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Show 616 MR. J. D O U G L A S - O G I L B Y O N [Dec. 6, rayneri are the most common species, which frequently make havoc of the nets, thereby causing serious loss to the fishermen, not only by the damage to the nets but also by the loss of all the enclosed fish, which quickly find the rents made by the Sharks and escape through them. I am of course speaking of seine-nets, which are the only kind in general use here. Giinther's species is the half-grown fish, which does not go to the sea but remains in our bays and estuaries, and is therefore about a month earlier on the spawning-grounds, and consequently in the market, where it is called " Hard-gut Mullet." These fishes after spawning accompany the remnant of the older fishes to the sea, and return during the following equinox as " Sea-Mullet." 5. On a new Genus of Percidse. By J. DOUGLAS-OGILBY. (Communicated by F. D A Y , C L E . , F.Z.S.) [Received November 7, 1887.] C H T H A M A L O P T E R Y X , gen. nov. Branchiostegals six; pseudobranchiae present. Body oblong-ovate, compressed. Mouth protractile. Preorbitals with a blunt bony protuberance in front; preopercles entire. A band of small teeth in the jaws. One dorsal fin very slightly notched, the length of the soft portion greater than that of the spinous, having the formula r 9 T; anal T 3 y; caudal forked. Scales of moderate size, cycloid, deciduous. From the above diagnosis it is plain that this proposed genus is closely allied to Gerres; and it is in fact founded on a species which was described some years ago by Count Castelnau under the name of Gerres melbournensis, from specimens obtained probably in the Chthamalopteryx melbournensis. Melbourne fish-market. N o other examples seem to have been noticed, at least none have been recorded that I am aware of, since his time, but during the last eighteen months the Australian Museum |
