PISCES. 
By A. ZIETZ, F.L.S., Assistant Director of tJie South Austi'alian 
Mu sen in , A del a ide. 
(Plate 1G.) 
In tlie following account seven species of fish are described, I’epresenting five 
genera. Five f)f them, I’epresenting four genera, are new to science. Professor 
Spencer has supplied me with the following information. All the .specimens, except 
those of Gohius ereniins, were caught in water-holes along the Finke River or its 
tributaries, such as the Ellery, Walker, and Palm Creek. None were seen in the 
water-holes along the southern side of the George Gill Range. In several instances, 
along the Finke and its branches, the fish were very numerous in the isolated watei’- 
holes, and as these were rapidly drying up they would all sooner or later perish, 
except in the deeper and more secluded pools amongst the ranges, from which they 
are periodically carried down in flood time. There is apparently no evidence of 
the adoption by any fish of a burrowing habit to enable it to tide over periods of 
drought. 
Of the new specie.s, four, viz., Nematocentris tatei, N. ivinneckei, Eleotris 
larapinta, and Chaicessiis horni, are characteristic of the Finke basin, and may be 
regarded as having become modified during the period in which they have been 
isolated by climatic conditions from their allies in other parts of the continent. 
One form, Gohius erentius, is as yet known only from the small water-pool 
which forms the overflow of tlie artesian spring at Coward Springs. Although it 
is known of some European species of Gobiidoe that they attach their spawn to 
stones, wood, etc., it has also been found floating on the surface of the water, and 
it is therefore possible that the eggs of the species in question have been bnmght 
here attached to the feet of the numerous birds which appear suddenly and fly 
from one water-hole to another during the rainy season. 
(1) Therapon trnttaceus, Macleay. 
Proe. Lin. Soc. N.S. Wales, 1880. Vol. V., p. 3GG. 
D. 12/10. A. 3/8. L. lat. 4G. L. transv. 9-10/18. 
The height of the body is about one-third of its length without the caudal fin; 
the length of the head is contained two and one-half times in the length of the 
