  elytra  strongly  margined,  margin  yellowish 
brown,  upper  surface  minutely  punctured,  with  three  rather 
indistinct,  longitudinal  ridges. 

Length,  A^  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Family  Coccinellid^. 
Coccinella  Tasmanii. 

Very  deep  black,  spotted  with  yellow  ;  head  black,  with 
two  small  angular  yellow  spots  between  the  eyes,  one  close 
to  each  eye  ;  thorax  with  a  large,  square  yellow  spot  on 
each  anterior  angle  ;  elytra  with  seven  yellow  spots,  two  at 
the  base  somewhat  elongated,  one  on  the  shoulder,  the 
other  near  the  suture,  next  two  before  the  middle,  the  outer 
close  to  the  margin,  almost  divided  into  two,  the  inner 
near  the  suture  and  sharpish  above,  two  beyond  the  mid- 
dle, outer  next  the  margin  and  sharpish  below,  the  last  at 
the  tip  ;  under  side  and  legs  black. 

Length,  2  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Calliprason  marginatum.  PL  4,  Jig.  6. 
Thorax  above  in  the  middle  with  two  little  spines,  a 
widish  space  down  the  middle  transversely  and  irregularly 
striated  ;  elytra  above  very  flat  and  thickly  but  not  deeply 
pitted,  the  sides  gradually  tapering  from  the  base  to  the 
tip  ;  head  above  in  the  middle  and  two  lines  on  the  thorax, 
one  on  each  side,  with  short,  yellow  hairs,  rest  of  head  and 
thorax  deep  brown  ;    elytra  deep,  dull  green,  with  a  long. 


Note  to  p.  9. 

"LucANUs  (Prionus?)  Antilope." 

Lucanus  (Prionus?)  Antilope,  Kirhj,  Zool.  Jotirn.  U. 
70,  PI.  1,/.  7. 

Mandibles  taken  from  a  string  of  green  beads,  &c., 
brought  from  New  Zealand,  "now  in  the  collection  of  R. 
D.  Alexander,  Esq.,  F.L.S.,  of  Ipswich."  Kirby,  1.  c. 
(1825). 


24 


Order  Dictyoptera. 
Family  Forficdlid.e. 

FORFICULA    LITTOREA,  PI.  Q.Jiqs.   4, 


5. 


Deep  blackish  brown,  with  fulvous  legs  ;  head  somewhat 
triangular,  the  sides  behind  the  eyes  rounded,  very  deep 
blackish  brown  ;  labrum,  cibarial  organs  and  antennae 
fulvo-testaceous  ;  two  fulvous  spots  on  the  head,  one  close 
to  the  inside  of  each  eye,  a  short,  fulvous  line  on  the  mid- 
dle of  the  hind  part;  antennae  with  at  least  nineteen  joints, 
first  joint  the  longest,  second  very  short,  third  three  times 
the  length  of  second,  fourth  a  little  longer  than  the  second, 
the  others  gradually  increasing  in  length  ;  prothorax 
square,  fulvous  in  front,  with  a  short,  impressed  line  in  the 
middle  ;  abdomen  widest  about  the  seventh  joint,  deep 
blackish  brown,  the  margins  slightly  fulvous,  last  segment 
of  abdomen  large,  with  some  wide,  longitudinal  lines  above, 
the  forceps  short,  slightly  hooked  at  the  end,  with  two  or 
three  sinuations  on  the  inner  edge  ;  legs  fulvous,  tarsi 
without  apparent  pads.     Apterous. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (under  stones  on  the  beach). 

Family  Blattid^. 
There  are  two  species  of  Blattidae  at  least  found  in  New 
Zealand,  both,  probably,  introduced  by  ships. 

Order  Orthoptera. 

Family  Phasmid.e. 

Phasma  (Acanthoderus)  horridus.    pi.  b,fig.  4. 

Head  gray,  a  slight  ridge  with  four  sinuations  behind  the 
antennag  and  between  the  eyes,  two  spines  and  two  or 
three  tubercles  on  the  vertex;  prothorax  gray,  with  several 
small,  irregular  tubercles,  meso-  and  meta-thoraces  brown, 
with  many  longish  spines,  especially  on  the  sides  and  un- 
der parts,  there  are  several  tubercles  on  the  upper  parts  ; 
abdomen  on  the  under  side  with  spines  shorter  than  those 
on  the  thorax,  the  upper  parts  with  several  subspiniform 
tubercles,  fourth  and  sixth  segments  dilated  on  the  sides 
at  the  end  ;  coxee  of  fore  legs  with  four  or  five  spines, 
coxas  of  middle  and  hind  legs  with  two  spines  ;  femora 
sharply  angled,  some  of  the  angles  with  a  few  teeth,  a  crest- 
ed dilatation  at  the  base  of  the  tibiae  of  two  hind  pairs,  ba- 
sal joints  of  tarsi  of  two  hind  pairs  of  legs  crested,  with  a 
notch  at  the  end. 

Length,  -5  inches  9  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Phasma  (Acanthoderus)  spiniger. 
Head  greenish  gray,  a  broadish  protuberance  between 
the  eyes,  vertex  smooth  ;  antenna;  grayish,  ringed  with 
brownish  ;  prothorax  greenish  gray,  smooth,  mesothorax 
narrow,  green,  cylindrical,  with  about  eighteen  strong 
spines,  placed  somewhat  in  pairs,  nine  on  the  upper  and 
nine  on  the  under  side,  brownish  black  at  the  end,  meta- 
thorax  green,  narrow,  cylindrical,  with  three  spines  above 
and  eight  below  ;  abdomen  subcylindrical,  the  joints 
thickened,  first  segment  with  two  spines  in  the  middle  on 


the  under  side;  fore  legs  (broken  off),  two  hind  pairs  gray- 
ish, with  six  wide  brown  bands ;  femora  white  at  the  base, 
with  two  short  spines  at  the  very  end  and  two  longer  on 
the  inside  near  the  tip  ;  tibiae  with  a  slight  tooth  on  the 
outside  near  the  base. 

Length,  3  inches  7  lines. 

Hab.  New  Zealand,  Dr.  Sinclair,  R.N. 

Phasma  hookeri.     PI.  Q,Jig.  6. 

Green  ;  an  oblique  crest  between  the  eye  and  the  base 
of  the  antennae,  somewhat  knobbed  in  front,  a  very  narrow- 
black  line  on  the  vertex,  two  black  lines  on  the  throat  ; 
head  and  thorax  smooth  ;  prothorax  smooth,  with  a  nar- 
row black  line  down  the  middle,  mesothorax  with  a  black 
line  down  the  middle  in  front,  and  a  shorter  black  line  in 
the  middle  behind,  metathorax  with  a  black  line  down  the 
middle  in  front  ;  legs  sharply  angled,  the  femora  with  one 
of  the  angles  serrated,  the  serratures  distant ;  tibiae  with- 
out serratures  ;  antennae  black,  two  first  joints  yellow. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Family  Mantid.e. 
There  is  at  least  one  species  of  Mantis  found  in  New- 
Zealand.      I  have  seen  the  egg  case  of  a  species  brought 
by  Dr.  Sinclair. 

Family  Achetid.e. 
Deinacrida  heteracantha.     pi.  b,Jig.  \. 

Deinacrida  heteracantha.  White  in  Gray's  Zool.  Misc. 
1842,  78,  Dieffenb.  New  Zeal.  L  ji.  280. 

Hind  legs  nearly  twice  the  length  of  the  insect ;  tibiae 
quadrangular,  broadest  behind,  the  edges  behind  armed 
with  ten  spines,  coming  out  alternately,  spines  very  strong 
and  sharp  ;  body  brown,  beneath  yellow  ;  head  punctured 
on  the  vertex  ;  antennae  at  least  two-and-a-half  times  the 
length  of  the  insect ;  thorax,  especially  the  prothorax 
punctured,  with  some  smoothish  spaces  in  the  middle,  late- 
ral margins  slightly  thickened  ;  head  not  so  wide  as  the 
thorax;  labial  palpi  with  the  terminal  joint  swollen  at  the 
end,  when  dry  it  is  slightly  compressed  from  shrinking, 
maxillarj'  palpi  very  long,  three  last  joints  cylindrical,  last 
longest,  gradually  clubbed  at  the  end ;  prosternum  with 
two  spines  approximating  in  the  middle,  meso-  and  meta- 
sterna  deeply  grooved  behind,  with  a  strong  tooth  on  the 
sides  behind. 

Described  from  a  male  sj^ecimen  presented  to  the  Bri- 
tish Museum  by  Dr.  Dieffenbach,  measuring  from  the  fore- 
head to  the  end  of  the  abdomen,  exclusive  of  appendages, 
two  inches  ;  from  the  end  of  the  tarsus  of  hind  leg  to  the 
end  of  antennae  stretched  out  it  measures  at  least  ISj 
inches.  Dr.  Andrew  Sinclair  has  presented  a  specimen  of 
a  female,  which,  with  its  hind  legs  and  antennae  extended 
is  at  least  14  inches  long  ;  its  head  and  body,  exclu- 
sive of  appendages,  being  ^^  inches,  its  ovipositor  is  rather 
more  than  an  inch  long,  is  slightly  bent  upwards  and  com- 
pressed through  the  greater  part  of  its  length,  the  two 
blades  being  somewhat    angular  at  the  base  ;    nearly  the 


whole  iusect  is  of  an  ochry  yellow  colour,  the  eud  of  the 
ovipositor,  and  the  extreme  tip  of  the  spines  on  the  legs 
being  brown ;  the  margins  of  tlie  abdominal  segments  are 
of  a  lighter  colour;  the  transversely-ridged  and  rough- 
surfaced  femora  have  many  light  coloured  streaks.  The 
greater  portion  of  the  dorsal  part  of  the  thorax  is  some- 
what ferruginous.  This  specimen  was  found  by  itself  on 
the  Marsh  Pine  in  Waiheke,  in  the  Firth  of  Thames. 
Five  other  specimens  of  smaller  size  Dr.  Sinclair  found 
congi'egated  under  bark  of  trees.  The  Deinacrida,  accord- 
ing to  the  Maories,  generally  keeps  high  up  on  the  trunk, 
which  the  natives  are  afraid  to  climb,  as  the  insect, 
especially  the  dark-headed,  long-jawed  male,  bites  severely. 

Type.     B.M. 

HeMIDEINA   THORACICA. 

S  Deinacrida  thoracica,  White,  Zool.  Ereh.  &  Terror,  tab. 
5,/.  2  (1845). 

Hemideina  thoracica,  Walker,  Cat.  Deniapt.  Salt  &  Blatt, 
Supj)l.,p.  162,  K.  2(1869). 

(J,  ?  Hemideina  producta,  Walker,  I.  c.  p.  163,  n.  5 
(1869). 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Boss,  Pelerin,  Smith,  Bolton,  Brciv). 

Type.     B.M. 

I  am  satisfied  that  H.  producta  can  be  nothing  but 
H.  thoracica  discoloured  (probably  through  spirit),  it  agrees 
precisely  in  structure  with  H.  thoracica,  but  the  thorax 
and  legs,  instead  of  being  entirely  testaceous  or  ochraceous 
are  clouded  with  piceous. 


Order  Neuroptera. 

Family  LibellulidyE. 

Petaluea  Carovei.     Tab.  6,  figs.  1,  la. 

Petalura  Carov($i,  White,  Dieff.  N.  Zeal.  II.,  App.,  p.  281, 
n.  97  (1843). 

Auckland  (Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 


Cokdulia  Smithii. 

Cordulia  Smithii,  TJHiite,  Zool.  Breb  &  Terror,  tah.  6,/.  2 
(1845)  ;  Be  Seltjs-Longcha'mjjs,  Spwps.  des  Cordid.  {Acad, 
roy.  sci.  Bclg.),p.  21,  n.  11  (1871). 

Cordulia  NovEe-Zeelandise,  Brauer,  Verh.  Zool.  botan., 
Wicn.  (1865) ;   Voy.  JSfovara,  pi.  11.,/.  3  (1865). 

New  Zealand,  Auckland.  Type.     B.M. 


Family  Acjkionid^. 
Lestes  Colensonis. 

c?  Agi-ion  Colensonis,  White,  Zool.  Ercb.  &  Terror,  tab.  6, 
/.  3  (1845). 

(J ,  ?  Lestes  Colensonis,  Be  Selys-Longchamps,  Synops. 
Agrionincs  {Acad.  roy.  sci.  Bclg),  p.  44,  n.  41  (1862). 


New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 

Described  in  full  by  De  Selys,  who  states  that  it  is 
certainly  allied  to  B.  gracilis  in  its  anal  appendices. 

Family  TermitidvE. 
Calotermes  insularis. 

Termes  insularis.  Walker,  list  Neuropt.  Ins.  111.,  p.  521, 
n.  28  (1853) ;   White  Ms.,  tah.  7,/.  11. 

Calotermes  insularis,  Hagcn.  Monogr.  Tcrmit.  Liiincca 
Entomol.  XII.,  p.  42,  n.  2  (1858). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

According  to  Dr.  Hagen,  this  species,  in  form,  size  and 
colour,  stands  very  near  to  C.  castaneus. 

Order  Hemiptera  (Heteroptera). 
Family  OxYNOTlDiE. 

OLCHALIA   SCHELLKNBERGII. 

Pentatoma  (Arma)  aculeata,  White  Ms.,  tab.  7.,/.  2. 

Pentatoma  Schellenbergii,  Chterin,  Voy.  Coq.  Zool.  II., 
Ins.  p.  l&B,pl.l\  (1830). 

(Echalia  Schellenbergii,  Stcd,  Stett,  Brit.  Zcit.  XXIII., 
p.  93. 

Arma  Schellenbergii,  Walker,  Cat.  Eemipt.  Heteropt.  I., 
p.  140,  n.  39  (1867). 

Pentatoma  cousocialis,  Boisduval,  Voy.  de  I'Astrol.  II., 
^.630,^;.  11,/.  9(1833). 

Arma  ?  Schellembergii,  Ballas,  Bist  Hcmipt.  Ins.  I.,  p.  89 
(1851). 

Ehaphigaster  perfectus,  Walker,  Cat.  Hcmipt.  Heteropt. 
II.,  p.  371,  n.  83  (1867). 

New  Zealand  {Ross,  Sinclair,  Bolton).  B.M. 

Cermatulus  nasalis. 

Pentatoma  (Jalla)  diffinis,  IVliite  Ms.  tab.  7,/.  4. 

^lia  nasalis,  Hope,  Cat.  p.  32  (1837). 

Cermatulus  nasalis,  Ballas,  Bist.  Hcmipt.  Ins.  I.,  p.  106, 
n.l;pl.  11.,/  3  (1851). 

Asopus  nummularis,  Erichson,  Arch.  fur.  Naturg.  VIII., 
p.  276,  n.  258  (1842). 

Ehaphigaster  Pentatomoides,  Walker,  Ccd.  Hcmipt. 
Heteropt.  II.,  p.  370,  n.  81  (1867). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Earl,  Pelerin,  Bort,  Bolton).    B.M. 

Family  CydniD/E. 
JSthus  Leptospermi,  u.  sp. 

Cydnus  Leptospermi,  White  Ms.  tab.  7,  /.  3. 

^thus  Leptospermi,  Ballas,  Bist  Hemipt.  Ins.  l.,p).  119, 
n.  22  (1851). 

Ovate,  glabrous,  head,  thorax  and  first  two  or  three 
segments  of  abdomen  sparsely  fringed  with  rather  long 
bristles  ;    head    semicircular    in    front  ;     with     distinct 


marginal  ridge ;  thorax  smooth ;  scutellum  large,  almost 
equilateral,  the  base  rather  shorter  than  the  sides. 

Above  pitchy,  cerium  of  hemelytra  and  antennae  paler ; 
thorax  below  blackish,  legs  castaneous. 

Length  2f  lines. 

New  Zealand  (Richardson,  Ross,  Sinclair).     Type.     B.M. 

The  type  is  said  to  have  been  taken  "  on  Leptosperm 


Family  Sciocorid.e. 

DiCTYOTCS  POLYSTICTICUS,  n.  sp. 

Sciocoris  polystictica.  White  Ms.,  tab.  7,  /.  5. 
Dictyotus  polystictica,  Dallas  List  Hemipt.  Ins.  I.,  p.  141, 
n.  5  (1851). 

Same  general  form  as  D.  affinis  of  Dallas,  the  thorax 
wider,  clypeus  distinctly  notched ;  densely  punctured,  clay 
coloured,  more  brightly  above  tlmn  below  ;  abdomen  black 
above,  marginal  ridge  spotted  with  clay  colour ;  basal 
two-thirds  of  wings  dusky,  costal  and  internal  veins  black : 
head,  thorax,  and  legs  below  irrorated  with  fuscous 
granules ;  antennce,  basal  joints  clay  coloured,  apical  joints 
black. 

Length  4^  lines. 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Hooker.)  Type.     B.M. 


Family  Pent  atom  ID^. 

Rhopalimoepha  obscura.    Tctb.  7,  fig.  8. 

Rhopalimorpha  obscura,  Wliite  in  Dallas,  List.  Hemipt. 
Ins.  L,  p.  293,  n.  1  (1851). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Hooker).  Type.     B.M. 

ACANTHOSOMA  VITTATUM. 

Acanthosoma  bimaculatum,  JVhite  Ms.,  tab.  7,/.  1. 
Cimex  vittatus,  Fuh.,  Ent.  Si/st.  IV.,  p.  104,  n.  96  (1794). 
Acanthosoma   vittatum,   Dallas,   List.   Hemipt.   Ins.  I., 
p.  307,  n.  13  (1851). 
New  Zealand  {Ilarl).  B.M. 

Family  LygjEID^. 
Nysius  Zealandicus. 

Rhopalus  Zealandicus,  White  Ms.,  tab.  7,/.  6. 

Nysius  Zealandicus,  Dallas,  List.  Hemipt.  Ins.  II.,  p.  552, 
n.  1  descr.  (1852). 

Nysius  (Rhypodes)  Zealandicus,  Steel,  Hemipt.  Fabric.  I., 
IX  76. 

Lygajus  clavicornis  (ad  partem).  Fab.,  Ent.  Syst.  IV., 
p.  169,  n.  117  (1794). 

Coreus  clavicornis,  Fnh.,  Syst.  Rhyn,  p.  201,  n.  48  (1803). 

New  Zealand  {Ross,  Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 


Family  BuuriUyK. 
Pikates  ephippigek.     Tab.  7,  fig.  7. 

Reduvius  (Pirates)  ephippiger,  White,  Dicff.  N.  Zea.  II., 
App.,  p.  283,  n.  108  (1843). 

Pirates  eplrippiger.  Walker,  Cat.  Hemipt.  Eeteropt.  VII., 
}).  126,  n.  100  (1873). 

Brachysandalus  epliippiger,  Stal,  Ofv.  Kongl.  Vetcnsk. 
Akacl.  F'orhandl.  XXIII.,^.  260. 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

The  following  Hemiptera  from  New  Zealand  ai-e  also  in 
the  collection  of  the  British  Museum— 

Gallidea  imperialis,  Platycoris  immarginatus,  Pentatoma 
rilis,  Rhaphigaster  prasinus,  R.  Amyoti,  Lygcetis  pacificus, 
Lygceus  ruficollis,*  Rhyparochromus  inornatus,  Capsus 
laticinctus  {C.  ustulatus),  Leptomerocoris  Maoricus,  Crimia 
attenuata  {Mezira  Maorica),  Aradus  thoracicus.  Phymata 
Feredayi  &  conspicua  and  Aradus  Hochstetteri  are  desiderata. 

Order  Hemipteka  (Homoptera). 

Family  Aphrophorid^. 
(Apheophorides,  Am.  &  Serv.) 

Ptyelus  subvirescens,  u.  sp. 

Aphrophora  subvirescens,  Wliite  Ms.,  tab.  7,/.  9. 
Ptyelus  subvirescens,  Wcdker,  List.  Homopt.  Ins.  III.,  p. 
718,  n.  33  (1851). 

Same  general  form  as  P.  bifasciatus ;  ochraceous  above 
and  below  ;  legs  and  hemelytra  pale  greenish  testaceous  ; 
wings  hyaline  white. 

Length,  3i  lines  :  expanse,  6-J  lines. 

New  Zealand  {Ross) ;  Aucldand  {Bolton).     Type.     B.M. 

P.  pingens  of  Walker  may  possibly  be  a  variety  of  this 
species. 

Ptyelus  trimaculatus,  n.  sp. 

Aphrophora  trimaculata.  White  Ms.,  tab.  7,/.  10, 
Ptyelus  trimaculatus,   Walker,  List.  Homopt.  Ins.  Ill,  ^. 
718,  n.  32  (1851). 

Similar  in  form  to  the  preceding,  the  head  rather 
narrower  and  consequently  more  transverse ;  dark  testa- 
ceous ;  the  prothorax  bordered  on  each  side  by  a  black 
spot ;  hemelytra  jntchy,  becoming  paler  at  the  margins  : 
an  oblique  subbasal  semicircular  streak  (curving  from  near 
base  to  middle  of  costal  area),  an  almost  semicircular  patch 
on  costal  margin  towards  apex,  and  a  diffused  triangidar 
spot  on  inner  margin  near  external  angle,  all  creamy 
whitish ;  wings  hyaline  white,  irridescent,  the  nerveless 
border  slightly  fuscous,  veins  blackish  ;  legs  pale  testaceous, 
tarsal  joints  black-edged. 

Length,  3i  lines  ;  expanse,  7^  lines. 

New    Zealand    {Sinclair,   Hooker)  ;    Auckland    {Bolton). 

Tj-pe.     B.M. 


Not  a  Ly(ja 


27 


Order  Hymenopteua. 

Family  Andrenid^e. 

Dasycolletes  metallicus. 

Andrena  trichopus  White,  Ms.,  tab.  7,/.  12. 
Dasycolletes  metallicus,  Smith,  Gat.  Hymen.  Lis.  I., «.  15 
■a.  1  (1853). 
New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 

Family  Larbiu^. 

Tachytes  nigerkimus. 

Astata  nigerrima,  Wliite  Ms.,  tab.  7,/.  14. 
Tachytes  nigerrimus,  Smith,   Cat.  Hymeno2->t.  Lis.   IV., 
p.  302,  n.  26  (1856). 

New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 


Family  MyrmiciD/E. 

Al'HENOGASTER   ANTARCTICA. 

Formica  antarctica,  WJiite  Ms.,  tab.  *l,f.  13. 

Atta  antarctica,  Smith,  Cat.  Rymenapt.  Lis.  VI.,  ^.  167, 
n.  21  (1858). 

Aphenogaster  antarctica  F.  Smith,  in  Coll.  Brit.  Mus. 
New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 

Family  ICHNEUMONlDvE. 
Mesoleptus  MiJLLERi,  n.  sp.     See  postca  (woodcut),  fiff.  2. 

