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tinguislied. Eyes present (in native animals). 
External nasal aperture in the middle of the upper 
side of the head. The nasal duct terminates with- 
out perforating the palate. Seven hranchial sacs 
and apertures on each side behind the head. The 
inner hranchial ducts terminate in a separate com- 
mon tube. Intestines with a spiral valve. Eggs 
small, 'the larvee without teeth, and with a single 
continuous vertical fin. 
“ Inhabitants of the fresh waters and coasts of 
the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Suck 
themselves fast to other fish, and live by scraping 
ofiF their flesh.” 
I find the greatest difficulty in the determination of the Vic- 
torian fishes of this family ; there are two types, one of which 
has the second dorsal united with the caudal, and the other which 
has it separate ; but the most important character, the dentition, 
seems to be subject to the most extraordinary variations ; in fact, 
I cannot find it exactly similar in two specimens. The teeth 
have horny coverings, which are very apt to fall, and this changes 
entirely the appearance of the mouth. The one having the 
second dorsal separated from the caudal is a Geotria for Dr. 
Gunther. 
GEOTEIA. 
GEOTEIA AVSTEALIS? 
Geotria Australis? Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1851, Chondrop., 
p. 142, pi. 2. 
Tormed by Dr. Gray on a most singular Australian sort, 
but Dr. Gunther unites with it the genus Velasia, of the 
same author, from Chili, in which there is no trace of a 
pouch. The mouth is rounded, but rather angular, with 
the lateral lobes broad ; it is fringed all round. The 
maxillary lamina is formed of four teeth, the exterior of 
which are flat lobes, and the two interior ones, long, conical 
