72 



not scaly. The lower rays of the pectorals branched ; 

 ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five soft rays. 

 Stomach cajcal ; pyloric appendages, in moderate 

 number ; intestines generally with many convolu- 

 tions. Air-bladder present, more or less simple. 

 Pseudobranchise well developed. 



" Mostly carnivorous fishes, inhabiting the seas 

 between the tropics, especially of the Indian region ; 

 a few entering rivers or spreading beyond the 

 tropics." 



I have not found any sorts of this family in the Straits of Bass 

 nor in Hobson's Bay, but several are found on the coast of New 

 South "Wales and on the northern shores of Australia. 



ciekhitid^. 



"Body compressed and oblong, covered with 



cycloid scales ; lateral line continuous. Mouth in 



front of the snout, with lateral cleft. Eye lateral, 



of moderate size. Cheeks not cuirassed. Generally 



six, sometimes five, in one genus three branchios- 



tegals. Dentition more or less complete, composed 



of small pointed teeth, sometimes with the addition 



of canines. One dorsal fin, formed by a spinous and 



soft portion of nearly equal development. Anal with 



three spines, generally less developed than the soft 



dorsal. The lower rays of the pectoral fins simple and 



stout ; ventrals thoracic, but remote from the root 



of the pectorals, with one spine and five rays. 



" Carnivorous fishes, inhabiting the seas of the 

 tropical regions of the southern temperate parts of 

 the Pacific." 



