T h e fo llow in g g e n e r a l c h a r a c te r s a s s ig n e d to Gla u co som a
fo r th e p re s e n t, m a y b e am e n d e d w h e n th e sti-uctuve o f th e
fish s h a ll b e m o re lu lly a s c e r ta in e d .
A sp e c tiis s c ioe n o id eu s . C i r c u m s a ip tio la te r a lis oblongo-
e llip tic a .
C a p u t s a tis m a g n um , o b tu s iu s c u lum , f e r è to ln n i sq u am o s
um . L a b ia m em h ra noe q tie b ra n c h io s te g a la v e s. Os
m o d ic um . P o r i n u l l i in m a x i l lâ in fe r io r i.
D e n t e s breves, c a i-m in ifo rm e s ; e x te r io r e s in te rm a x i l la -
r iu m e t in te r io r e s m a x i l l a in fe r io r i s p a tilb m a jo r e s .
D e n te s v om e r is e t p a l a i i co n fo rm e s s ed a d h u c m in o r e s .
D e n ie s p h a r y n g i s p a v i t i ?
O c u li m a ju s c u l i la te ra le s , a n te m e d ium c a p u t.
N a r e s o c u lis a p p r o x im a ta , a p e r iu r is m a g n is r o tu n d is
co n iig itis .
Os p r e o rh ita le su b g ra n d e g en am a q u a n s , m a rg in e in te g e r -
r im o . P r e o p e rc u lum ob fu sè c tir v a ium , c r e n u la tum .
S u b o p e r c u lum m a r g in e c o n c a v um . O p e rc u lum o b tu -
s is s im iim a p ic ib u s osseis d u o b u s p la n i s , o b tu s is , v i x
co n sp ic u is . S c a p u la s em i- r o tu n d a ta sq u am o sa , cre-
n u la ta .
S q u am æ corporis m a ju s c u la c te n o id e a m in u t i s s im è s t r i a
t a : r o s tr i e t v e r tic is p a r v a ; m a x i l l a e t g e n a m a jo r e s ;
o p e r c u li in te ro p e r c u liq u e a d h u c m a jo r e s , n e c iam e n
sq u am a s co rp a r is a q u a n te s .
L in e a la te r a lis f e r è r e c ta .
P in n æ p e c to ra le s p a r v a . P in n æ v e n tra le s su b a x ilU s p in -
n a r u m p e c to r a liu m p o s iia . R u n a d o rs a lis u n ic a ;
s p in a ra d iis a r lic u la r ib u s bre v iore s : p a r s a r tic u la r is
e ju s p in n a q u e a n i a d b a s in sq u am o sa . M em b ra n a
b ra n c h io s te g a r a d iis s e p tem v e l i n ie r d u m octo s u s té n ta la .
T h e p ro file o f G laucosom a h e h ra ic um is b o u n d e d ab o v e
a n d b e low b y n e a r ly s im ila r s e gm e n ts o f a fla t e llip tic a l
c u rv e w h ic h m e e t in a b lu n tis h a p e x a t th e m o u th .
T h e s e c u rv e s a r e lo s t p o s te rio rly in th e tru n k o f th e ta il.
T h e g r e a te s t h e ig h t o f th e b o d y is j u s t b e h in d th e v e n t
r a ls , a n d e q u a ls a th i rd o f th e e n tir e le n g th , c a u d a l in c
lu d e d . T h e h e ig h t o f th e t ru n k o f th e ta il a g a in , w h e re
n a rrow e s t, is a th i rd o f th a t o f th e b o d y , a n d its l e n g th is
co n s id e ra b le , fo rm in g b e h in d th e d o rs a l n e a r ly a fifth o f
th e w h o le le n g th , b u t b e h in d th e a n a l s c a r c e ly a s ix th .
T b e l e n g th o f th e h e a d a n d its h e ig h t a t th e n a p e a re
a b o u t e q u a l, a n d a re c o n ta in e d u pw a rd s o f th r e e tim e s in
th e l e n g th o f th e fish. T h e o p e n in g o f th e m o u th sc a rc e ly
e x te n d s b a c kw a rd s to b e n e a th th e n o s trils , a n d i t d e s c e n d s
n e a r ly a t a n an g le o f 4 5 ’ w h e n c lo s e d , i t s a p e x th e n b e in g
o n a lev e l w ith th e m id d le h e ig h t o f th e h e a d a n d b o d y .
