MAR^ D. ROGICK

35- -d 3/ Vr fi if

ROGICK COLLECTION

Itatural Pistor^ 4 Victoria.

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PRODROMUS

ZOOLOGY OF YICTORIA;

FIGUEES AND DESCEIPTIONS OP THE LIVING SPECIES OP ALL CLASSES

VICTORIAN INDIGENOUS ANIMALS.

VOLUME I.

(DECADES I. TO X.)

HONORARY MElfBER OF THE CAMBRIDGE POILOSOPHICAI, SOCIETY; HONORARY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE IMPERIAL SOCIETY

UF NATURALISTS OF MOSCOW; CORl^ESPO^JDING MEMBER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON;

HONORARY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES; HONORARY FELLOW OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

OF EDINBURGH ; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MANCHESTER,

ETC., ETC., ETC.

AUTHOR OF "synopsis OF THE CARBONIFEROUS LIMESTONE FOSSILS OF IRELAND;" "SYNOPSIS OF THE StLURIAN F0S3IL3 OF

IRELAND;" "CONTRIBUTIONS TO BltlTlSU PALJEONTOLOGT ; " ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF SEDGWICK AND McCOY'S

"BRITISH PALEOZOIC ROCKS AND FOSSILS ; " " PRODROMUS OF THE PAL,T^:ONTOLOGY OF VICTORIA," ETC.

PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE IN THE MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY.

GOVERNMENT PAL^ONTOLOGLST, AND DIBECTOR OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MELBOURNE, ETC

MELBOURNE :

BY AUTHORIXr : JOHN FERRES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER.

LONDON :

TRiJBNEU AND CO., 57 AND 59 LUDGATE UILL. M DCCC LXXXV.

MARY ^. ^nnirv

lA

ITatural iBtorij of tlktoriiu

PRODROMUS

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA;

FIGURES A.ND DESCRIPTIONS OP THE LIVING SPECIES OF ALL CLASSES

VICTORIAN INDIGENOUS ANIMALS.

deca.be X.

FREDERICK McCOY,

HONOnART FELLOW OF THE CAMBRIDGE FBILOSOPHlCiL SOCIETY ; CORRESPOKDINO MEMBER OP THE Z0OLOO1C4L

SOCIETY OP lONOON ; HONORARY MEMBER OP SEVERAL OTHER SCIESTIFIC SOCIETIES ETC

PROFESSOR OP NATURAL SCIEMCE IN THE MELBOrRNE ONIVEHSITY

LIHECTOR OF THB NATIONAL MDSEUM OF NATURAL OISTORT AND OEOLOOT OF MEIBOLKNE BTC

U

MELBOURNE :

BY AUTHORITY : JOHN FERRE8, GOVERNMENT PRINTER.

PUBLISHED BT GEORGE ROBERTSON, LITTLE COLLINS STREET.

LONDON : TRUBNER AND CO., 57 AND 59 LUDGATE HILL ; AND GEORGE ROBERTSON.

17 W.UtWICK SQUARE.

M DCCCLXXVIII.

gatural listorii of llktaria.

(4,1

PRODROMUS

ZOOLOGY OF YICTORIA;

FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LIVING SPECIES OF ALL CLASSES

VICTORIAN INDIGENOUS ANIMALS.

DBCADE Z.

FREDERICK: IMcCOY,

HONORART FELLOW OF THE CAMBRIDGE PBILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY ; CORRESPONDING MESTBER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL

SOCIETY OF LONDON; HONORARY ME5IBER OF SEVERAL OTHER SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, ETC.

PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE IN THE StELBOURNE UNIVERSITY.

DIBECTOR OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTOEY AND GEOLOGY OF MELBOURNE, ETC.

MELBOURNE :

BT AUTHORITY : JOHN FEKEES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER. PUBLISHED BY GEORGE ROBERTSON, LITTLE COLLINS STREET.

LONDON : TRUBNER AND CO., 57 AND 59 LUDGATE HILL ; AND GEORGE ROBERTSON, 17 WARWICK SQUARE.

USCCCLUCTUI.

u'yr

PEEFACE.

It having been considered desirable to ascertain accurately the natural productions of the Colony of Victoria, and to publish works descrijDtive of them, on the plan of those issued by the Governments of the different States of America, investigations were undertaken, by order of the Victorian Government, to determine the Geology, Botany, and Zoology of the colony, to form collections illustrative of each for the public use, and to make the necessary preparations for such s3-stematic publications on the subject as might be useful and interesting to the general public, and conti'ibute to the advancement of science.

As the geological and botanical investigations have abeady approached completion, and their publication is far advanced, it has been decided to now commence the publication of the thii'd branch completing the subject, namely, that of the Zoology or indigenous members of the different classes of the animal kingdom.

As the Fauna is not so well known as the Flora, it was a necessary preliminary to the publication to have a large number of ch'amugs made, as opportunity arose, from the living or fi'esh examples of many species of reptiles, fish, and the lower animals, which lose their natural appeai-ance shortly after death, and the true characters of many of which were consequently as yet unknown, as they had only been described fi'om preserved specimens. A Proch'omus, or preliminary issue, in the form of Decades or numbers of ten plates, each with its complete descriptive letterpress, will be pubHshed, of such illustrations as are ready, without systematic order or waiting for the completion of any one branch. The many good observers in the country will thus have the means of accurately identifying

[ 3 ]

PREFACE.

various natural objects, tlieir observations ou which, if recorded aud sent to the National Museum, where the originals of all the figures and descriptions are preserved, will be duly acknowledged, aud will materially help in the preparation of the final systematic volume to be published for each class when it approaches completion.

This first Decade gives figures and descriptions in the first three plates of three of the most dangerous of our poisonous snakes, which it is of much interest and importance for observers to be able to identify exactly when reporting the effects of their bites, or of the medical treatment, which, to be profitably discussed, must be based on an accurate determination of the species of snake referred to. The three next plates illustrate the living charactei'istics of some of our native fish. The seventh plate represents the new gigantic earthworm, five or six feet long, so abundant in the rich soils of Brandy Creek. The eighth plate is devoted to three species of day -moth, or Agarisfa, with their transformations, of which that so seriously destructive to our vineyards is discriminated from the harmless sorts, so that efforts for destruction of the one may not be wasted on the others. The last two plates show the cha- racter and metamorphosis of two species of diurnal Lepidopfera.

The succeeding Decades will illustrate as many different genera as possible, and will deal first usually with species of some special interest, and of which good figures do not exist, or are not easily accessible.

Frederick McCoy. 24th June 1878.

[ 4 ]

PI1

ZOOLOGY OF VICTO Rl A .

A. Utrrflwlcniei*: del, £. Odks UtK.

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J. M Ferguson.,

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Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Reptiles.

Plate 1.

PSEUDECHYS PORPHYRIACUS (Shaw sp.).

The Black Snake.

[Genus PSEUDECHYS (Waglee). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Reptilia. Order Ophidia. Fam. Elapida;.)

Gen. Char. — Body and tail moderately elongate, gradually tapering. Head subquadrate, flattened above and at the sides, obtusely rounded in front, little wider than the neck behind ; no loreal plate ; one anterior ocular plate forms the front margin of the orbit, and two posterior oculars its hind edge ; two nasal plates with the nostril between them ; scales of the back flat, smooth, in about 17 rows ; anal plate double, a variable number of the anterior subcaudal plates in one row, behind which they form two rows. Confined to Australia.]

Description. — Scales of back in 17 rows; abdominal plates about 180 ; sing-le row of anterior subcaudals about 12, posterior ones in two rows of about 40 each ; color of head, back, and tail, purplish-black or dark-slate color ; the lateral row of body scales on each side and the abdominal plates rich carmine-lake red, with hind tips and edg'es blackish ; the under side of head and the under side of the tail lighter than the back. Length of body about 5 feet, tail about 6 inches, head or gape about 1 inch.

Reference. — Coluber porphyriacus (Shaw), Gen. Zool. v. 3, t. 110. Pseu- dechys id. Wagler Syst. Amphib. p. 171.

This is the most beautiful of all the Victorian snakes, and one of the most deadly in the effects of its bite. It is, however, for- tunately much rarer in Victoria than in the warmer more northern colonies of Australia ; and although not uncommon near the northern Murray boundary it is seldom found in the cooler southern districts, and is not known at all in Tasmania. The only locality near INIelliourne where it is not very uncommon is Studley Park, where in the bend of the Yarra the specimen here figm-ed and some others I have seen were killed.

Like the other genera of the family Elapidce., the poison-fang in Pseudechys is grooved on the front face for the duct of the poison gland, which opens near the point, and, as in the family generally, there are a few small harmless solid teeth behind the fang in the upper jaw, besides two rows on the palate, and the usual row of small hooked solid teeth on the lower jaws. The anterior series of subcaudal scales being in one row, and the posterior ones in two roMS, is a character readily separatmg the

[ 5]

Zoology.']

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

{Ileptihs,

genus from the allied forms. There are only two species known, the present black and red one, and a brown one, the specific distinction of which is doubted by some observers.

Some fatal cases of suake-bite in man from this species ai'e known, and a large-sized dog will usually die in an hour from the effects of its bite.

When irritated it can flatten and widen the neck by raising some of the anterior ribs.

To show the variations in the nimibers of the scales, &c., the following examples from specimens in the National IMuseum are given, indicating the extreme A^ariations, from 7 to IG, particularly of the single row of subcaiidal plates, and the constancy of the rows of scales across the middle of the back.

	Entire Lengtb.			Subcandal Plates.	Abdomi- nal.	Rows of Scales across—
	Tail.	Gape.	Neck. Middle.	Base of Tail.
1. Large specimen figured	ft. in. 4 9\	in. 6i	in. It's	"i	182	21	17	17
2.	4 9i	8	ll^	16i	185	21	17	17
3. Small specimen	1 0	2	ft	14^{	182	21	17	17
4.	2 If	a	f	'%	185	21	17	17

The Black Snake may be said to be rare in Victoria, except near the northern boundary. The chief food of this species is formed of frogs, lizards, mice, and other small mammals. It retii'es into holes in the ground during the winter months, from May, until the warmth of spring brings it forth again. The young are colored like the adult, and are usually about 16 or 18 in mmiber.

EXPLAN.ITION OF FlGUKES.

Plate 1. — Fig. 1, large specimen one-half natural size. Fig. la. under side of tail of same specimen to show the double anal plate, the anterior subcandal plates in one row, and the posterior ones in two rows, two-third.s the natural size. Fig. 2, side view of head of another specimen, showing the rostral pl.ate, nasal plates, anterior ocular jilatc, two posterior ocular plates, superciliary plate, and upper and lower labial plates, one-third larger than nature. Fig. 2a, front view of same specimen, showing the form of top of the head and rostral plate, one-third larger tluin nature. Fig. 24, inner view of palate of same specimen, showing the two poison-fangs, with the three small solid teetli behind each, on each side, and the two long rows of small solid teeth pointing baclcwards on the palate, one-third larger than nature. Fig. 2c, same specimen seen from above, showing the form and proportions of the rostral plate, anterior pair of frontal plates, posterior pair of frontal plates, two superciliary plates, pair of occipital plates, and the vertex plate, one-third larger than nature. Fig. 2(/, same specimen seen from below, showing the chin plates, one-third larger than nature.

[6]

Frederick McCoy.

n 2

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA.

A- BardwUmutw. tUl.

PraC M^ I ri- airrj:-

I'Selwn&Ld. Uth.

Zoohgij.']

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

[Reptiles.

Plate 2.

HOPLOCEPHALUS SUPEPtBUS (Gunth.).

The Copper-head Snake.

[Genus HOPLOCEPHALUS (Cuv.) (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Reptilia. Order Ophidia. Fam. Elapida;.)

Gen. Char. — Body and tail moderately thick, gradually tapering. Head subquadrate, depressed, rounded in front ; rostral plate moderate ; no loreal plate -, one anterior and two posterior ocular plates ; one nasal plate pierced by the nostril. Scales of back smooth, about 15 to 21 rows ; anal and subcaudal plates entire, in one row. Confined to Australia.]

Description. — Vertex plate hexagonal, about twice as long as broad. Fifteen rows of dorsal scales across the middle of the back; ventral plates, 147 to 157; sub- caudal plates, 41 to 50 (about) ; color of back varying from a dark-brown to light reddish-brown, or nearly black, the tip of each scale blackish ; top of head of a dark copper blackish bronze, with two diverging darker extensions forming a V-shaped black patch on neck ; outer row of scales on each side, with a conspicuous white patch on anterior half of each, the tip being blackish ; one or two next outer lateral rows of scales light brick-red for about one-third of their length, the anterior part being lighter and the tip of each blackish. Under side very pale yellowish-olive in front, becoming dark-grey or blackish on middle and tail; hind edge of ventral plates dark-grey and sometimes with a slight reddish line ; plates of sides of the head closely freckled with olive-brown, but each with a conspicuous narrow white anterior margin.

Reference. — (Giinther) Cat. Colub. Snakes, p. 217.

To show the constancy of the number of rows of scales across the middle of the back, and the variation of the venti'al and sub- caudal plates, I subjoin particulars of five specimens in the National Museum : —

	Humber of Rows of Back.	Scales on	Plates.	Total.
	Neck.	Middle.	Base of TaU.	Ventral.	Sub- caudal.	Length.	Tail.	Gape.
						ft. in.	in.	in.
1 specimen	13	15	13	147	41	2 5	H	4
2	17	15	13	154	44	3 4	H	ll^
3	15	15	13	154	49	2 0	H	1t^
4	17	15	13	157	50	3 0	H	f
5	17	15	13	152	47	3 8	eh

[7]

Zoohgy.1 NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Reptiks.

This species was long supposed to be confined to Tasmania, where it is very abundant ; and ray first announcement* of its occuri'ence on the mainland near Melbourne was supposed by sub- sequent wi'iters on the subject in New South Wales and London to be eiToneous ; these writers, however, now (without referring to their former criticisms) quote it as an undoubted Victorian species. In point of fact, it is very comiiion about Prahran, Elsternwick, and other south-eastern suburlis of Melbourne, but its range seems very restricted, specimens not having yet been recorded from the north or western parts of the colony. The numerous young are brought forth in December and January.

The blackish examjiles, especially if the reddish color of the side scales and edges of ventrals is distinct, are frequently mistaken for the Black Snake ; but the scales on the under side of the tail Ijeing only in a single row throughout, and there being one instead of two nasal plates, easily distinguish them.

A laro-e number of the dangerous cases of snake-bites near Melbourne are due to this species, which for its size is extremely venomous. One remarkal^le case excited much attention a few years ago, when a station-master named Brown, on the Hobson's Bay Railway at Elsternwick, was bitten l)y a small inchvidual of this species, which some workmen imagined they had killed, and after carrying it some distance hanging across a stick, threw it upon the platfonn, when Brown, taking it up, received a small wound in the finger, and shortly showed the usual symptoms of fatal snake- poisoning. In spite of the ordinary remedies, of excision of the bitten part, rubbing ammonia on the wound, ligatures, and sucking the wound, doses of brandy, galvanism, and being walked about by assistants, he was so completely at the point of death that the two surgeons attending him gave him up, his sight being gone, his lower extremities completely paralysed, having dilated pupils, swollen neck and face, and coma, from which he could not be roused. The medical attendants, explaining to his friends that they could do no more, and that his death might be looked for in a few minutes, proposed to try what was then considered the dangerous remedy

* " Recent Zoology and Palasontology of Victoria," International Exliibition Essays, Mel- bourne, 1866-7.

[8 ]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Reptiles.

of injecting strong liquor of ammonia into a vein, as advocated by Professor Halford. On this being done by Dr. Halford, wlio was sent for, to the astonishment of all present, the man instantly re- covered consciousness, the pupils of his eyes contracted, and, sitting up, he recognised his wife and child and friends, and asked some questions aliout domestic matters, after having been cold, incapable of seeing, hearing, spealdng, or moving, and almost pulseless for hours. He soon recovered, and remained on daily duty until lately.* I have adopted the popular name "copper-head" for this snake fi'om a well-known vendor of a supposed antidote for snake-bites, who used to go about the streets with several specimens of this species in the bosom of his shirt, protruding now and then around his neck. On the evening of the last day on which I saw this, he was induced to cause one of them to bite him, to show the value of his antidote, and was dead in a few hours. The color of the head is like that of an old dark copper coin. In Tasmania the name "Diamond Snake" is unfortunately given to this species, for that name properly belongs to a perfectly harmless snake of New South Wales, so that the numerous experiments made in former years in Tasmania to test the value of some pretended antidote, were supposed in London to have been made with the true harmless Diamond Snake, instead of, as was the case, Tvith this very poisonous kind.

Explanation op Figuees.

Plate 2. — Fig. I, rather light-colored specimen, two-thirds natural size. Fig. la, head of same specimen, natural size, viewed from above, showing the length and form of the vertex plate, with other plates of the head and the form of the V-shaped dark mark on back of neck, natural size. Fig. lb, head of same specimen viewed from below, showing the chin plates and lower labials, natural size. Fig. le, side view of portion of same specimen, natural size. Fig, Id, interior of palate of same specimen, natural size, showing the rostral and labial plates, the two long rows of smaU solid teeth on palate, the two poison fangs, and three smaller solid teeth after an interval bcMnd each. Fig. le, portion of underside of same specimen, natural size, showing the last ventral plates, the first subcaudals, and the anal plate. Fig. 2, portion of tail of another specimen, natural size, showing an odd intercalated plate on one side. Fig. 3, head of another specimen, natural size, showing the vertex plate more acutely pointed in front than usual. Fig. 3a, side view of same specimen, showing the single nasal plate pierced by the nostril. Fig. 4, plates of upper part of head, one-third larger than nature, to show the elongate narrow usual form of the vertex plate. Fig. 5, side view of rather pale reddish specimen, natural size.

Frederick McCoy.

* Some account of this and forty other cases of similarly treated snake-bites will be found in the Australian Medical Journal for March 1875.

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ZOOLOGY OF VICTORU

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Zoologii.1 NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [lieptite/:.

Plate 3.

HOPLOCEPHALUS CURTUS (Schlegel sp.). The Tiger Snake.

[Genus HOPLOCEPHALUS (Cuv.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Reptilia. Order Ophidia. Fam. Elapidse.)

Gen. Char. — Body and tail moderately thick, gradually tapering. Head subquadrate, de- pressed, rounded iu front. Eostral plate moderate ; no loreal plate ; one anterior and two posterior ocular plates ; one nasal plate pierced by the nostril. Scales of back smooth, about 15 to 21 rows. Anal and subcaudal plates entire, in one row. Confined to Australia.]

