187 l.j IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 673 



the fishes sent by Mr. M. Allport; but it is very probable that the 

 Pacific Pilchard (CI. sayax) occurs in Tasmanian waters. 



Attempts ought to be made to utilize the Tasmanian Anchovy and 

 Sprat in the same way as it is done in Europe. 



The occurrence of many European marine fishes in Tasmauia is a 

 fact of great interest in geographical distribution. I have now exa- 

 mined Tasmanian specimens of the European Maigre (Scicena aquild), 

 John Doree (Zeus faber), Horse- Mackarel (Trachurus trachurus), 

 Sprat (Clupea sprattus), Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus), Con- 

 ger (Conger vulgaris), Sunfish (Orthagoriscus mola), Angelfish 

 (Rhina squatina), Blue Dog (Galeus canis), Spiny Dog (Acanthias 

 blainvillei), &c. To account for this singular fact it is not necessary 

 to assume that a change of the geographical distribution of these 

 fishes at a former period has taken place, in consequence of physical 

 changes on the globe's surface. It is quite possible that there still 

 exists a continuity of the species at the present period, but that 

 these fishes, which are more or less surface fishes in temperate lati- 

 tudes, live at much greater depths in the tropical zones, and, there- 

 fore, have hitherto escaped observation. 



Anguilla obscura. 



Allied to A. latirostris. The length of the head is two thirds of 

 the distance of the gill-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, and 

 one half of its distance from the vent. Lips rather broad ; lower 

 jaw scarcely prominent. Teeth equally small, in bands of moderate 

 width. Angle of the mouth below the hind margin of the eye, which 

 is rather small. Tail rather longer than the body. Upper parts 

 uniform dark coloured. 



One specimen, 14^ inches long (no. 448) from the Godeffroy 

 Museum ; it was obtained in fresh water of Kanalhia, Feejee 

 Islands. 



P(ECILOCONGER (g. U. AnGUILLIN.). 



Scaleless. Head pointed, without muciferous cavities. Cleft of 

 the mouth of moderate width, extending to below the eye. All the 

 teeth villiform, forming bands. Pectoral and vertical fins well 

 developed, the dorsal commencing in advance of the gill-opening. 

 Nostrils small, the anterior without tube. Eyes large, without or- 

 bital fold. 



PCECILOGONGER FASCIATUS. (Plate LXVIII.) 



Tail longer than the body, which is compressed ; the length of the 

 head is contained once and two thirds in that of the trunk. Head 

 narrow ; snout pointed, one half longer than the eye. Lips thin ; 

 angle of the mouth below the middle of the eye. Teeth in narrow 

 bands, the vomerine band only half as long as the maxillary. Gill- 

 openings as wide as the orbit, rather close together, not extending 

 upwards above the pectoral. The dorsai rays are not quite so high 

 as the body, but much higher than the anal rays ; the length of the 

 pectoral two sevenths of that of the head. Purplish brown ; head 