T h e m a x illa ry , w h ic h is d e n s e ly s c a ly , d ila te s g rad u a lly
to i t s wid e a n d tru n c a te d low e r e n d . I t s low e r co rn e r
r e a c h e s to b e n e a th th e p o s te r io r th i rd o f th e eye. T h e
in te rm a x illa r ie s a re b u t s lig h tly p ro tra c tile , a n d th e low e r
jaw , w h e n d e p r e s s e d , p ro je c ts b e y o n d th em . T h e d e n ta l
forwards, as in some species o f Perco-labrax or Plectropoma, an d its sp in
ous dorsal is boldly a rcbed, fo iming a deep notch a t tb e origin of tbe
io in ied p a rt, so th a t it mig h t with more propriety be ranged w ith Perea
or Perco-labrax th an le ft in Centropristes. Aulacocephalus is a Jap an e se
form which alsowould tc ch n ic ally fall in to Centropristes, b u t which Messrs.
Tem minck a n d Schlegel have k ep t separate on a ccount o f its dissimilar
aspect. I t h a s a strong resemblance to .S'errani« or Plectropoma.
su rfa c e is b ro a d e s t tow a rd s th e a p e x o f th e jaw s , na rrow s
a t th e c o in e r s o f th e in o iilh , a n d is in te r ru p te d b y a n a r row
sm o o th sp a c e a t th e sym p h y s e s a b o v e a n d be low.
T h e d e n titio n m a y b e d e s c r ib e d a s c a rd -lik e , th e iiidivi-
d n a l te e th b e in g su b u la te , c u rv e d b a c kw a rd s , a n d sh o r t, th e
e x te r io r row s a b o v e a n d th e in te r io r o n e s b e low b e in g j u s t
p e r c e p tib ly la rg e r . O n th e lim b s o f th e jaw s th e d e n ta l
su rfa c e is a b o u t five te e th wide ab o v e , a u d th re e o r four
be low . A n a r row v e lum e x is ts in b o th j aw s . T h e v om e r
in e a n d p a la tin e te e th a re more m in u te , b u t o th e rw is e
s im ila r. T h e p a la tin e te e lh form a ve ry n a r row b a n d on
th e e d g e o f th e b o n e .
T h e n o s tr ils a re tw o ro u n d c o n tig u o u s o p e n in g s on e a ch
sid e , s itu a te d c lo s e b e fo re th e ey e in a n a n o w m em b ra n o u s
sp a c e . T h e p o s te r io r o p e n in g is t h e la rg e s t, ancl is o f c o n s
id e ra b le siz e .
T h e la rg e , ro u n d ey e is s itu a te d h ig h o n th e c h e ek ,
b u t d o e s n o t to u c h o n th e p ro file , th e fro n ta l reg io n
ab o v e i t b e in g c o n v e x b o th tra n sv e rs e ly a n d lo n g iliid in a lly .
T h e p r e o rb ita r is we ll d ev e lo p ed , h a v in g a v e rtic a l h e ig h t
e q u a l to th e d iam e te r o f th e o rb it, a n d a le n g th two a n d a
h a l f tim e s g re a te r. I t is d e n s e ly s c a ly , a n d is o n a level
w ith th e c h e e k , so th a t i t s p o s te r io r b o u n d a ry c a n n o t b e
d e fin ed . I t s a n te r io r e d g e is th in , c u rv e d w ith a s lig h t
c o n v e x ity , e n tire a n d s lig h tly fre e , b u t d o e s n o t c o v e r more
th a n th e m e re ed g e o f th e m a x illa ry . T h e sp a c e a t th e
c om e r o f th e m o u th , o v e r w h ic h th e lim b o f th e m a x illa ry
p a s s e s , is sm o o th a n d s c a le le s s . T h e s c a le s o f th e ch e ek
ad v a n c e to th e ed g e o f th e o rb it, a n d c om p le te ly co n c e a l
tlie s u b o rb ita r c h a in ; a n d th e y e x te n d ov e r th e tem p le s to
th e s id e o f th e h e a d , a n d c o v e r th e d isk o f th e p r e o p e r c u lum
, w ith o u t a n y c h a n g e in ih c ir ch a ra c te r.
T h e p re o p e r c u lum h a s its u p p e r lim b s lig h tly in c lin e d
fo rw a rd s , a n d is g r e a tly ro u n d e d o ff a t th e co rn e r, th e c urve
e x te n d in g to th e w h o le u n d e r lim b , which is sh o r te r th a n
th e u p p e r o ne . A very sh a llow n o tc h a t th e c o rn e r is
fille d w ith m em b ra n e , th e u p p e r lim b ism m u l e ly s e rra te d ,
a n d th e low e r o ne fin e ly g n aw ed , o r ir r e g u la r ly c ren a ted .
