227 



tinguished. Eyes present (in native animals). 

 External nasal aperture in the middle of the npper 

 side of the head. The nasal duct terminates with- 

 out perforating the palate. Seven branchial sacs 

 and apertures on each side behind the head. The 

 inner branchial ducts terminate in a separate com- 

 mon tube. Intestines with a spiral valve. Eggs 

 small, ihe larvae without teeth, and with a single 

 continuous vertical fin. 



" Inhabitants of the fresh waters and coasts of 

 the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Suck 

 themselves fast to other fish, and live by scraping 

 off their flesh." 



I find the greatest difficulty in the determination of the Vic- 

 torian fishes of this family ; there are two types, one of which 

 has the second dorsal united with the caudal, and the other which 

 has it separate ; but the most important character, the dentition, 

 seems to be subject to the most extraordinary variations ; in fact, 

 I cannot find it exactly similar in two specimens. The teeth 

 have horny coverings, which are very apt to fall, and this changes 

 entirely the appearance of the mouth. The one having the 

 second dorsal separated from the caudal is a Geotria for Dr. 

 Grunther. 



GEOTBIA. 



G-EOTRIA AUSTRALIS? 



Gfeotria Australis ? Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1851, Chondrop., 

 p. 142, pi. 2. 



Formed by Dr. Gray on a most singular Australian sort, 

 but Dr. Grunther unites with it the genus Velasia, of the 

 same author, from Chili, in which there is no trace of a 

 pouch. The mouth is rounded, but rather angular, with 

 the lateral lobes broad ; it is fringed all round. The 

 maxillary lamina is formed of four teeth, the exterior of 

 which are flat lobes, and the two interior ones, long, conical 



