Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



This species lias the ova exuding in the middle of October, 

 which must be the spawning time. The ova are larger than 

 those of the H. regularis of the Lakes. It is the common Sea 

 Gar-fish of the fishermen and fish-dealers supplying Melbourne, 

 and is easily distinguished from the fresh-water species of the 

 Gippsland Lakes, H. regularis (G-iint.), by the blackish pectoral 

 fins, suggesting the excellent specific name, H. melanochir, given 

 to it by Cuvier, as well as by the more posterior position of the 

 ventral fins and the long movable upper jaw. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 135. — Fig. 1, side view of specimen, f natural size. Fig. la, top view of head and 

 snout, | natural size, to show the flexible membranous borders and tip of lower jaw beyond 

 upper jaw. Fig. lb, top view of portion of lower jaw, magnified four diameters. Fig. lc, 

 mouth, to show rows of teeth in upper and lower jaws, magnified. Fig. lc?, tricuspid teeth of 

 upper and lower jaws, magnified sixteen diameters. Fig. le, scale below lateral line at middle 

 of body, magnified three diameters. Fig. If, scale above lateral line, magnified three diameters. 

 Fig. la, scale from abdominal ridge, magnified three diameters. 



Plate 135, Fig. 2. 



SCOMBERESOX SAURUS (Bloch sp.), 

 var. FORSTERI (Cuv. and Val.). 



The Saury Pike. 



[Genus SCOMBERESOX (Lacep.). (Sub-kingdom Vertebrata Class Pisces. Sub-class 

 Teleostei. Order Physostomi. Family Scomberesocidse.) 



Gen. Char. — Body elongate, slender, compressed. Head prolonged into two long, very 

 slender jaws, with a slight upward curvature, the upper formed of the inter-maxillary bones, 

 the lower beak a little longer than the upper ; both jaws bordered with a row of very minute, 

 simple teeth, none on the tongue nor palate. Scales small, thin, deciduous on body; a row of 

 keeled scales on each side of lower edge of belly ; lateral line very obscure, from upper end of 

 operculum to middle of tail. One dorsal opposite one similar anal fin, set far back, with a series 

 of small detached finlets between the dorsal and anal fins and the tail ; caudal fin deeply forked. 

 Air-bladder present or absent, without duct. Stomach and intestines forming one straight 

 alimentary canal, without pyloric appendages. Lower pharyngeals united in one bone. Nostrils 

 in a triangular pit in front of eye. Pseudobranchia? glandular, obscure. Gill-opening very 

 wide.] 



D. 10 to 11; P. 12; V. G; A. 11 to 12; Finlets fj C. 20 to 30; L.L. about 

 110. 



Description. — Length of head two-sevenths of total length, including- caudal 

 fin. Greatest depth of body (about middle), 11 times in total length from tip of 



[134] 



