144 



Intestinal tract short ; wide, without pyloric appen- 

 dages. 



" Carnivorous fishes. Most of the species live in 

 the seas of the temperate regions of both hemi- 

 spheres ; two are known to inhabit seas between the 

 tropics." 



Several are described from Tasmania and Swan Eiver ; but I 

 have not yet observed any at Melbourne. 



CENTBISCID^E. 



"Form of the body compressed, oblong or elevated; 

 the anterior bones of the skull are much produced, 

 and form a long tube, terminating in a narrow mouth. 

 Teeth none. Body either covered with a cuirass or 

 with non-confluent ossifications. Scales none, or 

 small. Two dorsal fins; the spinous short, and with 

 one of the spines strong ; the soft and the anal of 

 moderate extent. Ventral fins small, without spine, 

 or rudimentary, abdominal. Branchiostegals three 

 or four ; air-bladder large ; four gills and pseudo- 

 branchiae. Pyloric appendages none ; intestinal 

 tract rather short. 



" Mediterranean and northern shores of the At- 

 lantic, eastern coasts of Africa, coasts of China, Ja- 

 pan and Australia." 



Centriscus Humerosus inhabits Australia ; but I have not 

 seen it. 



