OF NEW SOUTH WALKS. 237 



is large, forked and formed of two pointed lobes ; the anal is 

 composed of fifteen rays, and extends a little further back 

 than the adipose ; the ventrals are large, and placed in front of 

 the last named fin ; they have six rays, between several of 

 which are short, abbreviated ones ; the pectorals are considerably 

 in front of the dorsal, they are formed of a strong spine, rather 

 arched, and denticulated on both sides and of twelve rays ; the 

 distance between the insertion of the pectoral to the base of the 

 ventrals is equal to four-fifths ; the height of the body is contained 

 three times and a-half in the length without the caudal fin ; the 

 head forms a third of the same length. The body is covered 

 with a rather loose silvery skin, with the upper parts of a dark 

 blue ; the upper fins seem to have been reddish ; the throat 

 white ; the caudal has in the dried specimens a yellowish olive 

 tinge. 



I have several specimens, but all badly preserved ; the largest 

 is nearly fifteen inches long, the others are about six inches. 

 They come from Moreton Bay, in salt water, and were sent to 

 me by Mr. Curtis, late of the Queensland Museum. 



Note. — The teeth are numerous, small, conical, pointed, placed 

 at some distance from one another on an irregular line in front of 

 the mouth ; behind these there is a broad band of small tubercular 

 ones forming a sort of pavement, interrupted in the middle in 

 front ; the basal bone of the dorsal has the form of an oblong 

 nail truncated at the base. The large iiumber of the dorsal fin 

 rays may add to the separation of this sort from Arius ; in that 

 case I propose calling this genus Neoarius. 



Plotosus elongatus. 



Height of body eleven times in the total length, head seven 

 times and a quarter in the same ; eye eight times and a quarter 

 in the length of the head ; eight barbels, the upper ones about 

 equal, their length being contained about twice and a half in the 

 distance from the end of the snout to the base of the first dorsal, 

 those of the lower jaw rather shorter ; teeth on the upper jaw, 

 and on the vomer, molar like, a transverse line of longer 



