202 RECOIiliS (JK IIIK ArSTRAI.IAX MTSKIM. 



Colour. — Bine-prey, the nppei- surface usaallv washed witli brown and 

 heariiip a few small widely seattei-ed black spots ; lips, throat, and 

 abdominal i-epion binish white. Many specimens have a namber of short 

 l)lack cross-bars on the middle of the sides, which are most developed in 

 specimens of medium size and tend to disappear in larger ones. Produced 

 portion of the spinous dorsal blackish, the basal portion like the back and 

 occasionally with a few small black spots. Soft tlorsal brownish-blue, 

 and sparsely spotted with black. Caudal bluish-grey, the inferior i-ays 

 white, and witli numerous black spots arranj^ed in irregulai- transverse 

 series. Anal and ventrals yellowish-white. Pectorals dark grev, with a 

 broad lighter border and some black spots on the base. 



Described from eight examples 08-140 mm. long from the Bni-nett 

 River Heads ; the figure represents one of these 18(5 mm. long. 



Synoin/iiiy. — We have examined the eight co-types of (iohiosoDin 

 tjutfulatioii, Macleay, ajid find them similar to the specimens desci'ibed in 

 all details ; in Macleay's figure, tlie angulated mnsi-le-bais are too pro- 

 nounced, their appearance being exaggerated by conti-action due to the 

 effects of their preservative Huid. The type of G. punctnhiritm, De Vis, 

 cannot be found in the collection of the Queensland Museum ; its brief 

 description suggests that it is synonymous with S. viridig, the diffei-ences 

 noted between it and G. ijuttitlittion being apparently of little value. 

 Castelnan's description of his Ajiomjples mncroplitlinlnins from Port Darwin 

 leaves little doubt that that species also is synonymous with S. viridlf. 



Hahits. — Tl^ese little fishes frequent mud-flats and mangrove swamps, 

 and so soon as the receding tide leaves the flats uncovered, they emerge 

 from the holes in which they lie concealed dui-ing the prevalence of the 

 flood. They ti-averse the mud with astonishing rapidity, their powerful 

 pectoi-al, venti-al and caudal muscles enabling them to leap and bound 

 over its yielding surface in search of the small creatures on which they 

 subsist. They can extrude or letract the eyes at will, and we are infoi-med 

 by Dr. Jianci-oft that they can partly raise themselves upon their venti'al 

 fins and tail so as to gain a wider outlook. He also notes that they hold 

 the spinous dorsal fully eirct when moving over the mud. Dussuniiei" 

 observed these fishes in the delta of tlie River (langes, and wrote: — 

 " They aie abundant on the mud-flats, over which the}- skip in pursuit of 

 small crustaceans; when an attempt is nnide to capture them they bury 

 themselves with great celerity in the mud, or if that be to haid they hurriedly 

 seek a cmb-hole, in which to take refuge ; when they are in the water 

 they fi-equently mise the head above the surface." Referring to this 

 latter peculiarity Dr. Bancroft wiites : — " When pursued it skips into 

 the water, swims a few feet, and then jn-otiudes its head with its goggle- 

 eyes thrust forth to their full extent; and from this jioint of vantage, it 

 stares impudently at its would-be captor." Wi-iting of an allied species, 

 Iiolcopfitli(iliiuis i>i'rii>iirastris, .Tordan** says: — "The animal has the power 

 of skipping along over the wet sands and mud, even skimming with great 

 speed over the surface of the water. H. chases its insect prey among 

 rocks, leaves and weeds, and out of the water is as agile as a li/ard." 



" Cuvier & Valenciennes — Hist. Nat. Poiss., xii., 1837, p. 213. 

 " Jordan— Uuide Study of Fishes, ii.. 1905, p. 465. 