Allied  to  M.  atomator ;  head  black ;  mouth  orange ; 
antennae  long,  black :  thorax  black ;  abdomen  glossy 
orange  tawny,  basal  two-thirds  of  first  segment  black; 
legs  orange  tawny ;  wings  hyaline,  with  green  and  rosy 
reflections ;  costal  stigma  black. 

Christchurch  ( Wakefield). 

Parasitic  upon  Cacoecia  gallicokns. 

Order  Diptera. 

Family  TiPULiDiE. 

TiPULA  senex,  n.  sp.  Tab.  1,fi(j.  15. 

Head  pale  cinereous,  with  basal  fourth  and  a  central 
oval  depression  testaceous  ;  prothorax  testaceous,  with 
central  longitudinal  ridge,  two  lateral  longitudinal  cin- 
ereous bands ;  mesothorax  and  metathorax  cinereous,  with 
central  and  lateral  longitudinal  dusky  bands  ;  abdomen 
fulvotis ;  indications  of  dusky  bands  of  metathorax  con- 
tinued into  basal  segments ;  wings  hyaline  white  ;  costa  to 
mediastinal  vein  stramineous ;  veins  testaceous ;  costa,  a 
spot  at  first  third  of  discoidal  ceU,  two  obliquely  just 
beyond  second  third,  a  fourth  near  apex,  and  a  nebulous 


striole  at  apex  of  cell,  brown ;  halteres  pale  testaceous,  legs 
testaceous ;  pectus  pinkish  cinereous,  with  several  dusky 
spots. 

Expanse,  2  inches. 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 


Family  Berid.e. 
(Xylophagi,  Wlk.) 

DrPHTSA  APICALIS,  n.  sp. 
Beris  apicalis,  White  Ms.,  tab.  7,/  17. 

Body  shining  ochreous  with  black  lateral  line,  trimacu- 
late  on  the  thorax ;  eyes  brown,  front  white,  antennae 
brownish  at  base,  otherwise  black;  palpi  and  proboscis 
ochreous;  terminal  segments  of  abdomen  more  or  less 
dusky,  distinctly  shot  with  purple  (as  also  are  the  other 
segments,  but  less  evidently) ;  legs  ochraceous  or  tawny, 
tarsi  of  front  pair  blackish,  of  middle  and  hind  pairs  pale 
testaceous  ;  pectus  castaneous  ;  abdomen  below  paler  than 
aljove  ;  wings  sordid  hyaline  white  ;  a  diffused  brown  spot 
filling  areolet  between  subcostal  and  radial  veins,  and  a 
smaller  spot  on  first  cubital  vein. 

Expanse,  8  lines. 

New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 


Family  StratiomiidyE. 

OdONTOMYIA  D0RSALI3.      Tab.  1,fig.  16. 

Odontomyia  dorsalis.  Walker,  List.  Dipt.  Ins.  III.,  p.  536 
(1849). 
New  Zealand  (Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 


Family  Syrphid^e. 

Helophilus  trilineatus. 

Eristalis  trilineatus,  Wied.  Auss.,  Zweif.  II,  p.  168. 
Tah.  7,/.  19. 

Syrphus  trilineatus.  Fab.,  Syst.  Ent.,p.  766,  n.  16. 

Port  Nicholson  (Earl) ;  New  Zealand  (Sinclair,  Pekrin, 
Bank).  Type.     B.M. 


Family  Muscid^e. 

MUSCA   L^MICA. 

Musca  (Sarcophaga)  Ltemica  White  Ms.,  tab.  7,/.  18. 
Musca   Laemica,    Walker,   List.  Dipt.  Ins.   IV.,  p.  906 
(1849). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclai)).  Type.     B.M. 


28 


Order  Lepidoptera. 

The  Lepidoptera  of  New  Zealand :  by  Arthur  Gardiner 
Butler,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S.,  &c. 

About  a  year  ago  Dr.  W.  L.  Buller  urged  upon  me  the 
desirability  of  making  a  list  of  New  Zealand  Lepidoptera ; 
but  I  was  at  that  time  unable  to  undertake  it,  being  busily 
engaged  with  my  "  Lepidoptera  Exotica  "  and  with  various 
papers  on  Myriopoda  and  Arachnoidea :  recently  however 
Dr.  J.  E.  Gray  \eij  kindly  intrusted  me  with  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  Lepidopterous  portion  of  the  "  Erebus  and 
Terror."  I  thought,  therefore,  I  might  as  well  make  a 
complete  list,  and  thus  supply  the  want  which  Dr.  Buller, 
Mr.  Fereday,  and  others  have  so  long  deplored. 

Notwithstanding  what  Mr.  Fereday  says  about  the 
numbers  of  Moths  in  New  Zealand,  I  cannot  but  agree 
with  Mr.  Bathgate  that  it  is  unusually  poor  in  Lepidoptera, 
not  "  as  compared  to  a  tropical  country,"  but  as  compared 
to  Europe ;  still  it  is  evident  that  Captain  Hutton  has  (as 
regards  the  Diurnal  Lepidoptera  at  any  rate)  underrated 
its  productive  powers ;  he  says  in  his  paper  on  "  the 
Geographical  relations  of  the  New  Zealand  Fauna  " — 

"  Of  the  Lepidoptera  I  know  hardly  anything,  and  prefer 
waiting  until  Mr.  Fereday  has  published  his  promised 
descriptions  of  the  species,  before  examining  their  bearing 
on  the  present  subject.  But  one  fact  stands  out  pro- 
minently, viz.,  that  out  of  more  than  three  hundred  species, 
only  eight  belong  to  the  butterfly  section."  Trans.  N.  Zeal. 
Inst,  v.,  p.  247  (1873),  and  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  Febr. 
(1874).  Now  if  we  turn  to  Mr.  Fereday's  paper  (Trans. 
N.  Zeal.  Inst.  IV.,  pp.  216,  217)  we  find  the  following 
passage — "  Although  I  liave  had  but  little  time  or  oppor- 
tunity /  have  collected,  of  butterflies  at  least  *  eight,  and  of 
moths  quite  300  different  species,"  and  he  goes  on  to 
enumerate  no  less  than  eleven  apparently  distinct  species 
with  which  he  is  familiar ;  if  Hamadryas  zoilus  be  reaUy 
a  New  Zealand  insect,  the  number  of  butterflies  will  then 
be  twelve  instead  of  eight ;  and  all  these  Capt.  Hutton 
should  have  admitted  into  his  statement.  Mr.  Fereday 
has,  I  believe,  noticed  quite  recently  the  occurrence  of 
Danais  Berenice  in  New  Zealand;  the  species  will,  of 
course,  be  D.  Archippus,  now  common  in  Australia  and  the 
South  Seas. 

Most  of  the  New  Zealand  Lepidoptera,  as  one  might 
have  expected,  seem  to  be  grass-feeders ;  some  of  them 
indeed  of  enormous  size  {Charagia,  Leto,  Porina) ;  they 
are  as  a  rule  of  dull  colours,  although  Chrysophamis 
Boldcnarum  the  most  beautiful,  though  one  of  the  smallest 
species  of  the  genus,  is  a  notable  exception  to  the  general 
rule ;  Pyrameis  Goncrilla  may  almost  vie  with  our 
European  P.  Atalanta ;  the  beautiful  silvery-streaked 
Argyrophenga  is  also  only  surpassed  by  the  Argyrophonts 
argenteus  of  Cliili ;  and  one  or  two  of  the  smaller  moths 
are  very  pretty  indeed. 

In  the  following  list  I  have  followed  Bates's  arrangement 
for  the  Rhopalocera  and  Walker's  for  the  Heterocera — ■ 


Section  Rhopaloceka,  Boisduval. 

Family  1.     Nymphalid^,  Westwood. 

Ge7i.  Diurn.  Lepid.,  p.  143  (1852) ;  Bates,  Journ.  Eiitom., 

p.  176  (1864). 

Sub-Family  1.     Danain^,  Bates. 
Journ.,  Entom.  p.  220  (1861),  p.  176  (1864). 

Genus  Hamadryas,  Boisduval. 
Voy.  de  V Astrolabe,  Ent.  p.  91  (1832). 

1.    Hamadryas  Zoilus. 

Papilio  D.  F.  Zoilus,  Fah.,  Syst.  Ent,  p.  480,  n.  163 
(1775);  Sjy.  Lis.,  p.  53,  n.  229  (1781);  Mant.  Ins.,p).  25, 
n.  265  (1787) ;  -£"71!!.  Syst.  III.,  p.  42,  n.  128  (1793) ;  Gen. 
Diurn.  Lepid.,  pi.  XVIII*.,/.  1  (1847). 

Barnard  Isle,  Australia  (Macgillivray).  B.M. 

Said  to  occur  in  New  Zealand ;  see  Dieffenhach's  N.  Zeal. 
II.  A2}p.,  p.  284),  an  Australian  example  in  the  collection  of 
the  British  Museum  bears  a  label  with  the  following  note, 
"  In  thick  and  gloomy  brushes." 

The  Nymphalis  Nais  of  Guerin  is  slightly  different  from 
the  typical  form. 

Sub-Family  2.     Satyrin^,  Bates. 
Journ.  Entom.  II.,  p.  176  (1864). 

Genus  2.     Argyrophenga,  Doubleday. 
Anyi.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  XVI.,  p.  307  (1845). 

2.    Argyrophenga  ANTiPODUM.     TaZ).  8, /s.  4— 7. 

Argyrophenga  antipodum,  Doubleday,  Aim.  <&  Marj.  Nat. 
Hist.  XVI.,  'p-  307  (1845) ;  Gen.  Diurn.  Lepid,  pi.  63,/.  6 
(1851). 

New  Zealand  (P.  Earl).  Type.     B.M. 

The  introduction  of  ocelli  on  the  undersurface  of  the 
secondaries  in  fig.  6  is  probably  an  error,  we  apparently 
have  the  specimens  from  which  all  the  figures  were  taken 
in  the  collection ;  and  an  example,  answering  in  all  other 
respects  to  figs.  4  and  6,  shows  no  trace  of  these  ocelli. 

'This  species  is,  according  to  Mr.  Fereday  (Trans.  New 
Zeal.  Inst.  IV.,  p.  217)  rather  common  in  some  river  beds, 
particularly  the  Waimakariri. 

Before  passing  on  to  the  next  sub-family  I  may 
mention  an  ?  Erebia  named  by  Mr.  Fereday  as  E.  j^luto  but 
merely  described  as  "  black."  I  should  nmch  like  to  see 
the  species  and  decide  its  natural  position. 

Sub-family  3.     Nymphalin^,  Bates. 
Journ.  Entom.  II.,  p.  176  (1864). 

Genus  3.    Pyrameis,  Htibner. 
Vcrz.  bek.  Schnutt,  p.  33  (1816). 

2.    Pyrameis  Gonerilla.     Tab.  8,  Jigs.  10,  11. 

Papilio   N.    G.    Gonerilla,  Fab.,  Syst.   Ent.,  p.   498,   n. 


237  (1775) ;  Sp.  Ins.,  p.  82,  n.  361  (1781) ;  Brit.  %?/!.  ///., 
p.  103,  n.  317  (1793) ;  Donovan,  Ins.  New  Holland,  pi.  25, 
/  2  (1805). 

Vanessa  Gonerilla,  MHiitc,  in  Taylors  New  Zealand  and 
its  inhabitants,  pi.  2,f.  1  (1855). 

Papilio  Geiierilla  (sic),  Fah.,  Mant.  Ins.,  p.  44,  n.  437 
(1787). 

Eangitauharuru,  New  Zealand  (Colenso).  B.M. 

The  type  of  this  beautiful  species  is  in  the  Banksian 
cabinet  in  the  British  Museum  ;  it  is  common,  and  the 
earliest  butterfly  at  Otago  (A.  Bathgate). 

4.     Pyrameis  Itea. 

Bapilio  N.  G.  Itea,  Fab.,  Si/.^t.  Ent,  p.  498,  n.  238 
(1775) ;  Sp.  Ins.,  p.  82,  n.  362  (1781)  ;  Mant.  Ins.,  p.  45, 
n.  438  (1787) ;  Ent.  Si/st.,  p.  103,  n.  318  (1793) ;  Donovan, 
Ins.  New  Holland,  pi.  26,/  1  (1805) ;  Vanessa  Itea,  White, 
in  Taylor's  New  Zealand  and  its  inhabitants,  2)1.  2,/J>.  2,  2 
(1855). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclai)-).  B.M. 

The  type  is  in  the  Banksian  collection. 

5.     Pykameis  Cardui,  (var.  P.  Kershavni). 

P>Tameis  Cardui,  Linn.,  Faun.  Suec,  p.  276,  n.  1054 
(1761). 

Cynthia  Cardui,  White,  in  Taylor's  New  Zealand  and  2ts 
inhabitants,  pi.  2,f.  5  (1855). 

Cynthia  Kershawii,  M'Coy,  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  IV., 
vol.  1,  p.  76  (1868). 

New  Zealand,  Auckland  {Bolton).  B.M. 

P.  Kershawii  only  differs  from  tlie  typical  P.  Cardui  in 
its  dark  coloration  on  both  surfaces  and  in  the  size  of  the 
blue  pupils  in  the  ocelli  of  secondaries,  but  these  are  vari- 
able characters  and  not  sufficient  to  distinguish  the  two 
forms  ;  indeed  our  examples  are  separated  by  locality  only, 
there  being  examples  of  P.  Kershawii  in  the  collection 
precisely  like  typical  P.  Cardui  and  vice  versa ;  it  is,  how- 
ever, interesting  to  keep  this  variety  separate  in  a  large 
collection,  as  one  of  the  links  in  the  perfect  series  of  forms 
connecting  P.  Cardui  and  P.  Atalanta  :  Mr.  Fereday  sup- 
poses P.  itea  to  be  intermediate  between  P.  gonerilla  and 
P.  cardui ;  if  so,  a  great  many  links  must  have  fallen  out : 
none  of  these  species  have  the  least  claim  to  be  referred  to 
the  genus  Vane»ia,  the  form  of  the  secondaries  alone  ia 
sufficient  to  suggest  their  distinctness  from  that  group. 

Family  2.     Lyc^nid^,  Stephens. 
III.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  I.,  p.  74  (1827). 

Sub-family  4.     Lyc^mn.?:,  Butler. 
Cat.  Fabric.  Diurn.  Lepid.,p.  158  (1869). 

Genus  4.     Chkysophanus,  Htibner. 

Verz.  bek.  Schmett,  p.  72  (1816). 

6.     Chrysophanus  Salustius.     Tab.  8,fs.  1 — 3. 
Hesperia    Pu    Salustius,    Fab.,  Ent.  Syst.  III.,  p.   310, 


n.  175  (1793) ;  Lycsena  Edna,  Doubleday,  Dieff.  N.  Zeal. 
App.,  p.  283  (1843) ;  Polyonmiatus  Edna,  Westimod  & 
Hewitson,  Gen.  Diurn.  Lepid.,  pi.  76,/.  6  (1852) ;  White  in 
Taylor's  New  Zealand  and  its  inhabitants,  pi.  2,  /■.  .3,  4 
(1855). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair).  B.il. 


7.     CiiuYsoPHAXus  Feueuayi. 

Chrysophanus  Feredavi,  Bates,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  IV.,;).  53 
(1867). 

Kaiapoi  Bush,  Canterbury  (Fereday) — Bate^. 

Differs  from  C.  Salustius  in  having  the  secondaries 
below  clouded  with  brown  ;  the  difference  in  the  colour  of 
the  palpi,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Bates,  occurs  also  in  some 
examples  of  C.  Salustius ;  I  doubt  the  distinctness  of  this 
species,  I  have  not  however  seen  it. 


8.      CUUY.SOPHANUS   BOLDENARU.M.      Tab.  8,/s.  8,  9. 

Lycffina  Boldenarum  White,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Ser.  3,  I., 
p.  26  (1862). 

This  species  having  been  but  imperfectly  described,  I 
subjoin  characters — 

c?  Wings  above  brown,  shot  with  glistening  purple  ;  a 
curved  discal  series  of  six  orange  spots  bordered  internally 
with  black  on  each  wing ;  also  a  second  iU-defined  sub- 
marginal  series,  not  reaching  the  apices  ;  outer  margin 
broadly  dark  brown ;  primaries  with  a  black  spot  towards 
end  of  discoidal  cell  and  a  second  at  end  of  cell,  between 
and  beyond  these  three  or  four  ill-defined  orange  spots ; 
secondaries  with  a  black  spot  at  end  of  cell,  bordered 
internally  with  iU-defined  orange  ;  beyond  it  are  also  three 
or  four  ill-defined  orange  spots ;  body  above  blackish,  crest 
grey  ;  palpi  and  undersurface  snow  white  ; 

Wings  below  altogether  paler ;  primaries  pale  tawny ; 
the  margins  grey ;  two  spots  within  cell,  one  at  the  end 
and  a  curved  discal  series,  black,  indistinctly  edged  with 
white ;  a  submarginal  ill-defined  series  of  greyish  ocelli ; 
secondaries  pale  golden  brown,  a  broad  band  across  tlie 
centre  of  the  wings,  two  subbasal  discoidal  spots  and  a 
submarginal  series  silver  grey,  white-edged :  expanse  of 
wings,  10  lines. 

?  Wings  above  without  the  purple  shot,  excepting  a 
submarginal  macular  line,  between  the  discal  and  ante- 
marginal  series  of  orange  spots ;  i-emaining  orange  spots 
larger,  more  elongated  and  distinct,  otherwise  as  in  the 
male  ;  body  as  in  the  male  : 

Wings  below  rather  darker  than  in  the  male,  otherwise 
the  same  :  expanse  of  wings,  1  inch,  1  line. 

New  Zealand  (Colenso).  B.M. 

The  figures  represent  the  male,  but  the  bands  and  spots 
on  the  undersurface  of  secondaries  have  been  made  alto- 
gether too  dark. 

Mr.  Fereday  tliinks  there  may  be  two  other  species  of 
this  genus,  Trans.  New  Zeal.  Inst.  IV.,  p.  217  (1872). 

I 


30 


Genus  5.     Lycena,  Fabricius. 
lingers  Mag.  VI.,  p.  285  (1808). 

9.    Lyc^na  Oxleyi. 

Lvcaena  O.xleyi,  Fdder,  Reise  der  Novara,  Lep.  II.,  p.  280, 
«.  354;  js^.  35,/.  6  (1865). 

New  Zealand  {Colenso).  B.M. 

Section  Hetekocera,  Boisduval. 

Tribe  1.     Sphingii,  Walker. 

Family  3.     Sphingid^,  Walker. 

lep.ffct.YIll.,p.  76  (1856). 

Genus  6.     Sphinx,  Linnaeus. 
Syst.Nat.  1,2,  p.  796  (1766j. 

10.    Sphinx  Convolvuli  (var.  S.  distam).     Tab.  9.  fig.  11. 

Sphinx  Convolvuli,  Linnmus,  Syst.  Nat.  1,  2,  p.  789,  n.  6 
(1766) ;  White,  in  Taylor's  New  Zealand  and  its  inhabitants, 
pi.  l,f.  13  (1855). 

Sphinx  Convolvuli,  var.  y.  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  VIII., 
p.  213  (1856). 

New  Zealand  (Sinelair  and  Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

This  form,  if  it  proves  to  be  constant,  wiU  certainly  rank 
HS.a  distinct  species  from  (S*.  Convolvuli;  it  is  altogether 
smaller,  darker,  less  tinted  with  rosy  on  the  body,  and  lias 
the  markings  on  primaries  more  confused ;  the  figure  in 
Taylor's  New  Zealand  is,  like  his  other  figures  very  poor, 
and  gives  but  a  vague  idea  of  the  species. 


Tribe  2.     Bombycites,  Latreille. 

Family  5.     Lithosiid.^,  Stephens. 
m.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  II.,  p.  88  (1829). 

Genus  8.     Nyctemera,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  bek  Schmett,p.  178  (1816). 

12.     Nyctemera  annulata. 

Leptosoma  annulatum,  Boisduval,  Voy.  de  V Astrolabe, 
pi.  5,/.  9  (1853) ;  Doubleday,  Dieff.  N.  Zeal.  II.,  App.,p.  284, 
n.  115  (1843). 

Nyctemera  Doubledayi,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  II.,  p.  392 
n.  2  (1854)  ;  White  in  Taylor's  New  Zealand  and  its 
inhabitants,  jyl.  \,f.  12  (1855). 

New  Zealand  {Colenso,  Sinclair,  Parry  &  Ross). 

Type.     B.M. 

The  generic  name  Leptosoma  being  already  preoccupied 
in  Coleoptera  (1819) ;  Crustacea  (1826)  ;  Pisces  (1827)  ; 
and  the  name  Leptosomus  having  also  been  iised  in  Aves 
(1816)  and  Coleoptera  (1826) ;  I  think  we  have  sufficient 
ground  for  rejecting  it  in  favour  of  Nyctemera  (Hiibner) 
Walker ;  whether  all  the  species  of  Nyctemera  are  con- 
generic or  not,  is  a  question  that  can  only  be  settled  by  a 
careful  examination  of  all  the  structural  characters,  but  I 
am  inclined  to  suspect  that  they  are  not. 

"  The  larvae  are  black  hairy  caterpillars,  which  do  not 
seem  to  be  at  all  particular  as  to  what  they  eat,  for  they 
seem  to  devour  indiscriminately  the  grass  and  other  small 
herbage."  "  There  are  probably  two  broods  a  year,  for  the 
moths  from  the  early  brood  come  out  about  the  end  of 
November  and  beginning  of  December."  (A.  Bathgate, 
Trans.  Proc.  N.  Zeal.  Inst.  III.,  p.  140  (1871). 

The  larvae  of  N.  annulata  are  according  to  Mr.  Fereday 
(Trans.  N.  Zeal.  Inst.  4,  p.  218)  common  on  a  species  of 
ragwort. 


Family  4.     ^geriidyE,  Stephens. 
//;.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  f am.  8  (1829). 

Genus  7.    ^geria,  Fabricius. 
Illiger's  Mag.  \I.,p.  289  (1808). 

11.    ^geria  Tipuliformis. 

Sphinx  Tipuliformis,  Linn.,  Faun.  Succ.,jj.  289,  n.  1096. 

Setia  Tipuliformis,  {sic).  Fab.,  Ent.  Syst.  III.,  I,  ^x  385, 
«.  21  (1793). 

Sesia  Tipuliformis,  Meigen,  Syst.  Beschr.  II., ^j.  119,  n.  25  ; 
)>'■  t52,/.  2. 

>(Egeria  Tipuliformis,  Stephens,  III.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  1., 
IK  142  (1829). 

Trochilium  Tipuliforme,  Newman,  Ent.  Mag.  I.,  p.  78. 

Sphinx  Salmachus,  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.  ed.  10,  p.  493, 
n.  30. 

( 'hristchurch  {Fereday). 

Bred  liy  Mr.  Fereday  from  currant-bushes  at  Christchurch, 
and  su])posed  by  him  to  have  been  imported  with  them 
into  New  Zealand  (Phit.  Mo.  Mag.  VI.,  p.  146). 


