94 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF OLIGORUS, 



The general colour is of a rich brown, shaded with purplish- 

 brown on the back, a few indistinct (when dead) transverse almost 

 black marks on the sides. The total length with caudal, of the 

 type specimen is six feet ; the height of the body, behind the 

 ventrals, sixteen inches ; diameter of the eye 2*2 inches ; the 

 third dorsal spine 3'4 inches, the last 4*5 inches ; extent of the 

 spinous dorsal at base 19-5 inches; the longest ray of the soft 

 dorsal 7*2 inches ; first ray 6*7 inches, the last 3-8 inches. Width 

 of the pectoral fins 9 inches, length 1 1 inches ; width (transverse) 

 of the caudal 14-5 inches, length centre ray 10-5. The length of 

 the head to the end of the spine on the operculum is 22 inches. 



The size to which this species attains, exceeds that of any other 

 known. It is found at the mouths of several of the northern rivers 

 and inlets of the Wide Bay district in Queensland ; it was found 

 to be plentiful at the mouth of the Burrum Eiver, about twenty 

 miles from Maryborough, Queensland, and first brought under 

 my notice by my brothers, who obtained many of immense size 

 at that place in 1870. The present specimen was forwarded to 

 me in the flesh by an unknown accquaintance, a few days ago 

 from Brisbane, to whom I take the present opportunity of 

 expressing my sincere thanks. It has been beautifully mounted 

 by Mr. J. A. Thorpe, the Museum Taxidermist, and is now on 

 exhibition in the Australian Museum. 



I have compared this new species with all the Australian 

 species previously known and also with the Oligorus (Sectoria) 

 [jigas of Owen, from all of which it is distinct. 



My brother, Mr. J. S. Eamsay, informs me that he has caught 

 the same species in sea- water off Frazer's Island, also at Traviston 

 and that they ascend the Mary Biver into brackish water near 

 the township, where a specimen said to weigh three cwt. was 

 caught some time ago. In the fresh- water of the Mary E,iver 

 and in Tinnana Creek, one of its tributaries, Cod of apparently 

 the same species are occasionally taken. During a recent excursion 



