183 



tralian specimens, and that the learned doctor might have come 

 to a more simple and natural conclusion, if he had admitted that 

 he was uniting, under the same name, several very distinct 

 species. 



OSTEGGLOSSIDiE 



" Body covered with large hard scales, composed 

 of pieces like mosaic ; liead scaleless, its integuments 

 nearly entirely replaced by bone ; lateral line com- 

 posed of wide openings of tlie mucus-duct. Margin 

 of the upper jaw formed by the intermaxillaries 

 mesially, and by the maxillaries laterally. The 

 dorsal fin belongs to the caudal portion of the verte- 

 bral column, is opposite and very similar to the anal 

 fin ; both approximate to the rounded caudal — with 

 which they are abnormally confluent. Gill-openings 

 wide ; pseudobranchise none ; air-bladder simple or 

 cellular. Stomach without ceecal sac ; pyloric ap- 

 pendages two. 



" Large fresh- water fishes of the tropics.*' 



The genus Osteoglosms, which composes this family, was esta- 

 blished by Yandelli, on a sort found in the Amazon River, and 

 which I have also observed there ; another species inhabits Borneo 

 and Sumatra ; and a third (Leichardti) has been found in Queens- 

 land, and described by Dr. Grunther. These are all tropical 

 fishes, and it is not likely that this form will ever be found in 

 the southern parts of Australia. 



CLUPEDXE. 



" Body covered with scales ; head naked ; barbels 

 none. Abdomen frequently compressed into a ser- 

 rated edge. Margin of the upper jaw formed by 



