FISHES. 33 



and extremity of tail very rudimentary or partly absent. Vent in, 

 or nearly in, the median line. 



Moreton Bay (Peters) ; Thursday Island (Dr. Goppinger). 



In our specimens the fin occupying the median line between the 

 branchial or abdominal pore and the caudal extremity is rather 

 more distinct than would seem to have been the case in the specimens 

 described and figured by Peters ; and consequently the position of 

 the vent is, at least in some of our specimens, rather lateral than 

 median. Whether these differences are owing to the better state of 

 preservation of our specimens, or related to the difference of locality, 

 I am not prepared to decide ; but assuming the latter to be the case, 

 I should not consider them sufiicient for specific distinction. Further, 

 as our specimens show distinct traces of a postanal fin and a sub- 

 lateral position of the vent, they clearly indicate that Epigonichthys 

 cannot be maintained as a distinct genus. 



