and Palaeontology of Victoria. 189 



pseudoscriba (M'Coy), related to the G. scriba (Cuv. and Val.), 

 but with the depth of the body one-eighth of the total length, 

 and other differences of proportion. The family Mursenidae, or 

 eels, is represented in the bay by a lai-ge congor; and the 

 Ati(/uilla australis is the extremely abundant eel of the Yarra, 

 Saltwater River, and many other streams and the adjacent 

 swamps filled by them. Of the family Balistidae there are a 

 great number of species, all going under the popular name of 

 "leather-jackets," having the reputation of being poisonous, 

 and of no economic value. Of the family Tetraodontidse, the 

 Tetraodon Hamiltoni is extremely abundant along the shores, 

 and popularly called "toadfish." 



MOLLUSCA. 



There are scarcely any molluscous animals of economic im- 

 portance in the colony, the two species of oysters used for food 

 being imported from Sydney of late years. The Venus strigosa 

 is sold in the fish-shops under the erroneous name of "cockle;" 

 and the Lunetta undulata is eaten by persons near the coast 

 under the equally erroneous name of " winkles." 



ARTICULATA. 



Of the articulated animals there are only a few Crustacea ap- 

 plied to any use. The great Murray-River crayfish or lobster 

 {Astacoides serratus) is brought in great numbers with the 

 Murray fish by railway now to market, and is generally used at 

 table as the lobster is in Europe. The smaller river crayfish 

 [Astacoides quinquecai'inatus) is not sold in the markets, but is 

 commonly eaten in the vicinity of the many streams and reser- 

 voirs in which it is found in abundance. The great marine 

 spiny crayfish or lobster, found abundantly at the Heads, is 

 constantly found in the shops, and used at table in salads &c. ; 

 it seems to be a variety of the Homarus annulicornis, or a very 

 closely allied species. A most destructive enemy to the sub- 

 marine timbers of our piers belongs to this division of the ani- 

 mal kingdom : it is the little Mylostoma or Chelura, multiplying 

 in the timbers, and causing them to crumble to pieces, as in 

 Europe. Of the Insecta no species are used for any useful pur- 

 pose at present, although several species of the Coccus affording 

 dyes abound. Of the Annulata almost the only useful form is 

 the species of leech [Hirudo) found so abundantly in the Murray 

 River, which has the mouth so nearly like that of the H. offici- 

 nalis of Europe that it is collected and used in immense quanti- 

 ties for medical purposes. 



