22 SUPPLEMENT TO CATALOGUE OF THE FISHES OF AUSTRALIA, 



showing a slightly concave profile ; two nostrils close together in 

 front of the upper part of the orbit ; snout roundly pointed, con- 

 siderably overlapping the mouth ; maxillary large and triangular, 

 appearing first under the hinder margin of the eye and extending 

 far behind it. Preeoperculum serrated on the posterior limb, and 

 without a spine near the angle. Five pectoral appendages, the 

 two upper ones extending far beyond the tips of the ventrals. 

 The first dorsal fin is vertically in advance of the root of the 

 ventrals ; the fh-st spine is very strong, and equal in height to f 

 the length of the head, the second is a little higher, the others 

 become gradually lower ; all are feeble except the first, and none 

 of them are filamentose. The distance between the dorsals is 

 more than the length of the base of the first; the second has 

 a falcate appearance like the anal, and both are scaly and fleshy. 

 The caudal fin is long, forked, scaly, and slightly filamentose. The 

 distance between the origin of the ventrals and that of the anal, 

 exactly equals the length of the head. 



The scales are of moderate size, resembling somewhat those of 

 the Mullet (Mugil), the lateral line is straight. The coloration is 

 bluish-silvery towards the back, and whitish towards the belly ; 

 the dorsal, anal and caudal fins are blackish ; the pectorals, 

 ventrals, and pectoral appendages whitish ; each line of scales 

 shows a more or less distinct longitudinal streak. Length, 26 

 inches. 



Mary River, Queensland. 



I am indebted to the Hon. B. Sheridan for the specimen of 

 this fish here described. It is abundant at some seasons in the 

 tidal waters of the Mary, and has been known to attain a weight 

 of 100 lbs. It is highly valued as a food-fish. 



Family. SCI^ENID^E. 



Genus Umbrina. Cuv. 



Body oblong ; muzzle convex, with the upper jaw overlapping 

 the lower; a short barbel under the mandibulary symphysis. Two 

 dorsals, the first with nine or ten flexible spines ; the anal fin 



