PAPERS READ. 



NOTE ON CTENODAX WILKINSONI, Macl. 

 By William Macleay, F.L.S., &c. 



A few days ago I received a communication from Dr. Ramsay, 

 of the Australian Museum, informing me that he had recognized 

 the fish to which I had given the above name, as being very 

 similar to Tetragonurus Cuvieri, Risso. My paper was read at the 

 last November Meeting of this Society, and published in Part 4 of 

 Vol. X. of our Proceedings. I therein gave a full description of 

 the fish, as far as visible external characters were concerned, as 

 also a plate representing the fish itself of natural size, and magnified 

 representations of the teeth, scales, &c. I avoided giving any 

 opinion as to the natural affinities of the fish, thinking it best to 

 leave that question to greater authorities on classification than 

 myself. But I certainly was then under the impression that 

 nothing resembling it had ever been described .before; the discovery 

 therefore of Dr. Ramsay which I have just mentioned, necessitates 

 my taking the earliest opportunity of correcting my error. 



Without a doubt the genus Tetragonurus of Risso is identical 

 with my Ctenodax : the question of the identity of the species 

 Cuvieri of the one genus and Wilkinsoni of the other is a matter 

 of minor importance, and can only be ascertained by an examin- 

 ation of both fishes. 



Much doubt has always existed as to the proper position of the 



genus ; Cuvier and Valenciennes placing it among the Mugilidce, 



Lowe among the Scombridce, Miiller in the Notacanthidce, and 



finally Giinther among the Atherinidce. The last named position 



seems to be generally accepted now, but probably only on account 



of its being the opinion of such a high authority as Dr. Giinther. 



It seems to me an unnatural position, so much so indeed, that in 

 33 



