HABITAT.  The western coasts of Australia.

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Cristiceps axillaris.  RICHARDSON.

CH.  SPEC.  C. pinnis intaminatis; macula argentata post os maxillare, altera in summa gena pone oculum et tertia majori in axilla pectorali; linea laterali argenteo-punctata.

RADII.  B.6; D. 3 :  —­28 :  7; A. 2 :  25; C. 11; P. 11; V.1 :  2.

FISHES.  PLATE 1.  Figures 1, 2, 3.

This singularly delicate and clear-looking fish has, after long immersion in spirits, a pale flesh colour, with transparent and spotless fins.  A bright silvery streak descends from the angle of the preorbitar to the corner of the mouth, where it dilates a little.  A speck of the same colour exists within the upper limb of the preoperculum, and immediately behind the pectoral fin there is a large oblong one.  The little tubes forming the lateral line are also silvery.  It is with much doubt that I name this species as distinct from the C. australis of the Histoire des Poissons, but there some points in M. Valenciennes’ description of that fish which I cannot reconcile with the specimen now under consideration.  And first, with respect to scales, M. Valenciennes states that he could detect none in australis, but in axillaris there are minute round scales, lying rather wide of each other, each having central umbo and lines radiating from it to the circumference.  These scales are not easily seen while the skin continues moist, but become apparent as it dries, and are most numerous towards the tail.  The head of axillaris is scaleless, and a row of pores runs along the lower jaw, up the preoperculum, and along the temporal groove.  The eye is also encircled by similar pores.  The muscular fibres shine through the delicate skin as in australis, and the teeth on the jaws and vomer appear to be similar.  On comparing the specimen of axillaris with the figure of australis in the Histoire des Poissons, the second dorsal does not appear undulated as in the latter, but the spinous rays increase gradually in height from the first, and the anterior dorsal is proportionally higher; the distance also between the ventrals and anus is considerably less in proportion to the length of the head, which is contained four times and a half in the total length of the fish, while the height of the body is contained five times.  The proportions of australis are stated differently.  Length of specimen, 3.42 inches.

HABITAT.  King George’s Sound (Benj.  Bynoe, Esquire Surgeon of the Beagle).

Since the above notice was drawn up I have examined a cristiceps upwards of six inches long, which was sent from Botany Bay by Sir Everard Home to the College of Surgeons.  This does not clear up the doubt respecting the identity of australis and cristiceps.  It has completely lost its colours, and shows neither the greenish bands of australis, nor the silvery marks of axillaris, it has, however, the form of the fins of the latter, with the number of rays exactly as in australis, a space between the ventrals and anus equal to the length of the head, scales on the body, as in axillaris, and similar pores on the head.  Better materials are required to enable us to decide whether axillaris be a nominal species or not.