136 
ICHTHYOLOGY 
verse line ; they are plain, rather rouguous, with a short ridge 
that does not extend to the root, neither to the margin ; the 
first dorsal is placed at equal distance from the extremity of the 
snout and the upper base of the caudal fin; it is formed of 
four spines ; the first of which is the longest, and is equal to 
the space between the eyes; the second dorsal is placed 
behind the root of the first at a distance rather less than the 
length of the head ; it is formed of a spine and eight rays ; 
the first is not longer, of one half of the height of the first 
ray ; the last is prolongated and pointed ; there are a few 
very minute scales between the rays ; the caudal is strongly 
forked ; it is scaly and formed of fourteen long rays ; the anal 
is opposite to the second dorsal, and has the same form ; it 
has three spines and eight rays ; the ventrals are inserted at 
equal distance from the base of the pectorals and the first 
dorsal ; the pectorals are short, broad and scaly ; their length 
is contained one and a-half in the head ; they are very far 
from attaining the vertical from the first dorsal, and their 
extremity only covers the base of the tenth scale of the 
longitudinal line ; they have fifteen rays. The eleventh and 
twenty-third transverse lines of scales originate at the root of 
the first and second dorsal ; there is a very large pectoral 
scale. 
The fish seems to have been silvery with the upper parts 
of an obscured grey ; the longitudinal lines are well marked 
on the specimens preserved in liquor ; there is a large golden 
blotch behind the eye ; the length of my specimens, which 
are said by Mr. Bostock to be of the average size ; is about 
twelve inches ; but a dried one he also sent me is fourteen. 
This sort inhabits the rivers of Western Australia, all the year 
round, and is a good edible fish. 
AGENO STOMA DIEMENSIS. 
Dajaus Diemensis, Rich., Proc. Zool. Soc, 1840. 
Very common on the coast of Western Australia. 
Mr. Bostock says it is called Pilchard in Western Australia, 
but I think that there must be some mistake. 
