175 
GALAXIAS. 
Genus formed by Cuvier iu bis “Eegne animal,” on a sort 
brought from Tasmania by Peron and Lesueur. Since then, 
several other Australian species have been described by Eichard- 
son. This form inhabits also the extreme southern portion of 
the American Continent; and Dr. Gunther unites several of 
these American sorts with those of Australia, the propriety 
of w'hich is very unlikely with fresh-water fishes. 
It is to be remarked that Cuvier and Valenciennes, in describ- 
ing their Qalaxias Fasciatus, state that it is from New Zealand; 
but that the specimens were given to Messrs. Lesson and Garnot 
at Conception in Chili, by whalers, who had probably salted them 
for their food, and this may have led to some confusion. 
It is said that some of the American sorts live amongst the 
seaweeds ; the Australian fish inhabit the rivers, and those of 
the Tarra only extend their haliiat a little below Melbourne, to 
the place where the water becomes brackish. 
UALAXIAS OCELLATUS. 
Galaxias ocellatus, K‘Coy, Inter. Exhibit. Essays, 1866-67, 
page 14. 
(Yarra Trout.) 
This is very nearly allied to the Tasmanian sort Truttaceus, 
Cuvier. The body is short and thick for the genus ; the head is 
convex over the eyes ; the height of the body is contained 
five and one-third times in the total length ; the head five and 
two-third times in the same. The dorsal has eleven rays, of 
which the first one is very short, the next two longer, but much 
shorter than the others ; the caudal is entire and rounded, of 
fifteen long rays, with two or three shorter on each side ; the 
anal is large, of fifteen rays, of which the first is very short ; the 
ventrals are nearer to the anal than to the pectorals ; they are 
formed of seven rays, and the pectorals of fourteen. 
The body is of a light olive green, with the belly grey ; it 
is covered with iridiated, round, oscellated black spots ; the sides 
of the operculum have a golden tinge ; the fins are of the general 
colour of the body ; the pectorals are white ; the eye is green, 
speckled with black. 
Elver Yarra. Length, 6 inches. 
