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its habitat to the estuaries of large rivers. Richardson has de- 
scribed one sort from New Zealand ; the following one appears in 
Dr. Gunter’s first division {JSleotris, Bleeker) ; characterised by 
“ Scales of moderate size, less than fifty in a longitudinal 
series ; snout short, broad, flat, and depressed ; the form of the 
head approaching that of Ophicephalus.” 
Amongst the eleven sorts contained in this division, there are 
only two which have seven spines at the dorsal ; but it differs 
from both by the great size of its head, and also this being in great 
part without scales. The fish I describe here would, on account 
of the presence of teeth on the vomer, be a Philypnus for Cuvier 
and Valenciennes, but Dr. Gunther has not adopted this generic 
division. 
ELEOTEIS NtrniCEPS. 
Height of body six times in the total length ; head three and 
one-fourth times in the same; eye six and one-third times in 
length of head. Lower jaw considerably longer than the upper ; 
head very large, very broad, being at its widest part one-half of 
its length. The mouth is very broad ; the maxillary extends to 
the vertical from the centre of the eye ; eyes considerably apart, 
the distance from one or other being nearly equal to the third 
of the length of the head. The teeth are very numerous, cardi- 
form, those of the lower jaw larger than those of the other ; 
they extend on the vomer and the palatines ; the posterior part 
of the tongue is also covered with them. The head has no scales ; 
its anterior part is very uneven, and its irregularities have the 
appearance of very minute scales ; it presents several longi- 
tudinal ridges ; but, from the transverse line running from 
the posterior edge of the eye to the end of the oper- 
culum, the skin is naked. Behind this begin very small 
scales, which extend to the base of the dorsal ; the oper- 
culum and prseoperculum are naked ; the body is not so broad as 
the head. The scales are rather large, and number forty-seven 
on the longitudinal line ; they are striated, and very finely ciliated 
on their edge. The first dorsal is rather rounded, of seven spines ; 
the membrane of the last is attached to the body. The second 
is high, and formed of one spine and ten rays ; they are all of 
the same length except the last, which is a little longer than the 
