32 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



so narrow, that the fin cannot be erected, and the last ray is 

 attached to the lower edge of the tail. The three upper pectoral 

 rays much shorter than the fourth. No orbital rim. Skin 

 entirely smooth, without tubercles or tentacles. Four ocellated 

 spots, about as large as the eye, — the anterior equidistant from 

 each other — along the upper half of the body. Fins indistinctly 

 reticulated with brown, some of the reticulations being distinct 

 rings. 



South Australia. 



Division XI. ACANTH. MUGILTFOKMES. 



Two dorsal fins more or less remote from each other, the 

 anterior either short, like the posterior, or composed of feeble 

 sjnnes ; ventral fins well developed, 1/5, abdominal. 



Family XXX. SPHYKzENIDyE . 



Body elongate, subcylindrical, covered with small cycloid scales; 

 lateral line continuous. Cleft of mouth wide, armed with strong 

 teeth. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Seven branchiostegals ; 

 pseudobranchiae and air-bladder present. Two dorsal fins remote 

 from each other ; ventrals abdominal. 



Genus SphypwExa, Artedi. 



Body more or less elongate, covered with small, smooth scales ; 

 cleft of the mouth wide. Large trenchant teeth in the jaws and 

 on the palatine bones, none on the vomer. Two short dorsal fins 

 situated at a great distance from each other, the ventrals opposite 

 the anterior dorsal, and the anal opposite and of the length of 

 the posterior. Seven branchiostegals ; air-bladder large, bifurcate 

 posteriorly. Pyloric appendages in great number. 



Nearly all tropical and temperate seas. 



603. Spiiyiuena Noy.e-Hollandle, Gunth. 

 Gunth., Cat. Fishes II., p. 335. 



