lis EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Kefering to 3fi///iJ cheJo lie continues : — " The upper pharyngeals have a 

 ratlier irregular form ; they are slightly arched, the convexity being directed 

 towards the pharyngeal cavity, tapering anteriorly and broad posteriorly. 

 They are coated with a thick, soft membrane, which, reaches far beyond the 

 margin of the bone, at least on its interior posterior portion ; this membrane 

 is studded all over with minute horny cilia. The pharyngeal bone rests upon 

 a large fatty mass, giving it a considerable degree of elasticity. There is a 

 very large venous sinus between the anterior ])ortion of the pharyngeal and 

 the basal portion of the branchial arches. Another mass of fat, of elliptical 

 form, occupies the middle of the roof of the pharynx, between the two 

 pharvngcal bones. Each branchial arch is provided on each side, in its whole 

 length, with a scries of closely set gillrakers, which ai"e laterally bent down- 

 wards, each series closely fitting into the aeries of the adjoining arch ; they 

 constitute together a sieve, admirably adapted to permit a transit for the 

 water, retaining at the same time every other substance in the cavity of the 

 pharynx. 



' The lower pharyngeal bones are elongate, crescent-sbaped, and broader 

 posteriorly than anteriorly. Their inner surface is concave, corresponding 

 to the convexity of the upper pharyngeals, and provided with a single series 

 of lamella?, similar to those of the branchial arches, but reaching across the 

 bone from one margin to the other. 



' The intestinal tract shows no less peculiarities. The lower portion of 

 the oesophagus is provided with numerous long thread-like papillae, and 

 continued into the oblong ovoid membranaceous coecal portion of the 

 .stomach, the mucosa of which forms several longitudinal folds. The second 

 portion of the stomach reminds one of the stomach of birds ; it communi- 

 cates laterally with the other portion, is globular, and surrounded by an 

 exceedingly strong muscle. This muscle is not divided into two as in birds, 

 but is of great thickness in the wliole circumference of the stomach, all the 

 muscular fasciculi being circularly arranged. The internal cavity of this 

 stomach is rather small, and coated with a tough epithelium, longitudinal 

 folds running from the entraiice opening to the pyloric, which is situated 

 opposite to the other. A low circular valve forms a pylorus. There are five 

 rather short pyloric appendages. The intestines make a great number of 

 circumvolutions, and are seven feet long in a specimen thirteen inches in 

 length.' " 



The lateral line being absent in the fishes of this family, while the number 

 of scales is of great importance in ditferentiating the various species, of 

 which very many have been described, it is necessary to define the method 

 by which the number of lateral and transverse scales is arrived at ; in 

 the former the series of scales running from the upper angle of the operculum 

 to the base of the caudal fin is counted, in the latter the oblique series which 

 commences at the base of the first dorsal ray. 



MUGIL DOBULA. 



Mugil dohula, Gnth. Catal. Fish. iii. p. 420, 18G1, and Fisch. de S«dsee, p. 



214, pi. cxx. fig. A. ; Casteln. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iii. p. 387 ; 



Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iv. p. 41.5. 

 Mujil u-aigiensis, Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict. 1872, i. p. 140 (^not Quoy ^ 



Gaimard) . 

 Mugil grandis, Casteln, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iii. p. 386, 1878 ; 



Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iv. p. 412. 

 Mugil cephalotus, Johnston, Proc. Eoy. Soc. Tas. 1882, p. 122 (^not Cuv. 



^ Val). 