Family  6.     Drepanulid.^,  Walker. 
Lep.  Het.  Y.,p.  1158,  fain.  7  (1855). 

Genus  9.     Morova,  Walker. 
Lep.  Hct.  Supp>l.  II.,  p.  523  (1865). 

13.  MOROVA   SUBFASCIATA. 

Morova  subfasciata.  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  523 
(1865). 

Auckland  {Oxley). 

The  type  is  probably  in  the  collection  of  the  British 
Museum. 

Family  7.     Hepialid.?:,  Stephens. 
ni.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  II.,  p.  3  (1829). 

Genus  10.     Charagia,  Walker. 
Lep.  Het.  Yll.,p.  1569,  ^m.  8  (1856). 

14.  Charagia  virescens. 

Hepialus  virescens,  Douhleday,  Dieff.  N.  Zeal.  11.  App., 


p.  284,  n.  114  (1843)  ;  TFhitc,  in  New  Zealand  and  its  in- 
habitants, pi.  1,/.  6  (1855). 

Charagia  virescens,  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  VII.,  p.  1569,  n. 
1  (1856). 

New  Zealand  {Earl).  B.M. 

The  larva  of  this  species  is  well  known  to  be  attacked  by 
Sphceria  Eohertsii  of  Hooker,  which  converts  it  entirely 
into  a  woody  substance ;  the  type  of  this  species  was  taken 
at  Waiteiiiata  by  Dr.  Dieffenbach. 

15.     Charagia  rubroviridans. 

Charagia  rubroviridans.  White,  in  Taylor's  New  Zealand 
and  its  inhabitants,  pi.  1,  /.  1  (1855) ;  Walker,  Lep.  Het. 
Yil.,p.  1570, 7i.  2  (1856). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

A  larger  and  more  deeply  coloured  species  than  C. 
virescens ;  we  have  both  sexes  in  the  collection,  they  are 
quite  alike  in  colouring ;  in  the  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  New  South 
Wales,  vol.  II.,  pp.  28,  29  Mr.  A.  W.  Scott  makes  this 
species  the  female  of  C.  virescens,  and  credits  Walker  with 
the  species ;  he  appears,  therefore,  to  be  wrong  in  both  of 
his  conclusions. 


Euahine  ranges  (Buller). 

One  dead  specimen  of  this  handsome  moth  was  found 
by  Mr.  Buller  on  a  tree-stump. 


20.     PoRiNA  signata.     Tab.  9,  Jig.  8. 

Elhamma  signata.  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  VII.,  p.  1563,  n.  3 
(1856). 

Porina  Novje  Zealandise,  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  VII.,  p.  1573, 
n.  1  (1856). 

Pielus  variolaris,  auinie,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,  p.  1  (1868). 

Hepialus  — ,  White,  in  Taylor's  New  Zealand  and  its 
inhabitants,  pi.  1,/s.  4,  5  (1855). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Colenso,  Bolton,  Churton,  Parry, 
Boss).  Type.     B.M. 

21.     Porina  cervinata. 

Elhamma  cervinata.  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  595 
(1865). 

Auckland  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

Allied  to  P.  signata. 


Genus  11.     Leto,  Hiibner. 

Verz.  bet  Schmett,p.  197  (1816). 

16.    Leto  Ingens. 

Charagia  ingens.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  596 
(1865). 

New  Zealand  {from  Mr.  Children).  Type.     B.M. 

This  species  is  certainly  referable  to  the  Genus  Leto,  it 
differs  entirely  from  Charagia  in  the  neuration  of  second- 
aries :  it  is  probably  the  largest  of  all  the  New  Zealand 
moths. 

This  species  is  rightly  omitted  by  Mr.  Scott  in  his  paper 
on  the  genus  Charagia. 

Genus  12.    Hepialus,  Fabricius. 

Gen.Lns.,p.  162  (1776). 

17.    Hepialus  despectus. 

Hepialus  despectus,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  594 
(1865). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

18.    Hepialus  characterifer. 

Hepialus  characterifer.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Sup>pl.  II.,  p. 
594  (1865). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.    B.M. 

Genus  13.     Porina,  Walker. 
Lep.  Het.  \ll.,p.  1572,  gen.  11  (1856). 

19.     Porina  Mairi. 

Porina  Mairi,  Buller,  Trans.  N  Zeal.  Lnst.  V.,  p.  279,  p)l- 
xvii.  (1873) 


22.     Porina  umbraculata. 

Pielus  umbraculatus,  Gu4nie,Ent.Mo.  Mag.  Y.,p.  1  (1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

The  description  of  this  species  leads  me  to  suspect  that 
it  is  one  of  the  many  varieties  of  P.  signata.  Walker, 
(P.  variolaris,  Gu^nde),  we  have  examples  which  agree 
well  with  it :  M.  Gu^nee  is  quite  wrong  in  referring  these 
species  to  Walker's  genus  Pielus,  the  species  of  that  group 
being  not  only  all  large  insects,  but  having  the  costal  and 
subcostal  nerviires  of  secondaries  clearly  separated  through- 
out their  entire  length,  and  the  antennae  proportionately 
longer. 

23.     Porina  vexata. 

Porina  vexata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  597 
(1865). 

Auckland,  New  Zealand  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

Allied  to  P.  signata,  but  smaller,  darker,  and  with  the 
silvery  spots  obsolescent,  those  in  discoidal  cell  only  being 
distinct. 

The  species  of  Porina  have  the  same  habits  as  our  own 
"  swifts  "  in  England. — See  Fereday  in  Trans.  N.  Zeal. 
Inst,  v.,  p.  290  (1873). 


Genus  14.     Oxycanus,  Walker. 
Lep.  Het.  VII.,  p.  1573,  gen.  12  (1856). 

24.    Oxycanus  impletus. 

Oxycanus  impletus.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  598 
(1865). 

Auckland  {Oxley). 

I  have  not  seen  the  type  of  this  species. 


32 


Tribe  3.     Noctuites,  "Walker. 

Family  8.    BryophilidvE,  Gu^nee. 

Gen.  Lip.  Nod.  I.,  p.  21  (1852). 
Genus  15.     Beyophila,  Treitsclike. 

£ur.  Schmett.  Y.,p.  57  (1825). 

25.     Bryophila  tempekata. 

Bryophila  temperata,    Walker,  Zep.  Het.  XV.,  p.  1648 
(1858). 
New  Zealand  {Churton).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  16.     Declana,  Walker. 
Zep.  Het.  XV.,  p.  1649(1858). 

26.    Declana  floccosa. 

Declana  floccosa,  Walker,  Zep.  Het.  XY.,p.  1649  (1858). 
New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Family  9.     Bombycoid^,  Guenee. 
Gc7i.  Zip.  Noct.  I.,  p.  33  (1852). 

Genus  17.  Detunda,  Walker. 
Zep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  618  (1865). 

27.    Detunda  atronivea. 

Detunda  atronivea.  Walker,  Lcp.  Het.  Suppl.  XL,  p.  619 
(1865). 

New  Zealand  {Parry). 
I  have  not  seen  the  type. 

Family  10.     Leucanid^,  Gutsnt^e. 
Gen.  Lip.  Noct.  I,  p.  65  (1852). 

Genus  18.  Leucania,  Hiihner. 
Verz.  hek.  Schmett.,  p.  241  (1816). 

28.    Leucania  extranea.     Tab.  9,Jic/.  2. 

Leucania  extranea,  Guinie,  Noct.  I.,  ^5.  77,  n.  104  (1852). 
New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Golenso,  Bolton).  B.M. 

29.    Leucania  propria.     Tab.  9,  Jig.  4. 

Leucania  propria.  Walker,  Zep.  Het.  IX.,  p.  Ill,  n.  80 
(1856) ;  G-tiinie,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,p.  2  (1868). 

New  Zealand  {JEarl).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  19.     Nonagria,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  hek.  Schmett.,  p.  241  (1816). 

32.    Nonagria  juncicolor. 

Nonagria  juncicolor,  GuiiiAe,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,p.  2  (1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

Mr.  Fereday  will  be  able  to  judge  from  the  plate,  whether 
or  not  this  is  the  Zeucania  unica  of  Walker  (See  note  Ent. 
Mo.  Mag.  v.,  p.  3). 

Genus  20.     Ipana,  Walker. 
Zep  Het  XY.,p.  1661  (1858). 

33.     Ipana  leptomeua. 

Ipana  leptomera,  Walker,  Zep.  Het.  XV.,  p.  1662,  n.  1 
(1858). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Very  like  a  Zeucania  e.xcepting  that  the  body  is  unusu- 
ally long. 

Family  11.     Glottulidje.     Gu^n^e. 
Gen.  Zip.  Noct.  I.,  p.  112  (1852). 

Genus  21.     PoLiTEiA,  Walker. 
Zep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  642  (1865). 

34.      POLITEIA   JUNCTILINEA. 

Politeia  juuctilinea.  Walker,  Zep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  643 
(186.5). 

Auckland  {Oxley). 

I  liave  not  seen  the  type. 

Family  12.     Apamid.15,  Guunee. 
Gen.  Zip.  Noct.  I.,  p.  119  (1852). 

Sub-family  Episemin^,  Butler. 
(Episemides,  Guinie,  Nuct.  1,  p.  168  (1852) ;  Episemidae, 
Walker.) 

Genus  22.     Heliophobus,  Boisduval. 
Ind.  p.  69  (1829). 

35.     Heliophobus  disjungens.     Tab.  9,  Jig.  1. 

Heliophobus  disjungens,  Walker,  Zep.  Het.  XV.,  p.  1681 
(1858). 

New  Zealand  (Earl).  Type.     B.M. 


30.    Leucania  unica.     Tab.  9,  Jig.  9. 


n.  81 
B.M. 


Genus  23.     Alysia,  Gu^n^e. 
Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,p.  3,/«m.  3  (1868). 

36.    Alysia  specifica. 

Alysia  specifica,  Guinie,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,p.  3  (1868). 

Alysia  specificata  {sic),  Fereday,  Trans.  N.  Zeal.  Inst.  IV., 
Leucania  semivittata,  Walker,  Zep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  p.  628     p.  218  (1872;. 


Leucania  unica.    Walker,  Zep.  Het.  IX.,  p.  112 
(1856). 

New  Zealand  {Earl).  Type. 


31.    Leucania  semivittata. 


(1865) 

Auckland  {Oxley). 


Type.     B.M. 


Canterbury  {Fereday). 

"  Bred   from   larvae  taken  out  of  the  heart  of  '  Wild 


33 


Spaniard '  {Aciphylla  sqiiai-rosa)  on  which  it  was  feeding.' 
Fereday,  Trans.  K  Zeal.  Inst.  IV.,  p.  218  (1872). 


Sub-family  6.     Apamin^e,  Butler. 
Apamides,  aicdn.  Nod.  I.,  p.  178  (1852). 

Genus  24.     Mamestra,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  bek  Schmett.p.  214  (1816). 

37.     Mamestra  comma.     Tah.  9,fg.  G. 

Mamestra  comma.  Walker,  Lcp.  Hd.  IX.,  p.  239,  n.  40 
(1856). 

Graphiphora  implexa.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  X.,  p.  405,  n.  42 
(1856). 

New  Zealand  {Churton,  Colenso,  Smith).      Types.     B.M. 

M.  Guen^e  believing  that  he  has  rightly  identified  this 
.species,  and  erroneously  supposing  that  tlie  same  specific 
name  cannot  be  used  twice  in  one  family,  has  proposed  for 
it  the  name  Nitocrii  bicomma  (Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  4)  ;  but 
first  it  remains  to  be  proved  that  his  identification  is 
correct,  and  then  the  generic  name  only,  according  to 
general  usage,  can  be  altered. 


Family  13.     Noctuid.4';,  Stephens. 
///.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  II.,  j9.  100  (1829). 

Genus  25.     Nitocris,  Gtdnie. 
Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  4,  Fam.  V.  (1868). 

38.     Nitocris  bicomma  (?  Mamestra  comma  Walker). 

Nitocris  bicomma,  G^iinde,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  4  (1868). 

Canterbury  (Fereday). 

It  will  be  seen,  by  reference  to  the  plate,  whether  or  not 
tills  is  Mr.  Walker's  species ;  if  so,  tliat  species  will  be 
referred  to  tiie  present  family  under  the  name  of  Nitocris 
comma. 

Genus  26.     Agrotis,  Ochsenheimer. 
Sgst.  Gloss.  Schmdt.  von.  Eur.  IV.,  p.  66  (1816). 

39.    Agrotis  suffusa. 

Noctua  suffusa,  Benis,  Wien.  Verz.,  p.  80,  n.  4  (1775). 

Phal^na  Noctua  suffusa,  Gmelin,  ed.  Sgst.  Nat.  I.,  5,  p. 
2541,  n.  1028  (1788-93). 

Peridroma  suffusa,  Hilhncr,  Verz.  hek.  Schmett.,  p.  227, 
n.  2275  (1816). 

Agrotis  suffusa,  Treitschke,  Schmdt.  Eur.  V.,  1,  p.  152, 
n.  15  (1825). 

Bombyx  spinula,  Esp.,  Schmett.  III.,  pi.  63, /s.  6, 7  (1782). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Bolton,  Earl).  B.SI. 

40.    Agrotis  munda. 

Agrotis  munda,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  X.,  p.  348,  n.  99  (1856). 
New  Zealand  {Churton).  Tji^e.     B.M. 


41.    Agrotis  nullifera.     Tah.  9,  fig.  5. 
Agrotis  nullifera.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XI.,  p.  742  (1857). 
New  Zealand  {Earl).  Type.     B.M. 

42.     Agrotis  ?  moderata. 
Agrotis  ?  moderata.   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  II.,  ^j.  705 


(1865). 

Auckland  {O.iieij). 


Type.     B.M. 


43.    Agrotis  C/Erulea. 
Agrotis  (Spffilotis)  ca;rulea,  GiUnie,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p. 
38  (1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

44.  Agrotis  admir.^.tioxis. 

Agrotis  admirationis,   Guiiide,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  38 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {fereday). 

45.  Agrotis  ceropachoides. 

Agrotis  ceropachoides,  Gichi^e,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p)-  39 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

Family  14.     Okthosid.e,  Guc'nee. 
Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  France,  VI.,  p.  224. 

Genus  27.     Okthosia,  Ochsenheimer. 
Syst.  Gloss.  Schmdt.  Eur.  lY.,p.  79  (1816). 

46.     Orthosia  in'fens.v, 
Orthosia  infensa,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XL,  p.  748  (1857). 
New  Zealand  {Earl).  B.M. 

47.    Orthosia  communic.a.ta. 
Ortliosia  communicata.   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  III.,  p. 
716  (1865). 

Auckland  {Oxleij).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  28.     Ta^niocampa,  Guende. 

Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  France  VIII.,  p.  477. 

48.    T^jniocvmra  immunis. 

TiT^niocampa  immunis.   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  X.,  p.  430,  n. 
19  (18.56). 

New  Zealand  {Colenso).     B.M. 

Genus  29.     Eumichtis,  Hiibner. 

Verz.  bek.  Schmett.,  p.  211  (1816). 

49.    Eumichtis  sistens. 

Eumichtis  sistens,  GuMc,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  39  (1868). 
Canterbury  {Fereday). 


34 


Family  15.     Hadenid^,  Gu(^nee. 
Gen.  Ldp.  Nod.  II.,  p.  U  (1852). 

Genus  30.     Dasypolia,  Guende. 
Gen.  Up.  Noct.  II.,  p.  44  (1852). 

50.  Dasypolia?  dotata. 

Dasypolia  ?  dotata.   Walker,  Lep.  Ed.  XI.,  p.  522,  n.  2 
(1857). 

New  Zealand  {Colenso).  B.M. 

Genus  31.     Euplexia,  Stephens. 
III.  Brit.  Ins.  Eaust.  gen.  109  (1829). 

51.  Euplexia  insignis. 

Euplexia  insignis.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  III.,  p.  724 
(1865). 
Auckland  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

Very  close  to  U.  indocilis,  but  perhaps  distinct. 

Genus  32.     Hadena,  Gudnde. 
Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  Franee  Yll.,p.  213. 

52.  Hadena  pictula. 

Dianthecia  pictula,  White,  in  Taylor's  New  Zealand  and 
its  iiihahitants,  (Te  Ika  a  Maui),  pi.  l,f.  3  (1855). 

Hadena  pictula,  Walk.,  Lep.  Het.  Xl.,p.  601,  n.  99  (1857). 
New  Zealand  (Dokrn  and  Bolton).  B.M. 

The  figure  in  Mr.  Taylor's  work  is  quite  useless. 

53.  Hadena  mutans. 

Hadena  mutans,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  XI.,  p.  602, «,.  100  (1857). 
New  Zealand  (Bolton,  Colenso,  Sinclair).       Type.     B.M. 


54.    Hadena  lignifusca. 
lignifusca,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XI.,  p.  603,  n.  101 

Type.     B.M. 


(1857). 
New  Zealand  {Bolton) 


55.    Hadena  lignana.     Tab.  9,  fig.  7. 
Hadena  lignana,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XI.,  p.  758  (1857). 
New  Zealand  [Earl).  Type.     B.M. 

56.  Hadena  plusiata. 

Hadena  plusiata.   Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  Suppl.  III.,  p.  742 
(1865). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

57.  Hadena  nervata. 

Hadena  nervata,  Giiinie,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,p.  40  (1868). 
Canterbury  {Fereday). 

Genus  33.     Erana,  "Walker. 
Lep.  Het.  XI.,  p.  605,  gen.  24  (1857). 


58.    Erana  graminosa. 
Erana  graminosa,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  XL,  p.  605,  n.  1  (1857). 
var.  Erana  vigens,  Wile.,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  3  p.  743  (1865). 
New  Zealand  (Churton),  Auckland  (Oxley).  Types.  B.M. 

59.     Erana  plena. 
Erana  plena,  IFlk.  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  III.,  p.  744  (1865). 
Auckland  (Oxleij.)  Type.     B.M. 


Family  16.     Xylinid^,  Gu^n(ie. 
Gen.  Ldp.  Nod.  II.,  p.  107  (1852). 

Genus  34.     Aughmis,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  bet  Schmdt.p.  243  (1816). 

60.    AucHMis  composita.     Tab.  10,  Jig.  12. 

Clean tha  composita,  Gu^nde,  Gen.  Ldp.  Noet.  II.,  p.  114, 
n.  832  (1852). 

Auchmis  composita.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XI.,  p.  616,  n.  4 
(1857). 

New  Zealand  (Colenso,  Sinclair,  Bolton,  Churtoii).     B.M. 

"Frequently  seen  on  the  wing  in  the  daytime,  flying 
briskly  from  flower  to  flower,  and  feeding  upon  the  nectar, 
which  it  extracts  with  its  long  proboscis.  The  larvae  are 
.  .  .  of  a  variety  of  colours,  and  striped  longitudinally 
with  numerous  thread-like  lines.  They  have  sixteen  feet, 
and  feed  principally  on  grasses  and  standing  corn — 
especially  rye-grass  and  o^ts." — Fereday  Trans.  N.  Zeal. 
Inst.  Y.,  p.  291  (1873). 

Genus  35.    Xylocampa,  Gu^n^e. 

Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  France  VI.,  p.  227. 

61.    Xylocampa  cucullina. 

Xylocampa  cucullina,  Gudnee,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  40 

(1868). 

Canterbury  (Fereday). 

Genus  36.     Xylina,  Treitschke. 
Eur.  Schmett.  Y.,p.  3  (1826). 

62.  Xyllna  ustistriga. 

Xylina  ustistriga.   Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XL,  p.  630,  n.  19 
(1857). 
New  Zealand  (Colenso).  Type.     B.M. 

63.  Xylina  lignisecta. 

Xylina  lignisecta.  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XL,  p.  631,  n.  20 
(1857). 
New  Zealand.  Type.    B.M. 

64.    Xylina  spurcata. 
Xylina  spurcata,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Hd.  XL,  p.  631,  n.  21  (1857). 
New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


35 


65.      XyLINA  ?   DECEPTURA. 


Xylina  ?  deceptura,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XV.,  p.  1737  (1857).     (^"^p^,^); 


Noctua  Floreutina,  Esper,  Eur.  Schmtt.  IV.,  pi.  135,/.  2 


New  Zealand  (Ckurton).  Type.     B.M. 

66.    Xylina  provida. 
Xylina  provida,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XV.,  ^j.  1737  (1858). 
New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

67.    Xylina  inceptura  (.?  genus  Xylocampa). 
Xylina  inceptura,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XV.,  p.  1736  (1858). 
New  Zealand  {Clmrton).  Type.     B.M. 

See  Gu^n^e's  note  on  this  species,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p. 
40  (1868). 

68.    Xylina  stipata. 
Xylina  stipata,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  111.,  p.  753  (1865). 


Auckland  {Oxley). 
69. 


Type.     B.M. 


Xylina  turbida. 


Xylina  turbida,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  III.,  p.  754  (1865). 
Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

70.     Xylina  vexata. 
Xylina  vexata,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  III.,  p.  755  (1865). 
Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

71.    Xylina  defigurata. 
Xylina  defigurata,  Wlk.,Lep.Het.Suppl.  III.,;). 756  (1865). 


Auckland  (Oxley). 


Type.     B.M. 


72.  Xylina  atristriga. 

Xylina  atristriga.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  111.,  p.  756 
(1865). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

73.  Xylina  canescens. 

Xylina  canescens.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Sup2)l.  III.,  p.  757 
(1865). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

Family  17.     Heliothid^,  Gu^nde. 

Gen.  Lip.  Nod.  11.,  p.  166  (1852). 

Genus  37.     Heliothis,  Ochsenheimer. 

Eiir.  Schmett.  TV.,  p.  91  (1816). 

74.    Heliothis  peltigera. 

Noctua  peltigera,  Denis,  Wien.  Verz.,  p.  89,  n.  2  (1775). 

Melicleptria  peltigera,  Hiibner,  Verz.  hek.  Schmett.,  p.  262, 
n.  2576  (1816). 

Heliothis  peltigera,  Treitschke,  Schmett.  Eur.  V.,  j)-  227, 
n.  5  (1825). 

Heliothisa  peltigera,  Meigen,  Syst.  Beschr.  III.,  p.  234,  pi. 
210,/.  14(1830). 


Phalsena-Noctua  Alphea,  Cramer,  Pap.  Exot.  III.,  p.  99, 
pi.  250,/.  F.  (1782). 

Melicleptria  Alphea,  Hiibner,  Verz.  bck.  Schmett.,  p.  202, 
n.  2577  (1810). 

Noctua  scutigera,  Borkhausen,  Eur.  Schmett.  TV.,  p.  93,  n. 
37  (1792). 

Noctua  Barbara,  Fab.,  Ent.  Syst.  III.,  2, p.  Ill,  n.  334 
(1793). 

Noctua  straminea,  Donovan,  Brit.  Ins.  11.,  pi.  61  (1793). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  B.M. 