F in e s tre a k s a p p e a r o b s c u re ly am o n g th e s c a le s w h ic h e n d
in -eg u la rly c lo se to th e e d g e o f th e b o n e .*
T h e in te ro p e rc u lum is e n tir e o n th e ed g e , a n d c ove red on
th e su rfa c e w ith s c a le s la rg e r th a n th o s e o f th e ch e ek .
N e a r i t s a r tic u la tio n with th e low e r j aw i t is e d g e d b y a
s lip o f m em b ra n e , o n w h ic h th e s c a le s a re m u c h sm a lle r.
A t its ju n c tio n w ith th e su b o p e rc u lum , o p p o s ite to th e
n o tc h o f th e p re o p e rc u lum , a n d in th e u su a l s ite o f th e
k n o b o f D ia co p e , i t swells u p s lig h tly . T h e u n d e r ed g e o f
th e su b o p e rc u lum is c u rv e d lik e a re v e rs e d ita lic f , wh ich
p ro d u c e s a lo b e a n te rio rly , th a t is w id e r th a n th e in te ro p e r c
u lum , a n d h a s its m a rg in fin e ly s tre a k e d o r p la ite d . T h is
b o n e h a s p re c is e ly th e sam e s h a p e in Glaucosoma bUr-
g e r i. T h e b o n y o p e rc u lum e n d s in two fla t, th in , o b tu s e ,
s tr ia te d tip s , wh ich a re a lm o s t lo s t am o n g th e s c a le s , a n d
a r e s e p a r a te d b y a d e e p a n g u la r u o tc h . T h i s n o tc h is
c o n c e a le d b y s c a le s , a n d th e m em b ran e w h ich ed g e s th e
b o n e is c o v e re d w ith sm a ll sc a le s , th e p o s te rio r e d g e o f th e
g ill-c o v e r b e in g v e ry o b tu s e . Ab o v e th e u p p e r an g le o f
th e g ill-o p e n in g th e s c a p u la r b o n e e x is ts tv ilh a free,
* T h is butte makes no approach iu form to th a t of Lnbntes, iu which
th e preoperculum has an an g u lar, serrated, projecting corner.
s c a rc e ly c r e n a te d , s em ic irc u la r ed g e , a n d a d tsk co v e red
with sm a ll sc a le s . T h e su rfa c e o f th e c o ra c o id b o n e ts
p a r tia lly sc a ly a b o v e th e p e c to r a l fin. I t is n o t to o th e d .
T h e s u p r a - s c a p u la r is n o t v is ib le , n o r is th e r e a p e c u lia r
row o f L a l e s c ro s s in g th e n a p e , a s m m o s t o f th e S p a r td a .
T h e r e is , h ow eve r, a s u d d e n tr a n s itio n from th e sm a ll
s c a le s w h ich c o v e r th e h in d h e a d to th e m u c h la rg e r o n e s
o f th e b o d y , w h ic h a re tile d in r e g u la r o b liq u e row s. T h e
sc a le s o f th e h e a d a r e sm a lle s t on th e sn o u t. T h e y a re
p r e tty la rg e o n th e u n d e r su rfa c e o f th e low e r j aw , a n d on
th e m a x illa rie s . , , • . 1
T h e s c a le s o f th e b o d y h a v e th e ir e x p o s e d d isk s m in u te ly
s tria te d , w ith th in s lig h tly u n d u la te d ed g e s. T h e y are
d isp o s e d in o b liq u e row s , o n e o f w in c h th a t ru n s from th e
fifth d o rs a l sp in e to th e s e c o n d a n a l ray , c o n ta in s th n ty
sc a le s o n a s id e , e le v e n o f th em ab o v e th e la te r a l lin e . T h e
la te r a l lin e is ve ry s lig h tly a r c h e d , o r a lm o s t s tr a ig h t, a n d
trav e rs e s fo r ty - e ig h t s c a le s b e tw e e n th e g ill-o p e iim g a n d
th e b a s e o f th e c a u d a l. E a c h o f th e s e sc a le s h a s a s im p le
fla t tu b e o n th e b a s a l h a l f o f its d isk , a u d m a n y o f th em
a re n o tc h e d a t th e lip . T h e s iz e o f th e s c a le s d im in ish e s
tow a rd s th e to p o f th e b a c k ; th e r e is a la rg e p a tc h 0
sm a lle r s c a le s u n d e r th e so ft d o rs a l, a n d hU e ts o t sm a 1
s c a le s ru n u p b e tw e e n th e r a y s o f th a t fm a n d o f th e a n a .
