470 Annals of the South African 



to gill-opening 3 to 8^ times in distance i*om end of snout to vent. 

 Tail longer than body. Origin of dorsal above or slightly in advance 

 of vent. Pectoral 2^ to 4 times in distance from end of snout. 

 Olive or dark green above, yellowish or white beneath. Vertebrae 

 105-109. 



Total length over 1 metre. 



Indian and South Pa.cific Oceans ; entering rivers of East Africa 

 and Natal." 



SUB-ORDER HAPLOMI. 

 FAMILY GALAXIIDAE. 



" The Galaxiidae present many analogies to the Salmonidae of the 

 Northern Hemisphere, both being circumpolar groups of marine 

 origin which are establishing themselves in fresh-water. ID both 

 families we meet with non-migratory forms which appear to have 

 finally left the sea, and with others which return to the sea periodically ; 

 but whilst the migratory Salmonidae are anadromous (ascending 

 rivers to spawn), the migratory Galaxiidae, on the contrary, are 

 catadromous (going down to the sea to spawn). . . . The 

 burrowing-habits of a species of Golaxias have been recorded by 

 T. S. Hall (Viet. Nat., xviii, 1900, p. 65), who states that, according 

 to the observations of Mr. Bussell Eitcliie of Launceston, in Tasmania, 

 Galaxias have been dug up in moist peaty soil, and swim when 

 placed in water. As many as twelve at a time have been dug up in 

 one place and lived in water in a pickle jar for various periods up to 

 three days." (Began ; Proc, Zool. Soc., 1905, vol. ii, p. 364.) 



GALAXIAS. 



Galaxias, Cuv., Ecgne Anim., ii, p. 183 (1817); Cuv. and Val., 

 Hist, Nat. Poiss., xviii, p. 340 (1846) ; Gunth., Cat. Fish., vi, p. 208 

 (1866) ; Began, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1905, ii, p. 365, and Trans. Roy. 

 Soc. Edinb., xlix, pt. ii (No. 2), 1913, pp. 290, 291 ; Bouleng., Cat. 

 Freshw. Fish. Afr., iii (1915), p. 12. 



Mesit.es (non Geoff.), Jenyns, Voy. Beayle, Fish., p. 118 (1842). 



Austrocobitis, Ogilby, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxiv, 1899 

 p. 158. 



