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A SYNOPSIS OF THE FISHES OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



Part I. 



By A. ZiETZ, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S., etc. 



[Read September 8, 1908.] 



Introduction. 



The first part of this deals with the Plagiostomi, in re- 

 lation to which I have adopted Professor T. W. Bridge's 

 classification. In the Teleostei I have followed the classifi- 

 cation given by Mr. G. A. Boulenger.<i' Considerable diffi- 

 culties have been experienced in identifying some species, 

 owing to the absence of important literature on the subject, 

 and also from the fact that none of the specimens identi- 

 fied and described by the late Count de Castelnau were avail- 

 able for comparison. 



The only list of South Australian fishes hitherto pub- 

 lished was the one by the late Count de Castelnau in the 

 Annual Report of the Acclimatization Society of Victoria for 

 the year 1872, in which twenty-seven species are enumerated. 

 This list was based upon the material collected chiefly in Gulf 

 St. Vincent by the first Curator of the South Australian 

 Museum, Mr. G. Waterhouse. About half a dozen species 

 were subsequently described by Messrs. Ramsay and Ogilby, 

 and also by Mr. de Vis, in the Proc. Linnean Society, New 

 South Wales. 



I wish to express my thanks to those who have kindly 

 supplied me with specimens, and particularly to Dr. J. C. 

 Verco, F.R.C.S., etc., who kindly invited me to join him 

 on his dredging trips, which afforded an unusual opportu- 

 nity for obtaining fresh material. A number of species new 

 to me and also new to science were thereby obtained. 



It is intended to publish this synopsis in parts. 



Class, LEPTOCARDII (Lancelets). 

 Family, BRANCHIOSTOMATID^. 



Genus, Asymetron, Andrews (1893). 

 A single specimen of a Lancelet was dredged in about 

 100 fathoms of water about 40 miles east of Cape Spencer. 

 It was placed in a glass tube with seawater, but owing to 

 an accident with the machinery of the small steamer, and 

 the approach of rough weather, it had to be packed away, 



(1) See the Cambridge Natural History, etc., vol. vii., 1904. 