T h e c a u d a l is a lso c lo th e d tow a rd s th e b a s e w ith sm a ll
^"^The g ill-m em b ran e is su p p o r te d b y seven fla ttish s to u t
ray s , w h ich d e c re a s e in s iz e g rad u a lly tow a rd s th e is thm u s .
I n a sp e c im en p r e s e rv e d in th e H a s la r M u s e um th e re is a
su p p lem e n ta l e ig h th ray , w h ic h d o e s n o t e x is t m e x am p le s
b e lo n g in g to th e B r itis h M u s eum . I n th e a llie d g en u s ot
G r y s te s th e g ill-ra y s v a ry in m im b e r from s ix to seven.
T h e p e c to r a l fin s a re sm a ll, o b liq u e ly ro u n d e d , a n d a re
a tta c h e d f a r b e n e a th th e la te r a l lin e . T h e v e n tra ls , th e
a x illa i o f th e p e c to r a ls , a n d th e th ird d o rs a l sp in e , a re in
th e same v e rtic a l lin e . T h e s p in e o f th e v e n tr a ls is h a lf
th e len g th o f th e j o in te d ra y s . T h e d o rs a l sp in e s l e n g th e n
ve ry g rad u a lly from th e th ird to th e la s t, tb e tw o f irs t a re
m ore s te e p ly g r a d u a te d . T h e ir m em b ra n e is d e ep ly
n o lc h e d . T h e fo u rth a r tic u la te d ra y is g re a tly e lo n g a ted ,
w ith a ta p e r in g , a lm o s t f ilam en to u s tip . T h e th i rd an a l
sp iu e , w h ic h is th e lo n g e s t, is m u c h s h o r te r th a n th e soft
rays. T h is fin is ro u n d e d , a n d is c o n s id e ra b ly n e a r e r to
th e e n d o f tb e ta il th a n th e d o rs a l. T h e c a u d a l fin d oe s
n o t sp re a d m u c h , a n d is tru n c a te d o r s lig h tly c o n v e x a t
th e end. I t c o n ta in s s e v e n te e n v is ib le ra y s , a n d th e r e a re
some s h o r t o ne s above a n d be low, c o n c e a le d b y th e sc a le s.
T h e sp e c im e n b e in g a d r ie d s e c tio n , m u c h o f th e o n -
g in a l m a rk in g s m u s t h a v e d is a p p e a r e d . I n its p r e s e n t
s la te m an y o f th e s c a le s o f th e b o d y ab o v e th e m id d le
h e ig h t h a v e th e ir d isk s p a rtia lly , ra r e ly w h o lly , o f a s h in in g
p itc h -b la c k co lo u r. T h e s e d a rk d isk s a re a s s em b le d m ill
d e fin ed p a tc h e s , o r b a n d s , p a r tic u la r ly b e n e a th th e sp in o u s
dorsa l. .Lower d ow n th e s id e s , th e s c a le s a re d a rk a t th e ir
b a s e s , b u t n o t so b la c k a s th e u p p e r o u e s . S im ila r b la c k
b a n d s a p p e a r o n th e h e a d : o n e c ro s s in g b e tw e e n th e ey e s,
o n e ru n n in g a lo n g th e m id d le o f th e c row n , a n o th e r ru n n
in g fo rw a rd s from th e s u p r a - s c a p u la r r e g io n to th e tem p
le s , o ne d e s c e n d in g th e p re o p e rc u lu ra , o n e from th e eye
d own th e ch e ek , o n e fillin g th e o p e rc u la r n o tc h , a n d ru n n
in g forwa rd to th e t em p le s ; a n d th e re is , in a d d itio n , a
r o u n d is h b lo tc h o n th e p o s te r io r e n d o f th e in te ro p e r cu
lum . N o n e o f th e s e d a rk b lo tc h e s h a v e d e fin ite o u tlin e s .
A ll th e fin s , e x c e p t th e p e c to r a ls , a p p e a r to h a v e b e e n
n a rrow ly e d g e d a n te r io r ly b y w h ite o r o ran g e . T h e c a u d
a l is e d g e d a b o v e a n d b e low with th e sam e c o lo u r, a n d
ill th e d o rs a l th is t in t in c lu d e s th e to p s o f th e sp in e s ,
a n d th e fore ed g e o f th e f ilam e n to u s soft r a y .* T h e low e r
p a r ts o f th e sp in e s a n d th e ir m em b r a n e s a re b la c k .
