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like hump it presents is the sign of old age, This is very pos- 
sible, as a similar fact is known to exist in Pagrus and others ; 
hut according to this my South African specimen, which weighed 
one hundred and fifty pounds, was an old adult ; and one caught 
off Western Port, in the beginning of September, weighing over 
four hundred, would only bo a young one, as there was no indice 
of this excrescence. This requires some explanation. 
The colour of the Australian fish was of a brownish red. 
Sub-Class II, DIPNOI, 
“Fishes with the skeleton partly cartilaginous, 
partly osseous; no occipital condyle. Bnlbus arte- 
riosus with two longitudinal valves; air-bladder 
double, lung-like, communicating by a duct and 
glottis with the haunal side of the aesophagus, with a 
pulmonary vein, A narrow gill-opening on each 
side, with a rudimentary gill-cover; some of the 
branchial arches -without gills ; gills free, membra- 
naceous. Nostrils double on each side. Intestine 
with a spiral valve. Optic nerves not decussating. 
Oviducts distinct. Ventral fins abdominal.” 
SIEENOIDEI. 
“Body eel-shaped, covered with cycloid scales 
Vertical fins a continuous border to the compressed 
tapering tail. Pectoral and ventral fins subulate, 
A single maxillary dental plate is opposed to a single 
mandibular one. Scapular arch attached to the occi- 
put. Vent not in the median line. No pseudo- 
branchi®. 
“ Fresh-water fishes of tropical Africa, America, 
and Australia.” 
