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proposes to segregate in a new family, under the name Melanotaeniidae, certain 

 small fresh-water percesocoid fishes belonging to the Austrogaean region, 

 which differ from all other members of that group by the structure of the 

 first dorsal fin, which consists of a single stout and pungent ray followed by 

 two or more flexible unarticulated rays ; by the thoracic insertion of the ven- 

 tral fins, &c. Though the propriety of separating certain of these genera in 

 a peculiar family has been recognised by several authors, none of them went 

 further than to suggest names. A diagnosis of the family as understood by 

 the author, and also of the five genera, Neoatherina^ Pseudomrigil, Rhomha- 

 tractus (= Aristeus] Aida, and Melanotaenia (= N ematocent ris) which he in- 

 cludes therein, is given ; and it is pointed out that the position of these 

 fishes in the ichthyological system has hitherto been so ill-defined that they 

 have been referred by some authors to the Atherinidae (Hardyheads), by others 

 to the Eleotrinae (Gudgeons), and by others again to the Apogonidae (Soldier- 

 Fishes). In the author's opinion there is no close affinity between these 

 fishes and the Mugilidae (Gray Mullets) as insisted on by some authors \ and 

 he prefers to consider them as more nearly related to the Sphyraenidae (Sea- 

 Pikes), forming in fact a connecting link between them and the more typical 

 Acanthopterygians, in support of which view he instances the elongated anal 

 and thoracic ventral fins of our common Long-finned Sea-Pike [Dinolestes). 

 An interesting list of the known species is furnished, and the hope is ex- 

 pressed that sufficient material may shortly be forthcoming so that a mono- 

 graph of the family may become possible. — 2) New Genera and Species of 

 Australian Fishes. By J. D. Ogilby. (Communicated by Dr. J. C. Cox). 

 Two new fishes collected by Mr. Whitelegge at Maroubra are described as 

 Macrwhyncims maroubrae, gen. et. sp. nov., and Dermatops tnacrodon^ gen. 

 et. sp. nov. — 3) On the Australian Clivinides (Fam. Carabidae). By T. G. 

 Sloane. Thirty-one new species of Clivina are described, bringing the total 

 for Australia up to eighty-three, divisible into thirteen groups, of which, as 

 well as the species, tabulations are given. A new genus Clivinarcha is pro- 

 posed for an insect from the Gulf of Carpentaria. — 4) On the Bag-shelters 

 of certain Lepidopterous Larvae of the Genus Teara. By W. W. Froggatt. 

 A general account is given of the curious bag-like diurnal shelters fabricated 

 by the gregarious larvae of moths of the genus Teara ^ with particulars of 

 the life-history of T. contraria bred from nests obtained near Sydney. — Mrs. 

 Kenyon sent for exhibition, and contributed a note upon, specimens of 

 varietal forms of Cypraea declivis and C. tasmaniensis. — Mr. Da rie y exhi- 

 bited a specimen of rock from Newcastle bored by specimens of Pholas, 

 with examples of the molluscs in situ. Also from the roof of a building in 

 Sydney a piece of sheet-lead which had been perforated by Termites. — 

 Mr. Froggatt exhibited drawings and specimens of the larva, pupa, moth, 

 and bag-shelters of Teara contraria from Penshurst, near Sydney; in this 

 locality during April many trees of Acacia prominens were completely defo- 

 liated by the caterpillars, the shelters being placed at the foot of the trees. 

 Also the more substantial silken shelter of a species from Kalgoorlie, W. A.; 

 and a series of specimens of the commoner species of the genus occurring in 

 New South Wales. — The President Mr. Henry Deane, exhibited a rare 

 and remarkable spider, Actinopus, sp., forwarded by Mr. A. G. Little, Pail- 

 way Surveyor, Menindie, N.S.W. This is apparently the first recorded 

 occurrence of the genus in Australia. In respect of the length of the palpi 