75.    Heliothis  aemigera. 

Noctua  armigera,  Hiibner,  Samvil.  Eur.  Schmett.  Noct, 
pi.  79,/  370  (1805-24). 

Heliothis  armigera,  Treitschke,  Schmett.  Eur.  III.,  p.  230, 
n.  6  (1825). 

Heliothisa  armigera,  Meigen,  Syst.  Beschr.  III.,  p.  234, 
pi.  120,/  15  (1830). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Colenso,  Bolton,  Churton).     B.M. 

See  Fereday's  note  on  this  species  Trans.  N.  Zeal.  Jmt. 
Y.,p.291  (1873). 


76.    Heliothis  conferta. 
Heliothis  conferta,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XL,  p.  69( 
(1857). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Bolton).  Type. 

Family  18.     Eriopid^,  Gueni^e. 
Ge7i.  Lip.  Noct.  11.,  p.  288  (1852). 

Genus  38.     Cosmodes,  Guende. 

Gen.  Ldp.  Noct.  II.,  p.  289  (1852). 

77.    Cosmodes  elegans. 


w.  21 
B.M. 


Phalajna  elegans, 

(1805). 


un,  Ins.  New  HolL,  pi. 


Plusia?  elegans,  Boisduval,  Voy.  de  r Astrolabe,  I.,  Lip. 
p.  242  (1832—35). 

Cosmodes  elegans,  Guinie,  Sp.  Gen.  Lip.  Noct.  II.,  ^.290, 
n.  1092  (1852). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Colenso,  Bolton).  B.M. 

Family  19.     Plusid^,  Gu^n^e. 

Gen.  Lip.  Noct.  11.,  p.  319  (1852). 

Genus  39.     Plusia,  Ochsenheimer. 

Eur.  Schmett.,  TV.,  p.  89  (1816). 

78.     Plusla.  eriosoma.     Tab.  10,  figs.  1,  2. 

Plusia  eriosoma,  Doubleday,  Dieff.,  N  Zeal,  App.,  p.  285 

(1843). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton,  Colenso,  Sinclair,  Parry,  Boss). 

Type.    B.M. 
The  sexes  are  represented  on  our  plate. 


36 


Family  20.     AjrpiiirYRin.?:,  C4uenee. 
Gen.  Lip.  Nod.  II.,  ^j.  408  (1852). 

Genus  40.     Bityla,  Walker. 
Lcp.  Hd.  Suppl.  III.,  p.  869  (1865). 

79.    Bityla  thoracic  a. 

Bityla  thoracica,    Walker,  Lcp.  Hd.  Suppl.  III.,  jh  869 
(1865). 

New  Zealand  (C'olcnso,  Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  44.     Daraba,  "Walker. 
83.     D.IRABA  CORDAUS,  2^1-  X., /y.  22. 

Margaritia?  cordalis,  Douhleday,  Bieff.  N.  Zeal.  App., 
p.  288,  n.  128  (1843). 

Scopula  ?  cordalis.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XVIII.,  p.  794, 
n.  47  (1859). 

Daraba  extensalis.  Walker,  Le]).  Hd.  Suppl.  4,  j)-  1311 
(1865). 

Auckland;  New  Zealand  (Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 


Family  21.     Ommatophorid.-e,  Gut'n(5e. 
Goi  Lip.  Nod.  III.,  p.  169  (1852). 

Genus  41.    Dasypodia,  Guenfe. 
Gen.  Lip.  Nod.  III.,  p.  174  (1852). 

80.    Dasypodia  selenophora. 

Dasypodia  selenophora,  Guinec,  Sp.  Gen.  Lip.  Nod.  III., 
p.  175,'  n.  1566  (1852). 

Erebus  n.  sp.  White,  in  Tai/lor's  New  Zealand  and  its 
Liihahitants,  pi.  1,/s.  2,  2  (185.o). 

New  Zealand  (Boltoa,  Sinclair).  B.M. 

Tribe  4.     Pyralites,  Guen^e. 

Family  22.     Hypenid.I!,  Guenee. 
Gen.  Lip.  Dclt.  d  Pijral.,p.  17  (1854). 

Genus  42.     Ehapsa,  Walker. 
Zf/j.  Hd.  Suppl.  IV.,  jp.  1149  (1865). 

81.    Ehapsa  scotosialis. 

scotosialis,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  Suiypl.  IV.,  j?.  1150 

Tj-pe.     B.M. 


(1865). 

Auckland  {Bolton,  Oxley) 


Family  23.     Asopid.'E,  Gu^ne'e. 
Gen.  Lip.  Belt,  d  Pyral.,p.  186  (1854). 

Genus  43.     Hymekia,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  hek.  Sehmett.,p.  360  (1810). 

82.    Hymenia  angustalis. 


I'haliena  angustalis,  Fah.,  Mant.  Ins.,  p.  222,  n.  309  (1787). 

Plialiena  recurvalis,  Fab.,  Ent.  Syst.  III.  2,  p.  237,  n.  407 
(1793). 

Spoladea  recurvalis,  Guinie,  Sp.  Gin.  Lip.  Belt,  d  Pyral., 
p.  225,  n.  190  (1854). 

Hymenia  recurvalis,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Hd.  XVIII.,  p.  396,  7i.  2 
(1859). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair) ;  Auckland  {Boltnn).  B.M. 

I  can  discover  no  reason  for  altering  the  original  name     n.  50  (1859). 
of  this  species,  I  have  therefore  retained  it  New  Zealand  (Sinclair). 


Family  24.     Steniad^,  Guenee. 
Gen.  Lip.  Belt,  d  Pyral.,  p.  232  (1854). 

Genus  45.     Diasemia,  Stephens. 
//;.  Brit.  Ins.  Haust.  TV., p.  37. 

84.    Diasemia  grammalis,^/.  X.,/y.  23. 

Diasemia  grammalis,  BouUeday,  Bieff.  N.  Zeal.  App.,  p. 
287,  n.  124  (1843). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  46.     ISCHNURGES,  Lederer. 
Wi€n.  Ent.  Monatsehr.  Nil.,  p.  418  ;  pi.  Z,fig.  14  (1863). 

85.      ISCHNURGES   ILLUSTRALIS. 

Ischnurges  illustralis,  Lederer,  Wien.  Eiit.  Mon.  VII.,  pi. 
15,/.  12  (1863). 
New  Zealand. 

Family  25.     Bottom,  Gue'ne'e. 
Gen.  Lip.  Belt,  d  Pyral,  p.  315  (1854). 

Genus  47.     Scopula,  Schrank. 
Fauna  Boica  II.,  2,  p.  162  (1802). 

86.    Scopula  ?  flavidalis. 

Margaritia  flavidalis,  Boubleday,  Bieff.  N.  Zeal.  App.,  p. 
287,  n.  125  (1843). 

Scopula  ?  flavidalis.  Walker,  Lp.  Hd.  XVIII.,  i?.  795,  n. 
48  (1859). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

87.     Scopula  quadralis. 

Margaritia  quadralis,  Boubleday,  Bieff.  N.  Zeal.  App. 
p  288,  n.  126  (1843). 

Scopula  quadralis,  Walker, Lcjh  Het.  XVIII.,  7).  796,  n.  49 
(1859). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


Scopula  ?  Dipsasalis. 
Scopula  ?  Dipsasalis,    Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XVIII.,  p.  796 

Type.     B.M. 


37 


89.      SCOPULA?  HYBREA.S.VLIS.  98.      SCOPARIA  RAKAIENSIS. 

Scopula?  Hybreasalis,  JValker,  Lep.  Hd.  XVIII., ;?.  797  Scoparia  rakaiensis,  Knaggs,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  IV.,  «.  8U 

n.  51(1859).  nH67)                           '          JJ '                        J         '1 

New  Zealand  {Parrn).                                    Type.     B.M.  ^ew  Zealand  {Fcrcdmj). 

90.    Scopula?  Paronalis. 

,     ,   t.            ,.       „r  „          ^         X.       ,r,rx.,           ..   w  ^9-      ScOPARIA  EJUNCIDA. 
Scopula  ?  Paronalis,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XVIII.,  p.  797, 

w.  52  (1859).  Scoparia  ejuncida,   Knaggs,   Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  IV.,  p.  81 

New  Zealand  (Colenso,  Parry).                      Type.     B.M.  (1807). 

New  Zealand  (Fercday). 


91.    Scopula  ?  Daiclesalis. 
Scopula  ?  Daiclesalis,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XIX.,  p.  1017 


(1859). 

New  Zealand  (Churton). 


Tj-pe.     B.M. 


100.    Scoparia  exilis. 

Scoparia  exilis,  Knaggs,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  lY.,p.  81  (1867). 
New  Zealand  (Feredag). 


Genus  48.     Mecyna,  Gu(!'nee. 
Gen.  Lip.  Belt,  et  Pyral,  p.  406  (1854). 

92.    Mecyna  ornithopteralis. 

Mecyna  ornithopteralis,  GiiAnie,  Sp.  Gen.  Lip.  Belt,  et 
Pyral.,  p.  411,  n.  535  (1854). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  B.M. 

Family  26.     Scoparid^,  Gue'nfe. 
Gen.  Lip.  Belt,  d  Pyral,  p.  412  (1854). 

Genus  49.     Scoparia,  Havm-th. 
Lej}.  Brit.,  p.  i9S  (1812). 

93.  Scoparia  diphtheralis. 

Scoparia  diphtheralis.  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  Suppl.  IV.,  p. 
1501  (1865). 

Auckland  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

This  is  a  variable  species  according  to  Knaggs,  Ent.  Mo. 
Mag.  lY.,p.  81. 

94.  Scoparia  minusculalis. 

Scoparia  minusculalis.  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  Suppl.  IV.,  p. 
1503  (1865). 

New  Zealand  (Colenso).  Type.     B.M. 

95.  Scoparia  linealis. 

Scoparia  linealis.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  IV.,  p.  1503 
(1865). 

Auckland  (OA-lcy).  T}-pe.     B.M. 

96.  Scoparia  minualis. 

Scoparia  minualis,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  IV.,  j).  1504 
(1865). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Tyi^e.     B.M. 

97.  Scoparia  Feredayi. 

Scoparia  Feredayi,  Knaggs,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  IV.,  p.  80 
(1867). 

New  Zealand  {Fercday). 


101. 


Tribe  5.     Geometrites,  Newman. 

Family  27.     Ennomid^,  Guen&. 

Gen.  Lip.  Phal.  I.,  p.  64  (1857). 

Genus  50.     Selenia,  Hiibner. 

Verz.  hek.  Schmdt.,p.  292  (1816). 

Selenia  Gallaria.     Tub.  10,  Jigs.  6,  7. 


Selenia   Gallaria,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XX.,  p.  185,  n.  0 
(1860). 

New  Zealand  {Earl).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  51.     Polygonia,  Guenee. 
Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,p.  41,  Earn.  II.  (1868). 

102.    Polygonia  fortinata. 

Polygonia  fortinata,  Guinie,  Ent. Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p. 41  (1868). 
Canterbury  {Fercday). 

Genus  52.     Angerona,  Duponchel. 

Hist.  Nat.  Lip.  lY.,p.  104  (1829). 

103.    Angerona  Menanaria. 

Angerona  Menanaria,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXVI.,  p.  1500 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Churton).  Type.     B.M. 

A  very  peculiar,  indistinct  looking,  species. 

Genus  53.     Endropia,  Guenee. 

Gen.  Lip.  Phal  I.,  p.  122  (1857). 

104.    Endropia  mi.xtaria.     Tab.  10,  Jig.  5. 

Endropia  mixtaria,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI., ^.  1506  (1862). 
New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 

Mr.  Walker  appears  not  to  have  known  the  locality  of 
this  species. 

L 


38 


Genus  54.     Lyrcea,  Walker. 
Lep.  Ret.  XX.,  i?.  259,  (1860). 

105.  Lyrcea  Alectoria. 

Lyrcea  Alectoria,  Wlk.,  Lcp.  Hd.  XX.,  p.  259  (1860). 
New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  55.     Ennomos,  Treitschke. 
JSur.  Schmdt.  V.,  2,  p.  427  (1825). 

106.  Ennomos  ustaria. 


ustaria,  Wlk.,  Up.  Hd.  XXVI.,  p.  1519  (1862). 
Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

Family  28.     Amphidasyd^,  Guinea. 
Gen.  Up.  Phal.  I.,  p.  190  (1857). 

Genus  56.     Zermizinga,  Walker. 
U2X  Hd.  XXYl.,p.  1530  (1862). 

107.  Zermizinga  indogilisaria. 

Zermizinga  indocilisaria,  Walker,  Up.  Het.  XXVI.,  p. 
•1530  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Colcnso).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  57.     Ischalis,  Walker. 
Up.  Hd.  XXYI.,p.  1749  (1862). 

108.  Ischalis  thermochromata. 

Ischalis  thermochromata,  Walker,  Up>.  Hd.  XXVI.,  p. 
1750  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Parry).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  58.     Sestra,  Walker. 
Up.  Het.  XXYI.,p.  1750  (1862). 

109.  Sestra  fusiplagiata. 

Sestra  fusiplagiata,  Walker,  Up.  Hd.  XXVI.,  p.  1750 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Family  29.     BoARMiDiE,  Guunee. 
Gen.  Up.  Phal.  I,  p.  213  (1857). 

Genus  59.     Boarmia,  Treitschke. 
Eur.  Schmdt.  V.,  2,  p.  433  (1825). 

110.  Boarmia  dejectaria. 

Boarmia  dejectaria.  Walker,  Up.  Het.  XXL,  p.  394.  n. 
126  (1860). 

Boarmia  exprorapta.  Walker,  Up.  Het.  XXI.,  p.  395, 
n.  128  (1860). 

New  Zealand  {Parry,  Sinclair).  Types.     B.M. 


111.    Boarmia  attracta.     Tab.  10,  fig. '^. 

Boarmia  attracta,  Walker,  Up.  Hd.  XXL,  p.  394,  n.  127 
(1860). 

Scotosia  lignosata,  Walker,  Up.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1361, 
n.  38  (1862). 

var.  Scotosia  erebinata.  Walker, Up.  Het.  XXN.,p.  1358, 
n.  33  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sowerhy,  Parry,  Sinclair,  Bolton,  Oxky). 

Types.     B.M. 

The  names  united  above  undoubtedly  represent  but  one 
species. 

Genus  60.     Tephrosia,  Boisduval. 
Gen.  Up.  Ind.,p.  198  (1840). 

112.     Tephrosia  patularia.     Tcib.  10,  Jig.  8. 

Tephro.na  patularia.  Walker,  Up.  Het.  XXL,  p.  422,  n.  58 
(1860). 

New  Zealand  Sinclair).  Type.    B.M. 

The  figure  on  our  plate  does  not  give  a  satisfactory 
representation  of  the  species,  being  too  dark  ;  the  type  also 
being  somewhat  damaged. 

113.    Tephrosia  soriptaria. 
Tephrosia   scriptaria.    Walker,  Up.   Hd.   XXL,  p.  422 
n.  59  (1860. 

New  Zealand  {Parry).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  61.     Gnophos,  Treitschke. 
Eur.  Schmdt.,  V.,  2,  p.  432  (1825). 

114.     Gnophos  pannularia. 

Gnophos  pannularia,  Git^ne'e,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  42 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

Family  30.     Acidalid^,  Guent'e. 
Gen.  Up.  Phal.  I.,  p.  422  (1857). 
Genus  62.     Asthena,  Hlibner. 
Vcrz.  hek.  Schrnett.,  p.  310  (1816). 
115.     Asthena  ondinata.     Tab.  10,  Jig.  20. 

Asthena  ondinata,  Gudnde,  Sp.  Gen.  Up.  Phal.  I.,  p.  438, 
n.  724;  ^/.  19,/^.  4(1857). 

Chlorochroma  plurilineata.  Walker,  Up.  Het.  XXII., 
pp.  563  &  676,  nn.  8  (1861). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair  and  Bolton).  B.M. 

116.    Asthena  subpurpureata. 

Asthena  subpurpureata,  Walker,  Up.  Hd.  XXVI., 
p.  1588  (1862). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 


39 


117.      ASTHENA   MULLATA. 

Asthena  mullata,  GiUnie,  Ent.  Mo.  Mai].  V.,  j).  42  (1868), 
Canterbury  (Fereday). 

Genus  63.     Acidalia,*  Treitschke. 
Eicr.  Schmeti.  V.,  2,  p.  438  (1825). 

118.     Acidalia?  PULCHRARiA.     Tab.  10, Jit/.  IS. 

Acidalia  pulchraria,  DoiMcday,  Buff.  N.  Zeal.  Aiip., 
•p.  286,  n.  122  (1843). 

Acidalia  ?  pulchraria,  Walker,  Lep.  Hot.  XXIV.,  p.  780, 
n.  248  (1861). 

Ptychopoda  rubropunctaria,  DouUeday,  Bicff.  N.  Zeal. 
App.,  p.  287,  n.  123  (1843). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Colenso,  Bolton).       Type.     B.M. 

119.    Acidalia  ?  rubraria. 

Ptychopoda  ?  rubraria,  Bouhkday,  Bicff.  N.  Zeal.  App., 
p.  286,  n.  12  (1343). 

Acidalia  ?  rubraria,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIV.,  p.  781,  n. 
249  (1861). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair,  Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

120.     Acidalia  pr^fectata. 
Acidalia  priefectata,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIV,  p.  781, 
n.  250  (1861). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

121.    Acidalia  schistaria. 
Acidalia  schistaria,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIV.,  p.  782,  n. 
251  (1861). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Tj^e.     B.M. 

122.    Acidalia  subtestaria. 
Acidalia  subtentaria,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI.,  ^j.  1610 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

123.     Acidalia  absconditaria.     Tab.  10,  fig.  21. 
Acidalia  absconditaria.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI,  ^.  1611 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

Family  31.     MiCRONiD^,  GuAiee. 
Gen.  Lip.  Phal.  II.,  p.  21  (1857). 

Genus  64.     Gargaphia,  Walker. 
Zcp.  Het.  XXYl.,p.  1634  (1862). 

124.     Gargaphia  muriferata. 

Gargaphia  muriferata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVL,  p.  1635 

(1862). 

Auckland  {Oxleij).  Type.     B.M. 


Family  32.     Macarid^,  Guen^e. 
Gen.  Lip.  Phal.  II.,  p.  61  (1857). 

Genus  65.     Macaria,  Curtis. 
Brit.  Entom.  III.,  p.  132  (1826). 

125.    Macaria  ?  humeraria. 

Macaria  ?  humeraria.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIII.,  p.  940, 
n.  131  (1861). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

Family  33.     Fidonid^,  Guenee. 

Gen.  Lep.  Phal.  II.,  p.  95  (1857). 

Genus  66.     Lozogramma,  Stephens. 

///.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  III.,  p.  258,  gen.  207  (1829). 

126.     Lozogramma  obtusaria. 
Lozogramma  obtusaria.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIII.,  p.  985, 
n.  5  (1861). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  67.     Panagka,  Guenfe. 
Gen.  Lip.  Phal.  II.,  p).  126  (1857). 

127.      PaNAGRA   HYPENARIA.       Tob.lO, fig.  10. 

Panagra  hypenaria,  Guinie,  Sp.  Gen.  Lep.  Phal.  II.,  p. 
128,  n.  1125  (1857). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

This  species  is  so  much  like  the  Beltoides  and  so  unlike 
the  other  fonns  in  the  genus,  that  I  can  scarcely  believe  it 
to  belong  to  Panagra:  I  should  be  glad  to  see  a  genus 
formed  for  its  reception. 

128.  Panagra  pkomelaxaria. 

Panagra  promelanaria.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVL,  p.  1666 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

129.  Panagra  venipunctata. 

Panagra  venipunctata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVL,  p. 
1666  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

130.  Panagra  ephyraria. 

Panagra  ephyraria.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVL,  p.  1761 
(1862). 

Auckland  {Oxley). 

I  have  been  unable  to  find  the  type  of  this  species. 

131.  Panagra  scissaria. 

Panagra  scissaria,  Guinie,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  43  (1868). 
Canterbury  {Fereday). 


This  name  ought  properly  to  sink,  it  having  been  previously  used  by  ffubncr  for  a  genus  of  butterflies  (Argj'unis,  Fabr.) 


40 


Genus  68.     Fidonia,  Treitschke. 

Et(,r.  Schmett.  Y.,  2,  p.  435  (1825). 

132.     FiDONIA?  BKEPIIOSATA.      Tab.  10,  f/j.  3. 


139.      HyBERXIA    EOKEOI'HILAia.V. 

Hybernia  boreopliilaria,  Guf'm'e,  Eat.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,^j.  61 
(1868). 

Canterbury  [Fercduy). 


Fidonia  ?  brephosata,  Walker,  Lcf.  Hd.  XXIY.,  p.  1037; 
n.  12  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Earl).  Type.     B.M, 


133.      FlDOXIA  ?   ACIDALIARIA. 

Fidonia?  acidaliaria,  Walker,  Lcp.  Hd.  XXIY.,]).  1037, 
n.  13  (1862). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair). 


Family  35.     Larentid.e,  Guenue. 

Gen.  Ldp.  Phal.  II.,  p.  257  (1857). 

Genus  71.     Laeextia,  Treitschke. 

Eur.  Schmett.  Y.,  2,  p.  440  (1825). 

140.     Larextia  clakata.     Tab.  10,  Jig.  14. 

Larentia  clarata,   Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXIV.,  ;).  1197,  n. 

Type.     B.M.      68  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Earl). 


Type.     B.M. 


134.      FiDOXIA   PERORXATA. 

Fidonia  perornata,  Walkn;  Lep.  Hd.  XXVI.,  j).  1672 


(1862). 

New  Zealand  [Colcnso) 

A  very  striking  species,  but  the  t}'i)e  is  much  injured. 


141.    Larentia  pkoductata. 
Larentia  productata.   Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXIV.,  2?.  1197, 
Type.     B.M.     «■  69  (1862). 
■  "  Auckland  {Oxlcy).  Type.     B.M. 


135.  Fidonia?  servularia. 

Fidonia  ?  servularia,  Giidnee,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,  p.  43 

(1868). 

Canterbury  {Feredag). 

Genus  69.     Aspil.\tes,  Treitsclike. 
Eur.  Schmett.  VI.,  I.,  p.  126  (1827). 

136.  ASPILATES   ABROGATA. 


142.  Larextia  megaspilata. 

Larentia  megaspilata,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXIV.,  ^5. 1198, 
n.  70  (1862). 

Auckland  (Oxleij).  Type.     B.M. 

143.  Larextia  subductata. 

Larentia  subductata,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXIV.,  p.  1198, 
n.  71  (1862), 

Auckland  (Oxleg).  Type.     B.M. 


Aspilates  abrogata.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIV.,  p.  1075, 
n.  23  (1862). 

New  Zealand  [EarT).  Type.     B.M.     n.  72  (1862). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair). 


144.    Larextia  infusata. 
Larentia   infusata,  Walker,  Lep.   Hd.  XXIV.,  p.  1199, 


Type.     B.M. 


