160 Dr. T. Gill on Esox Lewini. 



a figure (pi. 60) and a brief notice (p. 465) of a fish which has 

 long been a puzzle to me. It is called Esox Leioini, and only 

 noticed as follows: — "Our figure of Esox Lewini is from a 

 drawing by Mr. Lewin, made in New Holland, of a species 

 not hitherto noticed." It was very evident that the species 

 thus named belonged neither to the genus Esox nor anywhere 

 near it ; and (1) the relations of the fins, (2) the position of 

 the ventrals with a spine and five rays each, (3) the form of 

 the head, and (4) the teeth indicated for it affinity to Ghilo- 

 dipterus and allied forms ; but no first dorsal fin was represented. 

 The question then arose whether that fin had been atrophied 

 (as in Aspidophoroides, Gobiopus, &c.) or (as was more likely) 

 had been overlooked. After nearly forty years the species 

 has been recovered, and, singularly enough, after having 

 escaped the observation of the numerous collectors in the 

 Australasian seas for so long a time *, has in the same year 

 been obtained and described by three different naturalists 

 under as many names, viz. Dinolestes Mullen by Klunzinger, 

 NeospJiyrmna midtiradiata by Castelnau, and Lanioperca 

 mordax by Giinther. There can be no question about at 

 least the generic identity of the Esox Lewini with the 

 fishes described by the three contemporaries ; and it now 

 appears that the first dorsal fin exists, but is quite small, 

 and sustained by only four or five spines. Klunzinger and 

 Castelnau refer the type to the family Sphyramidae, and 

 Gimther (with more justification, I think) to the " Apo- 

 gonina," i. e. Chilodipteridae. Whether the name Dinolestes 

 Lewini should be now given, in view of the absence of a 

 description (although supplied by a figure) , is questionable ; 

 but in any event the synonymy referable to this type will 

 stand as follows : — 



1. Esox Lewini (Griffith ?), Cuvier's Animal Kingdom, Griffith ed. x. 

 p. 465, pi. 60 (1834). 



2. Dinolestes Mullen, Klunzinger, Archiv fur Nat. 38. Jahrg. i. p. 30 

 (1872). Hobson Bay, South Australia. 



3. Neosphyrcena midtiradiata, Castelnau, Proc. Zool. and Acclim. Soc. 

 Victoria, i. p. 96 (1872). Melbourne. 



4. Lanioperca mordax, Giinther, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, x. 

 p. 183 (September 1872). Tasmania. 



* It is said, however, by Castelnau to be " common [at Melbourne] 

 in the months of May, June, and July ; it attains 2 feet in length. The 

 fishermen call it ' Skip Jack ; ' but that name is more particularly applied 

 to Temnodon saltator." 



