256 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



Genus Osteoglossum Vandelli. 



Body more or less elongate, compressed, with the abdomen 

 compressed into a trenchant edge ; cleft of the mouth very wide, 

 oblique, with the lower jaw prominent. A pair of barbels at the 

 lower jaw. Maxillary very long, styliform, scarcely proh'actile. 

 Jaws with a series of small teeth ; bands of rasp-like teeth on the 

 vomer, palatine and pterygoid bones, on the tongue and hyoid. 

 Pectoral fins elongate. Gill-membranes nearly entirely separate ; 

 branchiostegals rather numerous ; air-bladder simple. Stomach 

 without blind sac ; two pyloric appendages. 



Rivers of tropical America, Australia, and East Indian 

 Archipelago. 



884. Osteoglossum Leiciiardti, Gunth. 



Scleropages Leiciiardti, Gunth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1864. 



Vol. XIV., p. 196, pi. 7.— Cat. Fishes VII., p. 378. 



" JBurramundi " of the Aborigines of the Dawson Eiver. 



D. 20. A. 31. V. 5. L. lat. 35. L. transv. 3/4. 



The length of the head is contained thrice and three-fourths in 

 the total length (without caudal), and rather more than the 

 distance between the pectoral and ventral fins. A distinct space 

 between anal and caudal. Barbels very small. 



Queensland Rivers. Length, from two to three feet. 



Family XL CLUPELDvE. 



Body covered with scales ; head naked ; barbels none. 

 Abdomen frequently compressed into a serrated edge. Margin 

 of the upper jaw formed by the intermaxillaries mesially, and by 

 the maxillaries laterally ; maxillaries composed of three, some- 

 times moveable, pieces. Opercular apparatus complete. Adipose 

 fin none. Dorsal not elongate ; anal sometimes very long. 

 Stomach with a blind sac ; pyloric appendages numerous. Gill- 