137.     Aspilates?  prim.\ta.     Tab.  10, Jig.  4. 

Aspilates  ?  primata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIV.,  p.  1076.  n. 
26  (1862). 

New  Zealand.  Type.     B.M. 

Mr.  Walker  gives  no  locality  for  this  species,  but  as  it  is 
figured  on  our  plate,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  is  a 
New  Zealand  species. 


138.    Aspilates  Eit.oliaria. 
Afspilates  euboliaria,   Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXVI.,  p.  1684 
(1862), 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 

I  cannot  find  the  type  of  this  species. 

Family  34.     IlYBERXlDyE,  Ouenee.* 
Gen.  'Lip.  Phal.  II.,  p.  244  (1857). 

Genus  70.     Hybernia,  Latreille. 
i^'am.A'ai;.,;?.  477  (1825). 


145.     Larextia  ixvexat^v.  Tab.  10,  Jig.  11. 

Larentia  invexata,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXIY.,  p.  1199, 
71.  73  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

146.    Larextia  semisign.\ta. 
Larentia  semisignata.  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXIV.,  j?.  1200, 


n.  74  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair). 


Type.     B.M. 


147.    Larextia  lugipata. 
Larentia   lucidata,    Walker,  Lcp.   Het.  XXIV.,  ;7.  1200, 
71.  75  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

148.    Larentia?  quadristrig.\ta. 
Larentia  ?  quadristrigata,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXIV.,  p. 
1200,  n.  76  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


*  It  is  a  question  wlictlicr  Ui/bcrniada 


(lS-11)  ought  not  to  be  adopted  ;  it  seems  to  me  tliat  Hijhcrniiila:  would  be  most  eoncct. 


41 


149.  Lakentia  cinerearia. 

Cidaria  ?  cinerearia,  DouUeday>  Dieff.  N.  Zeal.  App. 
{Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI.,  p.  1703  (18G2). 

Larentia  inoperata,  Walker,  Lcp.  Het.  XXIV.,  pi.  1201 
n.  77  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

150.  Larentia  diffusaria. 

Larentia  diffusaria,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIV.,  p.  1201, 


n.  78  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


151.     Larentia  punctilineata.     Tab.  10,  Jig.  12. 
Larentia   punctilineata,    Walker,   Lep.  Het.    XXIV.,  p. 


1202,  n.  79  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Parry,  Sinclair,  Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


152.  Larentia  interclusa. 

Larentia  interclusa.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIV.,  y.  1202, 
n.  80  (1862). 

153.  Larentia  corcularia. 

Larentia   corcularia,  Chiinie,  Ent.   Mo.  Mag.  V.,  ^.61 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

154.  Larentia  infantaria. 

Larentia   infantaria,    G^iinic,   Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.   62 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

155.     Larentia  Catocalaria. 
Larentia  Catocalaria,  G-uinii,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  26 

(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

Genus  72.     Eupithecia,  Curtis. 
Brit.  Entom.  l\.,p.  64  (1825). 

156.  Eupithecia?  bilineolata. 

Eupithecia  ?  bilineolata,    Walker,  Lcp.  Het.   XXIV.,  p. 
1246,  n.  99  (1862). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

157.  Eupithecia  ?  muscosata. 
Eupithecia  ?   muscosata,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.   XXIV.,  p. 

1246,  «.  100  (1862). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

158.  Eupithecia  semialbata. 
Eupithecia  semialbata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI..;?.  1708 

(1862). 


Auckland  {Oxley). 


Type.     B.M. 


159.    Eupithecia  inexpiata.     Tab.  10,  fig.  18. 
Eupithecia  inexpiata,  Walkf.r,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI.,  js.  1708 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

160.  Eupithecia  indicataria. 
Eupithecia  indicataria.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI.,  p.  1708 

(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Colenso).  Type.     B.M. 

161.  Eupithecia  cidariaria. 
Eupithecia  cidariaria,  Gadnde,  Eat.   Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  62 

(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

Genus  73.     Coremia,  Guenee. 
Gen  Lep.  Phal.  U.,p.  408  (1857). 

162.    Coremia  rosearia.     Tab.  10,fi,g.  13. 

Cidaria  rosearia,  Doubleday,  Dieff.  N.  Zeal.  App.,  p.  285, 
n.  119  (1843). 

Coremia  rosearia.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1313,  n.  21 
(1862). 

Coremia  subidaria,  Guinde,  Sp.  Gen.  Lt'p.  Phal.  II.,  p.  412, 
n.  1565  (1857). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

163.  Coremia  robustaria. 

Coremia  robustaria.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1320. 
n.  39  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

164.  Coremia  semifissata. 

Coremia  semifissata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1320, 
n.  39  (1862). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

165.  Coremia  plurimata. 

Coremia  plurimata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1321, 
n.  41  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

166.  Coremia  Deltoidata. 

Coremia  Deltoidata,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1321, 
n.  42  (1862). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

See  Guende's  note  on  this  species  (Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p. 
64). 

167.  Coremia?  induct.yta. 

Coremia  ?  inductata,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1322, 
n.  43  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


42 


168.      COEEMIA   ARDULAEIA. 

Coremia  ardularia,  Chiinie,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  63  (1868). 
Canterbury  {Fereday). 

169.  COKEMIA  ?   INAM.-ENARIA. 

Coremia  inamsenaria,  GiUii^e,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  64 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

M.  Guende  is  not  certain  that  this  is  a  Coremia  (Ent. 
Mo.  Mag.  v.,  p.  64). 

170.  Coremia  ypsiloxaria. 
Coremia  ypsilonaria, (?i«^?K^,  Eiit.Mo.Mag.Y.,p.84  (1868). 
Canterbury  (Fereday). 

171.  Coremia  pastinaria. 
Coremia  pastinaria,  Chtinde,  Ent.  Mo.Mag.  Y.,p.  64(1868). 
Canterbury  (Feredaij). 

Genus  74.     Cajiptogramma,  Stephens. 
III.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  III.,  p.  263  (1829). 

172.     Camptogramma  suBOCHR.\Ri.i.     Tah.  10,  Jig.  16. 

Aspilates  ?  subochraria,  BouUeday,  Dicff.  N.  Zeal.  Aiyp., 
p.  285,  n.  114  (1843). 

Camptogramma  strangulata,  Guinie,  Gen.  L&p.  Phal.  II., 
p.  423,  n.  1586  (1857). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair,  Colenso,  Parry,  Bolton)  ;  Auck- 
land (O.-dcy).  Type.     B.M. 

173.     Camptogramma  correlata.     Tab.  10,  Jig.  15. 
Camptogramma     correlata.    Walker,   Lep.    Het.   XXV., 
p.  1830,  n.  22  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

174.     Camptogramma  fuscinata. 
Camptogramma  fuscinata,  Gv^inic,  Ent.  Mo.  Man.  Y.,  p. 
92  (1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

175.  Camptogramma  stinaria. 
Camptogramma    stinaria,  Gu£n^e,  Ent.  Mo.  Mao.  V.,  p. 

92  (1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

Genus  75.     Dasyuris,  (iuc'nee. 
Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  Y.,  p.  92  (1868). 

176.  Dasyuris  parthexiata. 

Dasyuris  partheniata,  Gu^ni'c,  Ent.  Mo.  Man.  Y.,  p.  93 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday).  n.  75  (1862). 


Genus  76.     Phibalapteryx,  Stephens. 
///.  Brit.  In-s.  Hamt.  III.,  p.  256,  gen.  200  (1829). 

177.    Phibalapteryx  suppres.saria. 

Phibalapteryx   suppressaria,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI., 
p.  1721  (1862). 

Auckland  {Oxhy).  Type.     P..M. 

178.    Phibalapteryx  parvulata. 
Phibalapteryx  parvulata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVI.,  p. 
1721  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton,  Colenso).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  77.     Sc.otosia,  Stephens. 
ni.  Brit.  Ent.  Haust.  III.,  p.  25^,  gen.  201  (1829). 

179.  Scotosia  subobscurata. 

Scotosiasubobs  curata,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  2>.  1358, 
n.  32  (1862). 

Auckland  {OJey).  Tj-pe.     B.M. 

180.  Scotosia  stigmaticata. 
Scotosia  stigmaticata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  ja.  1359, 

n.  35  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.JI. 

181.     Scotosia  panagrata. 
Scotosia  panagrata,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1360,  n. 


36  (1862). 

Auckland  {Oxley). 


Type.     B.M. 


182.     Scotosia  denotata. 
Scotosia  denotata.  Walker,  Lep.Het.XXY.,p.  1361,  n.  37 


(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton,  Colenso). 


Type.     B.M. 


183.     Scotosia  subitata. 
Scotosia  subitata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1362,  n. 


39  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


184.     Scotosia  humerata. 


Scotosia  humerata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1362,  n. 
40  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  78.     Cidaria,  Treitschke. 
Eur.  Schmett.  V.,  2,  p.  442  (1825). 

185.     Cidaria  ixclar.\t.\. 
Cidaria   inclaratacJ,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1411, 


43 


Cidaria  descriptata  ?  ,  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  XXV.,  p.  1414, 
n.  80  (1862). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

186.  Cidaria  descriptata. 

Cidaria  descriptata  <? ,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXV.,  p.  1414, 
n.  80  (1862). 

var.  Cidaria  bisignata  ?  ,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p. 
1415,  n.  81  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton)  ;  Auckland  {O.eloJ).    Types.  RJI. 

187.  Cidaria  perductata. 

Cidaria  perductata  $,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXV.,  ^.  1412, 
n.  76  (1862). 

Cidaria  conversata  $,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXV.,  j:;.  1413, 
«.-79  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Parrrj,  Colcnso).  Types.     B.M. 

188.  Cidaria  congregata. 

Cidaria  congregata  ?  ,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXV.,  p.  1415, 
n.  82  (1862). 

Cidaria  inclarata  ?  ,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1411, 
n.  75  (1862). 

Cidaria  aggregata  ?  ,  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  XX\.,p.  1415, 
n.  83  (1862). 

Auckland  {Odey) ;  New  Zealand  {Colenso).  Types.  B.M. 

I  think  it  quite  likely  that  the  four  preceding  named 
forms  will  prove  to  be  only  varieties  of  one  species. 

189.  Cidaria  congressata. 

Cidaria  congressata.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  2*.  1412,  n. 


(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.    B.M. 


190.    Cidaria  plagifurcata. 
Cidaria  plagifurcata,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  141 G, 

/(.  84  (1862). 

Auckhuid  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

191.     Cidaria  similata. 
Cidaria  similata,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1413,  n. 
78  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

192.     Cidaria  I  rudisata. 
Cidaria  rudisata.  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XX\.,p.  1420,  n.  91 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

193.     Cidaria  ?  obtruxcata. 
Cidaria  ?  obtruncata,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1421, 
n.  92  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


194.     Cidaria  flexata. 
Cidaria  flexata.   Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXV.,  p.  1421,  n.  it:; 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

195.  Cidaria  dissociata. 

Cidaria  dissociata,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  XXyi.,p.  1734  (1862). 
New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

196.  Cidaria  semilisata. 

Cidaria  semilisata.    Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  XXVI.,  p.  1735 
(1862). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

197.  Cidaria  pyramaria. 

Cidaria  p}Taniaria,  Cru6n.de,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  93  (1868). 
Canterbury  {Fereday). 

198.    Cidaria  delicatulata. 
Cidaria  delicatulata,    Guende,  Ent.  Mo.  May.   V.,  p.  94 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 

199.    Cidaria  bulbulata. 
Cidaria  bulbulata,  Guinee,  Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V,  p.  94  (18C8). 
Canterbury  {Fereday). 

Genus  79.     Helastia,  Guenee. 
Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  V.,  p.  94  (1868). 

200.    Helastia  eupitheciaria. 


Helastia  eupitheciaria,  Guinic,  Ent. 
(1868). 

Canterbury  {Fereday). 


y.  v.,  p.  95 


Genus 


Tatosoma, 


gen. 


Primaries  ample,  subtriangular,  the  costa  long,  sliglitly 
waved,  outer  margin  subangulated  below  the  apex,  inner 
margin  convex,  very  short:  costal  nervure  terminating  at 
second  third  of  costa  ;  subcostal  five-branched,  the  fiist 
branch  emitted  before  end  of  post  discoidal  cellule,  fiftli 
branch  emitted  from  below  the  nervure ;  upper  disco- 
cellular  triangulated,  lower  shorter,  concave,  the  two 
together  forming  a  deep  irregular  sinus;  discoidals  emitted 
from  discocellulars ;  first  median  branch  emitted  from 
median  nervure  just  beyond  the  middle,  second  and  third 
branches  near  together  at  end  of  cell :  secondaries  small, 
pyriform ;  costal  nervure  scarcely  visible,  subcostal  three- 
branched,  the  second  and  third  branches  emitted  near 
together  at  end  of  cell ;  discocellulars  togetlier  forming  a 
regular  sinus ;  first  median  branch  invisible ;  the  ab- 
dominal margin  extremely  short  and  converted  into  a  kind 
of  pocket,  body  long,  slender,  extending  far  beyond  the 
wings,  palpi  and  legs  long  and  slender. 

Type.     T.  ayrionata  {cur.  tipvJata,  Wlk.) 


44 


CiDAKiA  Group  2,  Walker. 

201.  Tatosoma  lestevata. 

Cidaria  lestevata,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1416,  n. 
S:>)  1862). 

Auckland  {Oxleij) ;  New  Zealand  {Churton).  Type.  B.M. 

202.  Tatosoma  agrionata. 

Cidaria  agrionata,  Walker,  Lc]).  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1417,  n. 
S6  (1862). 

Cidaria  tipulata.  Walker,  Lej).  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1417,  n. 

87  (1862). 

Cidaria  inclinataria.  Walker,  Lep.Het.  XXY.,p.  1418,  n. 

88  (1862). 

var.  Cidaria  collectaria,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXY.,p.  1419 
n.  89  (1862). 

New  Zealand  {Colenso,  Sinclair,  Churton) ;  Auckland 
{Oxlcy).  Types.     B.M. 


207 


Hypochalcia  indistixctalis. 


Hypochalcia  indistinctalis,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXYII,, 
p.  48,  n.  23  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  84.     Nephopteryx,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  hek  Schmett.,  p,  370  (1816). 

208.  Nephopteryx  Maoriella. 

Nephopteryx  Maoriella,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Svppl.  V.,  p. 
1720  (1866). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Tj^e.     B.M. 

209.  Nephopteryx  subditella. 
Ne])liopteryx  subditella.   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Svppl.  V.,  p. 

1720  (1866). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


203.    Tatoso.ma  tkansitaria. 

Ciilaria  transitaria,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1419,  n. 
90  (1862).  ITai/lor's  New  Zealand,  pi.  I,  fig.  7  (1855). 

New  Zealand  (Colenso).  Type.     B.M. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  whether  Taylor's  figure  represents 
this  or  the  preceding  species. 


Genus  85.     Gadira,  Walker. 
Lep.  Het.  Sui^pl.  V.,  p.  1742  (1866). 

210.    Gadira  acerella. 

Gadira  acerella,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  Sxq^pl.  Y.,  p.  1742  (1866). 
Auckland  (Ooiley).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  81.     Chalastra,  Walker. 
Lep.  Het.  XXY.,p.  U29,  gen.  33  (1862). 

204.     Chalastra  pellurgata. 

Chalastra  pellurgata.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1430, 
n.  1  (1862). 

Auckland  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  82.     Elvia,  Walker. 
Lejx  Het.  XXY.,p.  1430,  gen.  34  (1862). 

205.     Elvia  glaucata. 

Elvia  glaucata.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXV.,  p.  1431,  n.  1 

(1862). 

Auckland  (Oxlcij) ;  New  Zealand  (Colenso).    Type.    BM. 


Tribe  6.     Crambites,  Stainton. 
Family  36.     Phycid.^,  Gu^nfe. 

Genus  83.     Hypochalcia,  Hiibner. 

Verz.  hek.  Schmett.,  ji.  368  (1816). 
206.    Hypochalcia  submarginalis. 

Hypochalcia  submarginalis.    Walker,  lA'p.  Het.  XXVII., 

;).  48, 71.  22  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair,  Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


Family  37.     Crambid^,  Stainton. 
Manual  Brit.  Moths  II.,  p.  178  (1859). 

Genus  86.     Crambus,  Fabricius. 
Ent.  Syst.  Suppl.,  p.  420  (1798). 

211.     Crambus  flexuosellus. 

Crambus  flexuosellus,  Doubleday,  Dieff.  N.  Zeal.  App.,  p. 
289,  n.  130  (1843). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton,  Sinclair,  Eoss) ;  Auckland  (Oxley). 

T}7)e-     B.M. 

212.     Crambus  vitellus. 
Crambus  vitellus,  Doubleday,  Dieff.  N.  Zeal.  App.,  p.  289, 
n.  131  (1843). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton,  Sinclair) ;  Auckland  (Oxley). 

Type.     B.M. 

213.     Crambus  ramosellus. 
Crambus  ramosellus,  Doubleday,  Dirff.  N.  Zeal.  App..  p. 
288,  n.  129  (1843). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton,  Sinclair,  Parry).         Type.     B.M. 

214.    Crambus  nexalis. 

Crambus  nexalis,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVII.,  p  178,  n. 
137  (1863). 

Auckland  (Oxley) ;  New  Zealand  (Sinclair).     Tvpe.  B.M. 


45 


215.     Crambus  teanscissalis. 
Crambus  transcissalis,  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  XXVII.,  p.  178, 


n.  138  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Sinclair). 


Type.     B.M. 


216.     Crambus  sabulosellus. 
Crambu.?  sabulosellus.  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  XXVII.,  p.  178, 
«.  139  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  87.  Eromene,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  bek  Schmett,  p.  256  (1816). 
217.    Eromene  auriscriptella. 

Eromene  auriscriptella,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  976 
(1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Tj-pe.     B.M. 

218.    Eromene  lepidella. 
Eromene  lepidella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Svppl.  N.,p.  1761 
(1866). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

A  beautiful  little  species,  with  metallic  spots  on  primaries. 

219.    Eromene  bipunctella. 
Eromene  bipunctella,   Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  Svppl.  V.,  p.  1761 


(1866). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


Genus  88.     Samana,  "Walker. 

Lep.  Het.  XXYll.,p.  197,  gen.  23  (1863). 

220.    Samana  falcatella. 

Samana  falcatella,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVII.,  |7.  197,  n. 
1  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Colenso).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  89.     Adena,  Walker. 
Lep.  Hct.  XXVII.,^.  197,  gen.  24  (1863). 

221.     Adena  xanthialis. 

Adena  xanthialis,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVII.,  7?.  198,  n.  1 
(1863). 

Auckland  {Oxleij),  Type.     B.M. 

Tribe  7.     Tortricites,  Walker. 

Family  38.     Tortricid^,  Stephens. 

Lll.  Brit.  Lns.  Haust.  fam.  XVII  (1829). 

Genus  90.     Teras,  Treitschke. 

Eur.  Schmett.Yll.,p.  233  (1829). 

222.    Teras  obliquana. 

Teras  obliquana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  302,  n. 
70  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


223.  Teras  excessana. 

Teras  excessana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  303,  n. 

71  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

224.  Teras  oblongana. 

Teras  oblongana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  303,  n. 

72  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

225.    Teras  inaptana. 
Teras  inaptana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  304,  n.  73 


(1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley). 


Type.     B.M. 


226.    Teras  incessana. 
Teras  incessana,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  304,  n. 
r4  (1863). 
Auckland  {Oxley) ;  New  Zealand  {Bolton).     Type.     B.M. 
Very  similar  to  the  preceding  species. 

227.    Teras  spurcatana. 
Teras  spurcatana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  ^.  305,  n. 


75  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley). 


Type.     B.M. 


228.  Teras  biguttana. 

Teras  biguttana.   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  305,  n. 

76  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

229.  Teras  conditana. 

Teras  conditana,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  306,  n. 

77  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

230.    Tekas  servana. 

Teras  servana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  306,  n.  78 
(1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

The  type  of  this  species  is  much  broken  and  rubbed. 

231.    Teras  semiferana. 
Teras  semiferana.  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  XXVIII.,  _p.  306,  n. 

79  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

232.    Teras  priscana. 
Teras  priscana.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  307,  n. 

80  (1863). 

Sciaphila  spoliatana.  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  XXVIII.,  ^.  356, 
71.  73  (1863). 

N 


46 


P;edisca  morosana,  TJlk.,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  382,  n. 
84  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Very  much  like  T.  servana. 

233.    Teeas  antiquana. 

Teras  antiquana,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  307,  n.  81 
(1863). 

Sciaphila  fusiferana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  355, 
71.  70  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Allied  to  T.  servana. 

234.  Teras  coxgestana. 

Teras  congestana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  308,  n. 

82  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Apparently  only  a  dark  example  of  T.  priscana. 

235.  Teras  ?  Maoriana. 

Teras  ?  Maoriana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  308,  n. 

83  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

236.  Teras  ?  accensana. 

Teras  ?  accensana,  Wlk.,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  j7.  983  (1864). 
New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.    B.M. 

237.    Teras  ?  punctilineana. 

Teras  punctilineana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  V.,  p.  1780 
(1866). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

A  large  broad-winged  species  ;  it  can  scarcely  be  a  Teras 
I  think. 

238.     Teras  cuneiferana. 
Teras  cuneiferana,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  V.,  p.  1780 
(1866). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  TjT)e.     B.M. 

239.     Teras  pauculana. 

Teras  pauculana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  V.,  p.  1781 
(1866). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

The  type  specimen  of  this  insignificant  little  species  is 
in  poor  condition. 

240.  Teras  contractana. 

Teras  contractana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  V.,  p.  1782 
(1866). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type!     B.M. 

241.  Teras  ?  abjectana. 

Teras  ?  abjectana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  Suppl.  V.,  p.  1781 
(1866). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type  much  injured.     B.M. 


Genus  91.     Pandemis,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  bek.  Schmett.,p.  388  (1816). 

242.    Pandemis  gavisana. 

Pandemis  gavisana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  ^.  312, 
n.  14  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  92.     Cacoecia,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  bek.  Schmett.,p.  388  (1816). 


243.    Cacoecia  ?  gallicolens,  n.  sp. 

Primaries  same  form  as  C.  podajia ;  secondaries  with 
outer  margin  more  arched  in  the  middle  ;  darker  or  lighter 
clay-coloured  reticulated  with  fuscous,  two  transverse 
dusky  parallel  streaks,  the  outer  one  crossing  the  disco- 
ceUuiars  of  both  wings  (under  a  lens  these  streaks  disap- 
pear, leaving  only  a  spot  at  terminations  of  discoidal  cells) ; 
a  dusky  subapical  costal  spot  on  primaries ;  body  above 
clay-coloured,  pterygodes  dusky  :  wings  below  paler,  the 
reticulations  and  transverse  bands  red-brown,  well-defined, 
a  blackish  grey  spot  on  discocellulars :  body  paler  than 
above  ;  expanse  of  wings  9  to  Hi  lines. 