Description. — Usually 19 (rarely 17 or 18) rows of scales on middle of body; body varying fi-om brownish-olive to light yellowish-browu above, with about 38 to 50 darker brown dusky undefined transverse bands, about 2 (or rarely 3 or 4) scales broad, with a rather narrower interval between them. Head darker olive bronze ; chin plates freckled with bright blue ; throat and belly varying from rich king's- yellow to pale straw-yellow ; the edges of the ventral plates lightly freckled with grey in the anterior part of the body, the grey almost excluding the yellow and whitish on the subcaudals and posterior part of belly. In some specimens the yellow is almost whitish or cream color, and the grey mottling becomes almost black towards under side of tail. Vertex head-plate sub-pentagonal, varying from one- fifth to one-fourth longer than wide. The belly is flat, and the back obtusely angulated, most so towards base of tail ; tail conic.

A large specimen from the junction of the Murray and Darling, with total length from snout to tip of tail of 3 feet \ inch ; length of gape, 1 inch ; tail, SJ inches ; has 15 rows of scales at back of neck, 17 at middle, and 14 near base of tail ; the subcaudals, 46 ; ventrals, 168 ; and about 50 bands. A small specimen from same place — Total length, 131 inches; tail, 2\ inches; has 15 rows of scales at neck, 17 at middle, and 13 at base of tail ; subcaudals, 54; ventrals, 168; and 50 bands. Small specimen from same place — Length from tip to tip, 1 foot Z\ inches ; tail, 2\ inches ; gape, | inch ; has 17 rows of scales at neck, 19 at middle, and 15 at base of tail ; its bands are as wide as the length of 2\ scales ; ventral scales, 168 ; subcaudals, 50. One moderate sized (the figured) specimen from Prahran, measuring from tip to tip 32 inches; tail, 5 inches ; has 17 rows of scales at neck, 19 in the middle, 13 near base of tail, and 49 subcaudals. A very large specimen from jimction of Murray and Darling — 4 feet 2 inches ; tail, 4g; inches ; has 4 small teeth behind each fang ; vertex plate one-fourth longer than wide, more numerous bands becoming obsolete towards the tail ; 15 rows of scales on neck, 17

[ n ]

Zoology.']

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

[Reptiles.

in middle of body, 169 veutrals, aud 36 subeaiulals. The details of four other specimeus are here tabulated to show observed variations : —

	No. of Kows of Scales on Back.
		Ventral Plates.	Suti- caudals.	Total Leugth.	Tail.
	Neck.	MiMlc. ''»^,1,»'
						ft. in.	In.	in.
1	17	19	15	169	48	3 6	64	n
2	16	19	15	173	48	3 0	54
3	17	18	13	168	47*	2 44
4	18	19	14	178	50	2 5	44
5	18	19	13	169	48	2 8	5

* Two imperfectly developed, one between scales 20 and 21 ; the other between 25 and 26.

Reference. — Naja curta (Schlegel), Essai sur la Physionomie des Serpens, p. 486. Abbildung, t. 48, f. 19, 20.

This species, which goes under the colonial name in Victoria of Tiger Snake from its tawny cross-banded coloring, and ferocity, is well-known to frequently inflict bites i-apidly fatal to men and dogs, and is extremely vicious in disposition, reminding us strongly of its near ally, the Cobra di capello of India, like which it flattens and extends the skin of the side of the neck laterally when irritated, to twice its width when quiet ; the black stretched skin being then very visible between the separated scales. It is common, especially in marshy places and near river-banks abont Melbourne, and in most parts of the colony, as well as extending far beyond it to the wann north, and just as abundantly to the cool south in Tasmania.

The bands vary very much in distinctness, and are often very obscure towards the head and tail ; in some specimens they are rendered very conspicuous by an extension of some of the yellow- ish color of the belly on to two or three rows of the lateral scales between the ends of the bands. The blue on the chin is rai'ely seen, and soon disapjiears in specmiens in spirit, exhibiting it when alive. As in all snakes, the colors are most vivid just after ca.sting the skin, and are darker and the markings less distinct before it. The fangs are single or doul)le, small, under the junction of the second and third labial plates ; one or two (rarely four) smaller teeth under the anterior part of the fourth labial jjlate. Iris orange ; the pupil seems circular, and not vertically elongate, as Schlegel states in his " Essai sur la Pltysionomie des Serpetis"

'[12]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Reptiles.

In Tasmania this is popularl}' called " Carpet Snake," a name ■oliicli properly belongs to the harmless snake so called on the mainland. In this case, as with the H. superbiis, the Tasmanian experunents on the treatment of bites fi-om this highly poisonous species were unintelligible in Europe from the misuse of the estab- lished popular name of a different and innocuous form.

The greater number of cases of fatal snake-bites to men and dogs near INIelbourue, and most of the experiments by Professor Halford and others to test the power of the poison, and the efficacy of the injection of ammonia into the blood, and other modes of treatment, refer to this species, which is by far the most abundant of all the dangerous snakes of the colony. In Dr. Halford's ex- periments at the University of Melbourne, of 31 dogs bitten by captive Tiger Snakes, 27 died and 4 recovered ; the deaths occurring, on the average, in 2 hoiu'S 2 minutes. Deputy-Inspector- General Macbeth, causing in India 29 dogs to be bitten by Cobras, found they aU died, on the average, in 2 hours 42 minutes, showing that, contraiy to the expressed opinion of many Indian practitioners, the Australian Tiger Snake bite is more rapidly fatal than that of the Cobra. Dr. McCrae, the Chief Medical Officer of Victoria, caused 14 dogs to be bitten by this species of snake, and none recovered. No remedies were used in any of these three sets of cases. The nimiber of deaths of human beings in the colony fi-om snake-bite in the yeai' is very small ; but some of the cases given in the Austra- lian Medical Journal for March 1875 are interesting from the bites being publicly given in Melbourne, and the precise times noted both of the bite and the death of the man. One, a police magistrate, bitten on the arm by a Tiger Snake, died in 24 hours ; a man named Undei'wood, a well-known vendor of a supposed antidote, was bitten in public by one of this species, and was dead within an hour ; another man named Cartwright, exhibiting some of these snakes, was bitten and also died within an hour. Dr. Casey, of Brighton, reported a case in which the man died within half an hour of the bite ; and a man named Griffiths, handling some of these snakes as an exhi1)ition at the Port Phillip Club Hotel, was bitten by a Tiger Snake, and died in less than half an hour. The symptoms seem to be much alike in all cases of snake-bite, viz. : — At first

[ 13]

Zoology.} NATURAL HISTORY OP VICTORIA. [Reptiles.

faiiituess and often slight convulsions, then sickness of the stomach (prohaljlj a reflex action from the brain), with trembling and weak- ness in the limbs ; the pupils of. the eyes dilated, a tendency to sleep, and then total paralysis and coma immediately preceding death.

The young of the Tiger Snake are about thirty in number, like the adult in all resj^ects, and brought forth in January. The gene- ral food of the Tiger Snake is composed of frogs, hzards, and mice, &c. On one occasion, however, I put a live mouse into a box in which I had a Tiger Snake, to feed it, and was astonished to find next morning that the mouse had killed the snake by biting the back of its neck, and had eaten some of its flesh. Keeping some of these snakes together in a box, I frequently noticed them bite each other viciously when stirred up, without the poison-fangs pro- ducing any ill effect.

Explanation of Piguees.

Plate 3.— Fig. 1, view of entire of average specimen, half the natural size. Pig. la, he,id of s.ame specimen viewed from above when the neck is flattened out, while irritated and preparing to bite, the jet-black skin visible between the separated scales ; showing also the wide nearly pentagonal vertex plate, sub-truncate in front and nearly as wide as long. Fig. lb, under side of same specimen, showing the blue freckling and form of the chin plates. Fig. le, view from above of same specimen when not irritated, the neck being of the usual undisturbed width, and the scales in contact with each other, so as to hide the black skin exposed in Fig. la. Fig. Irf, side view of same specimen, showing the single nasal plate pierced in the middle by the nostril, the anterior ocular, and the two posterior ocular plates, and the large upper and lower Labial plates. Fig. le, under side of tail, showing the single row of undivided subcaudal plates, the anal plate, and a few of the posterior ventral plates, with the bluish-grey freckled coloring of these parts. Fig. \f, side view of portion of same specimen from the middle of the length, natural size, showing the coloring and bands above and the yellow of the under side. Fig. If;, interior of palate, twice the natural size, showing the two long rows of numerous small solid teeth on the palate ; the one large poison-fang on the one side and two on the other, together with the single smaller solid tooth on each side behind the poison fangs at an interval of the width of one labial plate. Fig. \h, side view of termination of tail of same specimen.

Frederick McCoy.

[ 14 ]

M. 4

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA.

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Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IFhhes.

Plate 4.

CHRYSOPHRYS AUSTRALIS (Gtoth.).

The Australian Bream.

[Genus CHRYSOPHRYS (Cuv.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Acanthop- terygia. Fam. Sparidae.)

Gen. Char. — Four or six conical teeth in front edge of the mouth, and three or more rows of rounded, nearly hemisplierical, crusliing teeth in upper and lower jaws. Cheeks scaly. The dorsal fin with .about eleven or twelve spines, fitting into a deep channel along the insertion of their bases. Anal fin, with the three anterior rays spinous, very strong. Scales moderately large. Six br.anchyostegal rays. Air-bladder usually notched or lobed. Extends from Atlantic coast of America to Europe and Africa, the Indian Ocean and Pacific]

Description. — Fin-rays: dorsal, 11 spinous, fourth longest, and 11 branched, the two last united at base ; anal, 3 spinous, first very short, second longest, and 9 branched (two last united at base) ; ventral, 1 spinous, 5 branched ; pectoral, 14; caudal, 18. Scales: lateral line, 55 to 58, 5 rows above and 17 below the lateral line ; 5 rows of scales on cheek to angle of preoperculum, 6 rows to angle of operculum from edge of preoperculum. Proportions : body ovate, compressed ; head small, profile arching gradually from origin of dorsals to tip of snout with slight convexity, and tapering from same vertical of greatest depth gi-adually to the tail ; usual length (of specimen from Gippsland), 12^ inches to end of caudal fin ; greatest depth at base of fourth dorsal fin-ray, 4-^ inches; thickness, 1| inches; length of head, 3 inches 1 line ; diameter of eye 8 lines (about 4| in length of head) ; greatest height of dorsal fin, at fourth spine, 1 inch 4 hnes, equal to length from anterior edge of orbit to end of snout ; length of third spine, 1 inch 3 lines ; length of second, 10 lines; of first, 5 lines ; length of pectoral fin, 3 inches 11 lines; first anal spine, 3 lines ; second longest, equalling the fourth dorsal. Teeth : there are 6 large conical teeth projecting in front of the upper jaw, and 6 slightly smaller below ; the outer lateral row above and below more conical than the inner rows, which are hemispherical, about 3 rows below and about 4 rows above, the inner and posterior teeth largest below, the third row largest above. Color : the scales of the cheeks, back, and sides, are each minutely dotted with black points on a changing ground of beautifully lustrous green and gold bronze, with occasional bright-blue and copper-red reflections fading into purple, the reddish and blue being predominantly on the cheeks, and the purple on the top of the head ; the scales of the belly are of a yellowish pearly -white; there are faint longitudinal streaks of purple or gold, darker or brighter according to the light, extending from head to tail through about the middle third of each scale of the longitudinal lateral rows ; dorsal fin yellowish behind, the membrane clouded and freckled with purplish, the margin darker, the spines minutely dotted with brown ; anal fin yellowish behind, anterior two-thirds purplish-grey clouded with dark ; ventral fins, raj's yellowish, minutely freckled with darker, membrane nearly colorless ; pectoral tin, rays brownish, membrane nearly colorless ; caudal fin, yellowish-olive, with a blackish terminal margin ; iris of a gold bronze, with a narrow orange line, and freckled with minute black dots.

Reference. — Giinther, Cat. Acanthop. Fishes, vol, 1, p. 494.

[15]

Zoology.} NATURAI, HISTOEY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes.

The " Bi'eam " of colonists is the chief sport of amateur fisher- men, who catch great quantities by rod and line in the brackish water of the mouths of the rivers and creeks, and sea entrances to the Gippsland Lakes, which they enter dm-iug the summer mouths, spawning there about November and December. They go down to the sea again about the end of June, when the cold weather comes on, and may be caught in the sea, conmionly about the ends of the piers, with rod and line during the ■o'inter months. The bait is usually small fish, or small shrimps or worms. The fish is moderately good for the table, except at spawning time, when the flesh becomes flabby, and the colors dull. The weight rarely exceeds 6 lbs., and is usually much less. The largest specimen I have seen, now in the Museum, is ITj- inches long, but diff'ers in nothing from the above described example in projjortion, or nvun- bers of fin-rays and scales. It is from the Morchalloc Creek. Young specimens, 4^ inches long, from Hobson's Bay, agree exactly in the number and disposition of the scales and fin-rays with the largest.

The species has not been figured before.

Explanation op Figukes.

Plate 4. — Fig. 1, average specimen, natural size. Fig. la, inner view of upper surface of mouth, showing the rows of rounded crushing teeth on the sides, and 6 pointed teeth in front. Fig. 16, inner view of lower jaws and tongue, showing 6 pointed conical teeth in front, and the rows of rounded crushing teeth on each jaw, with the clusters of minute intervening ones beliind the prominent anterior teeth. Fig. \c, form of section of tail. Fig. Irf, form of section from below third dorsal ray. Fig. le, ordinary scale above lateral line, three times larger than nature. Fig. 1/, scale of lateral line, three times larger than nature.

Frederick McCoy.

[16]

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA

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Zoology.^ NATURAL HISTOEY OF \^CTORIA. [Fishes.

Plate 5. LEPIDOTRIGLA VANESSA (Rich.). The Spiny-sided Butterfly-Guenaed.

[Genus LEPIDOTEIGLA (GBnth.) (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Acanthopterygia. Fam. Triglidse.)

Gen. Char. — Head subrbomboidal, with the top and sides bony, covered with graniUar ridges ; scales of body moderately large (much larger than in Triijla) ; anterior dors.al fin much shorter than posterior dorsal ; three long slender pectoral filaments ; teeth villiform in numerous rows on both jaws and a few ou the vomer, none on the palate bones ; air-bladder bilobed in front.]

Description. — Fin-roys: dorsals, anterior 10, posteriori?; anal, 15 or 17; ventral, 6 ; pectoral, 10 ; caudal, 29. All the rays of the first dorsal and the first four of the second dorsal simple ; all the rays of the anal simple except the penulti- mate one ; 3 lower rays of the pectoral simple ; first ray of ventrals simple. Scales : 5 rows above and 17 to 22 rows below the lateral line, finely serrated at posterior edge ; those of lateral line 71, larger than the others and each with one or two large compressed spines ; the posterior end of the lateral line branches into two ridges, with about 17 pores on each, running one along the second ray above the middle, and the other along the ray next below the middle. A row of 10 small and about 20 larger spines extends on each side at base from second ray of the first dorsal to the last ray of second dorsal. Head with profile concave, snout short, suborbital angles only slightly produced beyond a right angle, with 3 or 4 short spines on each side of the one at the angle, which is half a line long; eye large, diameter two-fifths the depth of the head ; head, from snout to tip of opercular spine, one-fourth the total length to upper end of caudal ; depth of head vertically under middle of eye equal to length from tip of snout to same vertical line ; anterior frontals forming upper anterior quarter of orbits serrated, two of the teeth larger than the others ; no spine behind the eye ; suprascapular spine, opercular spine, and coracoid spine about 1 line long ; space between the orbits very deeply concave, equal to diameter of eye. Third ray of first dorsal longest, five-sixths the depth of body at its base ; fifth (or first branched) ray of second dorsal longest, and equal to the fifth ray of first dorsal ; pectoral reaching to seventh ray of anal, or second of dorsal ; eighth ray of anal longest and equal to seventh of first dorsal. Colors : head, back, and upper portion of sides pale dull brick-red, clouded with irregular large darker patches, the darkest of which is on upper base of tail ; dorsal fins very pale-brownish, with a reddish tint above ; a large rounded blackish spot with an indistinct whitish border extends from the fifth to the seventh ray of the first dorsal, nearer to the upper than the lower ends of the rays ; caudal whitish at end margin, red at base, and red rays and purplish membranes at middle ; anal and ventral fins opaqiie whitish or nearly colorless towards the base and pale reddish towards margin ; pectoral filaments pinkish-white, slightly chequered with brownish near base ; pectoral fins with two or three large black blotches near end of first to third rays on under edge of inner side, the membrane between the rays didl greenish-yellow, with a broad border of intense bright ultramarine blue and numerous irregularly scattered oblong spots of the same color between the rays ; outer side of pectorals brownish-pink ; chin, throat, and -Dec. I. [ 17 ] c

Zoology.1 NATXJRAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. iFishes.

belly pure white ; iris yellow and black, mottled with green. I'eeth : a small group of 5 small teeth on anterior end of vomer ; about 9 longitudinal rows of minute villiform teeth on each side of upper jaw, about 5 rows in lower jaw.

The transverse section of the body shows a deep wide channel along the back, in which the dorsal fins are set, the bounding ridges set with small spines, the sides with a nearly straight slope to the lateral line, which is made prominent by an obtuse angulation, set with the spiny scales, fi'oin which the sides and belly are broadly rounded. Plates of the head marked with fine radiating granulated ridges. Opercular spine short. Length, 9 inches 3 lines ; depth, 1 inch 7 lines ; diameter of eye, 7 lines ; length of head, 2 inches 6 lines ; pectoral fin, 2 inches 11 liaes.

Reference. — Rich. Trans. Zool. Soc, v. 3, t. 5, f. 1.

The comparatively large size of the scales separates the species of Lepidotrigla at a glance from the true Triglce^ and this character, together with the black blotch on the first dorsal and bright-blue border and spotting of the inner side of the pectorals, easily distin- guish the present fish from the other somewhat similar gurnards found in Australian seas. The only specimens I have seen of this beautiful fish were caught in Hobson's Bay in the month of August in difffereut years. It inhabits deep water and feeds on small shells and Crustacea. Like most of the gurnards, it groans or makes a grunting noise when taken out of the water until it dies.

The beautiful coloring of this fish iu the fresh state has not been represented before.

Explanation of Figuees.

