Habitat, K ing George’s Sound, New Holland.
Cuvier and Valenciennes have noticed several variations of form occurring in
different specimens of the C. trachurus, from different seas, which they have not
ventured to raise to the rank of species. T hat the one here described is entitled,
however, to this distinction, I can hardly entertain a doubt. The suddenness of
the bend in the lateral line, and the more backward point at which the bend
commences ; the larger number of lamin8e which protect i t ; and also the larger
number of rays in the second dorsal and a n a l; all seem to indicate a specific
difference. Whether it be identical with any of the varieties noticed by them is
uncertain ; but it seems to be distinct from the only one they speak of as having
been received from New Holland, in which the number of laminee did not exceed
seventy-three. I have called it declivis, in reference to the character of the lateral
line above alluded to. It was obtained by Mr. Darwin in Princess Royal
Harbour, in King George’s Sound.
2 . C a r a n x t o r v u s . Jen.
P l a t e XV.
C. corpore crassiusculo, subelongato ; altitudine v ix quartayn partexyi longitudinis
cequayite, capite quartam superante ; m axillà inferiore longiori ; oculis m agnis ;
suborbitalibus veyiis yionyixillis subparallelis obscuy'is notatis ; lineá laterali paruììi
dejlexá, ayitich squamis parvis iyieryyiibus, posticè laminis cariyiatis 35 vel 36 tectá ;
spiyiá recliyiatà ayite piymayyi dorsaleyyi sub cute occulta; pectoralibus longis, falcatis,
ad iyiitium pinnce analis prope perthigentibus.
D. 8— 1/26; A. 2—1/22; C. 17, &c.; P . 21 ; V. 1/5.
L o n g . u n c . 11. lin . 9.
F o rm .— Thicker and deeper in thè body than the C. trachurus. The greatest depth a little less
than one-fourth of the entire length ; the thickness exceeding (but by a very little) h alf the
depth. H ead large; its length a little more than one-fourth of the entire length; its height or
depth, taken in a line forming a tangent to the posterior p art of the orbit, less than its own
length by two-sevenths. Eyes large ; their diameter very nearly one-third the length of the
head ; partially covered a t the sides by two fatty membranous veils, as in several other species.
The ventral line of the body is rather more curved than the dorsal, and the upper profile in
like manner a little more approaching to rectilineal than the lower. The lower jaw a little the
longer, and ascending to meet the upper. Maxillary reaching not quite to beneath the middle
of the eye; its extremity truncated in the form o f an arc, with the curvature inwards. In each
jaw a single row of very fine, minute, closely set teeth ; two small patches on the anterior
extremity of the vomer, a band on each palatine, and one on the tongue, ail closely shorn
velutine. Suborbital, on each side of the extremity of the snout, m arked with several nearly
parallel dark-coloured veins. Preopercle with the angle very much rounded ; the limb broad,