19U 
This little fish is very abundant at times in the Melbourne 
Market ; its length is about four inches. 
The specimens studied by the Trench ichthyologists were 
brought from Sydney by Quoy and G-aymard, and I find in Mr. 
G-erard Krefft’s very interesting “ Report on Australian Verte- 
brata,” (Intercolonial Exhibition, 1870), that at Sydney it bears 
the vernacular name of Sprat. 
Nota. — There is no doubt that this is the Meletta Novce-SoI- 
landcB of Cuvier and Valenciennes, but it is very doubtful if it is 
the Clvpea Novw-IIollandice of Dr. Gunther, as this very accu- 
rate author not only describes the insertion of the ventrals as 
being below the anterior half of the dorsal fin ; but also places 
it amongst the sorts having minute teeth on the palate. 
SYMBEANCHIDiE. 
“ Body elongate, naked or covered with minute 
scales ; barbels none. Margin of the upper jaw 
formed by the intermaxillaries only, the well- 
developed maxillaries lying behind and parallel to 
them. Paired fins none. Vertical fins rudimentary, 
reduced to more or less distinct cutaneous 
folds. Vent situated at a great distance behind the 
head. Gill-openings confluent into one slit, situated 
on the ventral surface. Air-bladder none. Stomach 
caeca! sac or pyloric appendages. Ovaries with 
oviducts. 
“ Fresh waters and coasts of tropical America 
and Asia. Coasts of Western Australia and Tas- 
mania.” 
Only represented in the Australia waters by CliiJohranchus 
Dor salis, Richardson ; which I have not seen. 