Plate 5. — Fig. I, side view, eleven-twelfths of the natural size. The pectoral fin in the figure is twisted, to show the beautiful coloring of the inner side, so that the ventral or lower simple rays appear on the upper edge. Fig. la, head viewed from above, one-twelfth less than the natural size, showing form of anterior end of snout, composed of the spinous ends of the two suborbital bones, and the scapular opercular and preopercular spines. Fig. li, inside upper view of mouth, showing the small central group of few teeth on anterior end of vomer and the numerous rows of niiuute villiform teeth on each side of jaw, enlarged one-half more than natural size. Fig. Ic, inside view of lower jaw and tongue, showing the fewer rows of teeth on lower jaw, one-half Larger than nature. Fig. \d, one of the terminal poi'ous branches of the caudal extension of the lateral line, highly magnified. Fig. \e, scale from lateral line, showing the large median and two smaller vertical pores and the projecting spine, maguifled three times larger than nature. Fig. I/, ordinary scale from a little below the lateral line, showing the serration of the posterior margin, three times larger than nature.

Frederick McCoy.

[18]

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Plate 6.

TRIGLA KUMU (Lesson and Garn.).

The Ku&ru Gtjrnard.

[Genus TRIGLA (Artedi). (Sub-kingd. Vertcbrata. Class Pisces. Order Acanthop- terygia. Fam. Triglidas.)

Gen. Char. — Head subrhomboidal, with the top and sides bony, covered with granular ridges ; scales of body very minute; anterior dorsal tin much shorter than posterior one; three long slender pectoral tilaments ; teeth Tilliform in numerous rows on both jaws, and a few on the vomer, none on the palatine bones ; air-bladder bilobed in front.]

Description. — Fin-rays: dorsals, anterior 9 or 10, posterior 15 or 16; anal, 15 or 16 (last two united at base); ventral, 1 simple and 5 branched rajs; pec- toral, 10; caudal, about 18 (llf). Scales: along- lateral line about 69 to 73, 16 rows above between the dorsals, and about 65 below the lateral line ; no spine to scales of lateral line. Snout acutely pointed when viewed sideways ; profile nearly straight ; concave space between the eyes rather less than diameter of orbit, and only slig-htly hollowed ; vertical diameter of eye about 3 J times in the depth of the head; 2 small spines in front of the eye; 1 suprascapular, 1 opercular, and 2 preopercular spines, small, about 2 lines long; lateral angles of snout, or ends of sub-opercular bones, blunt, nearly rectangular, with small blunt spines, about 5 or 6 in number ; a row of 25 spines on each side of the concave channel in which the dorsal fins originate ; first dorsal spine little shorter than the second and third, which are longest, and equal to the length from anterior nostril to tip of spine at angle of preoperculum. Color : head yellowish on cheeks, purplish-grey above, in front, and behind; back and sides a dtill pale cinnamon-brown, with an olive tinge, and with large blotches, irregular in size, shape, and disposition, of a didl indian-red or reddish-brown. Dorsal fins very pale, brownish, and yellowish ; anal and ventral fins whitish ; 3 pectoral filaments dotted with brown ; pectoral fins blackish-green, ■with reddish rays on outer side ; on inner side pale yellowish-olive, with a pale, narrow, greyish-blue margin, with 2 or 3 rows of small oval spots of the same color within the border ; a large ovate black blotch between the third and sixth rays from the lower edge, having about five oblong opaque white spots tinged with bluish along its upper edge, and three running down the middle ; caudal fin reddish, with brownish rays darker towards the margin ; throat and belly pure white. Iris golden yellow. Teeth : about 5 rows on upper jaw of 60 each in the length ; a transverse arched group of about 35 small teeth on front of vomer ; about 4 rows in lower jaw, 50 each in the length. Transverse section of bodj^, with a narrow rounded back, widening towards the belly. Total length to end of caudal, 19 inches ; length of head, 4 inches 6 lines; second spine of dorsal, 2 inches 6i lines ; length of pec- toral, 5 inches (reaching to third ray of anal and second dorsal) ; diameter of eye, 9 lines ; space between eyes, d^ lines.

Reference. — Lesson and Garn. Voyage de la Coquille. Poissons, t. 19.

[ 19]

Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [_F{she$.

This is a well-known species, occiu'iing in great quantities in tlie summer months in New Zealand waters, imder the name of " Kiimukiimu," and occasionally visits Hobsou's Bay, usually in August. The very small scales, brownish-olive body, and peculiar coloring of inner side of pectoral, render it easy of recognition.

Explanation op Figures.

Plate 6. — Fig. 1, side riew, seven-twelfths of the natural size. The pectoral fin in this figure has the upper edge twisted outwards and downwards, so as to display the inner charac- teristically colored side. Fig. In, head viewed from the top to show the form of the snout, with the small spines at the end of the suborbital bones, and the small spines in front of the orbit, seven-twelfths of the natural size. Fig. \b, inner view of tongue and lower jaw, showing the tongue and few rows of small villiform teeth on the jaws, natural size. Fig. Ic, form of section of body in front of first dorsal ray, seven-twelfths of natural size. Fig. \d, inside view of upper jaw, showing the arched median group of small teeth on the anterior end of the vomer, and the numerous rows of minute villiform teeth on each side of the jaws, natural size. Fig. le, scale from below the lateral line, five times larger than nature. Fig. If, another scale from more anterior part of the body.

Frederick McCoy.

[20]

PI. 7

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA

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Zoohgi/.l NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Annelida.

Plate 7.

MEGASCOLIDES AUSTRALIS (McCoy).

The Giant Earth-worm,

[Genus MEGASCOLIDES (McCot). (Sub-kingd. Articulata. Class Annelida. Order Abrancliiata. Section Terricola. Fam. Lumbricitte.)

Gen. Char. — Body very large, cylindrical, of from 300 to 500 rings, the anterior portion from a little behind the mouth thiclcest, suddenly narrowing at genital rings, then for some feet a little wider and again dilating slightly at tlie tail ; the prominent middle third of each ring set with 8 Tery minute spinules arranged in four pairs on the abdominal and lateral two-thirds of each ring, leaving rather less than oue-tliird of tlie dorsal surface smooth, and forming 8 longitudinal lines along the body from the genital rings. A row of spiracular pores along the mid-line of the back opening on the anterior edge of each of tlie rings except near the head in front of clitella;. An imperfect genital, hard, cingulum or clitellai extending only over the ventral third of about three rings towards anterior tenth of the length ; rings near posterior end much narrower and less distinctly marlied than at the anterior end.]

Description. — Body of about 350 to 500 ring's (about 10 in 1 inch of anterior end when extended, or 14 in same space when contracted, about 10 in same space at middle of body), tapering to each end when extended, but both anterior and posterior ends becoming- club-shaped when contracted ; a marked narrowing of the body between the 36th and 40th rings behind the clitellEe ; anterior end, of about the first 25 to 40 rings, sooty brownish-black, lighter on the ventral fourth of the surface, rest of body, back, belly, and sides alike in color and of a light, brownish flesh-color with a slight purplish-grey reflection ; oral and anal apertures central. Between the 32nd, 33rd, and 34th rings from the mouth, on the ventral side, are three genital short bands, less than the rings in thickness and only extending round about one- fourth of the circumference of the body, forming an imperfect cingulum or clitellse much tougher in consistence and lighter in color than the other parts. About 2 feet long when contracted and about 6 feet long when extended ; 8 lines to | of an inch in diameter. Spinets or setEB -gLjth of an inch long and g-J-oth of an inch wide with the exterior pointed end very slightly hooked, general form slender, nearly straight, with a very slight sigmoid curve, subtruncate obliquely at base (more slender and less curved than Vaillant's figure of the setae of PencJueta cingvlata, Ann. des Sc. Nat. V. 10, pi. 10, f. 2, or Schmarda's figures of those of the four other species, and nearly agreeing with Baird's figure of Megascolex {Perichata) drffmrgcns, but rather more slender) ; each seta projecting from the end of each of 8 minute conical papillae, the base arising from the prominent middle ridge of each ring, and the apices directed outwards and backwards ; the 8 setas, on successive rings, form 8 longitu- dinal lines, beginning from the C5th to the 32nd ring, to end of the body, arranged in four pairs, the outer pairs on each side about the length of a contracted ring apart, the ventral pair a little farther apart, and the pairs of rows about twice as far apart as the two rows of the pair ; one-third of each ring forms a smooth space along the back of the animal, down the centre of which the breathing spiracles form a conspi- cuous line of transversely oval pores beginning about the 40tli ring, and becoming- indistinct before quite reaching the posterior end ; the dorsal portion of the rings flatter than the rest and without the longitudinal muscular plicae or wrinkles on the margins of the ventral and lateral thirds. The mouth is a transverse slit when closed \ of an inch wide ; but when partially open the upper edge has a hard, thickened,

[21 ]

Zoologi/.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. l_Annelida.

arched margin, closed below by a soft tubular sort of under lip, looking- like a portion of the oesophagus everted ; the head ring- radiating-ly granulated outside the opening. The first 30 rings are broader than the others, but each is divided into three by two impressed lines parallel to the margins, making it difficult to count them.

Dr. Templeton, of the Royal Artillery, was the first to draw attention to the existence of enormous earth-worms, 20 to 40 inches in length, and 1 or 1^ inches in thickness, in the alpine region of Ceylon during the rainy season, in a letter sent to the Zoological Society of London, and published in their proceedings of 1845,* for which he proposed the name Megascolex cceruleus, fi-om their size and color. They had 270 rings, and the genitalia occupied the 16th, 17th, and 18th rings, after which the diameter was less, and from the 15th ring a row of breathing pores extended along the middle of the back ; and 100 setae on each ring except on mid-line of back.

Schmarda next, in the second part of his admirable work " Neue Wirbellose Thiere," founded the genus Pei-ichceta on the character " Setae totam segmentorum circumferentiam in forma annuli cin- gentes," and remarks — " Das Geschlecht Megascolex wurde von Templeton aufgestellt. Es charachterisirt sich dadurch, dass die Borsten auf dem Riicken in Querroihen in der Mitte der Leibesringe stehen." Now Templeton, on the contrary, states distinctly that in his Megascolex there are no setaj on the mid-line of the back at all, but they form a row round the other parts of each ring. Dr. Baird next described f somewhat sunilar creatures of smaller size, from the earth imported with orchids into some hothouses in Wales (probably from India or South Africa), which he named Megascolex (Perichceta) diffringens from the great brittleness of the individuals, and supposing Megascolex and Perichceta to be synony- mous genera. These living specunens were described to him by the gardeners to have different habits from earth-worms, tmsting violently about like eels when held (the popular name eel-worm was given to them by Mr. Fish), and travelling by night wth great swiftness over the siu-fjice of the ground, into which they vanish

* Annals and Magazine of Natural History, vol. xv., p. 59. t I'roc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 18G9, p. 40. [22]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_AnneUda.

with astouislimg rapidity when disturbed. Neither Dr. Baird nor other subsequent writers can be justified in uniting the genera Megascolex and Perichceta. if Schmarda be coiTect in statins: that in his genus the setaj go quite round the body, and in his P. leucocjjda from Ceylon he even says — " Die Riickenborsten sind etwas starker als die der Bauchseite." Schmarda is fully borne out in this by Dr. Grube in his description and figure of Perichceta Tahitensis, from Tahiti, in his essay on the " Anneliden " in the " Reise der Osterreichischen Freggate Novara." Under any cir- cumstances it is clear that our Austrahan species approaches more nearly to Templeton's genus, and cannot belong to Perichceta, which seems chstinct from Megascolex by its smaller size, much fewer body rings, and fewer and much larger setigerous papillae. Still, as Templetou says, his Megascolex has 100 setigerous papillae on each ring, while ours has only eight, disposed in four pau-s as in Lumbiicus, I am constrained to use a special generic title Megas- colides for the present form, and make it the type of a distinct genus, which only differs as far as I know now from Lumbriciis in its great size, very much more numerous rings, and the clitellae formed of three separate short bands, not going round the body, but being confined to the ventral side.

The setae are extremely diflficult to see and coimt, on most specimens, from their extreme minuteness ; a slight brown speck showing under a lens on the lighter flesh-color skin the places of insertion of the setae and position of the rows in which, after great trouble, I have satisfied myself the setse are alone developed, is a great help in counting them. But, as I find on most of the rings several other exactly sknilar brown specks, 15 to 18 on the mid- ridge of each ring, those of one ring alternating irregularly with those of the adjoining rings between the tme setigerous ones, forming the four pafrs of longitudinal rows, Imt not really containing setse, I have a strong impression that these may have been counted as setae also by Templeton in his Megascolex, and it is not im- possible that the longitudinal muscular plication (which also is absent on the back) may have been confounded with the slight papillary swellings from which the setae arise. Furthermore, Dr. Bah'd, observing that all Schmarda's worms from the same locality as

[23]

Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. ^Annelida.

Templeton's agreed wtli tlie introduced one be had examined, in having very numerous distinct papillae, each with a seta, on each ring, concluded that the Megascolex and Perichceta were identical, but in the same localities in Victoria in which the present Giant Earth-worm occurs, I also find a true Perichceta (P. Gippslandica) (McCoy) in abundance, of the much smaller size, fewer rings, and with very numerous large papillae and setae going entirely round the rings (visible to the naked eye) of the described species of true Pericliceta.

On the first entry of the surveyors into that paradise of land selectors, the Brandy Creek district, on the new Gippsland line of railway, I received from them numerous specimens of this gigantic Earth-worm, with queries as to whether it were a snake or a worm, &c. All of them, from the great diameter of the digestive tube, were almost like small membranous sausage-skins filled with earth, and from their great brittleness each individual was usually received divided into several pieces, the broken ends of which contracted so strongly as almost to close the wound, and decomposition setting in so rapidly that very little of the essential characters could be made out. Although I have more recently examined numerous perfect examples, both living and in spirit, I cannot find any male or female genital pores, such as are so conspicuous in Perichceta^ the former between some rings on the ventral surface in front of the " cingulum," and the latter behind it.

The living worms emit an odor resembling that of creosote. Like the ordinary earth-worms they bm'row in the earth, swallowing the portion in front as they bore downwards, casting the portions from which they have abstracted the nutrient particles on the surface of the ground, renewing the surface by a kind of natural trenching which tends to liury the surface beneath a continual top- dressing of fresh soil from below.

I have recently received from Mr. Search several examples from Queensferry of the oval, tough, horny case or capsule, 2 to 3 inches in length, half an inch wide, and terminated liy a bunch of filaments at one end, and a shorter pointed extension at the other, in which the young worm of this species is enclosed, nearly agreeing with that of the common earth-worm of Europe, except

[ 24 ]

Zoology.']

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

l^Annelida,

in size. These capsules are greenish and translucent when fresh, but soon become dark-brown and hard in spirit. A specimen of the

thickness of that in the plate fl-ill stretch itself along the ground to a length of 6 feet in its exertions to escape, and one of that thick- ness held up measured 5 feet 10 inches. As has been observed of the Pericliceta, the two ends remain alive and \agorous in moA'ement long after some inches or feet of the middle --— — ----^--sssfeiiasssss*-----

mnv 1~»P dpirl anrl rip- « Two rings of dried specimen mngnified, sliowing the irregular conical

lllciy U\^ UCttLl dllll tic- spinose appearance of the muscular longitudinal bands ou veutral aud

1 1'^^ ,' • side portiuns.

composed, Cllnering in j one of tlie spluules or seta; highly magnified.

flll« VPQllPPi' "fy'rim T itm ^ Three rings of body, magnified, showing the eight spinules on the middle

tlllSlC&JJCl^l/llUlll J-/«t//t- riAge of each, the longitudinal muscular plication on the margins, and

t . rr^l , , T the disposition of the set« to form on the successive rings, tlie four pairs

Uncus. ilie settlers of longltn.iinal rows.

kr\ j_ r 1 "ii c Capsule containing the young worm, natural size. that lOWlS Will

not eat these worms, even when chopped up. When cut they bleed freely an abundance of the bright red blood which dis- tinguishes the Annelida so ciu'iously from the lower and higher classes of the invertebrate animals.

ExPlANATION OP FlGCEES.

Plate 7. — Fig. 1, .average specimen, n.atural size, tlie anterior rings extended, tlie line of pores being the breathing spiracles (these sliould not appear on the anterior darls-colorcd rings in front of the clitellaj). Fig. la, head of same specimen, contracted ; close to the nnmber and letter the three clitellar thickenings may be seen ; natural size. Fig. \b, anterior end view, sho^ving the mouth, magnified to twice the natural size Fig. Ic, anal teiminatiou, magnified twice the natural size. Fig. Irf, the three clitell.w swellings when extended, natural size (the three slight depressions often seen in each are too strongly marked. Fig. le, same when con- tracted (the pit-like marks too distinct). Fig. \f, dorsal view of smooth space along the back, with the median rows of transversely oval breathing pores on the anterior edge of the rings.

Frederick McCoy.

Dec. I.

[25]

MEMOIRS OF THE MUSEUM

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ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA.

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Zoohgij.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. ^Insects.

Plate 8, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4.

AGARISTA LEWINI (Walk.).

Lewin's Day-moth.

[Genus AGARISTA (Leach). (Sub-kingd. Articulata. Class Insecta. Order Lepidoptera.

Section Heterocera. Fam. Uraniidas.)

[Gen. Char. — Body moderately long and thick. Palpi long, first and second joints depressed, hairy, third joint long, slender, cylindrical, conical at apex, nearly smooth. Antennae rather shorter than the body, slightly swollen towards the distal end, apex slender pointed, arched outwards.]

Description. — Brownish-black with a slight purple reflection. Upper side: anterior wings darkest, three small spots at the base, and four or rarely five larger transversely oblong ones between base and the large curved transverse band, a little beyond the middle, and which reaches two-thirds of the way from the front edge to the abdominal one, of a rich straw-yellow (paler in the male) ; a row of eight small ovate spots parallel to the margin, a row of seven still smaller about as far within the outer row as it is within the margin, and a short marginal band at the apex of a yellowish-white ; posterior wings rich blackish-brown with a slightly marked small yellowish spot nearly in the middle in the male (often absent), large and distinct in the female ; a short marginal pale-yellow band at apex and row of indistinct yellowish- white spots on edge of male, larger in female. Under side: anterior wings rich brownish-black with only the marginal apical small band, the central transverse band, and one spot between it and the base, distinctly marked, of the pale-yellow color ; one or two dots at base and a few of the intra-marginal row of dots very slightly indicated, of a yellowish-white. Posterior wings blackish-brown, with the short marginal band at the apex as on upper side, but a very distinct transverse arched yellow band near the middle, extending about half the breadth of the wing from near anterior towards abdominal margin, five or six small dots on the margin, and a concentric row of six or seven smaller ones between it and the medial band, yellowish- white ; all these marks larger on the female. Body blackish-brown, with a few small spots on head and thorax and a conspicuous one on each side of posterior edge of each abdominal segment, pale whitish-yellow; apex of abdomen, edge of penul- timate segment, thighs, and under edges of abdomen, tawny-bufi'. Legs and antennte black, the former ringed with whitish-yellow. Length of body, 9 lines in male, 10 lines in female; width from tip to tip of wings, 1 inch 7 lines in male, 1 inch 11 lines in female.

