238 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



ones in front ; these are quite blunt and, except in their length, 

 of the same form as the others ; in the lower jaw there is a 

 similar line of rather large but truncated teeth, behind which are 

 numerous and rather large molar teeth ; the body is entirely naked, 

 and the lateral line well marked. The spine of the first dorsal strong 

 and straight, it is equal in length, to the distance between the end 

 of the snout and the anterior edge of the orbit, the soft part is 

 considerably longer than the spine, and formed of four rays ; the 

 distance between the two dorsals is about equal to the space 

 from the end of the snout to the anterior margin of the eye ; 

 the dorsal, anal and caudal are united ; the latter is very acutely 

 pointed ; ventrals about as long as the spine of the dorsal ; 

 colour, after having been in liquor, of a very dark slatey brown, 

 with the lower parts of a whitish yellow. Length nearly one 

 foot. 



Found in the Brisbane River, in fresh water ; from the Queens- 

 land Museum. 



This fish constructs a nest formed of a heap of stones in 

 which the spawn is deposited, and round this heap is a circle of 

 stones some as large as an apple ; the female fish is larger than 

 the male, and keeps guard over the spawn, swimming round and 

 round, as if on an axis, and rushing furiously after any fish that 

 comes within the outer circle, serving the male fish in the same 

 manner if it ventures near. There are many nests in the brooks 

 round Brisbane, but they are never found in more than twelve 

 inches of water on a fine gravelled bottom. These notes were 

 furnished to me by Mr. E. C. Curtis, of Brisbane. The habits 

 he mentions are very much like those of my Chromys lapidifera. 

 Exped. Castel. Animaux rares ou Nouv. de l'Amer., p. 16, pi. 

 VIII., fig. 1. 



Neosilurus. 



One very short dorsal fin with simple spine ; no adipose fin ; 

 anal and caudal fins confluent and obliquely truncated ; barbels 

 six — one to each maxillary and two to each mandible on each 

 side ; teeth forming on the upper jaw a line of isolated, short, 

 conical ones, with two larger in front on the palate and vomer ; 



