284 FISHES. 



Sydney), Tasmania, and New Zealand. It is tlie richest in 

 the southern temperate zone, partly in consequence of a 

 considerable influx of tropical forms on the eastern coast of 

 Australia, where they penetrate farther southwards than 

 should have been expected from merely geographical con- 

 siderations ; partly in consequence of the thorough manner 

 in wliich the ichthyology of New South Wales and New 

 Zealand has been explored. On the other hand, the western 

 half of the south coast of Australia is still almost a terra 

 incognita. 



The shore-fishes of New Zealand are not so distinct from 

 those of south-eastern Australia as to deserve to be placed 

 in a separate district. Beside the genera which enter this 

 zone from the Tropics, and which are more numerous on the 

 Australian coast than on that of New Zealand, and beside a 

 few very local genera, the remainder are identical. Many of 

 the South Austrahan species, besides, are found also on the 

 coasts of New Zealand. The principal points of difference 

 are the extraordinary development of Monacanthus on the 

 coast of South Australia, and the apparently total absence in 

 Australia of Gadoids, which in the New Zealand Fauna are 

 represented by six genera. 



Shorc-fishcs of the South Australian district. 