Eeference. — Boisduval. Voy. de I'Astrolabe, p. 176.

This species is figiu'ed to complete the plate illustrating the cmious genus Agarista so characteristic of the Southern hemisphere,

[ 27 ]

Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. ^Insects.

one species of which is so injurious to the imported vines. This species is hirger, with broader wings, and much less distinct spots than the A. EpJnjra of Tasmania, in which the middle spot on upper surface of the posterior wings is always large and distinct. It is not uuconunon near Melbourne, the larva feeding on the Epilohium tetragonum^ which is an abundant weed. The larva is about 17 lines long, and 2^ lines in diameter, of a rich creamy-white color, with numerous small spots of different sizes and transverse lines, UTCgular in length and undulation, of jet-l)lack ; the head, a patch on the neck, and one on the last and antepenultimate segments, buff ; the surface with long slender scattered hairs. The pupa is 9 lines lono- enclosed in a slio-ht oval cocoon, formed under the surface of the ground, about 11 lines long and 4 lines in diameter, composed of little grains of earth lined with silk. The larva figured assumed the pupa state on the 18th February, and the imago, or perfect moth, emerged on the 7th March following.

The Agaristce constitute one of those anomalous groups having the day-flying habits of the Butterflies, but the antenna;, instead of terminating in a club, as is always the case with them, ax*e terminated in slender points as in the Moths, with a slight swelling in the middle as in the twilight-flying Hawk-moths or Sphinxes. Their transforma- tion and earthy cocoons here figured show their true relations with the night-flying Moths as well as the habit of resting with the wings horizontal (not erect as in Butterflies). The impression given by Lewiu, that the cocoon is a thin silky one attached to twigs of trees, is certainly due to some mistake, and the relationship to Urania is thus shown to be so remote, that it woidd be better to separate Agaiista as a peculiar family, Agaristklce.

Explanation of Figures.

Plate 8. — Fig. 1, upper surface, natural size, of body and wings on riglit hand of figure ; the detached wings on left of figure show the markings of the under side. Fig. 2, larva full grown, natural size, on its eomnion food, the Einlohium tetrcKjonum. Fig. 2a, anterior portion of larva, magnified. Fig. 24, posterior portion of larva, magnified. Fig. 3, pupa, natural size. Fig. 4, cocoon, natural size.

C 28 ]

Zoo}ogy.-\ NATUBAL HISTORY OF VICTOKIA. [Insects.

Plate 8, Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8.

AGARISTA CASUARIN^ (Scott).

The Loranthus Day-moth.

Description. — Jet-black with a slight brownish tinge. Male — Upper side: anterior wing-s with four irregular transverse bands (with a very slight subdiscoidal spot between the second and third), and a narrower one nearer the outer margin, extending from the anterior to the abdominal edge, undulated so as to form two salient angles towards the outer margin, with semicircular curve towards the base between them, all of a clear sulphur-yellow ; outside the undulated band are seven or eight narrow, clear white, radiating streaks on the nerves ; the margin with a narrow interrupted white edge. Posterior wings with a continuation of the sulphur-yellow undulated band crossing rather nearer the margin than the base, with one distinct angular inflection towards middle of the margin, wider and slightly undulating thence to the abdominal margin ; within this band is a triangular median sulphur- yellow spot, and two very faint-greyish ones a little nearer the base; margin with a narrow interrupted pure white edge. Underside: anterior wing having the spotted white edge, the white radiating neural lines, the sulphur-colored undulated band, the next short transverse band, and the large submedian band as in the upper surface, but within tbis there is only one triangular spot, and there is a yellow band on the anterior margin from base to upper end of median transverse band ; posterior wings with white interrupted margin as on upper surface, but with about five slender white radiating streaks on the veins between it and the undulating sulphur-yellow band, which agrees with upper surface, the next triangular spot being extended into a band constricted in the middle, the upper end of which is continuous with a broad marginal band extending to the base ; within this are two large yellow patches appearing only as small faint S])Ots on upper side. Head, body, and thorax black, two narrow pale-yellow lines on upper side of head, and three on the thorax ; tip of abdomen and thighs bright rufous ; legs black, the joints edged with white. Length of body, 1 inch ; width from ti]) to tip, 2 inches 5 lines. Female larger, but almost identical with the male in coloring. Length of body, 1 inch; width from tip 1o tiji, 2 inches 6 lines. The larva is about 2 inches long and 3 lines in diameter, of a jet- black with numerous unequal, irregular transverse creamy-white lines, irregularly set with long slender white hairs ; the head and upper part of next segment rusty- buff, the penidtimate segment at posterior end cinnabar-red. Pupa 11 lines long, nearly destitute of any cocoon covering, under the surface of the earth near roots of trees.

Eeference. — Scott, Lepid. Ins. N. S. Wales, t. 8.

This is the largest and finest species of the genus in Victoria, and perfectly harmless. The species is named Casuarince by Mr. Scott, but in A^ctoria it never feeds on the Casuarina but always on the Loranthus^ or so-called Native Mistletoe, which is parasitic

[29 ]

Zoology.^ NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. llnsects.

on the Gum Trees {Eucalyptus)^ on whicli I have figiu'ed it. It is comparatively rare about Melbourne.

Explanation of Figures.

Plate 8. — Fig. 5, male, natural size, the left hand-disconnected pair of wings showing the coloring of the under side. Fig. 6, female, natural size, the left disconnected pair of wings showing the under side. Fig. 7, larva, natural size, on the natural food, the Lorauthits. Fig. 8, pupa, natural size.

Plate 8, Figs. 9 to 13.

AGARISTA GLYCINE (Lewin sp.).

The Veste Day-moth.

Description. — Rich brownish-black, with a slight purplish reflection. 3Iale — TJp'pcr side: anterior wing's, with three or four narrow obliquely transverse angulated pale greyish-yellow lines ; one broader short subtriangular or oblong spot between them and the broad transverse discoidal band, which is strongly undulated or angularly indented at the sides, both of a sulphur-j'ellow color ; beyond the band are seven or eight radiating narrow vellowish-white lines coinciding with the veins ; a small narrow short marginal band of pale-yellow at apex ; posterior wings with distinct yellow spot near middle, and a narrow pale-yellow edge to the margin. Under side: anterior wings, with the narrow transverse basal lines obsolete, but the yellow trigonal spot and transverse band larger than on the upper side, the whitish radiating neural striaj less distinct than on upper side ; posterior wings, with a broad lunate yellow band in middle, the upper end curving along the anterior margin to the base, the edge margined with pale-yellow ; between the disc band and the margin a concentric row of seven or eight slightly-connected small pale-yellow spots. Head, body, and thorax black, with five narrow longitudinal pale greyish- yellow lines on the thorax, and two on the head ; posterior end of abdomen rich nisty-bufF, as well as the upper edge of penultimate segment and under edges of other segments and the thighs ; feet black, ringed with white; length of body, 8.j lines; width from tip to tip, 2 inches. Female larger and with broader wings than the male, but identical in coloring of upper and lower surfaces with the male, except that there is no yellow spot in middle of upper surface of posterior wings ; length of body, 10 lines; width from tip to tip, 2 inches 2 lines.

Larva about 2 inches in length and 2^ lines in diameter, of a greenish-yellow color, closely marked with very numerous transverse interrupted and irregularly undulated lines and polygonal spots of jet-black, with numerous scattered long slender white hairs ; the head and next segment fulvous-brown, spotted with black ; the antepenultimate segment with a row across the back of four large quadrate carmine red spots. Pnpa about 11 lines long and 3 lines in diameter. Enclosed in an oval cocoon, formed of particles of earth outside lined with silk inside ; the whole so light that the pu])a can be seen through it. About 1 inch 3 lines long, and G lines wide.

Reference. — Phaltenoides glycine. Lewin Lejjidop. Ins. N. S. Wales, t. 1. Agarista id., Boisduval Voy. de 1' Astrolabe, }>. 175.

[ 30 ]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Insects.

This sjiecies received its specific name from Lewin observing that in New Soutli Wales the larvae fed on the leaves of the leguminose plant, the Glycine bimaculata. In this colony, however, it is generally called the Vine-moth, fi-om one of the most extra- ordinary changes of habit ever recorded in any insect. In the early days of this colony, before the introduction of the vine, the larvae of this insect fed on the Gnaphalium luteoalhum^ which is a very common weed, but since the planting of vineyards the Agarista glycine has increased enormously in numbers, and has totally abandoned its original food to devour the leaves of the grape vine., never now touching the former, but thriving and multiplying beyond measure on the fohage of so totally dissimilar a jjlant, that if the perfect female Day-moth be guided by ordinary instinct to choose that plant on which to deposit its eggs on which the larvae might find suitable foliage for food (the perfect insect not only being deprived of jaws fit for eating leaves itself, but being separated from the foliage-eating larval stage of its existence by the intervening pvipa stage, in which feeding, motion, and the senses are all stopped), it is not possible to conceive or understand how the egg-laying Day -moth could have gained such knowledge of the properties of the Vine as would induce it to abandon the natural food (not of itself, but) of its larvae, and to put its trust in a foreign plant of which one might suppose it covdd know nothing.

There are two or three broods in the year, the first brood of larvae appearing about the end of October, or when the vines begin to come into leaf, and after a few weeks enter the pupa state, about beginning of December, the moth coming out about the end of December, while the larvae figured descended into the earth, formed then- earthen cocoons beneath the surface at the end of March, and the perfect unago came out on the 18th of May.

I cannot understand Lewin's statement and figure of a light cocoon of thin silk attached to twigs of trees for this species, for in this colony it invariably forms a slight cocoon of earth below the surface of the ground.

The injiuy done to the vines in the extensive vineyards of Victoria by the larvae of this species is enormous, and seems to be increasing. Their numbers are altogether too great to be dealt

[31 ]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Insects.

with by any other means but hand-picking, and there are not hands enough in the country yet for that, as the chikh-en by law must attend school. The Acclimatisation Society acclimatised the Indian Minah in the hope that, besides destroying the Grasshoppers and Locusts (Avhich they do admirably), they might diminish this pest also ; but they have unfortunately developed a taste for eating the grapes, and do not seem to like the larvae of the Agarista. Before the new school law, children used to be employed thinning the numbers of the larvae in an unpleasant but effective manner, l)y cutting each one across with a pair of scissors as they walked along the rows of plants, instead of delaying to pick them off. Even this sharp and decisive proceeding is too tedious to keep down their numbers, and, to add to the difficult}', the fowls even Avill not eat them, nor any other creatm'e as far as I know. The only suggestion I can make is to employ hand-pickers at the time of the approach of the first brood of caterpillars, when the vines come first into leaf. Each one killed then prevents the formation of multitudes, as well as gives strength to the plant by theu' present removal. The next object of attention should be to kill all the moths of the first brood foimd on the wing, the figure here given rendering the right one easy of recognition, and this for each one killed will destrov mvriads of eggs which would form the second brood.

Explanation of Figures.

Plate 8. — Fig. 9, male, natural size ; the right pair of wiugs attached to the body represent the upper surface, the left-hajid pair (separated from the thorax) represent the markings of the under surface. Fig. 10, female, natural size, the right-hand attached pair of wings showing the upper side, the left-hand detached ones showing the under side. Fig. 11, larva?, natural size, on their newly adopted food, the vine-leaf. Fig. 11«, head and anterior segments, magnified. Fig. 114, posterior end, magnified. Fig. 12, the pupa, natural size. Fig. 13, the earthy cocoon.

N.B. — In some impressions of this plate the black is too pale.

Frederick McCoy.

C 3G

ZOOLOGY OF VICTOF?IA.

I :j,m/rl.h I, III

I'-ol tf Oljr Jircx'

J M ia}i^f>' i'"f

Zoology.'i NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. ITnsects.

Plate 9. PIERIS (THYCA) HARPALYCE (Don.).

[Genus PIERIS (Boisd.). (Sub-kingd. Articulata. Class Insecta. Order Lepidoptera. Section Rhopalocera. Fam. PieridEe )

Gen. Char. — Larva cylindrical, moderately elongated, tapering towards both ends, covered with scattered small hairs, slightly granular. Head small, rounded. Pupa angulated, slightly compressed, sometimes tuberculated, terminating anteriorly in a slender projection ; attached by the tail and a transverse silk line at various inclinations from horizontal to nearly vertical. Imago : Head small, hairy, eyes moderate. Palpi rather longer than the head, slightly com- pressed, clothed with long stiff hairs, the last joint slender, scaly, about as long as the second. Antenna; of moderate length with an obconic club usually compressed. Thorax moderate, clothed with long hairs. Anterior wings subtriangular ; subcostal nerves from 2 to 4 branched, upper discoidal nerve united to the subcostal for some distance beyond the cell. Posterior wings obovate, discoidal nerve forming a third median nerve, inner margin forming a very distinct channel for the reception of the abdomen. Legs moderate ; claws deeply bitid. Paro- nychia shorter, broad, subtriangular ; pulvUlus as long as the claws, jointed. Abdomen rather slender, shorter than the posterior wings.

Sub-genus Thyca (Wallengren). Only one subcostal nerve given off before the end of the cell, the first being absent. Larva with moderately long scattered hairs. Pupce very spinous along the ventral surface.]

Description. — Female : — Width of wings from 2 inches 7 lines to 3 inches 2 lines. Wing's of a greyish-white, with a slight greenish or yellow tinge, having a black border, varying very much in width, broadest at the angles of the upper wing-, with 4 to 6 whitish spots of a lighter color than the centre of the wing between the nervures, the corresponding spots on the under side being of a fine king's or gamboge yellow, usually 6 in number ; the ground color of the under wing is of a dark-grey with the black margin sometimes reaching considerably within the discoid cell, the tip of which is then marked with a light spot, the color of the middle, or a black spot is seen inside the discoid cell when the black margin does not reach it; the base is black ; hinder wings rounded, having a broad black margin and yellowish-grey base on the upper side, on the lower side having a row of 6 or 7 large black spots round the margin, with 6 or 7 large bright vermilion red spots forming a sinuous row, separated from the black margin by a narrow light-greyish interval which is continued along the nerves so as to separate the black margin into spots ; this same light-grey forms a large spot at the end of the discoid cell between which and the red band is a large black spot, a black band about as large as the red one being in contact with it on the other parts of its basal edge ; on the basal margin of this black band is another greyish band leaving the base intensely black except near the anterior margin, which is marked by a large vermilion spot ; thorax and abdomen greyish above, yellow below; legs and feet black. J!/«fe generally smaller than the female, from 2 inches 8 lines to 3 inches 1 line wide ; upper surface much purer white than in the female, with much narrower black margin and smaller white spots in the black near the tip usually 4 or 5 in number, the under side agreeing nearly in color with the female except that the abdomen is whiter.

Lanes nearly smooth, thick, cylindrical, with small head of a dark-brown color, with thinly scattered, rather short white hairs.

Pvpa about 1 inch 2 lines long, of a brownish-black glossy surface, carinated along the ventral aspect, without spines on the thorax, with the six anterior segments of the abdomen forming spines slightly arched forwards, with usually a ^«<=-i- [ 33 ] E

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Insects.

group of three similar ones on each side of the base of the abdomen ; anterior point of the head produced into a slender stem in front of base of antennoe, about 1 line long', terminating- in a bifid fork arched downwards ; the pupiB are fixed in groups of about 40 or 50, closely packed communities attached to a sheet of white silk web often 1 foot or more in length and 6 or 8 inches wide, binding together several of the terminal twigs of the Casuarma or she-oak tree which they fi'equent, each individual being fastened by the tail and a thread across the anterior part of the abdomen at various inclinations fi-om the horizontal to vertical with the head up.

Reference. — Papilio Harpalyce (Don.), Epit. Ins. N. Hoi., 1. 18; Pieris, id. (Boisd.), Sp. Gen. Lep., p. 458.

The family Pieridce, including the majority of " white " butter- flies, like the family Papilionidce., has the six legs perfectly developed, but the former differs from the latter in wanting the spines on the anterior tibiae. The sul)-geuus Tltyca, to which the present beautiful species of the old genus Pieris belongs, is readily distinguished from the other divisions of the genus by having only one subcostal nerve, marked a in the woodcut, given off before the end of the discoid cell. It is a remarkable circumstance that Doubleday and West- wood state that none of the pupse of the family Pieridce are ever bifid in front, while the present species and the T. Aganippe figiu'ed on our next plate have the anterior process most distinctly forked and arched ""'^^cel Zl^^r^^lmnlt^o

1 1 /> cbaracteriatic single subcostal uorve.

downwards. There are two broods of

this species iu the year, one appearing towards the end of August and the other towards the end of February, remaining about sixteen days in the pupa state ; the larvae are found on the weeping species of Casuarina and feed on the parasitic Loranthus fomid growing upon it.

The present species is remarkable for the extraordinary habit of spinning a large white silken sheet like a tough cobweb on which to attach the pupa3 in large groups of very numerous individuals closely placed side by side.

As Mr. Wallace has noted that certain islands north of Australia have the individuals of the species of white Ijutterflies distinguished from the individuals of the same species found in other islands by the greater or less angidarity or acute pointing of the tip of the upper wing, it is interesting to note that iu this species, although

[ 34 ]

Zoohoji.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. ^Insects.

the upper wings of the male are more augiilated or less rounded than in the female, yet the amount of straightening of the outer edge and consequent angularity varies in different individuals of the same brood.

Common everywhere in Victoria, flying at moderate heights about the she-oak trees ( Casuarina), and occasionally visiting gardens.

Explanation op Figures.

Plate 9. — Fig. 1, male (rather large specimen), natural size, upper surface. Fig. 2, female, n.itural size. Fig. 2a, under surface of same specimen. Fig. 3, larva slightly thickened, about to assume the pupa condition, natural size. Fig. 4, sheet of silk web with group of pupse from wliich the insects have emerged, natural size. (The natural position of this is got by turning the left side of tlie plate upwards so that the pupse are nearly horizontal with the head a little higher than the tail.)

