Australian Fish. 
403 
wards. Both species appear to have spots on the tail. 
The description of Cheilodactylus gibbosus is drawn up from 
two Western Australian specimens brought home by Mr. 
Gould; and the fish also inhabits the seas of New Zealand, 
Mr. Gray having recognised a drawing by Parkinson of a 
specimen which was caught in Endeavour River, on Cook’s 
second voyage, as being a correct representation of this fish. 
(Vide Banks, Icon. ined. t. 23.) One of Mr. Gould’s spe¬ 
cimens is deposited in the British Museum, and the other at 
Haslar Hospital. 
2. Ostkacion lenticularis, inermis f ovali-compressus , 
dor so ventreque carinatis . 
Radii. P. 12; D. 10; A. 10; C. 11. 
The discovery of this species adds another form to the genus 
Ost radon, the shapes enumerated in the ‘ Regne Animal’ beino* 
triangular with or without spines, quadrangular with or without 
spines,—and compressed with a keeled belly and scattered 
spines. In lenticularis we have a compressed form with a 
keeled back and belly and no spines. The compressed Ostra- 
cions with scattered spines have been characterised by Mr. 
Gray as a subgeneric group, under the name of Aracana, 
and several Van Diemens Land species were lately described to 
the Society by the author of the present paper. The Aracana 
Reevesii (Gray) from China differs from the Van Diemen’s 
Land species in having the back slightly keeled, and thus forms 
a transition to the form of lenticularis , in which the sides are 
convex, the back and belly acute, and the profile elliptical. 
Lenticularis , though unarmed, exhibits an analogy to the armed 
Aracana ?, in the umbones of the reticulated surface being largest 
where the spines would be situated, did they exist. The species 
is Australian, and the author expresses his obligations to Dr. 
Andrew Smith, of Fort Pitt, for the loan of two specimens of 
different ages. 
3. Anguilla australis. Van Diemen’s Land Eel. 
Anguilla australis, maxilla inferiore longiore , pinnd 
dorsi supra anum incipienti , rictu magno. 
This is a Port Arthur fresli-water species, for which the 
author expresses himself indebted to Mr. Lempriere. It differs 
from the common fresh-water eels of Europe in the more pos¬ 
terior origin of the dorsal, as well as in the more anterior position 
of the vent. The pectorals are lanceolate, the vertical fins are 
but moderately high, and the gape extends to the posterior 
margin of the orbit. 
4. Narcine Tasmaniensis, dorso dipterygio , corpore lath 
obovato; valvuld nasali obtush trilobatd integerrimd; pinnd 
ventrali disco pectorali approximatd . 
The author having but recently had an opportunity of con- 
d d 2 
