82 
MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 
much longer than those preceding it. Caudal fin deeply forked with subequal pointed 
lobes, the middle rays 2-5 to 2-6 in the upper lobe. Anal originating slightly in advance 
of and one fifth to one third longer than the soft dorsal, the last spine 1*85 to 1-92 in 
the first ray ; outer border obliquely truncated, the last ray but slightly produced. 
Pectoral as long as the head, the fourth ray longest, reaching to midway between the 
vent and the anal fin : upper free ray longest, reaching to the anal. Ventral 1 -67 to 
1*85 in the length of the head, reaching to beyond the vent. 
Gill-rakers 13 -f- 18, the longest 1-56 in the eye-diameter. 
Back and sides above the lateral line pale greenish yellow, sides and lower 
surface silvery. Snout golden brown ; a well marked black supraeiliary band ; opercles 
iridescent bluish silvery. Fins pale brown, the first dorsal densely, the others more 
sparsely powdered with black. 
Total length to 200 millim. 
Range : — From the coast of China to Torres Strait (Thursday Island). Not- 
withstanding the fact that the species has not been recognised from any part of the 
Malay States or Archipelago, nor indeed been recorded from the Chinese Seas or 
elsewhere since Gunther first described it more than half a century ago, I have no 
doubt as to the correctness of the identification, so far at least as Gunther’s meagre 
description (due as he himself tells us to 44 the specimen not being in very good 
condition, some parts being deformed by stuffing’’) goes.* The fishes recorded by de 
Vis as follows 44 Polynemus mulliradiatus , Gth., ascends the Brisbane River ” apper- 
tains to Polydactylus specularis de Vis, that gentleman having been probably misled 
by the increased number of dorsal and anal rays common to the two species. 
Described from two examples, measuring respectively 108 and 136 millim., 
collected at Thursday Island by Capt. Donald McDonald. Reg. No. in the Queensland 
Museum I. 13/1034. 
The following key to the genera of the Polynemidce may be usefully inserted here : — 
a. 1 Preopercle entire ; anal fin of about 30 rays, much longer than the 
second dorsal 
i. Polynemus. 
a. 2 Preopercle serrated ; anal fin of 1 1 to 1 7 rays, about as long as the 
second dorsal. 
6. 1 Vomer toothed. 
c. 1 Scales moderate ; free pectoral rays 3 to 9. 
d.*- Outer border of jaws rough ; pectoral rays simple ; no 
air-bladder . , .... 
ii. Eleutheronema. 
d. 2 Outer border of jaws smooth ; pectoral rays divided ; 
an air-bladder 
iii. Polydactylus. 
c. 2 Scales minute ; free pectoral rays 14 
iv. Polistonemus. 
b. 2 Vomer toothless 
v. Galeoides. 
* See Note on p. 91. 
