BY WILLIAM MACLEAY, F.L.S. 371 



upper part of the Brisbane River, and would appear to be far 

 from common. Nothing is said of its qualities as a food fish. 

 Its affinity seems to be more with Megalops than Chatoesstis. 



6. Cltjpea sagax, (Jenyns). 

 Zool. Beagle, Fish, p. 134, Gunth., Cat., Vol. 7, p. 443. 



Alosa melanosticta, Cuv. and Val., Vol. XX., p. 444. 



This species which is almost identical with the English Pilchard 

 is thus described by Dr. Ghmther : — " The height of the body is 

 one fifth of the total length (without caudal), the length of the 

 head rather more than one-fourth. Lower jaw but slightly 

 prominent ; the maxillary extending nearly to the vertical from 

 the middle of the eye. No teeth on the palate or on the tongue. 

 Gill rakers very fine and long, closely set. Ventral fins inserted 

 below the posterior half of the base of the dorsal. Origin of 

 the dorsal fin nearer to the end of the snout than to the root of 

 the caudal. Abdominal serrature very indistinct; there are 

 about eleven abdominal scutes behind the base of the ventral 

 fins. Operculum with very conspicuous radiating strise, descending 

 towards the suboperculum. Scales slightly and finely striated, 

 the strise being most conspicuous on the margin. The scales 

 become very small towards the root of the caudal fin. A series 

 of more or less distinct round blackish spots along the side." 



" Pacific Coasts of America ; Japan ; New Zealand." 



Count Castelnau (Proc. Zool. and Acclim. Soc. of Victoria, 

 Vol. 1, p. 187.) points out that Dr. Gunther is right in his view 

 that this species is identical with the melanosticta of Cuv. and Val. 

 and is not the same, as stated by Professor M'Coy, as the 

 melanosticta of Schlegel. He also quotes the following account 

 given by Professor M'Coy of the appearance of this Pish in Port 

 Phillip : "A specimen was first brought to me in August 1864, 

 from a small shoal then seen for the first time in Hobson's Bay, 

 and quite unknown to the fishermen. * * * In the same 