This  species  may  possibly  be  referable  to  a  distinct 
genus,  but  the  specimens  are  not  in  sufficiently  good  con- 
dition to  enable  me  to  assert  positively  that  they  are  dis- 
tinct from  Caoecia  ;  the  secondaries  are  certainly  wider 
than  in  any  species  that  I  have  seen,  the  outer  margin 
being  more  distinctly  waved ;  the  palpi  are  wanting,  and 
the  wings,  in  my  larger  example,  somewhat  folded  so  as  to 
obscure  the  neuratiou. 


47 


The  history  of  this  species  is  very  interesting  as  it  seems 
to  be  a  gall-producer,  several  species  of  Tortricidce  are 
known  to  breed  in  gaUs  of  other  insects,  but  this  little  moth 
is  an  independent  animal ;  it  has  been  handed  over  to  me 
for  description  by  Mr.  Albert  Miiller,  the  present  Director 
of  the  Zoological  Gardens  at  Basle,  having  been  received 
by  him  from  Mr.  C.  M.  Wakefield  of  Christchurch. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  letter  which  accom- 
panied the  galls  and  specimens — • 

"  Christchurch,  New  Zealand, 

"  September  27th,  1873. 

"  By  this  mail  I  am  forwarding  to  you  a  little  box,  con- 
taining a  number  of  galls,  which,  I  trust,  will  be  interesting 
to  you.  Amongst  them  you  will  find  a  glass  tube,  contain- 
ing two  moths  and  two  ichneumons  which  were  bred  from 
similar  galls  last  year  ;  unfortunately,  I  forgot  them  until 
it  was  too  late,  and  they  are,  I  fear,  too  much  damaged  for 
you  to  describe  from.  The  galls  however  contain  larvaj, 
which  may  perhaps  live  and  be  bred  out  on  the  voyage. 

"  They  are  very  abundant,  and  occur  on  a  rather  pretty 
creeping  plant  of  which  I  do  not  know  the  name.  .  .  . 
The  galls  in  the  box  were  only  gathered  last  week." 

Unfortunately  no  moths  were  bred  out  on  the  voyage ; 
the  letter  reached  England  Jan.  12th,  1873,  and  the  pupje 
in  situ  are  evidently  dead. 

The  larva  seems  to  feed  upon  the  pith  and  causes  the 
stem  to  swell,  so  as  to  produce  a  fusiform  gall ;  it  forms 
a  light  silk  coccoon  within  the  centre  of  the  swelling,  the 
frass  being  apparently  gummed  on  to  the  thread  ;  the  chry- 
salis is  of  a  bright  mahogany  colour  and  about  3i  lines  in 
length.  The  large  round  hole  through  which  the  insect 
escapes  is  evidently  produced  by  the  larva. 

The  ichneumon  Hy  parasitic  upon  this  species,  belongs 
to  tlie  genus  Mesoleptiis* ,  it  is  more  nearly  allied  to  M. 
atomator  than  to  any  other  described  species,  but  differs  in 
its  more  slender  build,  in  having  the  scutellum  and  post- 
scuteUum  black  like  the  remainder  of  the  thorax  ;  the  basal 
two-thirds  of  the  first  segment  of  abdomen  black  ;  the  an- 
tennae jet  black  and  the  entire  insect  darker  in  colour  t ; 
expanse  of  wings  5  J  lines.  I  propose  to  name  this  little 
species  3f.  Mulleri. 

Genus  93.     Batodes,  Gue'nde. 

244.    Batodes  Jactatana. 

Batodes  Jactatana,  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXVIIL,  p.  317, 
n.  6  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley) ;  New  Zealand  {Colenso).    Type.    B.M. 

Genus  94.     Tortrix,  Treitschke. 

Eur.  Schmett.  Mil.,  p.  228  (1829). 

245.     Tortrix?  innotatana. 

Tortrix  ?  innotatana,  Walker,  Lep.  Eet.  XXVIIL,  p.  333, 
n.  61  (1863). 

*  I  have  to  thank  Mr.  F.  Smith  for  referring  me  to  the  genus. 


Auckland  (Oxley). 
I  am  unable  to  decide  whether  or  not  the  species  is  a  true 
Tortrix,  as  I  have  not  seen  the  type. 

Genus  95.     Sciaphila,  Treitschke. 
Eur.  Schmett.,  Nil.,  p.  233  (1829). 

246.  Sciaphila  flexivittana. 

Sciaphila   flexivittana.    Walker,   Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p. 
353,  n.  67  (1863). 

Auckland  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

247.  Sciaphila  transtrigana. 

Sciaphila  transtrigana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,/).  354, 
n.  68  (1863). 

Auckland  (Oxlen).  Type.     B.M. 

248.  Sciaphila  turbulentaka. 

Sciaphila  turbulentana,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p. 
355,  n.  69  (1863). 

Auckland  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

249.  Sciaphila  detritana. 

Sciaphila  detritaua.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p.  356, 
n.  71  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

250.  Sciaphila  servilisana. 

Sciaphila  servilisana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p.  356, 
7!.  72  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  T}'pe.     B.M. 

251.    Sciaphila  isfimana. 
Sciaphila  infimana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,^.  357, 
n.  74  (1863),  XXX.,  ^.  986  (1864). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

A  small  obscure  species. 

252.    Sciaphila  saxana. 

Sciaphila  saxana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p.  357,  n 
75  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  T>i)e.     B.M. 

Genus  96.     Olindia,  Guinea. 
253.    Olindia?  vetustana. 
Olindia  ?  vetustana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p.  358, 
11.  4  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

A  pretty  white  and  brown  species. 

t  This  may  be  due  to  the  manner  in  which  the  specimens  were  killed. 


48 


Genus  97.     Conchylis,  Sodoffsky. 
Bull.  Mosc,  p.  22(1837). 

254.  Conchylis  plagiatana. 

Conchylis  plagiatana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,^.  370. 
n.  131  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

255.  Conchylis  leucaniana. 
Conchylis  leucaniana,    Walker,  Lep.   Het.   XXVIII. ,  p. 

370,  n.  132  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton,  Sinclair).  Type.     B.M 

256.    Conchylis  recusana. 
Conchylis  recusana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  371, 
n.  133  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

257.  Conchylis  marginana. 

Conchylis   marginana.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p. 

371,  n.  134  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  98.     PiEDiscA,  Treitschke. 
Eur.  Schmett.  VIII.,  p.  188  (1830). 

258.  PiEDISCA   LUCIPLAGANA. 

Paedisca  luciplagana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  ^.  381, 
n.  83  (1863). 

Auckland  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

259.      PiEDISCA    PRIVATANA. 

Paedisca  privatana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  382, 
n.  85  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

This  seems  allied  to  Teras  priscaria,  antiquana,  con- 
gestana,  and  Maoriana,  but  I  have  not  sufficiently  studied 
the  group  to  say  whether  or  not  it  is  referable  to  that  genus. 

Genus  99.     Gkapholita  abnegatana. 

Eur.  Schmett.  VII.,  I.,  p.  231  (1829). 

260.     Grapholita  abnegatana. 

Grapholita  abnegatana.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  v.  991 
(1864). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  '^JV^-     B.M. 

Genus  100.     Argua,  Walker. 

Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  ;^.  448,  gen.  63  (1863). 

2C1.     Argua  scabra. 

Argua  scabra.  Walker,  Lev.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p.  448,  n.  1 
(1863). 

Aucklauf'  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  101.     SiMAiiTHls,  Leach. 

Sam.  Camp.,  p.  254  (1819). 
262.    Simaethis  combinatana. 

Simaethis  combinatana,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  456, 
n.  15  (1864). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

263.     Simaethis?  abstitella. 

Simaethis  ?  abstitella.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  997 
(1864). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Tribe  8.     TiNEiTES,  Latreille. 

Family  39.     Tineid^,  LeacL 

Sam.  Comp.,p.  248  (1819). 

Genus  102.     Tinea,  Fabricius. 

Syst.Ent.,p.  655  (1775). 

264.  Tinea  rectella. 

Tinea  rectella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,^.  482,  n.  91 
(1863). 

Auckland  (Oxley) ;  New  Zealand  (Ross).       Type.     B.M. 

265.  Tinea  certella. 

Tinea  certella,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIII.,  p.  484,  n.  95 


(1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


266.     Tinea  plagiatella. 


Tinea  plagiatella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p.  485,  n. 

96  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

267.    Tinea  admotella. 
Tinea  admotella,    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p.  485,  n. 

97  (1863). 

New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

268.    Tinea  ?  derogatella. 

Tinea  ?  derogatella,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p.  485, 
n.  98  (1863). 

Auckland  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

269.  Tinea  bisignella. 

Tinea  bisignella,  Wlh,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,p.  1007  (1864). 
Auckland  (Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

270.  Tinea  pusilella. 

Tinea  pusilella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  1008  (1864). 
New  Zealand  (Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


49 


271.    Tinea  Maoriella. 


Tinea  Maoriella,  Wlk,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  1008  (18G4) 

New  Zealand  {Bolto7i).  Type.     E.M.      371  (18G4). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton 


279.     Gelechia  intactella. 
Geleclua  intactella,  Walker,  Lep.  Eet.  XXIX.,  p.  652,  n. 


Type.     B.M. 


272.  Tinea  contactella. 

Tinea  contactella,    Walker,  Lep.  Hut.  Suppl.  V.,  p.  181.3 
(1866). 

Auckland  (Oxleij).  Type.     B.M. 

A  little  grey  and  white  species. 

Genus  103.     Incurvaria,  Haworth. 
Lep.  Brit,  pt.  IV.,  p.  659  (1828). 

273.  Incurvaria  basella. 

Incurvaria  basella.  Walker,  Lep.  Hct.  XXVIIL,  p.  492, 
n.  19  (1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  104.     Sabatinca,  Walker. 
Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,^.  bll,  gen.  26  (1863). 

274.     Sabatinca  incongruella. 

Sabatinca  incongruella.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p. 
511,  n.  1  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxlcy).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  105.     Cerostoma,  Latreille. 
^is<./7is.  III.,  ^.416  (1802). 

275.    Cerostoma  terminella. 


280.  Gelechia  monospilella. 

Gelechia  monospilella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  653, 

372  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

281.  Gelechia  adapertell.a.. 

Gelechia  adapertella.   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  ^.  653, 


n.  373  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type  much  damaged.     B.M. 


282.    Gelechia  adreptella. 
Gelechia  adreptella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  654,  a. 


374  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


283.    Gelechia  sublitella. 
Gelechia  subUtella,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  654,  n. 


375  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Sinclair). 


Type.     B.M. 


284.  Gelechia  deamatella. 

Gelechia  deamateUa,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  654, 
n.  376  (1864). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

285.  Gelechia  flavidella. 


Gelechia  flavidella,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  2^.  655,  a. 
Cerostoma  terminella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  j9.  548,     377  (1864). 


n.  20  (186.3). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     BM. 


276.     Cerostoma  fulguratella. 
Cerostoma  fulguratella.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXVIIL,  p. 
548,  n.  21  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  106.  Gelechia,  Hiibner. 
Verz.  hek.  Schmett.,p.  415  (1816). 
277.     Gelechia  conspicuella. 

Gelechia  conspicuella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  651, 
n.  369  (1864). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

278.     Gelechia  innotella. 
Gelechia  innotella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  652,  n. 
370  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


286.     Gelechia  collitella. 
Gelechia  collitella.    Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  655, 


378  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


287.  Gelechia  convulsella. 

Gelechia  convulseUa,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  656, 
n.  379  (1864). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

288.  Gelechia  contextella. 

Gelechia  conte.xtella.   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  p.  656, 
n.  380  (1864). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

289.  Gelechia  contritella. 

Gelechia  contritella.   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXIX.,  jj.  657, 


n.  381  (1864). 
Auckland  {Oxley). 


Type.     B.M. 
0 


50 


290.    Gelechia  subditella. 

Gelechia  subditella.  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  p.  657,  n. 
.'582  (1864). 

New  Zealand  (Boss).  Type.     B.M. 


299.      (ECOPHORA    HAMATELLA. 

(Ecopliora  hamatella,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXIX.,  p.  700, 

97  (1864). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 


291.    Gelechia  bifaciella. 

Gelechia  bifaciella,   Walker,  Lep.  Set.  XXIX.,  p.  657,  n. 
383  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


292.    Gelechia  peroneanella. 

Gelechia  peroneanella.  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  p.  658, 
V.  384  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton) ;  Auckland  {Oxley).    Type.     B.M. 
A  very  pretty  black-speckled  green  species. 


Genus  108.     Cryptolechia,  Zeller. 

300.  Cryptolechia  coarctatella. 

Cryptolechia  coarctatella,   Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  p. 

768,  11.  153  (1863). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

301.  Cryptolechia  colligatella. 
Cryptolechia  colligatella,    Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  p. 


768,  n.  154  (1863). 
New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


293.     Gelechia  apparitella. 

Gelechia  apparitella.    Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXX.,  p.  1027 
(1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


294.     Gelechia  copiosell.4.. 

Crelechia  copiosella,    Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXX.,  ;;.  1028, 
(1864). 

Auckland  {Oiiey).  Type.     B.M. 


Genus  107.     OScophora,  Latreille. 
Pric.  d.  car.,  p.  146  (1796). 

295.      ffiCOPHORA  apertella. 

(Ecophora  apertella,  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  p.  698, 
n.  93  (1864). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

296.  OECOPHORA  armigerella. 

(Ecophora  armigerella.  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  j).  698, 
,1.  94  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  This  .species  is  unknown  to 
me. 

297.  QiCOPHORA    ADEMPTELLA. 

(Ecophora  ademptella.  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  ;x  698, 
«.  95  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Gnly  the  primaries  and  thorax  of  the  type  remain. 


302.     Cryptolechia  lichenella. 
Cryptolechia   lichenella,    Walker,  Lep.  Ret.   XXIX.,  p. 
im,  n.  155  (1863). 
New  Zealand  {Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

Very  like  the  species  of  the  genus  Ryponomexita. 


Genus  109.     Izatha,  Walker. 
Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  ^^  786,  gen.  74  (1863). 

303.  IZATHA  attactella. 

Izatha  attactella,  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  p.  787,  n.  1 
(1863). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton,  Sinclair).  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  110.     Tixgena,  "Walker. 
Lej}.  Ret.  XXIX.,  p.  809,  gen.  102  (1864). 

304.  Tixgena  bifaciella. 

Tiiigena  bifaciella,    Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX,  p.  810   » 
1  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  ■  Type.     B.M. 

Genus  111.     Vanicela,  Walker. 
Lej).  Ret.  XXX.,  p.  1039,  (1864). 

305.    Vanicela  disjunctella. 

Vanicela  disjunctella.  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXX.,  p.  1039 
(1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 
I  have  not  seen  the  type. 


298.     (Ecophora  picarella. 

(Ecophora  picarella.  Walker,  Lep.  Ret.  XXIX.,  p.  699,  n. 
96  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Churton)  ;  Auckland  {Oxley).    Type.    B.M. 


Family  40.     Glyphypterygid/E,  Staintou. 
Man.  Brit.  Moths  II.,  p.  362  (1859). 

Genus  112.     Glyphypteryx,  Hiibuer. 
Verz.  hek  Schmett.,  p,  421  (1816). 


5i 


306.  Glyphypteryx  exteknella. 

Glyphypteryx  exteruella,  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXX.,  p. 
841,  n.  9  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type  ?     IJ.M. 

The  only  example  in  the  collection  is  from  Auckland 
and  measures  only  5  lines  in  expanse  of  wings. 

307.  Glyphypteryx  scintelella. 

Glyphypteryx  scintelella.  Walker,  Lcp.  Hd.  XXX.,  p. 
841,  n.  10  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Family  41.     Argyresthid^,  Stainton. 
Man.  Brit.  Moths  II.,  p.  368  (1859). 
Genus  113.     Argyresthia,  Hiibner. 

Verz.  bek.  Schmett.,  p.  422  (1816). 
308.    Argyresthia  transversella. 

Argyresthia  transversella,   Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p. 
849,  n.  35  (1864). 
Auckland  (Oxley). 
The  type  of  this  species  is  missing. 

309.    Argyresthia  stilbella. 

Argyrosetia  stilbella,  DonUeday,  Dicff.  N.  Zeal.  App.,  p. 
289,  n.  132  (1843). 

Argyresthia  stilbella.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p).  849, 
n.  36  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Sindair). 

The  type  is 


Family  42.     Gragilariid^.,  Stainton. 

Man.  Brit.  Moths  II.,  p.  374  (1859). 

Genus  114.     Gracilaru,  Haworth. 

Lep.  Brit.,pt.  lY.,p.  527  (1828). 

310.  Gracilaria  frontella. 

Gracilaria  frontella.    Walker,  Lcp.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  856,  n. 

41  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 
The  type  is  missing. 

311.  Gracilaria  arenosella. 
Gracilaria  arenosella,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  857,  n. 

42  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 

Family  43.     Elachistiua;,  Stainton. 
Man.  Brit.  Moths  II.,  /;.  393  (1859). 


Genus  115.     Elaciusta,  Treitschkc. 
Eur.  Schmett.  IX.,  2,  p.  177  (1833j. 

312.  Elachista  subpavonella. 

Elachista  subitavonella.  Walker,  Ijcp.  Hd.  XXX.,  p.  898, 
n.  94  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Sindair,  Bolton). 
The  specimens  are  missing. 

Family  44.     Fterophorid^,  Zeller. 

Isis,  p.  755  (1841). 

Genus  116.     Platyptilus,  ZeUer. 

Jsis,p.  764  (1841). 

313.  Platyptilus  falcatalis. 

Platyptilus  falcatalis.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  931, 
n.  15  (1864). 

Auckland  {Oxleij).  Type.     B.M. 

314.  Platyptilus  repletalis. 
Platyptilus  repletalis,  Walker,  Lcp.  Het.  XXX.,  j).  \)3l. 


>i.  16  (1864). 
New  Zealand  {Bolton,  Sinclair). 


Type.     B.M. 


Genus  117.     Pterophorus,  Geoffrey. 
Hist.  d.  Ins.  II.,  p.  90  (1764). 

315.  Pterophorus  innotatalis. 

Pterophorus  innotatalis.  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXX.,  j)-  945, 
n.  57  (1864). 

Auckland  {Oxley).  Type.     B.M. 

316.  Pterophorus  deprivatalis. 
Pterophorus   deprivatalis.  Walker,  Lep.  Hd.  XXX.,  p. 


946,  n.  58  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolton). 


Type.     B.M. 


Genus  118.     Aciptilus,  Zeller. 
7sw,^.  768(1841). 

317.    Aciptilus  furcatalis. 

Aciptilus  furcatalis,  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX.,  p.  950,  n. 
26  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Bolto)i)  ;  Auckland  {O.dcy).    Type.     B.M. 

318.    Aciptilus  monospilalis. 
Aciptilus  monospilalis.  Walker,  Lep.  Het.  XXX., }}.  950, 
n.  27  (1864). 

New  Zealand  {Sindair.  Bolton).  Type.     B.M. 


T  H  E 


ZOOLOGY 


VOYAGE  OF  H.M.S.  EREBUS  &  TERROR, 

UNDER  THE  COMMAND  OE  CAPTAIN  SIR  JAMES  CLARK  ROSS,  R.N.,  F.R.S., 

DURING      THE      YEAES 

1839     TO     1843. 

BV    AUTHORITY    OF    THE    LORDS    COMMISSIONERS    OF    THE    ADMIRALTY. 


EDITED    liY 


JOHN   RICHARDSON,  M.D.,  F.E.S.,  &c.; 
JOHN   EDWARD    GRAY,  Esq.,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c. 


MOLLUSCA. 

BY 

EDGAR  A.  SMITH,  E.Z.S.,  Zoological  Department,  British  Museum. 


LONDON: 
E.    W.    JANSON,    28,    MUSEUM    STREET,    W.C. 

M.DCCC.LXXIV. 


MOLLUSCA. 


By  EDGAE  a.  smith,  F.Z.S.,  of  the  Zoological  Department,  British  Museum. 


The  four  following  excellent  plates  will  be  very  acceptable  to  Conchologists,  as  they  contain  figures  of  several 
species  (about  twenty)  which,  until  the  present  time,  have  been  known  only  by  descriptions,  in  some  instances  very 
short  and  insufficient,  and  also  the  more  interesting  as,  in  thirty-one  instances,  the  actual  type  specimens  are  de- 
lineated. 

Plates  1  to  3  are  devoted  exclusively  to  species  belonging  to  the  New  Zealand  fauna.  Four  of  them  are  new  to 
science,  and  three,  described  some  years  since,  are  unrecorded  in  Von  Martens'  very  useful  "  Critical  List  of  the 
Mollusca  of  New  Zealand." 

Plate  4  includes,  with  one  exception  {Helix  Mcnlemw),  figures  of  some  Australian  Land  and  Freshwater  Mollusca 
of  which  two  appear  to  be  as  yet  undescrilied. 

All  the  species  with  the  exception  of  Bidimus  antvpodum  and  Vermttvs  cariiiifenis  are  in  the  British  Museum, 
and  those  preceded  by  a  *  were  presented  by  Sir  John  Eichardson,  M.D.,  F.E.S. 


A.     Terrestrial  Mollusca. 

Family  Helicinid^. 

*  Helicina  reticulata.     Tab.  4,/.  12. 

Helicina  reticulata,  Pfeiffer,  Proc.  Zoo!.  Soc,  18(i2,p.  277. 
Hal).  Blackwood  Bay.     Australia  {Richardson). 


Family  Helicid^. 
Helix  BusBYL     Tab.  1,  Jig. -i. 

Helix  Busbyi,  G-ray,  Annals  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  1841, 
VL,  p.  317. 

Halj.  New  Zealand  {Bu^by). 

The  type  example  presented  to  the  British  Museum  by 
Mrs.  Dunn  is  here  figured. 


Helix  Dunnm.     Tab.  I,  fig.  7. 

Helix  Dunnise,  Gray,  Annals  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist,  1841, 
VI.,  p.  317. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

The  specimen  here  represented,  also  the  gift  of  Mrs. 
Dunn  to  the  National  Collection,  is  the  type. 

Helix  Kivl     Tab.  l,fig.  1. 
Nanina  ?  kivi,  Gray,  Dieffenbadis  N  Z.  II.,  p.  262. 
Hab,  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Sinclair). 

Helix  Mari^.     Tab.  1,  fig.  2. 
Naiiina  Mari;T?,  Gray,  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  262. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Br.  Sinclair). 

Helix  coma.     Tab.  l,fig.  3. 
Zonites  coma,  Gray,  Birffcnbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  262. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Br.  Sinclair). 


*  Helix  nigrilabris.     Tab.  4:,  fig.  16. 

Helix  (Xanthomelon)  nigrilabris,  Von  Martens,  Malak. 
BUM.  XVI.,  p.  78. 

