126 



its habitat to the estuaries of large rivers. Richardson has de- 

 scribed one sort from New Zealand ; the following one appears in 

 Dr. Grunter's first division (Eleotris, Bleeker) ; characterised by 

 " Scales of moderate size, less than fifty in a longitudinal 

 series ; snout short, broad, flat, and depressed ; the form of the 

 head approaching that of Opliiceplialus." 



Amongst the eleven sorts contained in this division, there are 

 only two which have seven spines at the dorsal ; but it differs 

 from both by the great size of its head, and also this being in great 

 part without scales. The fish I describe here would, on account 

 of the presence of teeth on the vomer, be a Philypnus for Cuvier 

 and Valenciennes, but Dr. Grunther has not adopted this generic 

 division. 



ELEOTEIS NUDICEPS. 



Height of body six times in the total length ; head three and 

 one-fourth times in the same; eye six and one-third times in 

 length of head. Lower jaw considerably longer than the upper ; 

 head very large, very broad, being at its widest part one-half of 

 its length. The mouth is very broad ; the maxillary extends to 

 the vertical from the centre of the eye ; eyes considerably apart, 

 the distance from one or other being nearly equal to the third 

 of the length of the head. The teeth are very numerous, cardi- 

 form, those of the lower jaw larger than those of the other ; 

 they extend on the vomer and the palatines ; the posterior part 

 of the tongue is also covered with them. The head has no scales ; 

 its anterior part is very uneven, and its irregularities have the 

 appearance of very minute scales ; it presents several longi- 

 tudinal ridges ; but, from the transverse line running from 

 the posterior edge of the eye to the end of the oper- 

 culum, the skin is naked. Behind this begin very small 

 scales, which extend to the base of the dorsal ; the oper- 

 culum and prseoperculum are naked ; the body is not so broad as 

 the head. The scales are rather large, and number forty-seven 

 on the longitudinal line ; they are striated, and very finely ciliated 

 on their edge. The first dorsal is rather rounded, of seven spines ; 

 the membrane of the last is attached to the body. The second 

 is high, and formed of one spine and ten rays -, they are all of 

 the same length except the last, which is a little longer than the 



