204 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



referred to in past literature under the name of Dactylop- 

 terus orientalis) . 



LEPTOSCOPOID FISHES. 



(Family: Leptoscopidce.) 



THIS family is remarkable, in that it includes the largest 

 known deep-sea Teleostean fish Macrius amissus an im- 

 perfectly-known species, which measures 5 feet in length 

 and was obtained at a depth of 1000 fathoms in the Pacific 

 Ocean. Another noteworthy fact, is, that one of the smaller 

 fresh-water species, lives in alpine torrents in New Zealand. 

 According to Boulengers arrangement about 25 species are 

 included in this family, ranging from the tropics to the 

 Antarctic Circle. One species which was taken home by 

 the Southern Cross Expedition was captured in 78 35' S. 



Fig. 72. LEPTOSCOPUS (LeptO9Copus macropyy-ns). 



lat., the farthest point at which fishes have yet been ob- 

 tained in the Antarctic region. Perhaps the most notice- 

 able Australian member of this family is the fish known as 

 Leptoscopus macropygusa. kind of "Star-gazer." This is 

 an exceedingly curious-looking fish, having a large, broad 

 head, which is entirely covered with a thin, soft skin; the 

 body being elongate and covered with small scales. The 

 scales of the lateral line are twice as large as those of the 

 adjoining series, a fact that is worthy of note as it is of 

 great assistance in the identification of this fish. There is 