Frederick McCoy.

[35]

n.fo

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA. ,' Insects .'

J)rtunv by A HiLrUioLcniew

Ft if M'' Coy dutx'

J Mi 1 «rf ujtfft' im^

Zoohy;/.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Insects.

Plate 10. PIERIS (THYCA) AGANIPPE (Don. sp.).

[Genus PIERIS (Boisd.). (Sub-kingd. Articulata. Class Insecta. Order Lepidoptera. Section Rhopalocera. Fam. Pierida;.)

Gen. Char. — Larva cylindrical, moderately elongated, tapering towards both ends, covered with scattered small hairs, slightly granular. Head small, rounded. Pupa angulated, slightly compressed, sometimes tuberculated, terminating anteriorly in a slender projection ; attached by the tail and a transverse silk line at various inclinations from horizontal to nearly vertical. Imago: Head small, hairy, eyes moderate. Palpi rather longer than the head, slightly com- pressed, clothed with long stiff hairs ; the last joint slender, scaly, about as long as the second. Antennse of moderate length, with an obconic club usually compressed. Thorax moderate, clothed with long hairs. Anterior wings subtriangular ; subcostal nerves from 2 to 4, branched, upper discoidal nerve united to the subcostal for some distance beyond the cell. Posterior wings obovate, discoidal nerve forming a third median nerve, inner margin forming a very distinct channel for the reception of the abdomen. Legs moderate ; claws deeply bifid. Paronychia shorter, broad, subtriangular ; pulvillus as long as the claws, jointed. Abdomen rather slender, shorter than the posterior wings.

Sub-genus T/ii/ca (Wallengren). Only one subcostal nerve given off before the end of the cell, the first being absent. Larva with moderately long scattered hairs. Pupa very spinous along the ventral surface.]

Description. — Ifale : — Anterior wings: above bluish-white, with a black moderately wide border, reaching- the posterior margin, and divided by a series of about seven or eight irregularly ovate bluish-white spots ; anterior edge black ; a black spot near distal end of discoidal cell, having a large bluish- white spot within it, separated by about its own diameter from the black of the border ; under side nearly like the upper, but two or three of the spots near the tip are rich dark-yellow, and the white near costal margin is tinged with yellow, and there is a black spot near the middle of the inner margin, not seen on the upper surface. Posterior wings : above bluish-white, with a moderately wide black border ending in a point a little beyond the angle ; about six large white marginal spots, the anterior three of which only are surrounded with the black at their inner edge ; under side black, with a row of six or seven ovate white spots round the margin, each with a dash of pale reddish ; a broad irregularly interrupted yellowish-white band in the middle, and a spot of vermilion-red at the base; thorax and abdomen greyish-white; a spot of rich yellow near middle of aQterior margin, a larger patch along the ventral margin, and two or three small ones near middle of wings of same rich dark-yellow; width from tip to tip about 2^ inches ; margin ^ of an inch more or less.

I'emale:—Antenov wings : above pale yellowish-white, with the black border much wider than in the male, with the discoidal spot much larger and confluent with the black of the border below, and the enclosed white spots larger ; one rounded black spot near middle of posterior or abdominal margin, and a narrow oblong one between it and the discoid spot; under side like the upper, but the three spots near the apex rich yellow and the white near the anterior margin tinged with yellow. Posterior wings : above yellowish-white, marked as in the male, but the black border wider and the spots larger and tinged with reddish at the outer part, leaving the inner crescentic edge conspicuously whiter ; under side nearly as in the male, but a spot of vermilion red at base, an oval vermilion spot on outer part of each marginal spot leaving the crescentic white inner edge of each spot very conspicuous ; a spot near middle of anterior margin, three small ones near the middle of wing, and a larger patch along the abdominal edge, rich yellow. Body as in male in color; width from tip to tip, about 2| to 34 inches.

[37]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Insects.

Larca, about IJ inclies long, of a dark chocolate-brown, dotted with white and set with long- white hairs. The specimen figured went into pupa state on the 32nd of January.

Pupa, about fV of an inch long, dark-brown, mottled with white ; attached by the tail to stems of Lorantlms leaves, with the head maintained in an upward posi- tion by an oblique silk thread girding the thorax and fixed to the twig. The imago emerged from the pupa figured, on the 15th February.

Reference. — Don. Epit. Ins. N. Holl. t. 30.

TLe larvae of this species feed on the leaves of the Loranthus^ or Native Mistletoe as it is called, which clings parasitically to the lofty branches of the so-called Gum Trees {Eucalypti).^ and the pupa (HiFers completely from that of the TJiyca Harpalyce in being solitary.

This species is not so common as the Tliyca Harpalyce., and has a rather swifter, although slow, flight, and keeps for the most part about the tops of the Gum and "Wattle" trees (Acacia), and on the so-called Native Cherry (JExocarpus), on the leaves of which the larva feeds as well as on the Loranthus ; rarely approaching the ground level. There are two broods in the year, remaining in the pupa state about three weeks, var3ang according to the weather ; a few of the last brood continue in the pupa state over the mnter, the butterfly appearing in the spring. The males seem to be scarcer than the females, and are always smaller.

Explanation of Figubes.

Plate 10, — Fig. 1, male, upper side, natural size. Fig. 2, female, upper side, natural size. Fig. 2a, female, under side, natural size. Fig, 3, pupa, natural size, showing tlie liabit of attaching itself singly to twigs near tops of trees by the tail, and suiiporting the head in an upward direction by the fine silli thread slung round the body. This figure shows the bright coloring shortly before the escape of the butterfly, the colors being duller before. Fig. 4, larva;, full size.

Frederick McCoy.

By Authority : John Ferkes, Government Printer.

[38]

CONTENTS or DECADES.

N.P>.— The originals of all the Figures are in the >»atioiiaI Museum, Mclhoiirno.

DECADE I.

Plate 1 — The Black Snake (Pseudechys porphyriacus, Shaw sp.).

PLATii 2. — The Copper-head Snake (Hoplocephalus superbiis, Gunth.).

Plate 3. — The Tiger Siiake (Hoplocephalus eurtus, Schl. sp.).

Platb 4. — The Australian Bream (Chrysophrys Australis, Giinth.).

Plate 5. — The Spiny-sided Butterfly-Gurnard (Lepidotrigla Vanessa, Rich. sp.).

Plate 6. — The Kumu Gurnard (Trigla Kumu, Lesson and Gurn.).

Plate 7. — The Australian Giant Earth-worm (Megasoolides Australis, McCoy).

Plate 8. — Lewin's Day-moth (Agarista Lewini, Boisd.).

The Lorautlius Day-moth (Agarista Casuarinae, Scott). Tlie Vine Day-moth (Agarista Glycine, Lewin sp.).

Plate 9. — Pieris (Thyea) Ilarpalyce (Don. sp.).

Pi.ATK 1f>. — Pieris (1'hyca) Aganippe (Don. sp).

I^ti

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i

MARV e: ROGIUR

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Miitmiil gistor^ ^f fictoriiL

1

PRODROMUS

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA;

FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LIVING SPECIES OF ALL CLASSES

VICTORIAN INDIGENOUS ANIMALS.

DECASE ZI.

UONOitARV FELLOW OF TUE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY; COIIKKSPO.nDINC; MEMBER UF THE ZOOLOGICAL

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DIBECTOR UF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL IIISTOKT AND GEOLOGY OF MELBOURNE, ETC.

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MDCCCLXXVm.

vMxu of 0kt0run

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ZOOLOGY OF YICTORIA;

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riGUEES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LIVING SPECIES OF ALL CLASSES

VICTORIAN INDIGENOUS ANIMALS.

SSCADi: II,

HONORARY FELLOW OF THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL

SOCIETY OF LONDON; HONORARY MEMBER OF SEVERAL OTHFR SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, ETC.

PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE IN THE BIELBODRNE DNIVEHSITY.

DIEECTOR OF THE NATIONAL MDSEUM OF NATURAL HISTOET AND GEOLOGY OF MELBOURNE, ETC.

MELBOURNE :

ET ADTHOKITT : JOHN FEKRES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER. PUBLISHED BT GEORGE KOEEKTSON, LITTLE COLLINS STREET.

LONDON : TRDENER AND CO., 57 AND 59 H7DGATE HILL ; AND GEORGE ROBERTSON, 17 WARWICK SQCARE.

M DCCC LXXVin.

PREFACE.

It having been considered desirable to ascertain accurately the natural productions of the Colony of Victoria, and to publish works descriptive of them, on the plan of those issued by the Grovernments of the different States of America, investigations were undertaken, by order of the Victorian Government, to determine the Geology, Botany, and Zoology of the colony, to form collections illustrative of each for the public use, and to make the necessary preparations for such systematic publications on the subject as might be useful and interesting to the general public, and contribute to the advancement of science.

As the geological and botanical investigations have already approached completion, and their publication is far advanced, it has been decided to now commence the publication of the third branch completing the subject, namely, that of the Zoology or indigenous members of the different classes of the animal kingdoiu.

As the Fauna is not so well known as the Flora, it was a necessary preliminary to the publication to have a large number of drawings made, as opportunity arose, from the living or fresh examples of many species of reptiles, fish, and the lower animals, which lose their natural appearance shortly after death, and the true characters of many of which were consequently as yet unknown, as they had only been described from preserved specimens. A Prodromus, or preliminary issue, in the fonn of Decades or numbers of ten plates, each with its complete descriptive letterpress, will be published, of such illustrations as are ready, without systematic order or waiting for the completion of any one branch. The many good observers

[ 3 ]

PREFACE.

in the country will thus have the means of accurately identifying various natural objects, their observations on which, if recorded and sent to the National Museum, where the originals of all the figures and descriptions are preserved, will be duly acknowledged, and will materially help in the preparation of the final systematic volume to be published for each class when it approaches completion.

This second Decade gives figures and descriptions in the first plate of two species of poisonous snakes too small to be dangerous to human life, but often causing needless alarm from being mistaken for the young of larger sorts. The second f)late shows the famous Death Adder, reputed the most deadly for its size of all our poisonous snakes, and remarkable for the stinglike spine at the end of its tail, which is pojivilarly mistaken for its dangerous wouncUng part. The third plate I'epresents the largest of our Victorian serpents, the great Carpet Snake, sometimes eight to ten feet long, but, like the nearly related Boas of America and the Rock Snakes of Asia and Afi'ica, perfectly harmless as far as the bite is concerned, as there are no poison fangs. The fourth plate represents for the first time the Gippsland Perch, now common in the markets. The fifth gives the large Murray Crayfish, or Lobster, as it is popularly called. The sixth and seventh plates illustrate the different forms and colors peculiar to the diflFerent stages of growth of the Arripis, popularly mis-called Salmon and Salmon Trout by the fishermen ; to which so many cases of fish-poisoning have given a special interest, as well as its size, abundance, and general wholesomeness for food. The eighth plate gives proof of the identity of our Horse Mackerel with that of Europe and America. The ninth and tenth plates represent for the first tune two species of the food fishes popularly called Rock Cod.

An unusual proportion of this Decade has been devoted to our fishes at the request of the Inspector of Fisheries, whose functions cannot be efficiently carried out in a new country without some

[4]

PREFACE.

such means as oiir illustrations afford for the accurate identification of the fishes referred to in the regulations of that branch of the Service, and concerning the habits and time of spawning of which the local inspectors are requu-ed to report.

The succeeding Decades will illustrate as many different genera as possible, and will deal first usually with species of some special interest, and of which good figui'es do not exist, or are not easily accessible.

Frederick McCoy. 2nd October 1878.

[5]

V

PlH

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA. ^ BepUles.J

Djim'i n- .-L Baithci/neyi'.

fi-of M' Ccr. direjcf'

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Zoology.^

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

[^Reptiles.

Plate 11, Fio. 1.

HOPLOCEPHALUS FLAGELLUM (McCoy).

The Little Whip Snake.

[Genus HOPLOCEPHALUS (Ctjv.)- (Class Reptilia. Order Ophidia. Fam. Elapida;.)

Gen. Char. — Body aud tail moderately thick, gradually tapering. Head subquadrate,

depressed, rounded in front. Rostral plate moderate ; no loreal plate ; one anterior and two

posterior ocular plates ; one nasal plate pierced by the nostril. Scales of back smooth, about

15 to 21 rows Anal and subcaudal plates entire, in one row. Confined to Australia.]

Description. — Head considerably wider than the neck behind, tapering' to a short blunt muzzle. Scales: usually 17 rows of scales across middle of back; ventral plates, 130 to 138; subcaudal, 25 to 27. Tail very short, ending- in a conical point. Plates: rostral plate twice as wide as long, seraielliptical ; anterior frontals small; posterior frnntals moderate, rectangular behind ; vertex plate hex- agonal, about one-fourth longer than wide, anterior end very obtuse, posterior end obtuse but nearly rectangular; occipitals elongate, moderate, one-fourth longer than wide ; superciliary moderate ; two posterior ocular plates smaller than the one anterior ocular; six upper labials, 2nd and 3rd touching the anterior ocular ; nasal plate long. Anal plate sometimes divided, usually undivided, large. Color: pale umber-brown, whitish below, edges of scales slightly lighter, subjacent skin black ; the whole crown of the head with a large black patch, lowest on the sides at the back, but not so low as the bend of the angle of mouth or labials, rising towards the eye, leaving the post-oculars white, but touching the eye above from the super- ciliary being black, and these with the vertex plate form its anterior boundary, leaving all the rest of the anterior part of the head white except a narrow separate block band extending- from one nostril to the other across the middle of the anterior frontals and middle of rostral plate. Teeth: there are usuall}^ four small solid teeth behind the fang- and about ten in each of the two palate rows.

To show tlie small variation of the number of scales of back and the abdominal and subcaudal plates, I subjoin particulars of eight specimens i^i the National Museum collection : —

Specimenfi.	Number of Rows of Scales on Bact.	Plates.	Total.
Middle.	Base of TaU.	Ventral.	Subcaudal.	Lengtb.	Tail.
1. Boroondara 2. 3. 4. Prahran... 5. South Brighton ... 6. 7. Caulfield 8. Mount Martha ...	17 IS 18 18 18 17 17 17	15 15 15 15 15 16 15 14	137 138 138 137 136 132 136 137	27 26 25 25 27 27 25 25	in. in 12i Hi 12f lOi 12f	in. u H li 2

[7]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IReptiles.

This little snake seems very local in its distribution ; it often excites alanii from being taken for the young of the Brown Snake, but it rarely reaches a foot in length, and is no more injurious than the sting of a bee, although its little poison fang and gland are on the usual plan of construction of the large dangerous species. It feeds on the small young of frogs and lizards.

Common at Brio-hton beach, beina; often due; out of the liffht sandy soil of gardens from a depth of several inches, and occa- sionally at Caulfield and Boroondara.

This species has not been figured before.

EXPLAKATION OP FlGUHES.

Plate 11. — Fig. I, ordinary specimen, natural size. Fig la, side view of bead, magnified. Fig. lb, under side of head, enlarged. Fig. Ic, upper side of head, enlarged, to show shape of plates and disposition of the black marking. Fig. Irf, palate, enlarged, to show teeth.

Plate 11, Fio. 2. HOPLOCEPHALUS CORONOIDES (Gunth.). The White-lipped Sxake.

Description. — Head very narrow, tapering' from nape of neck to semi-ellipti- cally rounded muzzle. Scales: usually 15 rows of scales across middle of back; ventral plates, 138 to 146 ; subcaudal plates, 43 to 51. Plates: vertex plate parallel- sided, hexag'onal, about three times long-er than wide, anterior and posterior ends alike in some specimens, but the anterior angle more obtuse in others ; rostral plate lar^e, with an obtuse upper angle ; superciliar}' plate.?, anterior ocular plates, and occipital plates long'. Color : above usually plain brown or with a tinge of olive ; under side usually yellowish near the throat and salmon color from middle to tip of tail, the yellowish plates freckled with red, and the more posterior ventral plates freckled with grey. Lower labial and throat plates minutely freckled with black. A white streak extends from rostral along upper lip for about an inch, or sometimes nearly two, along side of neck ; a strong' black upper edge separates this white band from the color of the upper surface, and an imperfect lower edg'ing in parts of some specimens.

Reference. — Giinther Cat. Col. Snakes, p. 215.

In some specimens the under side is darker from a greater extent of the gro}' speckling. In s])irit the upper surface becomes paler and more olive, and the under surface more of a dark slate color. The distinct white baud along the upper lip and side of neck with

[ 8]

Zoology.']

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

[^Reptiles.

its black upper uicargin easily clistiuguislies this beautiftil little snake from all others. It has been supposed hitherto to be peculiar to Tasmania, but it certainly (like the H. superbus., also supposed not to occiu' on the mainland) is a not uncommon species about Mel- bourne.

I subjoin particulars of four specimens to show the small range of variations in the scales and plates. This species is too small to produce any serious injury by its bite.

	No. of Rows of Scales on Back.	Plates.	Total.
	Middle.	Base of Tall.	Ventral	Sub- caudal.	Length.	Tail.	Gape.
1. Upper Tarra 2. BuUarook Forest 3. Yarra-bank 4. Melbourne	15 16 15 15	U 14 14 14	139 138 139 146	47 51 46 43	in. 13 81 144 13J	In. 2i	lines. 4J 4 6 6

The figured specimen is that from Yarra-bank, while the one fi-om Bullarook Forest was remarkable for a more general rusty reddish coloring.

The head only has been figured of this species before.

ExPLAIfATION OP FiGUEES.

Plate 11. — Fig. 2, ordinary specimen, natural size. Fig. 2a, side Tiew of head, twice the natural size, to show the white band from nostril along the labial plates. Fig. 26, under side of head and neck, twice the natural size, to show the form and coloring of the plates. Fig. 2e, upper view of head, twice the natural size, to show the forms of the head plates. Fig. 2d, view of palate, twice the natural size (in addition to the two rows on paKite, there should be shown three or four small solid teeth behind the poison fang ; they have disappeared in the lithograpliing). Fig. 2e, under side of abdominal and subcaudal plates, twice the natural size. Fig. 2/, upper side of end of tail, enlarged. Fig. 2j, eye, enlarged. Fig. 2/i, some scales of back, enlarged.

Frederick McCoy.

Dec. n.

[9]

PI.I2-

ZOOLOGY or VICTORIA

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Hmnti ii-< "iMfi

Zoology.']

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

{^Reptiles.

Plate 12.

ACANTHOPHIS ANTAECTICA (Shaw sp.). The Death Adder.

