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Abundant Ringarooma, Forrester, the Piper, and othei* 

 rivers of the north-east of Tasmania, where they grow to 

 a considerable size, and are highly esteemed for food. The 

 species has been introduced from the north-east into the 

 North and South Esk Rivers, and probably other streams, 

 where they are now abundant, and afford ample sport to 

 the meditative angler who cares to linger over a calm still 

 water-hole during the hours of the night season. The 

 angler must be careful, however, to provide himself with a 

 good bull's-eye lantern, or his labours will be fruitless. 



Prof M^Coy has minutely described two species, — viz.,6r. 

 gracilis^ Yarra River, and G. gibbosus^ Bunyip River, 

 Gippsland, — based upon a slight variation of relation of 

 length of head to body, together with an equally slight 

 variation in the number of dorsal spines and other charac- 

 ters, which are extremely inconstant in this variable form. 

 Having closely studied the variability of the Tasmanian 

 G. marmoratus I am unable to admit that the characters 

 which distinguish G. gracilis and G. gibbosus are sufficient 

 to separate them from Richardson's G. marmoratus^ for 

 the individual variations of the latter species in the North 

 Esk and other rivers of Tasmania are greater than the 

 differences which Prof. M'Coy considers sufficient to form 

 distinct specific characters. In support of this I give the 

 general characters of seven individuals now before me, 

 taken together from a spot near Corra Lynn, on the 

 North Esk. They fairly represent the individual varia- 

 bility :— 



Thus the dorsal spines vary between 11 and 13, and the 

 relation in length of head to total length from 4 to 4*9 

 times in the &ter. These limits cover G. marmoratus^ 

 Rich. ; G. gracilis^ M'Coy ; and G. gibbosus, M'Coy; and 

 the other points described are equally variable within 

 limits. I think it is clear, therefore, that the two last- 

 named species cannot well be recognised. It is very 

 hazardous in tliis genus to create a new species based 

 upon the examination of only two or three individuals. 

 It must be remembered also, that specimens in spirits 

 would have the soft membrane bordering the flat opercular 

 spine greatly contracted. This would affect the relative 

 length of head and body. 