DIMENSIONS.
L e r r th from in iermaxillary sympliysis to en d o f caudal
•5: 31-50 inches.
...................... b a s e o f d i t t o . . -27-00 „
H ab. Ilo u tm a n s Abrolhos, south-western co a st o f A u stralia.
C e n t e o p u is t e s (A r k ip is ) sa l a r . R ic h a rd so n .
S c ia n a tru tta . J , R. Forster ap u d Bloch, Schn. ? e t in Descript. An.
edit. H . Lich t. p. 1 4 7 ,2 7 9 ? T ab . 211 Ico n . ined. Georgio Forstero
pict. in Bib. Banks, serv. ? „ ,
Centropristes salar, Richardson, Zo o l. Proceed, for J n n e , 1839. Idem,
Zo o l. Tran s, iii. p. 78.
R a d i i B r. 7 : D . 9 i l6 a u t 17 ; A. S J O ; C. 17® ; V. 1 « ;
V. 1[5.
P la te X X ., figs. 4, 5, 6 .
T h e n a tu r a lis ts who a c c om p a n ie d C o o k o n h is f ir s t a n d
s e c o n d v o y ag e s, p ro c u r e d in th e A u s tr a lia n s e a s o n e or
m o re sp e c ie s o f fish c lo s e ly r e s em b lin g th e o n e w e h av e
fig u red . Tw o fig u re s o f th e s e w e r e e x e c u te d b y P a r k in so
n , a n d two b y G e o rg e F o r s te r , o n e o r b o th o f th e la tte r
b e in g r e f e rre d to b y J . R . F o r s te r , in h is n o te s o n S c ia n a
t r u l ia , w h ic h w e re p u b lis h e d in a n a b r id g e d fo rm in
S c h n e id e r ’s e d itio n o f B lo c h (p. 542), a n d a t full le n g th in
th e p r e s e n t y e a r b y L ic h te n s te in .t I u th e s e c o n d volume
o f th e H i s to i r e de s P o is so n s (p. 54), th e s p e c ie s is b rie fly
m e n tio n e d u n d e r th e d e s ig n a tio n o f P e r e a i r u t ia , by
C u v ie r, who th e n k n ew it o n ly b y F o r s te r ’s n o te s , a n d a
tr a c in g o f o n e o f th e fig u re s, w h ic h a re a ll p r e s e rv e d in
th e B a n k s ia n lib ra ry . S u b s e q u e n tly MM . Q u o y a n d G a i m
a rd p ro c u r e d a fish in B a s s ’s S tra its , w h ic h is d e s c rib e d
in th e th ird v o lum e o f th e H is to ir e d e s P o is so n s , b y th e
n am e o f C en tro p r is te s f t r u tla c e u s , w ith th e rem a rk th a t
it d iffe rs from th e o th e r C e n tro p r is te s iu h a v in g th e p h y sio
g n om y o f a C a s io o r Sm a r is , a n d m a y , th e re fo re , b e o ne
d a y c o n s id e re d a s th e ty p e o f a p e c u lia r gemis. I t is a t
th e s am e tim e c o n je c tu r e d th a t i t m a y b e id e n tic a l w ith
th e P e r e a t r u t ia o f th e former v o lum e , w h ic h in su c h a
c a s e o u g h t to b e su p p re s s e d .
In th e d e s c r ip tio n o f a c o lle c tio n o f fish m a d e a t P o r t
A rth u r, in V an D iem e n ’s L a n d , wh ich w a s r e a d b e fo re th e
Z o o lo g ic a l Soc ie ty in J u n e , 1839, a n d p u b lis h e d in th e
th i rd vo lum e o f th e ir T ra n s a c tio n s iu 1 842, I g a v e a d e ta
ile d a c c o u n t o f C en tro p r is te s s a la r , w h ic h I v e n tu r e d to
n am e a s d is tin c t from tr u tta c e u s , a lm o s t so le ly b e c a u s e th e
low e r p ie c e s o f th e g ill-c o v e rs were sc a ly , while o i t r i i l ta -
* Tliese pale edges are n o t in d ic ated in the figure.
+ Descriptiones A n im d ium q u a in Itin e re ad M aris A u stmlis Terras per
annos 1772— 1674 smcepto, ofcseruanf Jo a n n e s Reinoldus Forsler, cnranfe
Henrico Lichtenstein. Berolini. 1844.