STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN FISHES McCULLOCH. 187 



1 am unable to refer the species to any of the subdivisions 

 of Gobins known to me. It bears a striking resemblance to 

 some of the equally small species of the Eleotrid genus Eviota, 

 Jenkins^*^. 



Loc. — Saltwater reaches of Cowan Creek, neai' Sydney. 



(GOBIUS) AUSTRALIS, OcjUhiJ. 



(Plate xxxi.; fig. 3.) 



Gillichthi/s ((.nstralis, Ogilby, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, (2), 

 ix., 189^., p. 367. 



Generic characters. — Head and body strongly compressed. 

 Body covered with large, ctenoid scales, which extend foi'ward 

 to the nape above, and cover the breast and base of the 

 pectoral below ; there are from twenty-eight to thirty between 

 the operculum and the tail. Operculum with a few large 

 scales, the rest of the head naked ; a few rows of minute 

 pores on the sides of the head, and some larger open pores 

 on the upper surface and preopercular margin. Mouth large, 

 the maxillary reaching to behind the eje in females, farther 

 back in males. Upper jaw with three or four pairs of canines 

 anteriorly, followed by a nan-ow band of smallei- teeth which 

 extend along the sides and become uniserial posteriorly ; 

 mandibular symphysis crowded with larger teeth, including 

 canines, the sides with a single series of smaller ones ; all the 

 teeth are simple and fixed: palate toothless. Tongue rounded 

 and free from the floor of the mouth anteriorly. Gill-openings 

 wide, separated b}^ a rather narrow interspace; gill-mem- 

 branes forming a fold across the isthmus. Free edge of 

 shoulder-girdle smooth or with a single indistinct tubercle. 

 No barbies. 



Ventrals united, free from the bellj^, with one spine and 

 five rays. Pectorals witliout fiee rays. Dorsals sepai'ate, 

 the fiist with six spines ; second dorsal and anal short, with 

 about seven or eight rays. Caudal rounded, not elongate. 



10 Jenkins— Bull. U.S. Pish. Coram., xxii., 1903, p. 501. 