{Genus ACANTHOPHIS (Daud.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Reptilia. Order Ophidia. Fam. Viperidie ?)

Gen. Char. — Head large, broad, flat, wider than the neck behind, with very prominent superciliary ridges over the eyes. Neck narrow ; body short, thick ; tail short, with a trigonal section at base, but becoming very slender, and compressed towards the posterior end, with a recurved thorn-like spine, directed obliquely upwards at the extremity. Nostril large, between two rostral plates ; no loreal plate ; one large anterior longitudinally-grooved ocular plate, and two posterior ocular plates ; two small subocular plates below the eye and over the 3rd and 4th Labials. Rostral and two anterior frontals moderate, anterior ocular forming part of upper surface ; vertex plate liexagonal or subpentagonal, one-third or one-fourth longer than wide ; labials large, seven or eight below, six above, with a large temporal plate between the two hinder {5th and 6th) ; subcaudal plates in one row till near the narrow end. Scales of back keeled, most distinctly so in the anterior part, the keel becoming obsolete towards the hinder end. Eye small, pupil elliptical, erect. Teeth : — Fangs very large, perforated, fixed, 2 or 3 small teeth ■close behind each ; no other teeth in upper jaw ; two long rows of teeth on the palate bones ; solid teeth of lower jaw small. Confined to Australasia.]

Description. — Body short, thick, rounded. Scaler: plates on hinder part •of head irregularly indented, gTOoved, and ridg-ed, like large imbricating' scales ; scales on neck and anterior part of back strongly keeled, on hinder part of body larger, rounder, and thinner than in front. Color : dull g-reyish-brown, with about 40 darker brown transverse bands ; tip of tail dull orange-yellow ; ventral and sub- caudal plates paler and blotched with blackish ; labial and chin shields beautifully marked with blackish-brown marks, leaving- the edges cream colored, the upper labials often minutely dotted with black and pink, the lower labials with the middle portion occupied by a dark blotch, approximately following the outline, but leaving a broad cream-color margin. One or two of the lateral rows of scales usually cream-color, and with a black blotch in the middle of the base ; the small scales of the throat have each a small dark spot in the middle.

		Scales of Back.	Plates.	Length.
	Bpecimeiis.
		Across llidcUe.	Over Base of Tail.	Abdomen.		Tail.	Total.	Tall.
							ft. in.	in.
I	.«. ...	21	17	119		24ie	2 8i	4
2		21	17	119		2413	1 9»	3}

Specimens of about 2 feet long are about 2 inches in diameter.

Reference. — Wagler. Sj'st. 172. Boa antarctica, Shavr. Misc., t. 35. Vipera acanthophis, Schlegel. P. S., t. 21, f. 21, 23. A. cerastinus Lacep. An. Mus., v. 4, 10. A. Brotvni Leach. Zool. Misc., v. 1, t. 35.

[ 11 ]

Zoology.} NATURAL HISTOEY OF VICTORIA. [Reptiles.

This is the only Australiaii suake approaching the true viperine venomous snakes in having the fangs perforated and not grooved ; they are, however, not so movable, but 25ermanently erect, as in the Elapidoe: the whole of the characters of the singular genus Acanthophis (of which the present species is the only one known) inchne to classing it in the family Viperidoe rather than with Colu- brine snakes, although it is intermediate between the two groups in many respects. The popular name seems to be incUfferently Death Adder or Deaf Adder. The harmless horny spine at the end of the tail is its most dangerous weapon, in the popular belief. It is generally supposed to be the most deadly of all the Australian snakes. A large dog bitten by a captive Death Adder in one of Dr. Halford's experiments was dead in 18 minutes.

When u-ritated it flattens the thick part of the body very greatly, and has a peculiar action of snapping to one side and the other altei'nately with great quickness when about to strike.

Not fomid in the southern parts of Victoria, but common in the hot tracts near the Mun-ay.

Explanation of Figubes.

Plate 12. — Fig. 1, view of ordinary specimen one-fourth the natural size. Fig. la, head viewed from above, natural size (the longitudinal keel-like ridges and sulci on the plates and scales not sufficiently distinct). Fig \b, side view of head, natural size (the longitudinal groove in the anterior ocular is too definite or too much like a suture dividing two plates). Fig. Ic, head viewed from below, showing the chin and throat plates. Fig. \d, front view of snout. Fig. \e, under side of tail, natural size, showing the two rows of small scales at the compressed narrow termination beyond the single row of subcaudal plates. Fig. 1/, form of section of tail at base. Fig. \g, side view of compressed slender portion of tail, with terminal spine. Fig. \h, form of compressed section of posterior part of tail. Fig. li, keeled scales of back of neck.

Frederick McCoy.

[12]

PI. 13.

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA

(Mr/itJle:^-)

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rnr.M'Votf.iiroft

HunidACimp.

Zoology.']

NATURAL HISTOEY OF VICTORIA.

[Reptiles,

Plate 13. MORELIA VARIEGATA (Gray).

The Carpet Snake.

[Genus MORELIA (Gray). (Sub-kingd. "Vertebrata. Class Rcptilia. Order Ophidia. Earn. PythonidEB.)

Gen. Char. — Head moderate, ovate, flat above, broadly rounded behind ; muzzle truncated. Neck narrow. Body long, moderately thick. Tail very short, prehensile, spirally inroUed, and with a pair of rudimentary legs, like short conical spurs, one on each side of its base below. Plates on top of head very small, numerous, irregular, scal»-like ; three frontal plates on each side ; vertex plate very small, polygoual ; rostral pentagonal, with a groove-like pit on each side of the upper margins ; nostril in one plate, shghtly grooved below ; three front upper labials, and seven or eight hinder lower labial plates, with a deep pit in each. Eyes surrounded hy ten small plates forming three-fourths of a circle, touching the sixth and seventh labials below. Pupil elliptical, erect. Scales of back small, smooth; abdominal plates narrow; sub- caudals in two tows. Confined to Australia.]

Description. — Color: gTound color, Dearly uniform pale-brown having' a tinge of greenish grey, with an irregular darker carpet-like pattern, usually of a long narrow dark streak surmounted by one of the light ground color of the same width, forming a double band along each side from head to near base of tail. The back is marked out into three or four rows of iriegular lozenge-shaped patches of the pale ground color, usually with a blackish-brown blotch in the middle and margined by a broad blackish- brown outline. The upper part of the head is of the pale ground color, with one longitudinal dark streak from tbe nostril through the eye to the lateral angle of the head, where it usually joins a broad V-shaped round mark diverging from the vertex or first median plate on each side to near the lateral posterior angle of the head. From this V-shaped mark a short branch extends to near the middle of the eye. Between the posterior diverging ends of the V-shaped mark is a very constant broad rhombic dark- brown mark, extended posteriorly along the middle of the nape of the neck, and having a light patch in the middle of its broadest part. Belly pale-yel- lowish. The abdominal and subcaudal plates irregularly marked with blackish-brown blotches. Under part of head and neck pale without spots. Teeth : all the teeth are solid, of moderate size, and curved backwards ; 2 on intermaxillaries in front of mouth, 11 on each side of upper jaw, and 12 on each palate bone, of which the 3 anterior are largest, the 1st one-sixth of an inch long, the hinder ones only one- sixteenth of an inch long; 15 to 17 in lower jaw, the 1st smallest, the 2nd one-tenth of an inch long, the others decreasing backwards.

	Scales of Back.	Plates.	Length.
Specimens.	Across Middle.	Over Base of Tail.	Abdomen.	Tail.	Total.	Tail.
1. From Echuca 2. From Banks of Murray ... 3. From Swan Hill (young) 4. From Banks of Murray ...	44 44 42 43	20 20 19 20	275 274 272 280	74-74 75-75 73-73 76-76	ft. ill. 5 9 5 0 2 4 6 6	in. 8 7 3-1 11

Reference. — Gray, Zoo). Misc. 43, 54.

[ 13 ]

Zoology.'] NATUEAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Reptiles.

This is by far the largest snake in Victoria, but, like all the family Pi/thonidcB, or Rock Snakes, is perfectly harmless ; all the teeth being small and solid, without groove or canal, and no poison gland being developed. Seven or eight feet is the largest size usually found, but individuals of ten feet long have been seen. The pattern of the coloring is very variable, but has some resemblance to some of the commoner sorts of Kidderminster carpets, as suggested by the popular name of Carpet Snake applied to it for many years in Victoria and New South Wales. The name Carpet Snake is, unfortunately, applied to the poisonous Tiger Snake in Tasmania, producing some confusion which the publication of recognizable figures of the two will obviate in future.

The Carpet Snake feeds on small quadinipeds, and poultry and other birds of similar size, which it crushes to death by winding round them before swallowing ; catching them at night. The Carpet Snake, like the American Boa, can hang by the short prehensile tail coiled round a branch, with the two little leg-like spurs acting in opposition to effect a grasp or firm hold.

Not found in the cooler southern parts of the colony, but becoming common towards the northern Murray boundary.

Explanation or Figiires.

Plate 13. — Fig. 1, specimen, one-fifth the natural size. Fig. la, head, side view, natural size. Fig. li, top of head, natural size. Fig. Ic, front view of snout, natural size. Fig. Irf, inner view of mouth, showing rows of teeth on the jaws and palate. Fig. le, inner view of lower jaw, showing the tongue with its sheath and the teeth on lower jaw. Figs. 1/ and Ig, first palatine tooth, natural size, and magnified. Fig. l/i, base of tail, showing small abdominal spurs. Fig. li, spur, magnified. Fig. \k. scales, natural size.

Frederick McCoy.

[ H]

n.i4

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA.

(Fish&s )

AB'irU.oUmae, old i UtK

Pnot' hP Ov, dwouf

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Zooh0.'] NATURAL mSTORY OF VICTORIA. {_Fishes.

Plate 14.

LATES COLONORUM (Gunth.).

The Gippsland Perch,

[Genus LATES (Cut.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Acanthopterygia, Fam. Pcrcidffi.)

Gen. Char. — Ovate, moderately compressed ; scales moderate ; operculum ■frith strong posterior spines ; preoperculum serrated with strong teeth on the angle and lower edge ; pre- orbitals strongly serrated ; all the teeth small, villiform on the jaws, palate, and vomer ; tongue smooth ; anterior dorsal with seven or eight spines ; anal fin with three spines ; no pseudo- branchia; ; six or seven branchiostegal rays. Fresh and brackish waters of Africa, India, and Australia.]

Description. — Rays: branchiostegals 6 ; first dorsal with eight strong spines, first about half the length of the second, which is little more than half the length of the third, which is the longest, the eighth little longer than the second ; second dorsal fin with the first ray a strong spine, one-fourth longer than the last ray of the anterior dorsal, followed by 9 or 10 branched rajs, the first longest and about two-filths longef than the spinous ray ; ventral fin with 1 strong spine and 5 branched rays, the first one two-fifths longer than the spine ; anal fin with 3 strong spines and 7, 8, or 9 branched rays; pectoral fin 12, 13, or 14; caudal fin 17 or 18, with 4 short rays above and 4 short rays below. Scales: tubular along lateral line, 54, beyond without tubes, to base of tail, 6 ; in front of dorsal, above lateral line 8 or 9, below lateral line 19 to 21. Form: ovate, compressed, dorsal profile more convex than the ventral one, curving rapidly from greatest depth in front of dorsal fin to behind eye, thence concave to over front of orbit, then convex to snout; length of head three and three-fourths to three and one-third the length from snout to base of caudal fin ; greatest depth from three to three and one-fifth in length to middle edge of caudal ; diameter of eye nearly equal to length of snout, or about one- fourth of length of head; lower jaw longer than the upper. Caudal fin only slightly emarginate ; preopercidum naked, with the posterior edge finelj' serrated, the angle obtusely rounded, it and the lower edge with large irregular unequal triangular spines directed downwards and forwards; operculum with a strong triangular sharp- pointed spine, with a shorter blunt one over it near the origin of the lateral line, and some smaller irregular ones between them ; preocular, suboperculum, and inter- operculum finely serrated. Teeth: very small, villiform, a band about 130 long and 25 rows broad in front, tapering to posterior end on each upper jaw ; a much smaller band on each palate bone, about 109 in the length, 15 rows across anterior, and tapering to eight across the posterior end ; patch on vomer subtrigonal or semi- lunar ; band on lower jaw, about 135 teeth in the length and 14 across the anterior end. Color : dark greenish-olive on back, grey on sides, and white on belly ; middle of the dorsal scales bright-silvery ; front of head and mouth purplish ; cheeks with green and red reflections ; pectoral and first dorsal very pale, slightly clouded with grey ; the other fins darker brownish-grey ; iris bright yellow, with orange clouds.

Reference. — Giinther, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Feb. 1863, p. 114.

This fish occurs in great abundance in the Gippsland lakes opening into the sea, and is brought to the markets at Melbourne

[ 15]

Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes.

in large quantities in the cold months ; it occurs also at Sandridge and at the mouth of the Saltwater River. The flesh is moderately good for the table.

The previously described species of Lates inhabit the Nile and the mouths of some of the large Indian rivers.

The following are the detailed measurements example : —

Measurements. Length from snout to distal end of caudal

„ of caudal ...

„ from suout to anterior edge of orbit ...

„ of eye

„ of bead to end of operculum

„ from snout to anus (measured along ventral edge)

„ from snout to base of pectoral

„ from snout to origin of first dorsal ...

„ of pectoral

„ of first dorsal

„ of second dorsal

„ of anal

„ of ventral ...

„ from snout to base of ventral Greatest beigbt of anal Widtb between eyes Depth of body in front of dorsal Thickness of body in front of dorsal Height of fir.st dorsal Height of second dorsal

I have seen some specimens a little longer in proportion to the depth, probably constituting the L. antarcticus of Count Castelnau, and in one of them the teeth of the lower edge of the preoperculum are partially directed backwards as he describes, but this seems in my specimen to be an irregular growth from injury.

This fish has not been figm-ed before.

Explanation of Figures.

Plate 14. — Fig, 1, seven-twelfths tlic natural size, with the colors of the living fish. Fig. lo, scale from lateral line, magnified two diameters. Fig. \l>, scale from above lateral line, twice the natural size. Fig. Ic, inner view of mouth, three-fourths of natural size, showing the villiform teeth of the jaws, vomer, and palate bones. Fig. \d. inner view of lower jaw, showing tongue aud the villiform row of teeth on the jaws. Fig. \e, form of section iu frout of dorsal.

Frederick McCoy.

of	a	large
Ids.	lines.
20	0
3	9
1	2
1	1
4	9
12	0
4	9
6	6
2	9
4	0
3	0
2	1
2	10
6	3
.2	5
0	10
6	6
3	3
1	7
2	4

[ 16]

PIS.

ZOOLQGr OF VICTORIA

I.ttdwitJ BccJii^r. (/<V .ri' liUt .

P,vfJi:G>y.dii-u:r

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Zooloyy.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. ICruslacea.

Plate 15.

ASTACOIDES SERRATUS (Shaw sp.).

The Murray Lobster.

[Genus ASTACOIDES (Gucr). (Sub-kingd. Articulata. Class Crustacea. Order Macrura. Fam. Astacidie.)

Ge7i. Char. — General form and characters of Antaeus, but with the first segment of the abdomen destitute of appendices. Abdominal feet membranous, with a row of small calcareous plates on esch margin. Outer pair of tail fins jointed, with the distal portion thinner and less calcareous than the proximal one. Inner lobes not distinctly jointed, and calcareous to the end. Rivers of Madagascar and Australia.]

Description. — Beak elongate, acutely pointed at the apex, hollow above, with

three or four strong- teeth on the lateral bounding ridge of each side, usually a little

longer than the base of the outer antennoe. Carapace with several large scattered

spines on the sides in front of the nuchal furrow, which is very deeply impressed. One

or sometimes two rows of large conical spines border the posterior side of the nuchal

furrow, and extend along the division between the lateral vertical portion of the

carapace and the horizontal dorsal portion. Whole of the vertical sides behind the

nuchal furrow, or branchial regions, covered with small round prominent irregular

tubercles about their own diameter apart ; hepatic region or sides of the carapace in

front of nuchal furrow set with numerous scattered conical spines, the upper ones

larg'er. Seg-ments of the abdomen having a row of very larg-e conical spines on each

side of the middle, the points usually directed slightly forwards; outside of this a second

row of still larger ones, and, nearer the outer end, a third row, slightly more slender,

not occurring on the first segment or the last, but two of which are usually found on

the dilated margin of the second segment. The middle segment of the tail fin is

sometimes smooth, but sometimes has 3 or 4 small conical spines and a variable

number of smaller and more numerous pointed tubercles. Anterior feet or claws

nearly equal : the outer edge of the band has a row of 13 or 14 large compressed

spines, with a second row a little beneath in the middle portion ; the inner edge

of the hand has usually 5 smaller spines, and there is a blunt conical one on the

iipper aspect, about a third of the width from the inner edge, at junction with

carpus ; outer edge of last joint or movable finger smooth, roimded. Carpus with

3 sharp conical spines on the outer edge and 3 much stronger on the inner edge,

of which the anterior one is much the largest, and the anterior edg-e has 2 strono-

I'll ". '-' ^

conical spmes on the lower aspect. The next joint of the leg has 2 rows of large

conical spines on the lower edge, and from 4 to 8 irregularly disposed on the upper edge. Four hinder pairs of legs with very irregular small spines. Anterior median triangular process of epistome about as long as wide. The outer antennae are inserted below the inner ones. Color: the anterior legs, the middle of the back, and the apices of the spines and tubercles rich creamy white or ivory color; the ground color of the other legs, sides of carapace, and the abdomen pale prussian blue of varying intensity in different individuals, or sometimes mottled with dull olive-green. The semi- corneous flexible edges of tail fin brownish. Length of large specimen from snout to tip of tail, 12 inches 6 lines ; diameter of carapace, 3 inches ; length of carpus, 1 inch 7 lines ; length of hand, 4 inches 3 lines; width of hand, 2 inches 3 lines.

Reference. — Cancer serratus, Shaw. Zool. N. Hoi. t. 8. — Potamohius id. White, P. Zool. S. 1850, p. 95. — Astacoides spinifer, Heller, Reise der Novara Crustaceen. Zoologisher Theil. Band. 11. Abtlieil. 3, p. 102, t. 9. — Astacus armatus Von Martens, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1860, p. 359.

Dec. n. [ 17 ] C

Zoohgij.'\ NATURAL BISTORT OF VICTORIA. [^Crustacea.

