204. The Scyphophori, Haplomi, and Xenomi 
some extinct genus which, unlike Chologaster, retains these 
fins. The translucent body, as in the other blindfishes, is 
covered with very delicate tactile papille, which form a very 
delicate organ of touch. 
The anomalous position of the vent in Amblyopside occurs 
again in an equally singular fish, Aphredoderus sayanus, which 
is found in the same waters throughout the same region in 
which Chologaster occurs. It would seem as if these lowland 
fishes of the southern swamps were remains of a once much 
more extensive fauna. 
No fossil allies of Chologaster are known. 
Kneriide, etc.—The members of the order of Haplomz, recorded 
above, differ widely among themselves in various details of 
osteology. There are other families, probably belonging here, 
which are still more aberrant. Among these are the Kueriidea, 
and perhaps the entire series of forms called Iniomi, most of 
which possess the osteological traits of the Haplomz. 
The family of Kunerizde includes a few very small fishes of 
the rivers of Africa. 
The Galaxiide.—The Galaxiide are trout-like fishes of the 
southern rivers, where they take the place of the trout of the 
northern zones. The species lack the adipose fins and have 
the dorsal inserted well backward. According to Boulenger 
these fishes, having no mesocoraoid, should be placed among 
the Haploni. Yet their relation to the Haplochitonide is very 
close and both families may really belong to the Isospondyli. 
Galaxias truttaceus is the kokopu, or “trout,” of New Zealand. 
Galaxtas ocellatus is the yarra trout of Australia. Several other 
species are found in southern Australia, Tasmania, Patagonia, 
and the Falkland Islands, and even in South Africa. This very 
wide distribution in the rivers remote from each other has given 
rise to the suggestion of a former land connection between 
Australia and Patagonia. Other similar facts have led some 
geologists to believe in the existence of a former great con- 
tinent called Antarctica, now submerged except that part which 
constitutes the present unknown land of the Antarctic. 
As intimated on p. 253, Vol. I, this distribution of Galaxtas 
with similar anomalies in other groups could not if unsupported 
by geological evidence be held to prove the former extension 
