141 



emarginated below these ; their number is fifteen, with their first 

 third, at least, covered with small scales. 



The upper parts are of a very dark blue, and the lower of a dirty 

 white ; the lips are pink ; the eye yellow ; the sides of the head 

 have a copper tinge ; the base of each scale of the body, being of 

 a bright silver colour, gives the fish the appearance of having 

 longitudinal lines ; the fins are yellow, with their base blue and 

 their extremity black ; the ventrals are whitish. 



This sort attains large dimensions. I have one specimen which 

 is about 21 inches long. It is much esteemed as food. 



AGONOSTOMA. 



G-enus formed by Dr. Grimther on the sorts of Mugil, which 

 have an elongate muzzle and teeth on the vomer. The first of 

 these mentioned by authors was observed by Porster, and called 

 by him Mugil Albula. Cuvier and Valenciennes changed this 

 name to Mugil Forsteri. Richardson (" Zoological Transactions") 

 placed this sort in the genus Dajaus, of which, it has most of the 

 characteristics, and describes another sort under the name of 

 Diemensis. It has been stated that the common Mullet of the 

 Melbourne Pish Market was the Agonostoma Forsteri ; but this 

 is a New Zealand sort, and the fish alluded to belongs to Diemensis. 

 I know that this is in conformity to the opinion of Dr. Gunther, 

 who, in his Catalogue, unites the two sorts, but the difference in 

 the numbers of the fine rays separates them clearly. 



AGONOSTOMA DIEMENSIS. 



Dajaus diemensis, Richard., Zool. Trans., v. iii., p. 123. 



Erebus and Terror, Fishes, p. 37, 



pi. 26, figs. 1, 2. 



{The Mullet.) 



Richardson gives the following numbers to the rays : — 

 D. 4—10. A. 3 /12. C. 14 5/4. P. 15. In most of the Mel- 

 bourne specimens, I find one more branched ray to the anus, that 

 is, thirteen ; but in a few I find also twelve. 



The upper parts are of a greyish blue, with green tinges on 

 the body, and brown on the head ; the lower parts of the body 

 are silvery ; the upper and pectoral fins are light grey ; the 