M. Gu^rin-Meneville in the Eevue Zoologique for 1840, p. 109, establislied the geiius Astacoides for the large freshwater Crayfish of the Madagascar rivers, maiuly distinguishing it from Astacus by the supposed absence of the small basal scale of the outer antennae, which however is distinctly present, as noted by Professor Dana in the " United States Exploring Expedition : " but Erichson, in the Archiv fiir Natm-geschichte for 1846, p. 86, in his " Uebersicht der Arten der Gattung Astacus " re-defines the genus, noting that in the males there are no appendages to the first abdominal ring, and that those of the second ring are suiailar to those of the succeeding rings, this being really the most important character of the genus.

This gigantic species is now sent to the Melbom'ne market in considerable quantity from the Murray by railway for the table instead of lobsters, and is by far the most delicious of the few Victorian Crustacea good for food.

All the spines vary in size and nmnber, not only in different individuals, but on the two sides of the same one. The blue color is very much stronger in some individuals than in others, and I notice (Bibl. Univ. 15 Mars, 1870) that some of the reddish Crayfish in the rivers of S^vitzerland are said by local observers to be blue when recently moulted. Some specimens are olive- green where the blue appears in others.

I can have no doubt that the A. spinifer (Heller) described by him in the treatise on Crustacea in the "Voyage of the Novara," is identical with Shaw's species, although the spines on the middle lo1)e of the tail are more numerous than I have seen ; and it is clear that Von Martens' A. armatus is also a synonym.

Very common in the River IMurray, where it is caught by lowering a piece of bagging, yn\\\ cords and floats to the four corners, with some flesh in the middle ; this l)eing pulled up every now and then shows three or four of the " Lobsters " feeding ; a bit of meat at the end of a string suffices to catch them.

Explanation op Figcees.

Plate 15.— Fig. 1, side view of specimen, nitlier bluer tlian usual, half the natural size. Fig. 1«, rostrum and base of antonnoj natural size of small speeimen. Fig. \b, anterior leg, vieweil from inner side of small specimen, natural size. Fig. Ic, tail fin, half the natural size.

Frederick McCoy.

[ 18]

1^

Pl.JS

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA

( Fishes )

A . BctHhotomou-. f A / .*- Uin

li-of.Mftoy.din^U.

D^ Cruihy f< Lfiyh. nnp

/7

PI

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA

(Fis/ies )

A. BoJ-t hoiottwu Ht>l ^ l((h

Vivf M^O.>y Mffj^it

Ik- Crtichy & Letqh. imp

Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes.

Plates 16 and 17.

ARRIPIS TRUTTACEUS (Cuv. and Vax. sp.).

The Salmon Arripis.

[Genus ARRIPIS (Jenyns). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Acanthop- terygia. Fam. Percidce.)

Gen. Char. — Form moderately elongate, fusiform. Branchiostegal rays 7. All the teeth Tilliform ; numerous rows of teeth on the palatine bones and on the vomer. Tongue .smooth. One dorsal fiu with nine slender spines and several branched rays. Anal fin with three spines and several branched rays. Caudal fin deeply forked. Preopereulum denticulated, ijcales very finely ciliated at posterior edge ; fan of diverging ridges nearly or quite obsolete, replaced by fine close stris parallel to the anterior truncated margin. Pyloric appendages numerous. Confined to Australia.]

Description. — Form : regular, elongate, fusiform ; top of the head flat or slightlj^ convex, and destitute of scales, the lateral boundaries formed by the lateral projecting' ridge.s of the upper edges of the orbits. Diameter of oi'bit one-fourth of the length of the head in specimens of ordinary length of 12 inches, (a smaller proportion in larger specimens) and about its own length from tip of snout, but one- sixth less than distance between the superciliary ridges across top of head ; depth one-ninth less than the length of the head : length of head 3J in the total length to middle margin of caudal fin. Fin-rays: ventral, 1 spinous and 5 or G branched; pectoral, usually 16; anal, 3 spinous and usually 10 branched, last two from one base; dorsal, 9 spinous and usually 16 branched ; caudal, 17, with 4 to 5 short ones above and 4 to 7 short ones below. Scales: along lateral line, with tubes, about 50 ; without tubes, on tail, about 3 or 4 : vertical rows of scales, 6 above lateral line; 12 below lateral line. Color: back and sides above lateral line blackish-olive (with, in some lights, a bluish-black cast), clouded with large irregular ill-defined darker spots, indistinctly arranged in vertical groups, in individuals of 11 inches or more in length, but forming about 28 alternately longer and shorter narrow distinct vertical bands in specimens of 8 inches or less, gradually becoming paler to the level of lower edge of pectoral, and destitute of the darker mottling, and with a pale gieenish- bronze metallic reflection, becoming silvery or pearly-white, with slight pink or blue reflections, on lower part of throat, abdomen, and tail ; operculum and pieoperculum reflecting and colored like side of body ; interoperculum and suboperculum white and silvery, like abdomen ; top of head, snout, and both lips, in front of eye, and portion of skin outside the iris, sooty-black; hinder part of dentary bone white; iris greeni.'^h- gold, with a blackish arched mark above and below ; along, or slightly under lateral line, a row of about 12 large round spots of the color of lacquered brass, about their own diameter apart, and of about equal size from operculum to tail, and below this 3 or 4 similar but shorter rows. Pectoral fin rich indian-yellow, with a blackish base, tip, and edge. Ventral fins almost colorless, pinkish at base, j'ellowish for distal two-thirds. Dorsal membrane pale blackish, with yellowish rays, the branched tips of those of the second dorsal forming a dark border to the fin, the membrane minutely dotted with black under the lens. Anal fin colorless, like ventral, but the membrane, with microscopic black dots, and the branching ends of the rays blackish. Caudal fin very dark-olive, with the tips and posterior edge blackish. Pancreatic cseca of pylorus of very numerous (170) short slender branches, chiefly simple.

[ 19]

Zoology.']

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

[^Fishes.

The following' are the dimensions of an average specimen such as may commonly be found in the market with the adult characters : —

Measurements. Length from tip of snout to distal end of caudal fin

„ from tip of snout to middle of posterior edge of dorsal fin ..

„ from tip of snout to end of body

„ of caudal

„ from snout to edge of preopcrculum

„ from snout to base of pectoral ...

„ from snout to anterior edge of orbit Antero-posterior diameter of orbit Length of head from snout to edge of operculum

„ from snout to anus

„ of pectoral

„ of anal

., of ventral fin ... Breadth between eyes ... Depth of body in front of first dorsal Greatest thickness of same below lateral line Greatest height of dorsal at third spine ... Height of last spine Height of next branched ray

Ins.	lines
24	0
17	0
20	6
4	3
4	3
6	2
1	5
1	4
5	7
14	0
2	7
3	0
2	5
I	10
6	0
4	2
2	2
0	11
1	i

Young- specimens np to 3 or 4 inches long have the sides of the head behind the eye and lower half of the body whiter and more silvery than the larger ones, with 2 or 3 longitudinal rows of round brassy spots, the length of the uncovered portion of two or three scales in diameter; the back and upper part of sides above the lateral line of a brownish-grey olive, lighter than in older individuals, with fiom 15 to 1? distinct transverse darker bands, only two or three of which show any indication of breaking up into blotches or spots, as in the older individuals. Pectoral bright-yellow, with black base ; caudal yellowish-olive ; snout brownish. The depth of the body varies considerably at this size (from 3h to 4 times in length of body, without tin) ; the length of head in each case being 3J times in length without caudal fin. The thick- ness also in each of these cases remaining constant for this size at one-eighth of the length without caudal, although, of course, in the one case it was half the depth, and considerably less in the other. Iris yellow. The denticulation of the pre- operculum does not exist in this young stage on the posterior edge (thus agreeing with Cuvier's Centropristcs truttaccus), although stronger, and terminating more distinct and direct ridging on the lower margin, than in the adult ; and at this size the diameter of the orbits equals the space between the eyes, as in Sir J. Richardson's C salar, so that they grow proportionately smaller with age.

To show the constancy of the fin-rays and scales in this species, I subjoin par- ticulars of seven specimens in the National Museum of very various sizes : —

							Scales.
	Doraals.	Anal.	Caudal.	Pectoral.	Ventral.				I.K?nptli
Specimens.	Along	Above	Rolow	from Snout to tip
						Lateral	Lateral	Laic ml	ol Caudal.
						Line.	Line.	Line.
									in. lines.
1	9-f-16	3 + 10	19	16	1+5	54	7	17	13 0
2	9 + 18	3+ 9	20	16	1+5	49	1	18	10 6
3	9+16	3 + 10	21	16	1+5	55	7	17	19 0
4	9 + 16	.•f+IO	20	16	1 + 5	63	t	17	15 9
5	9 + 16	3+10	20	15	1+5	52	6	18	8 3
6	9 + 17	3+10	20	16	1+5	56	7	16	24 0
7	9 + 15	3 + 10	20	16	1+5	53	6	16	5 0

[20]

Zoohgy.l NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes.

Reference. — Centropristes tnittaccus (Cuv. and Val.), Hist. Nat. des Poiss., V. 3, p. 50, 1829. Centropristes salar (Richardson), Zool. Proc, 1838, Zool. Trans., V. 3, p. 78. Centropristes Tasmanicus (Hombr. and Jacq.), Voy. au Pole Sud Poiss., t. 4, f. 1. (?) Perca trutta (Cuv. and Val), Hist. Nat. des Poiss., V. 4, p. 54.

The genus Arripis of Jenyns was named from the absence of the usual fan of diverging ridges on the basal portion of the scales in his typical species the A. Georgianus (or RufFy of the colonial fishermen) ; but it is slightly indicated by a few longituchnal ridges in our fish which is referable to the same genus. The two spines on the operculum, likewise noted by Jenyns in his type, although well marked in it, are almost entirely obsolete in the present fish, so that I have omitted them also from the generic character. The Rufty {A. Georgianus) difters from the present fish, when speci- mens of the same size are compared, by its much coarser serration of the scales of the body, giving rise to the popular name, as the difljerence in roughness may be felt by the finger ; also by the two distinct spines on the hind edge of the operculum ; and by the last spines of the dorsal not being so much shorter than the next ray of the branched portion : the coloring also is greyer, and otherwise different in the A. Georgianus, as I will point out when figuring that species.

The adult condition of this fish, which is attained at about 2 feet in length, is improperly called " Salmon " by the colonists of the Victorian coasts, and is of a nearly uniform pale-olive color, without spots, paler on the lower half of the body. When about a foot in length it is pojiularly called " Salmon trout " l)y the fishei'men and in the markets, and then differs ft'om the adult in its smaller size, proportionately larger eyes, dark cloudy spots on the back, and the conspicuous rows of large roimd brass-like spots on the sides. All these characters I have many years ago proved to be merely characteristics of the younger stages of growth.

The Centropristes truttaceus of Cuvier was mainly characterized by the posterior edge of the preoperculum not being denticulated. This I have also proved by the demonstration of the characters in several specimens to be a character of the very young of the same species, mth which it should, as well probably as the Peixa trutta of Cuvier, be united. The very young when examined alive have

[21 ]

Zoolog;/.} NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes.

tlie caudal fin yellow with a black margin. These colors, however, fade quickly in spirit or on diied skins ; so this coloring, noted by Cuvior on a th'awing from life, of a fish of which he had never seen a sj^ecimcn, gave rise to his species Perca marginafa, which, as all the other characters also are those of young Arripis truttaceus, I have proposed should likewise be considered a synonym of the present species ; thus reducing five supposed species of Victorian fish to one.

Nearly all the cases of fish-poisoning in Victoria are referable to this species. Some persons are under the impression that the bad consequences are due to incipient decomposition ; but I am certain that this is not always the case, as I have known several instances in which the effects were strongly marked after eating perfectly fresh examples, caught only an hour or so before cooking. It is curious that it is only at certain times and to certain people that this fish is more or less poisonous, while certainly good for food under other circumstances not yet undci'stood. I have known three out of five people made seriously ill from eating at breakfast newly caught fish from one basket, and the two others felt no inconve- nience whatever. The symptoms are, generally a few hours after eating, an extraordinary redness or flush of the skin, ]iarticularly of the face, often folloAved l)y an irruption, which soon passes away, with great derangement of the digestive organs, severe headache, vomiting, &c. Some cases of death have been I'eported, but, gene- rally, the Ijad symptoms pass away in a few hours or days.*

The flesh has often a dull pinkish tinge, which may be one of the reasons for the popular application of tlie names " sahnon " and " salmon trout " to this fish, not resembling the true salmon in any important respect.

The curvature of the back is rather greater than that of the abdomen in most specimens, especially of the younger ages. The dorsal and anal fins can be lowered into a oroove at their bases. The swimming bladder is large, and of a delicate membranous texture. The pyloric appendages, which are counted as 17 to 50 by Dr. Giinther, I find to be as many as 160 in several specimens.

* Dr. Youl, the City Coronor for many yciirs, informs me that although ho has scon many of these cases of iisb-poisoniiig, the deaths reported were found by the jury to be due to other causes.

[22]

Zoohg;/.} NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes.

One of the most abundant of the food-fishes of Victoria in all the wanner mouths of the year, disajipeariug in the cold weather. It is not usually seen at the best tallies, but is sold in great quantities by hawkers round the suburbs of Melbourne. The younger ages are very conspicuous in the fish shops by their yellow pectorals.

Explanation of Figures.

Plate 16. — Fig. 1, fisurc showing form and coloring of the adult at the age popularly called "Salmon," half the natural size. Fig. lu, form of section in front of first dor.sal. Fig. lA, form of section of tail. Fig. Ic, one of the scales, natural size, showing the very fine eiliation of the free edge and the straight hasal edge with the fine striation parallel to it, characteristic of (he genus, but showing also a few longitudinal ridges. Fig. k/, mouth, sliowing the arrangement of the various patches of villiform teeth on the jaws ; those on the palate bones being marked A, and those on the vomer marked c ; the tongue is marked a.

Plate 1 7. — Fig. 1 , specimen two-thirds of natural size, showing form and coloring at the age popularly called " salmiui trout." Fig, lu, head, natural size, to show the disposition of the scales and the radiation and crenulated edge of the preoperculum. Fig. 16, form of section in front of dorsal. Fig. If, scale from lateral line, magnified. F'ig. Id, scale from below lateral line, magnified.

Fig. 2, younger specimen, natural size, showing the form and coloring at the yoving age when the tail is yellow with the black margin, as iu the I'erca mariiinata of Cuvier. Fig. 2a, section of head through the eyes, showing the larger proportion of these than in the adult. Fig. ib, form of section in front of dorsal. Fig. 2e, section of tail.

Frederick McCoy.

[23]

MEMOIRS OF THE MUSEUM

n -

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA

I Fishes j

A Mtuih^lant^w dtZ <fe &M'

frUtPCoy Jirtai

JlC.btCruihy & 0> imp

Zoology.'] NATURAL EUSTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes.

Plate 18.

TRACHURUS TRACHURDS (Lm. sp.).

The Horse Mackerel.

[Genus TRACHURUS (Cuv.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Acanthop- terygia. Fam. Carangidse.)

Gen. Char. — Body moderately slender, compressed, fusiform, covered with small scales, except on the lateral line, which is set from anterior to posterior end with a series of large elliptical plates three or four times higher than long, each witli a spine directed backwards near the middle. First dorsal fin less than half the length of the second, of one small anterior spine directed forwards, and eight slender spinous rays ; second dorsal extending neatly to base of tail, of one spinous and many branched rays ; anal, as long as the secood dorsal, of two very short thick spines, forming a small fin ia front of the remaining portion, of which the first slender ray is spinous, the rest branched ; pectoral pointed ; caudal deeply forked. Teeth minute on jaw, vomer, and palate bones. Branchiostegal rays seven ; pseudobranchiae ; swimming-bladder forked behind.]

Description. — Fin r-ays : 1st dorsal of 8 spines, the third longest ; 2nd dorsal scarcely separated from the anterior ; 1st ray a slender spine, nearly twice the length of the last raj' of the 1st dorsal and |- the length of the first of the 32 branched rays ; anal, 2 short anterior spines only J of the length of the slender one in front of the series of 28 branched rays ; pectoral fin pointed, reaching to 3rd ray of 2nd dorsal, of 21 rays ; ventral fin of 1 spinous and 5 branched rays ; caudal fin of 15 rays, with 6 short rays above and 5 below those extending to the angles of the fin. Scales : along lateral fine, Si ; above, 10 ; below it, 16. Form : greatest depth of body, in front of 1st dorsal, about five times in length to middle edge of caudal fin ; thickness there rather more than half the depth ; section at tail rhombic, shghtly wider than deep ; diameter of eye slightly less than length of snout ; length of head equal to length of pectoral, and \ of total length to middle edge of caudal fin ; lateral line at about \ of the depth from the dorsal edge until end of 1st dorsal, then bending down and contmuing about the middle of the side to the caudal. Color : back and upper part of sides olive bronze - green, freckled with darker ; top of snout, base of pectoral, and round blotch at posterior angle of operculum brownish-black ; lower part of cheeks, sides, and belly greyish-white, with brilliant iridescent reflections of pink, gold, and emerald-green ; caudal fin pale-olive, with darker margin, and speckled with blackish ; the other fins pale-greyish, speckled with blackish ; iris golden-yellow above, silvery below.

Eeference. — Scomber trachurus (Lin.), Syst. Nat, 1, p. 494 j Blooh, t. 56. Caranx trachurus (Cut. & Val.), Hist. Poiss., v. 9, t. 246.

-Dee. n. [ 25 ] D

Zoology.} NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IFishes.

The following are the detailed measurements : —

Measurements. Length from snout to distal end of caudal

of caudal ...

from snout to anterior edge of orbit ...

of eye

of head to end of operculum ...

from snout to anus (measured along ventral edge)

from snout to base of pectoral

from snout to origin of 1st dorsal

of pectoral...

of 1st dorsal

of 2nd dorsal

of anal (including anterior spines)

of ventral ...

from snout to base of ventral Width between eyes Depth of body in front of dorsal Thickness of body in front of dorsal Height of 1st dorsal Height of 2nd dorsal at highest anterior end ...

This is one of the few fishes of our coast identical with a European species. It is a very rare visitor. The specimen figm'ed was caught in Hobson's Bay on the 3rd August.

Explanation op Figukes.

Plate 18. — Fig. 1, view, three-fourths the natural size, of the colors of the living fish Fig. la, spinous plate from lateral line, magnified 4 diameters. Fig. 16, section in front of dorsal. Fig Ic, one of the scales above lateral line, magnified.

Frederick McCoy.

