MORMYEIDiE. 625 



former genus five species are found in New Zealand, where 

 this type is most developed, three in New South Wales, two 



Mg. 283. — Galaxias truttaceus, from Tasmania. 



in Tasmania, and four in the southern extremity of South 

 America. Their native name in New Zealand is " Kokopu," 

 and they were dignified with the name of " Trout" by the 

 settlers before the introduction of true Salmonidse. They 

 rarely exceed a length of eight inches. Neochanna is a de- 

 graded form of Galaxias, from which it differs by the absence 

 of ventral fins. This fish has hitherto been found only in 

 burrows, which it excavates in clay or consohdated mud, 

 at a distance from water. 



Twelfth Family— Mokmyeid^. 



Body and tail scaly ; head scaleless ; barhels. none. The 

 margin of the wpper jaw is formed in the middle hy the inter- 

 maxillaries, which coalesce into a single hone, and .laterally ly 

 the maxillaries. Sicb- and inter-operculum present, the latter 

 very small. On each side of the single parietal lone a cavity 

 leading into the interior of the shull, and covered with a thin 

 lony lamella. All the fins are well developed, in Mormyrus ; 

 or caudal, anal, and ventral fins are absent, in Gymnarchus. 

 No adipose fin. Pseudobranchice none; gill-openings reduced 

 to a short slit. Air-bladder simple. Two coeca pylorica 

 behind the stomach. 



This family is characteristic of the freshwater fauna of 

 tropical Africa. Of Mormyrus (including Hyperopisus and 



2s 



