OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 43 



The prasopercle presents at its angles a strong acute spine and 

 three others rather smaller below this ; this fish has been known for 

 many years, from the mouths of the great Indian rivers, but it is 

 only lately that it has been discovered in some of the Queensland 

 rivers. * It is found in the Fitzroy river, and is known at Rock- 

 hampton under the name of Burrumundi, which name also has 

 been erroneously applied to the Geratodus of the Burnett river. It 

 attains enormous proportions and is second in size to none of 

 the Australian fresh water fishes except perhaps to the Murray 

 cod (OUgorus macquariensis) . 



Mr. Gulliver has discovered this sort in the Norman river, and 

 has sent a large specimen to the Brisbane Museum. 



ESEUDOAMBASSIS. 

 I propose this name for some small fishes closely allied to 

 Amhassisj but having no recumbent spine in front of the dorsal. 

 They seem to be rather numerous in the northern parts of 

 Australia. 



1.— PSEUDOAMBASSIS MACLEAYI. Sjp. nOV. 



Upper profile high, and convex in front of the dorsal ; the two 

 limbs of the praeopercle strongly serrated ; the upper one on the 

 angle (three or four spines) and on the lower edge ; the lower one 

 on all its length ; the spines of the inferior edge the largest, and 

 directed backwards ; the lower edge of the opercle also lined 

 with similar spines ; two lines of scales on the cheeks ; the height 

 of the body more than one half the total length without the 

 caudal fin ; scales large, numbering about thirty on the longitudi- 

 nal line, and sixteen on the transverse one ; first dorsal with seven 

 spines ; the first of which is very short, the second the longest, and 

 nearly as long as the head ; the second dorsal with a very long 

 and straight spine and ten rays ; caudal very strongly bifurcated, 

 with the ends pointed ; anal with three strong spines, of which the 

 third is rather the longest, and ten rays ; the colour, after having 

 been in spirits, is of a uniform light brown, with the fins yellow. 



Numerous specimens, the largest being under two inches^and a 

 half long. 



*^P. Z. S., 1870, p. 824. 



