182 



the often repeated words matta grosso, river capin, &c, which 

 have no meaning whatever, and are intended for motto grosso 

 (great forest), Wo capim (grass river), &c. All this could only- 

 show that I do not known German, nor Dr. Grunther Portuguese ; 

 and that nobody, not even the learned doctor, can be universal. 



GONOEHYNCHTTS GEEYI. 



Hynchana greyi, 'Richard,, Erebus and Terror, Fishes, p. 44, 



pi. 29, figs. 1-6. 

 Gfonorhynchus greyi, Guv. Sf Vol., vol. xix., p. 212. 



{The Sand Eel.) 



The upper parts of a light lilac, sometimes with marmorated 

 tinges rather more obscure on the back ; lower parts white ; 

 muzzle and the lower surface of the head pink ; sides of the 

 head of a golden tinge ; all the fins of a yellowish white ; dorsal 

 with a large black spot near the end, the extreme edge remaining 

 white ; caudal with a broad black transverse band near its 

 extremity ; anal and ventrals with their end black ; the eye is 

 sometimes silvery, sometimes golden. A part of this organ is 

 covered on each side by a membrane ; the lower and pectoral fins 

 have sometimes a blue tinge. 



This fish is most remarkable by its general resemblance to a 

 saurian reptile of the genus Scincus. It is often brought in all 

 seasons to the Melbourne Market, where it is esteemed good 

 for the table. It is found in clear quiet water, with a sandy 

 bottom, and, according to the fishermen, it digs holes in the sand. 

 The usual length is from eight to twelve inches ; the largest spe- 

 cimen I have seen was a little under fourteen, and the smallest 

 four inches and a quarter ; I found this entire in a small shark. 



Dr. G-unther unites the Australian sort with the one from the 

 Cape of Gfoo(? Hope, and also with another from Japan. To 

 characterize t'Lis curious assemblage, he says {Catalogue, vol. vii., 

 p. 374), " from an examination of these specimens I have arrived 

 at the conclusion, that this species varies considerably in the 

 depth of the body, and especially that young examples, 

 are constantly less elongate than the adult." Having ex- 

 amined several hundred specimens in Melbourne, I may add, 

 that there is no variation whatever in the proportions of the Aus- 