H.  Edwardsi,  Cox,  Monog.  Austral.  Zand  Shells,  p.  109, 
pi.  19,/.  3,3a. 

H.  (Galaxias)  Meadei,  Brazier,  P.Z.S.,  1870,  jj.  662. 

Hab.  Blackwood  Bay,  N.  E.  Australia  (Richardson). 

The  shell  here  figured  is  not  a  typical  example  of  this 
species  as  it  lacks  the  sutural  chestnut  band,  and  the  thin 
callous  deposit  on  the  body  whorl,  and  the  peritreme  is  of  a 
bright  chestnut  hue,  and  only  the  former  part  is  furnished 
with  granules,  which  are  very  small. 

Helix  bipartita.     Tab.  i,fig.  11. 

Helix  bipartita,  F&russac,  Hist.,  pi.  75,/.  1. 
Hab.  North  East  Australia. 

*  Helix  Eichardsonii,  sp.  n.     Tub.  4,/>  14. 

Shell  perforated  (jierforation  concealed),  globosely  de- 
pressed, ratlier  thin,  finely  striated  by  the  lines  of  growth, 
whitish,  tlie  last  whorl  encircled  with  ten  to  twelve  palish- 
brown  lines  (sometimes  in  worn  specimens  these  are 
diaphanous  and  colourles.s)  one  of  them  a  little  above  the 
periphery  being  broader,  and  of  a  deeper  colour  than  the 
rest ;  spire  moderately  raised ;  whorls  -l-J- — 5  slowly  in- 
creasing, the  last  conspicuously  descending  near  the  lip ; 
aperture  very  oblique,  rhomboidal- lunate  ;  peristome  white, 
thin,  shortly  expanded,  at  the  umbilical  region  spread  over 
the  whorl  in  the  form  of  a  thin  callosity  concealing  the 
perforation  and  united  to  the  lip  above. 

Greatest  diameter  19  mill,  smallest  16  ;  height  12. 

Hab.  Uupuch's  Is.,  West  Coast  of  Australia  {Richardson). 

This  species  is  allied  to  H.  Reiaga,  (.Jray,  which  is  said 
to  come  from  New  Zealand,  but  I  may  add  that  all  the 
specimens  in  the  British  Museum,  with  reliable  localities, 
are  from  different  parts  of  Australia. 

From  H.  Reinga,  it  differs  in  being  of  larger  and  thinner 
growth,  in  the  number  of  the  whorls,  which  are  not  so 
convex,  being  nearly  one  less,  and  in  having  the  underside 
of  the  last  whorl,  which  is  proportionally  larger,  more 
flattened,  especially  at  the  umbilical  region  which  is  over- 
spread by  a  broadish  thin  callosity,  united  above  to  the 
outer  lip.  The  greater  deflection  of  tlie  last  whorl  near 
the  mouth  is  another  notable  difference,  and  the  peritreme 
is  thinner  and  more  expanded. 

*  Helix  virgata.     Tab.  4,  fig.  15. 

Helix  virgata,  Ba  Costa,  Brit.  Conch.,  p.  79,  pi.  4,/.  7; 
Jeffreys,  Brit.  Con.  I.,  p.  210. 

Hab.  Foul  Point,  North  West  Coast  of  Australia. 

(Rivhardsoii). 

There  are  two  specimens  brought  from  the  above  locality, 
which  I  cannot  distinguish  in  any  particular  from  this 
species.  This  is  not  the  first  record  of  its  occurrence  in 
Australia,  for  a   sinistral   variety  is   mentioned   by    Mr. 


Gwyn  Jeffreys  as  coming  from  New  South  Wales.  Its 
advent  there  is  not  to  be  accounted  for  with  certainty,  but 
possibly  it  is  an  introduction  of  the  common  European 
shell,  as  appears  to  be  the  case  with  ff.  nitida,  Mtiller. 


*  Helix  leptogramma.     Tah.  4,  fig.  \%. 

Helix  leptogramma,  Pfeiffer,  Mon.  Hel.  I.,  p.  322. 
Hab.  Australia  {Richardson). 


*  Helix  Menkeana.     Tab.  4,  fig.  9. 

Helix  Menkeana,  Pfeiffer,  Mon.  Hel.  I.,  p.  55. 

Hab.  Cape  of  Good  Hope.     {Krauss). 

The  shell  here  figured  is  that  variety  which  is  of  a  pale 
horn-colour,  with  only  the  one  broad,  superior  brown  band. 
It  was  presented  by  Dr.  Kichardsou  without  a  locality. 


*  Helix  cyclostom.a.ta.     Tab.  4,  fig.  13. 

Helix  cyclostomata,  Le  Guillou,  Rev.  Zool.,  1842,  p.  141. 
H.  Tuckeri,  Pfr.,  and  H.  strangulata,  Hombr.  &  Jacg. 
Hab.  Blackwood  Bay,  Australia  {Richardson). 

Helix  Strangei.     Tab.  4,  fig.  17. 

Helix  Strangei,  Pfeiffer,  Mon.  Hel.  III.,  p.  98. 
Hab.   Blackwood   Bay,   York   Isles,   near   Cape   York, 
N.  E.  Australia  {Richardson). 


Helix  millestriata,  sp.  n.     Tab.  4,  fig.  5. 

Shell  thin,  horn-colour,  perspectively  umbilicated,  de- 
pressly  orbicular,  ornamented  with  very  close  arcuately- 
radiating  thread-like  riblets,  which  are  coarser  on  the 
upper  than  the  lower  surface,  entirely  covered  with 
microscopic  spiral  striations  which  are  continuous  on  and 
between  the  riblets  ;  spire  nearly  flat,  only  slightly 
elevated ;  whorls  five,  slowly  increasing,  ratlier  convex, 
separated  by  a  deepish  suture,  last  not  descending  in 
front;  the  umbilicus  occupying  one-fourth  the  width  of 
the  base ;  mouth  roundly-lunate ;  peristome  simple,  thin, 
columellar  margin  a  little  dilated  above. 

Greatest  diameter  7  mill.,  smallest  6  ;  height  3. 

Hab.  Dupuch's  Is.,  West  Australia  (Richardson). 

This  small  but  prettily  sculptured  species  is  chiefly 
characterized  by  tlie  fine  riblets,  and  the  microscopic 
spiral  striations,  which  are  not,  as  in  some  other  .species, 
interrupted  by  the  riblets,  but  are  continuous  over  them. 
The  inferior  surface  is  slightly  shining,  the  upper  not  so. 


ViTRiNA  Freycixeti.     Tab.  4,  fig.  4. 

Helixarion  Freycineti,  Ft'r.  Prodr.  II.,  p.  20 ;   Hist.,  pi. 
9a,/ 3,  4;  pl.%,f  2. 
Hab.  New  South  Wales. 


BULIMUS  ANTIPODUM.      Tab.  1,  fig.  b. 
Bulimus  antipodum,  G-ray,  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  2-47. 
Hab.  Kaitaia,  N.  Z.  (Dieffenbach). 
This  species  is  here  figured  for  tlie  first  time. 

*  Bulimus  pacificus.     Tab.  A,  fig.  6. 
Buliinns  pacificus,  Pfeiffer,  Froc.  Zool.  Soc.  1846,^.  31 ; 
Mon.  Hd.  II.,  2).  309. 

Hab.  N.  W.  Australia,  Pigeon  Is.  {Dr.  Richardson). 

Pupa  Strangei.     Tab.  i,  fig.  S. 
Pupa  Strangei,  Pfeiffer,  Mon.  Hd.  III.,  p.  560. 
Hab.  "  Sydney." 

The  above  figure  does  not  represent  the  armature  of  the 
aperture  quite  accurately. 

Vvyx,sp.n.?     Tab.  i,  fig.  7. 

Hab.  Australia. 

Tills  figure  appears  to  represent  an  undescriljed  species 
of  Pupa ;  but  during  the  lapse  of  time,  since  the  plate  was 
executed,  the  specimen  has  been  unfortunately  crushed 
and  cannot  therefore  be  now  characterized. 

B.  Freshwater  Mollusca. 

Family  PaludiniD/E. 

*  Paludina  australis.     Tab.  i,fig.  19. 

Paludina  australis,  Eeeve,  Conch.  Icon.  XIV.,  f.  71. 
Hab.  Australia.    The  shell  here  represented  is  immature. 


Hydrobia  antipodum.     Tab.  I,  fig.  19. 
ola  antipodanum,  Graij,  Dieffenbach's  N. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Sinclair).     Type  figured. 


Aninicola  antipodanum,  Grajj,  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p. 


Hydrobia  Zelandi^.     Tab.  I,  fig.  below  19. 
Amnicola  ?    Zelandife,  Gray,  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Sianger).     Type  figured. 

Family  Melaniid-ii;. 

*  Melania  Australis.     Tab.  4,  fig.  3. 

]\Ielania  Australis,  Peeve,  Conch.  Icon.  XII., /.  82. 
Hab.  Victoria  Ptiver  {Richardson). 

Melanopsis  trifasciata.    pi.  I,  figs.  22,  18. 

Melauopsis  trifasciata,  Gray,  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p. 
263. 


M.  Zdandica,  Gould  1848  ;  M.  Strangei,  Reeve  1860  ; 
M.  Grata,  Dunker  1861. 

Hab.  Waitanga  Falls,  Bay  of  Islands,  N.  Zealand. 

The  actual  type  is  represented  by  fig.  22,  fig.  18  repre- 
senting a  very  large  old  specimen  with  the  spire  decollated 
as  frequently  is  the  case  in  this  species. 

Family  Unionid.e. 

*  Unio  M(_)Ketoxicus.     Tab.  4:,  fig.  2. 

Unio  moretonicus,  Reeve,  Conch.  Icon.  XVI., /.  118. 

U.  Australis,  Lamarck  ?  Anim.  s.  Vert.  ed.  2,  VI.,  p.  546. 

Hab.  Australia  (Membridge  Kiver).     {Richardson). 


Mycetopus  rugatus.     Tab.  4,  fig.  1. 

Jlycetopus  rugatus,  Soiverby,  Conch.  Icon.  XVII.,  /  7. 

Hab.  Victoria  River,  N.  Australia. 

Possibly  when  the  animal  inhabiting  this  sliell  is 
examined  it  will  prove  to  be  an  Anodonta.  The  shell 
scarcely  gapes  at  the  anterior  extremity. 


C.  Marine  Mollusca. 

Family  Cerithiid/E. 

Cerithidea  bigarixata.     Tab.  I,  fig.  20. 

Cerithium  bicarinata.  Gray,  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  241. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Stanger).     Type  figured. 


Family  Trichotropid.e. 

Trichotropis  clathrata  {A.  Adams  Ms.)      Ted).  I,  fig.  21. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Sinclair,  Colonel  Polton,  and  Dr. 
Lyall,  R.N.) 

The  above  name  is  attached  to  a  specimen  in  the 
Cumingian  collection,  without  any  locality,  which  agrees  in 
every  particular  with  specimens  from  New  Zealand  col- 
lected by  the  gentleman  quoted  above.  The  name  occurs 
in  Messrs.  Adams'  list  in  the  "  Genera  of  recent  Mollusca  " 
vol.  I.,  p.  280  ;  but  as  I  cannot  find  a  description  of  any 
species  so  designated,  I  append  the  following : — - 

Shell  shortly  fusiform,  turreted,  very  narrowly  umbili- 
cated,  of  a  pale  pinkish,  or  dirty  white  colour;  whorls  six,  two 
first  convex,  smooth,  shining,  the  rest  convex,  but  slightly 
angulated  near  the  middle,  ornamented  with  a  fine  can- 
cellation formed  by  rather  oblique  longitudinal  fine  ribs 
(about  twenty  in  a  whorl)  being  cut  across  by  spiral 
lirations  (six  in  the  upper  whorls,  and  about  twelve  in  the 
last)  the  fourth  from  the  top  being  a  little  larger  than  the 
rest,  and  producing  the  faint  angulation  near  the  middle  of 
the  whorls  ;  aperture  subcircular,  obliquely  but  shallo\\'ly 
channelled  at  tlie  base,  occupying  about  half  the  length  of 
the  entire  shell ;  labrum  very  slightly  exjiaiided  ;  columella 
arcuate  above,  angulated  just  below  the  middle  by  an 
acute  projection  and  oljlique  interiorly,  covered  by  a  thin 


'callosity  which  is  united  to  the  labrum  above  and  being 
slightly  expanded  almost  conceals  the  umbilical  fissure. 

Length,  7  lines,  In-eadth  3i,  a  smaller  specimen  is  4f 
lines  long  and  2-^  broad. 

The  spiral  lirations  are  rather  more  prominent  than  the 
longitudinal  ribs,  and  the  three  on  the  superior  half  of  the 
whorls  are  finer  than  those  on  the  lower  portion.  The 
points  of  intersection  are  faintly  nodulous. 

The  figure  representing  this  species  is  not  characteristic, 
for  it  is  taken  from  a  young  example,  and  the  form  of  the 
mouth  is  very  different  from  that  of  the  adult  shell. 

Family  Vp^rmetid.?;. 

Vermetus  cariniferus.     Tab.  I,  fig.  23. 

Vermetus  cariniferus,  Gvaji,  in  Dieff.  N.  Z.  11.,^.  242. 
Hab.  Parengarenga,  N.  Cape,  N.  Zealand  {Dieffenlacli). 
Type  figured. 


Family  Trochid.e. 
Tkochus  (Axthora)  tuberculatus. 


Tab.  1,/y.  G. 


Polydonta  tuberculata,  Graij,  in  Dicffenbach's  iV.  Z.,p.  239. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (Bieffenbach).     Type  figured 


Tkdchus  (Gibbula)  sanguineus.     Tab.  I,  fig.  12. 
Trochus  Gibbium  sanguineus,  G-ray,  in  Bieffenbach' s  A\  Z. 
II.,  _?^  238. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  {Br.  Stanger).     Type  figured. 


Family  Patellid^. 

Patella  redimiculum.     Tab.  l,fig.  24. 

Patella  redimiculum,  Eeeve,  Conch.  Icon.  VIII.,  /.  25a-b 
and  50a-b. 

Hal).  New  Zealand.     Distinct  from  P.  radians,  Gmelin. 

Patella  denticulata.     Tab.  I,  fig.  24. 
Patella  denticulata,  Martyn,  Univ.  C'o7ich.,  II.,  ^j/.  65. 
Patella  raargaritaria,  Chemnitz. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Patella  antipodum,  sp.  n.     Tab.  \,fi(j.  25. 

Shell  rotundately  ovate,  a  little  narrowed  in  front,  the 
apex  much  inclined  anteriorly,  placed  at  a  distance  of  one- 
fourth  of  tlie  entire  length  from  the  front  margin,  radiately 
rather  finely  ribbed,  ribs  crossed  by  the  fine  concentric 
lines  of  growth,  orange-yellow  clouded  with  white  aroimd 
the  middle,  varied  with  ten  or  eleven  black  narrow  rays 
placed  at  nearly  equal  distances,  those  in  fi-ont  being 
rather  more  approximated  than  the  rest ;  the  interior  is 
brilliant  pearly  orange-yellow,  the  exterior  black  rays  being 
visiljle  especially  at  the  margin  which  is  finely  crenulated. 

Length  28  mill. ;  width  22  ;  height  9. 

Hab.  New  Zealand.  (Presented  by  Lieut.-Col.  Bolton, 
R.E.) 

The  figure  of  this  species  represents  the  apex  decidedly 
too  central.  When  resting  on  a  fiat  surface  the  anterior 
and  posterior  margins  only  are  in  contact  with  it. 


Tkochus  (Labio)  subrostratus.     Tab.  I,  fig.  14. 
Monodonta  sulirostrata,  Gray  in  Bieff'.  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  238  ; 
Yates  K.  Z., p.  308. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (Bieffenbach). 


Family  Chitonid.e. 

Chiton  (Leptociuton)  ^reus.     Tab.  I,  fig.  9. 

Chiton  xrens,  Eeere,  Conch.  Icon.  IV., /.  36. 

Hab.  New  Zealand.     Type  in  Museum  collection. 


■  Tkochus  (chlorostoma)  undulosus.     Tab.  l,fig.  15. 

Chlorostoma  undulosum,  A.  Adams,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc, 
1851,  p.  182. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  (Earl). 

Mr.  A.  Adams  describes  tlie  colour  of  this  species  which 
appears  to  have  been  o\-erlooked  by  Von  Martens  in  his 
List  of  New  Zealand  Shells  as  "  virescenti."  All  three 
specimens  in  the  Cumingian  collection  are  yellowish 
(luteus).  He  writes  "labro  intus  sulcato,"  which  refers  to 
the  three  or  four  shallow  sulcations  jdaced  far  within  the 
ajierture.  The  dimensions  of  this  species  are  as  follows  : 
greatest  height  16  mill;  diani.  19. 

Family  Haliotid.e. 

Haliotis  gibba.     Tab.  I,  fig.  16. 

Haliotis  gibba  (Philippi?)  Eeevc,  Conch.  Icon.  111.,/.  42. 
Hal.>.  N.  Zealand. 


Chiton  (Leptochiton)  Sinclairi.     Tab.  I,  fig.  17. 
Chiton  Sinclairi,  Gray  in  Birffcnbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  j).  263. 
Hab.  Great  Barrier  Is.,  N.  Zealand.     The  type  is  figured. 

Chiton  (ch.etopleura)  nobilis.     Tab.  I,  fig.  8. 
Acanthopleura  nobilis.  Gray  in  Bieffenbach' s  A'.  Z.  11., 
p.  245. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Chiton  (Plaxiphok.v)  tekminalis.     Tab.  I,  fig.  13. 

Placiphora  terminalis,  Cpr.  MS.  (in  Coll.  Cuming) 
Shell  elongately  ovate,  rather  elevated,  roundly  angled 
along  the  top  of  the  valves,  black  or  bluish-black,  witli  a 
wliite  wedge-shaped  stripe  with  a  black  one  within  it 
down  the  centre  of  the  valves,  forming  a  continuous 
white  stripe  di\-ided  by  the  black  one  along  the  centre  of 


the  shell,  in  some  specimens  with  a  few  short  white  dashes 
diverging  from  the  radiating  ridges.  The  intermediate 
valves  mucronated,  bisected  on  each  side  hy  one  raised 
radiating  rib,  the  posterior  margins  sinuated  and  thickened 
by  coarse  concentric  lamellae  :  the  entire  suiface  is  covered 
with  minute  striate-wrinkling,  those  near  the  ridge  being 
coarser  than  the  rest  and  radiating  from  it  like  the  weljs 
from  the  shaft  of  a  feather.  The  posterior  terminal  valve 
has  the  mncro  quite  terminal.  The  anterior  valve  radiately 
eight-ribbed  (at  times  one  or  two  additional  minor  ones  are 
present)  with  diverging  oblique  striations  on  each  side  of 
them.  Interior  of  valves  greenish-blue;  valve  lobes 
whitish,  the  siitus  between  tliem  deep  ;  the  hairs  or  bristles 
on  the  mantle-margin  are  short,  few  and  horny,  those 
arising  from  the  nine  pores  being  thicker  than  the  rest. 

Largest  specimen  (in  a  contracted  state)  42  mill,  long  : 
width  of  valves,  20. 

An  average  specimen.     Length,  25  mill. ;  width,  11. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  {Col.  Bolton  and  Capt.  Stokes). 

"  Terminalis "  appears  to  be  but  a  manuscript  name 
attached  to  some  specimens  in  the  Cumiugian  collection. 
As  I  understand  that  Dr.  P.  P.  Carpenter  is  engaged  on  a 
work  on  Chitonulce   I  retain  the  characteristic  name  he 


The  central  white  stripe  with  the  black  one  within  it 
appears  to  be  very  constant. 


Ps.\M.MOBIA   LIXEOLATA.      Tab.  2,fifj.  11. 

Psammobia  lineolata,  Graij  in  Dieffenhach's  N.  Z.  II.,  v. 
253. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Tellixa  glabkella.     Tab.  '2,  Jig.  7. 
Tellina  glabrella,  Deshcujes,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1854,  p.  366. 
Hab.  New  Zealand.  Type  in  Brit.  Mus. 

Family  Macti;id.e. 

Mactra  uiscoks.     Tab.  2,  ///.  4. 

Mactra  discors,  Girii/,  Anmds  and  Maij.  Nat.  Hid.  I., 
1837,  _p.  371. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

The  above  figure  is  taken  from  a  very  young  specimen. 

Mactra  (Spisula)  ^quilateralis.     Tab.  2,  fig.  10. 

Mactra  tequilateralis,  Dcshayes,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1853, 
p.  17. 

M.  ajquilatera.  Peeve,  Conch.  Icon.  VIII.,  /.  14  ;  Von 
Martens,  List  New  Zealand  Mollusca,  p.  44. 

Hab.  New  Zealand.  Type  in  Brit.  Mus. 


Family  BuLLiD^. 

Bulla  Quqyii.     Tab.  \,fig.  11. 

Bulla  Quoyii,  Ch-ay,  in  Dicffcnbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  243. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Stanger).     T}^e  figured 


Haminea  Zelandi/E.     Tab.  I,  fig.  10. 

Bulla  Zelandiaj,  Gray,  in  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  243. 

Haminea  obesa,  Sowerby,  Conch.  Icon.  XVI., /.  13. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Dieffenbach).     Type  figured. 

This  species  is  certainly  distinct  from  H.  pernphis, 
Philippi,  of  which  it  is  considered  a  .synonym  by  A. 
Adams,  Thesaurus  Conch  II.,  p.  580.  See  Annals  and 
Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  1872,  IX.,  p.  347. 


M.A.CTEA  (Staxdella)  ovat.\.     Tab.  2,  fig.  2. 

Spisula  ovata,  Gray,  Dicfi'enbach's  N.  Z.  11.,  p.  251. 
Halj.  West  Coast  of  the  North  Is.,  New  Zealand  {Dieffen- 
bach).    The  type  is  figured. 

Vaxganella  Taylorii.     Tab.  2,  fig.  5. 

Vangauella  Taylorii,  Gray,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1851,  ^j.  125  ; 
Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  H.  1853,  XL,  p.  476. 

Eesania  lanceolata,  Gray,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist, 
1853,  XL, ;?.  43. 

Lutraria  lanceolata.  Peeve,  Conch.  Icon.  VIII. ,  /  17. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  {Pev.  P.  Taylor). 

The  type  specimens  presented  by  the  Rev.  R.  Taylor  to 
the  British  Museum  are  not  adult,  but  the  one  figured  is 
full-gi'own. 


Family  Pholadid.e. 

Pholadid.ea  TRIDEXS.     Tab.  2,  fig.  8. 

Talona   tridens,  Gray  in  Dieffenbach's  N'.  Z.  II.,  p.  254. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Stanger).  TyP*^  figured. 

Family  Telllxid.e. 

Soletellixa  nitida.     Tab.  2,  fig.  9. 

Psammobia  nitida.  Gray  in  Dicfi'enbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  253. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Stanger). 


