182 
the often repeated words matta grasso, river capin, &c., which 
have no meaning whatever, and are intended for matto grosso 
(great forest), rw capim (grass river), &c. All this could only 
show that I do not known German, nor Dr. Gunther Portuguese ; 
and that nobody, not even the learned doctor, can be universal. 
GONOEHyNCHUS GEETI. 
Eynchana greyi, Bicharcl., Erehus and Terror, Fishes, p. M<, 
pi. 29, figs. 1-6. 
Gonorhynchus greyi. Cm. ^ Val., vol. xix., p. 212. 
{The Sand Eel.) 
The upper parts of a light lilac, sometimes with marmorated 
tinges rather more obscure on the back ; lower parts white ; 
muzzle and the lower surface of the head pink ; sides of the 
head of a golden tinge ; all the fins of a yellowish white ; dorsal 
with a large black spot near the end, the extreme edge remaining 
white ; caudal with a broad black transverse band near its 
extremity ; anal and ventrals with their end black ; the eye is 
sometimes silvery, sometimes golden. A part of this organ is 
covered on each side by a membrane ; the lower and pectoral fins 
have sometimes a blue tinge. 
This fish is most remarkable by its general resemblance to a 
saurian reptile of the genus Scincus. It is often brought in all 
seasons to the Melbourne Market, where it is esteemed good 
for the table. It is found in clear quiet water, Avith a sandy 
bottom, and, according to the fishermen, it digs holes in the sand. 
The usual length is from eight to twelve inches ; the largest spe- 
cimen I have seen was a little under fourteen, and the smallest 
four inches and a quarter ; I found this entire in a small shark. 
Dr. Gunther unites the Australian sort with the one from the 
Cape of Good Hope, and also with another from Japan. To 
characterize tkis curious assemblage, he says {Catalogue, vol. vii., 
p. 374), “ from an examination of these specimens I have arrived 
at the conclusion, that this species varies considerably in the 
depth of the body, and especially that young examples, 
are constantly less elongate than the adult.” Having ex- 
amined several hundred specimens in Melbourne, I may add, 
that there is no variation whatever in the proportions of the Aus- 
