GANOIDEI. 357 



and released by being immersed in slightly tepid water. 

 Protopterus is exclusively carnivorous, feeding on water- 

 insects, frogs, and fishes, and attains a length of six feet. 



[Owen, "Trans. Linn. Soc." 1841, xviii.] 



Ceratodus. — Body elongate, compressed, with one continuous 

 vertical fin. Limbs paddle-shaped, with broad, rayed fringe. 

 Vomerine teeth incisor-like ; molars with flat, undulated surface, 

 and lateral prongs. No external branchial appendages. Conus 

 arteriosus with transverse series of valves. Ovaries transversely 

 iamellated.^ 



Fig. 139. — Ceratodus mlolepis. 



Two species, C. forstcri and C. miolepis, are known from 

 fresh waters of Queensland. The specimens hitherto obtained 

 have come from the Burnett, Dawson, and Mary rivers, some 

 from the fresh waters of the upper parts, others from the lower 

 brackish portions. The fish is said to attain to a weight of 

 twenty pounds and to a length of 6 feet. Locally, the settlers 

 call it " Flat-head," " Burnett- or Dawson-Salmon," and the 

 aborigines " Barramunda," a name which they appear to apply 

 also to other large-scaled freshwater fishes, as the Osteoglos- 

 suni leichardti. In the stomach there is generally found an 

 enormous cpiantity of the leaves of plants growing on the 

 banks of rivers, evidently eaten after they had fallen into 

 the water and when in a decomposing condition. The flesh 

 of the fish is salmon-coloured, and much esteemed as food. 



The Barramunda is said to be in the habit of going on 

 land, or at least on mud-flats ; and this assertion appears to 



^ For other illustrations see p. 73, Fig. 35 (palatal view of head) ; p. 74, 

 Fig. 36 (pectoral skeleton) ; p. 141, Fig. 60 (gills) ; p. 148, Fig. 65 (hmg) ; 

 p. 151, Fig. 67 (heart) ; p. 134, Fig. 57 (intestine) ; p. 165, Fig. 77 (ovary). 