Taria  vextricosa.     Tctb.  3,  fig.  6. 

Mesodesma  ventricosa,  (??•«?/,  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II., ^j.  252. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

This  species  must  not  be  confounded  with  T.  lata, 
Deshayes,  which  is  distinguished  at  once  by  the  sinus  in 
the  pallial  line  being  rather  shallow  in  comparison  with 
that  in  vcntricosa,  which  is  considerably  deeper,  and  the 
latter  shell  is  more  inequilateral,  and  has  two  obsolete 
keels  (in  the  figure  only  one  is  shown)  radiating  from  the 
uinbones  to  the  margin  down  the  anterior  end  of  the 
valves,  whereas  in  lata  there  is  but  a  single  obsolete  angu- 
lation. 


Family  Venekid^. 
DosixiA  SUBROSEA.     Tab.  3,  fig.  1. 
Arthemis  siilirosea,  Gray,  App.  Yate's  K  Z.,  p.  309. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Yate). 

The  type  presented  to  the  National  collection  by  the 
Church  Missionary  Society  is  here  figured. 

Venus  oblonga.     Tab.  2,  fig.  1. 

Dosinia  oblonga,  Gray,  Dieffenbach's  iV.  Z.  II.,  2^-  249 
(1S42). 

Venus  oblonga,  Hanky,  Suppl.  Index  Test.,  pi.  16,/.  1. 

rar.  Dosinia  Zelandica,  Gray,  pi.  3,  /.  5,  App.  Yate's  N. 
Z.,  p.  309. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

The  latter  variety,  the  type  of  which  is  in  the  British 
Museum,  presented  by  the  Church  Missionary  Society, 
differs  from  the  usual  form  only  in  being  of  a  more  rounded 
sha])e.  Although  Zelandica  was  described  seven  years 
previous  to  ohlonga  it  is  advisable  to  retain  the  latter  name 
because  the  shells  to  which  it  is  applied  are  of  the  common 
form  of  the  species,  and  also  because  the  former  name  has 
been  used  already  by  Quoy  and  Gaimard  for  another 
species,  and  although  this  is  a  synonym  of  Venus  Stutch- 
biirii.  Gray,  nevertheless  for  the  foregoing  reasons  it 
certainly  is  preferable  to  retain  the  name  ohlonga. 

Venus  (Chione)  Yatei.     Tab.  ?>,fig.  11. 
Venus  Yatei,  G^-ay,  Yate's  N.  Z,  p.  309. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (Yate). 

The  type  presented  by  the  Church  Missionary  Society 
to  the  National  Museum  is  figured. 

Vexus  (Chione)  Stutchburii.     Tab.  3,  fi^.  4. 
Venus  Stutchburii,  Gray,  Wood's  Index  Test.  Siipjil.  pi. 
2,/.  4. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Veneuupis  reflexa.     Tab.  2,  fig.  3. 

Venerupis  reflexa,  Gi-ay,  Dieffenbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  250. 

V.  •p&\\\)evcvi\a.,  Dcshayes,  Proc.  Zool.  Socl^ioi,  p.  5. 

Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dicffenhach).  Type  figured. 

As  surmised  Ijy  Von  IMartens,  List  MoUusca  New  Zeal., 
p.  4(5,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  identity  of  the  above 
two  species,  for  on  comparing  the  actual  types,  both  of 
which  are  in  the  Museum  collection,  not  the  slightest 
difference  is  traceable.  Fig.  3  on  pi.  3  aj)pears  to  represent 
a  species  of  this  genus  intermediate  between  refiexa  and 
V.  Siliqua,  Desh.,  which  differs  chiefly  from  the  former  in 
being  of  a  more  elongated  form. 


Venerupis  elegans.     Tab.  2,  fig.  6. 
Venerupis  elegans.  Desk,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1853,  v.  5,  vl. 
18,/.  2. 

Hab.  New  Zealand.  Type  in  Brit.  Mus. 


Family  TJNGULlKlD.^i. 

DiPLoiiijNTA  Zelandica.     Tab.  'S,fig.  8. 

Lucina  Zelandica,  Gray,  App.  Yate's  K  Z.,  p.  309. 
Hab.  New  Zealand.      Presented  by   the  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society.  Type  figured. 

Family  Mytilid.e. 

LiTHODOMUS   TRUNCATUS.       Trih.  2,fi'.g.  12. 

Lithodomus  truncatus,  Gray,  Dirffenhach's  K.  Z.,  p.  259. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Dr.  Stanger).  Type  figuied. 

Family  Nuculida'. 

NUCULA  STRANGEI.      Tab.  2,  fig.  14. 

Nucula  Strangei,  A.  Adams,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.,  1856,  p.  52. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 


Family  Ledid.b. 

Neilo  Australis.     Tab.  2,  fig.  13. 

Nucula  Axistralis,  Q.  and  G.  Voy.  Astrolabe,  pi.  78,/  5-10. 
Hab.  New  Zealand. 

Family  Solemyid^e. 
SOLEMYA  Parkinsonii  (Gray  Ms)     Tab.  Z,fig.  1. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  (Col.  Bolton,  Capt.  Stokes,  Dieffenbach, 


The  above  appears  to  be  but  a  manuscript  name  attached 
to  specimens  in  the  British  Museum  and  Cumingian  col- 
lections, and  I  retain  it  as  certain  characters  observable  in 
the  New  Zealand  shells  may  be  sufficient  to  distinguish 
them  from  those  occurring  in  South  Australia  (S.  Australis, 
Lamarck). 

The  form  of  the  two  species  is  very  similar  and  the 
character  of  the  epidermis  alike,  except  that  that  of 
Parksonii  is  rather  darker  and  sometimes  marked  with 
interrupted  rays  of  black.  But  the  cliief  differences  are  to 
be  observed  within. 

In  S.  Australis  there  exists  in  each  valve  a  single 
cardinal  tooth,  or  better  callosity,  broad  and  spreading  at 
the  dorsal  margin  of  the  valve  and  gi-adually  thinning  as 
it  extends  arcuately  into  it ;  behind  this  callosity  towards 
the  anterior  end  or  longer  portion  of  the  shell  there  is  a 
thin  rather  broadish  lobe-like  expansion  of  the  ligament 
placed  in  a  corresponding  shallow  depression. 

The  posterior  muscular  scar  is  roundly  pear-shaped. 

In  S.  Parkinsonii  the  dental  callosity  is  moderately  broad 
and  produced  acutely  towards  the  shorter  or  posterior  side 
of  the  valve  and  not  truncated  as  in  Australis,  the  exten- 


sion  of  it  within  the  valve  is  thin  nearly  separated  from  it 
at  the  base  by  a  depression  ;  the  transverse  expansion  of 
the  ligament  is  elongate  and  narrow ;  the  posterior  muscular 
scar  is  narrower  than  in  the  Australian  species. 

These  differences  are  quite  constant  in  the  twenty 
examples  of  Parkinsonii  and  four  oi  Australia  which  have 
been  examined. 


Family  Pectixid^e. 

Pectex  Zelaxdi.'E.     Tah.  3,  fig.  7. 

Pecten  Zelaudiffi,  ff/w/,  Bicffeiihach's  Ncv)  Zeal.,  p.  260. 

P.  Zelandicus,  {Gray)  Von  Marteris,  List  Moll.  New  Zml., 

50. 

Hab.  Xew  Zealand  {Dr.  Stangcr).  Type  figured. 


Family  Ostreid.e. 
OsTREA  PiscoiDEA.     Tab.  2,  fig.  in. 

Ostrea  discoidea,  Gould?  Proc.  Bo.ftmi  Soc.  N.  II.  III., 
p.  347. 

Hab.  New  Zealand. 

The  above  figure  is  referred  to  this  species  with  con- 
siderable hesitation  and  doubt. 

Family  Anomiid/E. 

Anomia  (Placunanomia)  Zelandica.     Tah.  ■i,.fig.  10. 

Anomia  Zelandica,  Gray,  Dieffcnbach's  N.  Z.  II.,  p.  260. 
Hab.  New  Zealand  {Br.  Stangcr).  Tj'pe  figured. 

TJie  figuie  below  fig.  9  represents  the  scar  of  the  plug  in 
the  lower  valve. 

I  am  unable  to  refer  fig.  9  to  this  or  any  other  species. 


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Dra-Mi  on  Stono  hjlff,  MlBiliell.  Hulmsmiel    fe  Walton  Lilko| 

Fi(5  1.2  TSrOTOTHENIA  SIMA    3,4-   HOTOTHENIA   CORJSIUCOLA    5  ,6.  NOTOTHENIA  VIP,  GATA. 


PlateXU. 


C<^s 


%,- 


'^Z 


''\yn 


^^< 


Diaam  on  Stone  iy^"  MucLell 


Fig  L.2  M"OTO 


Huflmsaiel  Ik.'Walloii  iriu^rajli«ES 


THENI^  MAELGmi^Ti^.,  5  ^.KOTOTHENIA  TESSELLATA 


5.6.7    HAIlPAGirERPALLlOUVTUS 


a.  9.  HARPAGrlFER    BISPINIS 


>. 


}■? 


I 


;# 


^    -"^ 

--»;^!!^. 


.12    SCORP^NA  MILITARIS      Fig  3. 4-. 5.  SCORP^-CNA   BYNOENSIS 


'aj|.:- 


^i'. 


>tjj'/rf' 


'^^^W. 


>c^ri^w   " 


/  ^ 


k 


\    ':    i. 


.^*^■^>i«feMi^ 


w:^  y^. 


':^ti^^ 


^rg^ 


i^,::0^ 


,,  f '' 


^St^^^^^X  ^■ 


'^       si 


^ 


% 


t*V 


A 


,#  " 


.  HulmanjwIfc'Walton. 


Fig.l2  34-^TRIGLA    PLEURACANTHICA     Kg    6G    DIA GRAMMA?    POROSA^ 


,V\:\ 


DtaTOi  on.  Stone  ij  W.  Mitdiell-  pimiediry  HaJlmaiiiiei  A  ".■.'altori , 

Fig   1.2    PLATYCEPHALUS    TASMANIUS.   3.4^5.   DATNIA    CAUDAVITTATA. 


^  // 


X 


UViV.^^ 


•*^' 


% 


r^A-p-'^ 


Drawi.  on  Stone  by  WMitcheU 

Fiel.2..3    ELEGINUS  FALKLAl^DICUS    4r,  fi,  6  ^  CENTOPRISTES    3ALAR 


F-cinted>,j  IT-ujltnandel  it'Wal'.rm- 


4c3      ^.^{^ 


^     ? 


* 


^.% 


>i>:X^^ 


w 


C^^^ 


^ 


^3 


fli 


'iis*: 


^ 


^ 


'lil 


^1 


I 

Jf 

1 


\/^/>H 


^^^:^.5*^ 


/.' 


■"^^^^e^^ 


MY  CT  O  ru  u  M     L-O  Ml  I  b  C./viM  .-5 .      1 
Ih   17,:U).  l,J\MPA.NYCTaS    HESH.h, 


A. 

i 

o 


Vl; 


JVI 


\ 


/^^ 


If 


i^^ 


2  ' 


I 


i=)  CO 


U] 


\si:fd:.t^M4i 


\: 


n:- 


Mm 


Uj^^^ 


^^s 


^ 


\    ' 


Fisli  Place  35, 


•J 


Inllmajidi  iitlWtonlitlio|TljKa:s. 


"^^""^"""'^Hg"  SETTIiS    ARGENTEUS.  F.,  4-6,  SCATOPHAGUS    MULTIFASCIATUS 


Fisk  Plate  37. 


HullmaiideL  fc  Walton  Uth-o  grapUer.^ 


Diawn  on  Stone liyW  Mitchell. 


Figl 


.3.G-ASTEROCHI5MAMELAMPUS      F.g  4.  5    AGRIOPUS   LEUCOPCECILUS. 


Fish.  PlcUe  38, 


Diavra.  on  Stone  iy  "V7.  MitcLell .  HiilliiiaiidjiL  fc  Waltcai  T.iflio  graplters 

Rgl.  2.LOTABRE71USCULA.  Fig:3_6.  PETROMYZON  MOPJ)AX    Fig- 7_10.  CHATOESSUS  COME. 


v%^< 


m 


Fis]:i,nale.40 


HuUmaH-deL  it  "Walton  Litkograpliers. 

Hg:l,2  MONACANTHUS  &RANLTLATUS.  3,4  M  CHINENSIS,  5,6  ALUTARIUS  TROSSULUS    7.  8.M0NACANTHUS  RUDIS. 


Dri-wuon  Stoiiely"W"MLtci,ell 


?ish.,fkte4I 


Ui-avm  on.  StoiLe  b  j  W  MitcKeli 

v^l  n  creNIDE:NS  TEPHRiEOFS.p69   Fig- 3.  4  SEBASTE5  PANDUS  p  70 


HuUmaiLaeL  fc  Walton  Litt-ograpkera 


Pish.  n.  42 


^-*, 


jf^^^^ 


*f^y^ 


«. 


iW^S&^^^^ 


^^'^'.^'"^^ 


i>;<*^.%^^ 


^  *^^, 


\\\ 


^5^ 


"■1       I 


r^. 


3rawn  ou  3x01161x17  MiicbelL. 

:ig.l_6  '&ALA^vI-\S  TRUTTACBTJS.Fig  7_]2   GALAXIAS  PJETICUI 


HiilhnaTidcl  S:WaltoiiIj.tliograi."hers 

'rjS.  Pif5;l3_l8  ATH.EKTWA  \'"rGRICAl\rS. 


^ 

»H^E 

3) 

^ 

CO 

0 

0 

0 

^ 

W:l: 


^m 


^ 


i 


.'■.wiiS&-Sf 


?«> 


^''M 


^^' 


^•- 


Fig:  1-3.  ARGENTINA  FvETROPINWA.      Fig   4-8    DATNIA  ELLIPTICA, 


I'lslv  Plate  64. 


-^^ 


HiiJlmaiidei  IfWaltoii  LithograplK; 


?ig.l,:.^ABfLUS  JUCICOLA.  Fig:3-6.    CENmOPRISTES   G-EOR&IANUS.  Fig:  7-IZ.  HEMEROCCETE  S  .-vGANTHORHYNCHUS  . 


<<sr{ 


..^.fiSCpp^r^^^ 


FishFlate5f) 


y  W  Mitoliell  EuBmaadeL  *  Walton  Utkograpier 

F,^*,  1_2.  LABRUS  INSCBIPTUS     Tig  3-6.LABRTJS  LATICLA-VIUS.  Fig  7_L0  LABRLTS   PSITTACULIFR 


I 

I     CO 


I 


'^-^4/' 


^ 


Fish.  Hate  69, 


Drawn  on  Stone  "by  ^  MiicKell 


HulWandel  feWaltoa  Lithograplie 


Ti6  1-5    CAPROS  AUSTRALIA     Kig:  6-11  GADOPSLS  MARMORATUS 
^  Fig  12-14.    EQIJULA   SERRULIFERA. 


iish.riaiebO 


.  StonetyWMit-chell. 


Hullmandd  fc  Walton  litkograj>ters 


ng  W    ODAX  LINEATUS     n|  6,7  ^-ETHPaNUS  CHRYSOSTOMUS 
Fig  8,9    CHEIRONECTES    CA.UDIMAC1JLATU5. 


'William'Wi-nd  del  etllth- 


Hdlmandel  &"WalumLjKograj>lie; 


1    PORTUlSrUS    CATHARUS.  3-  PORTUNUS  INTE&RIFRONS. 

2,  AT^TARCTICUS  4,  J  UN. 

5.  CAlsrCER.:NOAffi-ZEALANDM. 


Tai)-2^ 


> 


«^E'^^.■<; 


vj2>^ 


/. 


"^^ 


"-^^Hi     X->i., 


■O 


^-- 


F\7.. 


■^^^i 


William. Vfmg  del  et  ]ith.. 


BiHiua.iil.l ,«.  •Walton  litkogr^iho 


1.  XENOCA3.CINUS   TUBERCTJIATUS.    a.  PA&URUS   CAVIPES 

2.  ASTACUS    ZEALANDICUS.  4   PAGTIElUS    STRIGIMANUS 

6.  PAG-URTJS  COMPTTJS. 


,• 


i'  \ 


i  I 


/; 


^^T^vl 


/  '  t^. 


^ 


Bullmaudd  It  Walton  lathograplic: 


PARANEPHROPS   PLA.-NIPRONS.    3  PORCELLAI^A  ELON&ATA 
GALATHEA  SUBRU&OSA  4^  CYMOPOLTA  JUKESII 

6    GEBIA    HIRTIFRONS, 


TaL4 


mUiam'Wmg  djeLetlillL 


ibiUiaandel  it  "Waltoii-Lxt}iograpii.ers 


1.  AI.OPE  PALPALIS. 
2  ALPHEUS  DORIS 
,3  .-  NEPTUNUS 

4  GALATHEA 


6    ALPHEUS  DOTO 
6.  ALOPE. 

^     .   _   .    .     THETIS 


Tabl 


* 


1  CICINDELA  LATECINCTA  5   HELCEOTMCIiUo  ELAPHROIDES,     9.  ELATER  ACUTIPENNIS. 

2  aCINDELA  PARRYL  6,  BROSCUS   CARENODES  lO:  ELATER  LEVITHORAX^ 

3  DEMETRIDA  LINEELLA.  7.   FERONIA   PLANIUSCULA.  11.  ELATER   CINCTIGER 

4  OOPTERUS  ROTUNDICOLLIS   8,   BROSCUS   CEREUS,  12.  BOLEOTOPHA&US  MTAKCTICU^ 

15  OPATRUMTITBERCUIICOSTATUM  14.  ADELIUMH/^BPALOIDES 


Tat.  2. 


I         \ 


naadeLs  I'ataii-  Lithotun; 


1.  EUSOMA  ROSSII  5    ODONTRIA  STRIATA  9.  DENDBOBLAX  EABLIANUSS 

?,   DORCUS    SQUAMIDORSIS.  6.  CHEIROFLATYS  TPvUNCATUS  10  „  ..  ? 

''^  MITOPHVLLUS  IRR0RATU5?  7.   STETHASPIS  SUTURALIS  11.  CHEIROPLATYS  PUNCTATUS 

'.  S  8    ODONTRJA  CraNAMOMEA  12.  CHCERODES  TRACHYSCELIDES, 


^!     rT'      ''W     1^ 


7 


,./- 


^NK^ 


* 


;^^ 


VI  i 


» 


* 


-^^'--l-^^ 


y  «  \ 


l-PKOLAX      I'  '   _^:D0HDS  HYLOBIOIDES-  !."  KHYNCHODES  SAUWDERSII 

-EDIi^iOTATA""          ~         6  /^.UTHPdSUS  UTCEP.T'JG  10   SCOLOPTERUS  FEWICILLATUS  i^  ANC1STP.0PTER1I5  QUADRLSPraOSTJS 

:TT[?YRINIIR  SOUAMIGEB.7  DRYOPHTHORUS  BITtlBERCULATUSni.  STEPHAMOHHYNCHUS  CUB.VIPES.   15  OB.OPTERUS  COl.lGER- 

I  PHOL^^.  rORONATUS.      8.  RHIKABIA 6  TITBERCULATA .  12  SCOiOPTERUS  BIDEHS  lURHYlICHODES  URSUr 


Tab  4 


C  Hu!lm2n<5d.s  Ealeat. 

W."WuLg  lithottat 

1     T^nnFBA  -vn  rnSA  5   COPTOMMA  LINEATUM,  9    TETROREA  CILIPES 

?     rn?TO^MA  ACUTIPENNE  6    CALLIPRASON  MARGINATUM  10  AuAPAWTHIDA  PULCHEXLA, 

I    TM  nPRASCW  SmCLAlRl  7  .  PRIOnOPLUS  RETICULARIS  11   DORfADIDA  BIL0CULAR1&. 

4  BiicHYTRIALATEBkSsA.v^.pallid^).  8    OPHRYOPS  PALLID  US 


C  SulLmanieL's  Fateatt. 


la  DEINACRIDA  HETERACAWTHA  ?.  2   DEINACRIDA  THORACICA. 

b.FRONT  OFHEAD  OF  ?.  c  ERONT  OF  HEAD  OFc?   3   PHASMA(ACANTH0DERUS)KORRIDUS 


I 


13:LaPETALUPvA,CAP.0VEI      2.C0RDULIA   SMITHII .    3.  AGRION   COLENSONIS 
4,  6-  FOE_FICULA  LITTOREA.     6.  PHASMA  HOOKEP.I 


TaL, 


I   ACANTHOSOMABIMACULATUM 
2.  PEINJTATOMA.  i  AHMA,)  ACULEATA 
»-  CYDNUSLEPTO SPERM! 
^".  FENTATOMA."  J  ALL  A)  DIFFINIS, 
--  f.i'IOCORlS    POLYSTICTICA, 


.  6^  BHOPALUS  ZEALANDICUS. 
7.  PIRATES  EPHIPPI&ER^ 
a  RJIOPALIMOF^PHA  OBSCURA. 
a  APHROPHOBJl  subvirescens 

10  aphrophora  TRIMACULATA. 


U.  TERMESINSDLARIS, 
12.  ANDRENATRICHOPUS, 

13  PORMICA  ANTARCTICA 

14  ASTATAHIGERRIMA 

15  TIPULA  SENEX, 


16.  ODONTOMYIA  DORSALIS 

17  BERIS  APICALIS 

18  MnSCA(SABCOPllAGA)li^MICA 
19.  ERISTALIS  TRILINEATUS. 


^feifc''v.;v^ 


x^ 


Wa.T.JiCA!-OEL&-WALT0K,3  PATENT  LITKl)  TVAT. 


'  -  'A, 


-J^! 


'K^.^__.^- 


^V. 


ity 


\ 


HULLMANPELO  -W-AITOK-S  PATET   LITHO 


•••7 


%. 


^sr 


i^ 


-% 


V',7 


% 


"m^ 


4. 


^,.^^' 


^t- 


!<&.■ 


HULLttAKDEia-WAJ-TON'S   EATENT  LITHO   TIKT 


MoLLUgCA 


llUiWCANDEI.  ft  WALTON.?    PATENT  XITHO  THfT 


TAB    2. 


Jfollifcsca 


-TEirr   lITHOTliTT 


MOLLUSCA 


k,X^^->^, 


^  .^y-'y^^s 


.aWALT.arv;  patent  lith.1  tint 


pw 


/ 


^m 


^ 


<^ 


% 


K  «!S«i 


flifir 


<E? 


h 


Wi>'^J,<= 


^i-A^:t-/^ 


^^~'-'MWi 


^^V:^^% 


:^*^*^^^t^if^ 


.^^J^^":^^ 


'$Mt 


l?f '6^  /«-'■ 


-^^l:'-^!^^ 


MMim^i'^^-^'^'^'- 


It.v'^/ 


^^^•'':^<^ 


l's'^;>S.:vlP* 


^S 


f'.M? 


'm'-^k 


W^::^^ 


i'.m 


%rr\[: