514 
DE. A. GtlNTHEE’S DESCRIPTION OE CEE AT ODES. 
only. Mr. E. S. Hill writes*, “ The fish Ceratodus forsteri is found in most of the rivers 
north of, and abundantly at Wide Bay ; the northern limit, so far as is yet known, is 
the Burdekin, and the southern the Mary river ; these fishes do not go higher than the 
brackish water, and at night leave the streams and go out among the reeds and rushes 
on the flats subject to tidal influence : this has been particularly observed on the banks 
of the Mary, where of a still night they may be distinctly heard. The aborigines catch 
many. Locally the Europeans call them ‘Flat-head.’ In the Fitzroy river, above 
Yarnba and the Falls, there is a fish known to the aborigines as ‘Barramundi’ of 
excellent quality, and attaining the size of twenty pounds ; it does not come down to 
the brackish or salt water” (June 30, 1870). The specimen sent to Professor Owen 
was accompanied by the following notesf : — “ The fish was captured at Gootchy, on a 
tributary of the Mary river, in freshwater about thirty miles inland. The common 
name ‘ Barramundy ’ given to the fish is applied to different fishes in different places.” 
Specimens G feet in length have been mentioned. The intestinal tract of two specimens 
was found by me crammed full of more or less masticated leaves of various plants, which 
my colleague, W. Carruthers, Esq., F.Ii.S., determined as fragments of various Myrtacece 
and Graminece. In both specimens they had lost the green colour entirely, being of a 
uniformly deep black, as if they had lain in water for some time, and were eaten when in 
a decomposing condition. The quantity of these vegetables contained in the intestine 
is enormous ; and there is no doubt that they constitute the principal food of the fish. 
Some fragments of small shells, which, Mr. Krefft informs me, have been found in 
the stomach, appear to have been swallowed accidentally with leaves. Whether a fish 
with such a diet “ will at certain seasons rise to a fly ” is a point requiring further obser- 
vation. Some remarks regarding the alleged amphibious habits of this fish are, perhaps, 
better reserved for the chapter on the organs of breathing (p. 541). Nothing is known 
about its propagation or development. 
External Parts . — Ceratodus forsteri and Ceratodus miolepis. 
With regard to the general habitus of the body (Plate XXX.), Ceratodus much 
resembles Lepido siren ; but it is less elongate, and the large scales of the body, joined 
with fin-like paddles and distinctly rayed vertical fins, give to it an appearance which 
approches more nearly to the ordinary fish-type than that of Lepidosiren. 
The head is broad and depressed, with the upper surface slightly convex and gently 
sloping towards the sides ; the snout rather short, spatulate, becoming narrower towards 
its extremity, which is truncate. The total length of the head (to the gill-opening) ex- 
ceeds considerably its greatest width ; and its depth is less than one half of its length. 
The upper surface, the jaws, and cheeks are covered with thick skin perforated by small 
pores, which, however, are not regularly arranged. The gill-cover and the throat behind 
the mandibles are covered with large scales, scarcely different in size from those of the 
* Note kindly communicated by Sir 1). Cooper, Bart. 
t Letter of Professor Alex. M. Thomson to Professor Owen, dated Sydney, Sept. 6, 1870. 
