THE ANNALS 
AND 
MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
[THIRD SERIES.] 
No. 119. NOVEMBER 1867. 
XXXIX.—On a new form of Mudfish from New Zealand. 
By Dr. AtBert Ginter, F.R.S. 
[Plate VII.] 
Tue family of Galaxide was formed by the late Johannes Miiller 
for a single genus, Galaxias—scaleless freshwater fishes from the 
temperate zone of the southern hemisphere, which, with regard 
to the development and position of their fins, remind us of the 
Pikes of the northern hemisphere, but in other respects (as, for 
instance, in their dentition and open ovaria) resemble the Salmo- 
noids, to which they have been compared by Miiller. Also the 
settlers of at least some parts of New Zealand have dignified the 
larger kinds with the name of “trout” or “rock-trout.” However, 
they cannot be regarded as the southern representatives of the 
Salmonoids, inasmuch as recent researches have shown that this 
latter family is represented in the southern hemisphere by 
other, much more closely allied genera*. If we look for the 
representatives of the Galaxide in other zones, perhaps the African 
Mormyride and the Arctic Esocide are those which may be 
mentioned with the greatest propriety. 
Up to the present time only twelve species of Galazias are 
known, which I have described in the ‘ Catal. of Fish.’ vol. vi. 
pp- 208-213. Their geographical distribution is a point to 
_ which the greatest interest attaches. We find the genus most 
developed in New Zealand, where five species occur, and these 
are the largest of the whole group. Westwards it extends 
to New South Wales, with three, and to Van Diemen’s Land, 
with two species. Another is said to be an inhabitant of the 
creeks of Queensland; but this is doubtful. Eastwards the 
same genus is met with again in the southernmost parts of 
America (Falkland Islands, Patagonia, Terra del Fuego), whence 
* Haplochiton and Prototroctes: see Giinth. Fish. v. p. 381. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xx. 21 