Ins.	lines
10	7
1	8
0	9
0	7
2	5
4	8
2	6
3	0
2	6
1	5
3	7
3	5
1	3
2	9
0	7
2	0
1	2
1	3
1	0

[26]

n

PI 19.

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA.

f Fisfus./

la

Ic

%

f i

Jhrum by A Bartholrmen'.

Jh»: yir Cffv. Artxf

J\ Sdwt/eid. (uh

Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Fishes.

Plate 19.

LOTELLA CALLARIAS (Gunth.).

The Smai^-scaled Rock Cod,

[Genus LOTELLA (KAnr.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Anacanthini. Fam. GadiiitK.)

Gin. Char. — Body moderately elongate, taperins; from head. Caudal fin distinctly separated from the dorsal and anal. Two dorsal fins, the second much the larger. One anal tin, nearly equalling the second dorsal. Pectorals moderate, rounded. Ventral fin small, situated under the front of the pectoral with a fl.at base, with usually two long filamentous outer rays and a few shorter ones. Scales very small. Teeth forming a broad band of numerous rows in the upper jaw, with conspicuously larger ones in the outer row ; no teeth on the Tomer or palatine bones. Branchiostegal rays, usually seven. Chin with a barbel.]

Description. — Bays: branchiostegal,?; anal, 58 ; dorsals, anterior 5, poste- rior 63 ; ventral, 7 ; pectoral, 22 ; caudal, 28. Scales : along' lateral line, 244 tubular, and about 10 beyond to base of caudal rays not pierced ; vertical scales, 33 above lateral line, from front of first dorsal, 77 below lateral line. Color: wLiole body and the scaly skin on base of dorsal, anal, pectoral, and caudal fins tawny- brown, becoming- lighter towards the belly. Throat and lips pinkish flesh-color. The margin of the dorsal, ventral, and caudal fins purplish-black, below which the fins are purplish flesh-color, tinged with brown towards the base ; the anterior base of each scale is lighter than the margin. Teeth : exceedingly minute, except the larger conical teeth of the outer row, which are irregular in size, shape, and dis- tribution ; about 7 or 8 on each side of upper jaw, and 10 or 12 on each side of lower jaw. Fins : ventral with a moderately narrow base, the two outer rays simple and extended into long filaments, the second longest nearly equalling the pectoral in length, and reaching more than halfway from its base to the vent ; the other five rays branched, and forming with the membrane the triangular fin rather more than half the length of the longest filament. The shorter first filament equal to half the length irom base of pectoral to vent, and a little exceeding the barbel of the chin in length.

Reference.— Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. Feb. 1863, p. 116.

[27]

Zoology.']

NATURAL fflSTORY OF VICTORIA.

[Fishes.

The following are the dimensions of an average specimen : —

Measarements. Length from snout to distal end of caudal

„ of caudal ...

„ from snout to anterior edge of orbit ...

„ of orbit

„ of head to end of operculum...

„ from snout to anus ...

„ from snout to base of pectoral

„ from snout to origin of first dorsal

„ of pectoral

„ of first dorsal

„ of second dorsal

„ of anal

„ of first ventral filament

„ of second ventral filament ...

„ of barbel ... Width between eyes Depth of body in front of dorsal Thickness of body in front of dorsal Height of first dorsal Height of second dorsal at highest posterior end

Ins.	lines
22	0
2	0
1	3
0	9
4	6
8	0
5	2
5	3
2	10
1	2
12	4
10	6
1	9
2	7
I	7
1	0
5	9
3	6
1	7
1	6

This, like all the other species of Lotella^ differs from the ordinary Rock Cod {Pseudo2)hysis) in the comparatively large conical irre- gular outer row of teeth.

This fish is much rarer than the ordinary Rock Cod ; being caught however at the same time of the year, and in similar localities in Port Phillip Bay. It is easily distinguished, even without the characters of the mouth, by the more uniform brown color and very much smaller and more numerous scales. It is moderately good for the table, but not in much request.

This species has not been figured before.

Explanation of Figdhes.

Plate 19. — Fig.'l, ordinary specimen, one-third the natural size. Fig. la, line representing the greatest thickness of the fish, to same scale. Fig. \b, mouth, natural size, showing the rows of small and larger teeth. Fig. Ic, scales from below pectoral fin, natural size.

Frederick McCoy.

[28]

<^^

f

A/. ?(:

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA.

Z^awii In- A. Bnifhnlmrunv

Fnf M^ Cey cUruc'

F Schm/ild UxJi

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Fishes.

Plate 20.

PSEUDOPHYSIS BARBATUS (Gunth.). The Australian Rock Cod.

[Genus PSEUDOPHYSIS (Gunth.)- (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Anacanthini. Fara. Gadida;.)

Gen. Char. — Body moderately elongate, tapering from head ; scales small, cycloid, loose ; two dorsal fins ; one anal fin. Ventral fins long, narrow at base ; teeth in a band of several rows of equiil small size (outer ones not larger than the others) ; no teeth on vomer or palate bones. Chin with a barbel. Confined to Australasia.]

Description. — Rays: branchiostegal, 7 ; anal, 44 to 57; dorsals, anterior 9 to 11, posterior 48 to 57; ventral, 5 to 6 ; pectoral, 22 to 26; caudal, 26 to 30. Scales: along lateral line, 116 to 128, of which about onlj' 104 are tubular; vertical scales, 15 to 18 above lateral line, 31 to 47 below lateral line, from first dorsal. Color : whole body pale brownish-olive, the centre or basal part of the scales, on lower part of the sides, lighter and their edg-es minutel}' freckled, fading into pinkish- white on the throat and belly ; slightly darker, and with slight purplish tinge on back, top of head, snout and lips ; but the operculum silvery. Ventral fins pinkish- white, like the throat. Pectoral fin pale-pui'plish, with a large purplish-black spot at the upper part of its base. Dorsals, caudal, and anal fins pui'plish at base, with a dull orange tinge higher up, and with a narrow blackish-purple border ; the lower portion of each fin is covered nearly up to the margin by very small olive scales on a loose skin. Teeth : small, short, hooked, subequal, forming a broad band on each side in each jaw, about 4 or 5 rows in width in each patch, and about 78 above and 48 below in length ; the lower teeth a little larger than the upper. A large double oval patch of pharyngeal teeth, as large as those of the jaws, on each side. Fins: ventral fin with rather narrow base, only the first two rays simple, prolonged into filaments, the second longest, the first about as long as the pectoral, and reaching less than half way fi-om its base to the anus ; the other three rays branched, and forming, with the membrane, the triangular fin, less than half the length of the filaments.

Reference. — Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. Feb. 1863, p. 116.

The following are tlie dimensions of a rather large specimen : —

Measarements. Length from snout to distal end of caudal ...

„ of caudal ...

„ from snout to anterior edge of orbit ...

„ of orbit ...

„ of head to end of operculum

„ from snout to anus (measured along ventral edge)

„ from snout to base of pectoral

„ from snout to origin of first dorsal ...

„ of pectoral

„ of first dorsal

„ of second dorsal ... ... ...

„ of anal

„ of second ventral filament ... * „ of barbel ... Width between eyes Depth of body in front of dorsal ... Thickness of body in front of dorsal Height of first dorsal Height of second dorsal at highest posterior end

* In females of about the same size the barbel is only about 5 lines long, and the longest ventral filament 1 inch 8 lines. In some Bpecimens the barbel is only 3 lines long.

Ins.	lines.
17	6
1	5
I	3*
0	9
3	8
6	8
4	3
4	10
1	9
1	6
8	8
8	6
2	3
0	U
1	3
4	9
2	10
1	3
1	3

[29]

Zoology.']

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

\_Fialies.

To show the singular variabiHty of the fin rays in this species, I subjoin particulars of six specimens in the National Museum, all about the same size, and agreeing in other respects : —

	Fin Rays.	Scales.
Specimens.						Along	Above	Below
	Dorsals.	Anals.	Caudal.	Pectoral.	Ventral.	Lateral Line.	Lateral Line.	Lateral Line.
Specimen drawn...	9+57	56	30	26	5	124	18	47
Two stuffed 1	9 + 54 10+52	57 54	26 28	23 22	5 5	119 116	15 15	31 36
(	9+48	44	29	25	5	122	17	41
Three in spirit \	10+51	47	27	24	6	124	16	40
\	11+48	52	28	24	5	128	15	38

The species of Pseudophysis are distinguished from those of the very similar genus Lotella by the outer teeth being no larger than those of the inner rows.

This fish, not having been figui-ed before, may " point a moral and adorn a tale" apropos of the utihty of having our colonial fishes accurately figm-ed and described for reference. I was called upon soon after arriving in the colony to assist at a grand chnner in the old Criterion Hotel of " merchants, bankers, and others," who had been brought together to taste this fish, to satisfy themselves it was a real Newfoundland cod, a bank of which had been discovered ra Victorian waters by fishermen — practical men — who proposed to give the assembled gentlemen and their friends the opportunity of subscribing so many thousands for a fleet of boats, so many thou- sands for curing establishments on land, so much to the discoverers, &c., to form a cod-fishing company. The small size of the cooked fish and its inferior flavor was explained by the discoverers having been so ill provided that they could only catch a few very young ones. The statistics of the Newfoundland cod fisheries were quoted to show the great profit which wovdd arise from this investment, and all went well, until one of the guests, who shall be nameless, earned great unpopularity by giving some reason for believing that the samples, 16 or 17 inches long, were not young, but adult ; and referring to the title of Sam Slick's new book at the tune, " How many Fins has a Cod ? " showed that, as the real cod had three

[ 30]

Zoolog;/.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IFishes.

dorsal fius and two anal ones, and that tlie Victorian fish in question had only two dorsals and one anal, they could not be even of the same genus, and that no arguments based on the identity with the true cod coidd be relied upon for the conunercial speculation. The project collapsed ; and although none of the capitalists wilHug to invest in the matter then knew "how many fins had a cod," the figure now given will settle the identity of our fish for the future.

This species seems to vary more than usual in the number of the fin rays, some of our specimens having more and some less than in Dr. Giinther's type. The very much smaller and more numerous scales readily chstinguish it fi-om the New Zealand Pseudophysis breviusculus.

The abdomen between the throat and anal fin is very prominent, owins: to the unusuallv larare size of the liver.

Caught commonly mth a line all the colder months of the year in Port Philip Bay on rocky reefs in five or six fathoms water. It is sold in the markets commonly for the table, but the flesh is soft and not very good. The fishermen report the spawning time to be in April.

Explanation op Figures.

Plate 20. — Fig. 1, view of ordinary specimen, three-eighths the natural size, of the colors of the living fish. Fig. la, form of section. Fig. 14, rows of small equal teeth on the jaws and teeth on b.i,ck of tongue. Fig. Ic, scales from below lateral line behind pectoral tin, natural size.

Frederick McCoy.

By Authority : John Feebes, Government Printer. [31]

)

CONTENTS OE DECADES.

N.B.— The originals of all the Figures are in the National Museum, Mclhounie.

DECADE I.

Platk 1 — The Black Snake (Pseudechys porphyriacus, Shaw sp.).

Platis 2. — The Copper-head Snake (Hoplocephalus superbus, Gi'mth.').

Plate 3. — The Tiger Snake (Hoplocephalus curtus, Schl. sp).

Platb 4. — The Australian Bream (Chrysophrys Australis, Giinth.)-

Plate 5. — The Spiny-sided Butterfly-Gurnard (Lepidotrigla Vanessa, liieh, sp.).

Plate 6 — The Kumu Gurnard (Trigla Kumu, Lesson and Gam.).

Platk 7. — The Australian Giant Earth-worm (Megascolidcs Austialis, McCoy).

Plate 8. — Lewin's Day-moth (Agarista Lewini, Boisd.).

The Loranthus Day-moth (Agarista Casuarinse, Scott). The Vine Day-moth (Agarista Glycine, Lewin sp.).

Plate 9. — Pieris (Thyca) Harpalyee (Don. sp.).

Plate 10. — Pieris (Thyca) Aganippe (Don. sp.).

DECADE II.

Plate 1 1.— The Little Whip Snake (lloploceplialus flagelluni, McCoy). The Whitr lipped Snake (Hoploeephalus coronoides, Giinth.).

Plate 12.— The Death Adder (Acanthophis Antarctica, Shaw sp.).

Plate 13. — The Carpet Snake (Morelia variegata, Gray).

Plate 14. — The Gippsland Perch (Lates colonorum, Giinth.).

Plate 15. — The Mnrray Lobster (Astacoides serratus, Shaw sj).).

1'late 16. — The Salmon Arripis (Arripis truttaceus, Cuv. sp.). Adult.

Plate 17. — Ditto of the younger forms and coloring.

Plate 18. — The Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus, Lin. sp.).

Plate 19. — The Small-scaled Koek Cod (Lotclla callavias, Giinth.).

Plate 20. — Tlie Australian Hock Cod (I'scudiijihysis biirh.itus, (Jiinth.).

r

:,Y 0". r

5:atttral §mto\% of f ktoria.

-1

PEODROMUS

ZOOLOGY OF YICTORIA;

OB,

FIGUEES AND DESCKIPTIOKS OF THE LIVING SPECIES OF ALL CLASSES

VICTORIAN INDIGENOUS ANIMALS.

DECADE ZZZ.

FI^EDEI^ICIi: ivicCOy,

HONOKART FELLOW OF THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY ; HONORART ACTIVE SIESIBER OF THE DIPERIAt SOCIETV

OF NATURALISTS OF MOSCOW; CORRESPONDING JIEMBER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETV OF LONDON;

UONOIIART MEMBER OF SEVERAL OTHER SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES, ETC.

PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE IN THE MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY.

DIRECTOn OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY OF MELBOURNE, ETC.

MELBOURNE :

BY At'THORITT : JOHN FERRKS, GOVERNMENT PRINTER. PUBLISHED 1!Y GEORGE ROBERTSON, LITTLE COLLINS STREET.

LONDON : TrL'bNER ANU CO., 57 AND 59 LUDGATE HILL ; AND GEORGE ROBERTSON, 17 WARWICK .SQL' ARE.

M DCCC LXXIX.

VI

I

iatural listorii of Dicimtt.

®'

PRODROMUS

ZOOLOGY OF YICTORIA;

FIGUKES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LIVING SPECIES OF ALL CLASSES

VICTORIAN INDIGENOUS ANIMALS.

SECA.DZ: IIX.

BT

FI^E^>EI^ICK McCOY,

HONORABT FELLOW OF THE CAMBIUDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCiElY ; HONORART ACTIVE MKMDER OF THE IMPERIAL 80CIETT

OF WATDKALISTa OF MOSCOW; CORRESPONDING SIEMHER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON J

IIONORAKY Mt'MHER OF 8EVEHAL OTHEIt SCIENTIFIC SOCIEI'IKS, ETC.

PROFESSOR OF NATURAL SCIENCE IN THE MELBOUUNE TNIVEUSITY.

DIBECTOR OF TUE NATIONAL MUSEU5I OF NATURAL UISTOUY AND GEOLOGY OF MELBOURNE, ETC.

MELBOURNE :

BT ACTHORITT : JOHN FEKRES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER. PCBLISHED UY GEORGE ROBERTSON, LITTLE COLLINS STREET.

LONDON ; TECJBNEK AND CO., 57 AND 59 LUDGATE HILL ; AND GEORGE ROBERTSON, 17 WARWICK SQUARE.

U DCCC LXXIX.

^7^

PEEFACE.

It having been considered desii'able to ascertain accurately the natural productions of the Colony of Victoria, and to publish works descriptive of them, on the plan of those issued by the Governments of the different States of America, investigations were undertaken, by order of the Victorian Government, to determine the Geology, Botany, and Zoology of the Colony, to form collections illustrative of each for the public use, and to make the necessary preparations for such systematic publications on the subject as might be useful and interesting to the general pubHc, and contribute to the advancement of science.

As the geological and botanical investigations have already approached completion, and their publication is far advanced, it has been decided to now commence the publication of the third branch completing the subject, namely, that of the Zoology or indigenous members of the different classes of the animal kingdom.

As the Fauna is not so well known as the Flora, it was a necessary preliminary to the publication to have a large number of drawings made, as opportvmity arose, jfrom the hving or fresh examples of many species of reptiles, fish, and the lower animals, which lose their natiu'al appearance shortly after death, and the true characters of many of which were consequently as yet unknown, as they had only been described from preserved specimens. A Prodromus, or preliminary issue, in the form of Decades or numbers of ten plates, each with its complete descriptive lettei-press, will be published, of such illustrations as are ready, without systematic order or waiting for the completion of any one branch. The many good observers

[3]

PEEFACE.

in the country will thus have the means of accurately identifying various natural objects, their obsrvations on which, if recorded and sent to the National Museum, where the originals of all the figures and descriptions are preserved, will be duly acknowledged, and ^dll materially help in the preparation of the final systematic volume to be published for each class when it approaches completion.

This third Decade gives figures and descriptions in the first plate of the largest species of Seal, the Sea-Leopard, occurring on our coasts.

The second plate represents another marine mammal, the yellow- sided Dolphin, or Bottle-nose of sailors, occasionally following shoals of fish into Hobson's Bay.

The third plate shows the characters of three species of danger- ous, poisonous snakes, hitherto confounded under the name of " Brown Snake." One of these is the large deadly " Common Brown Snake ;" of the other two, not before figured or described, one is distinguished by the much smaller scales, in more munerous rows, across the neck and back ; while the third is marked by the great size of the rosti-al shield covering the anterior part of the head ; all three being equally large and venomous.

The fourth plate represents the seventeen Victorian species of the beautiful genus Catenicetla, which may almost be looked on as characteristic of the Australian seas, from the number of species and abundance of individuals of these exquisite objects for micro- scopic observation occun-ing in Australasian waters, and the fact that comparatively few are foimd elsewhere.

The fifth and sixth plates give illustrations of all the known Victorian species of Menibrcmipo7-a, another genus of the same order, Polj/zoa, of minute, beautiful objects, really allied to the Mollusca, but often popularly called Lace-Corals, from their delicate tracery and a mistaken notion of their affinities. The Polyzoa abound in the fossil state in our Tertiary rocks, and the pubUcation

[4]

PREFACE.

of the species now living on our coasts is a necessary preliminary to the study by the geologist of the extinct ones in various strata. I am greatly indebted to one of the most distinguished investigators of tliese ammals, my friend Dr. MacGiUivray, of Sandhurst, for presenting specimens of aU the native species of these two genera to the National IMuseum collection, and placing at my disposal the whole of his descriptive and critical notes for the purposes of this publication. The lithographic figures will, I hope, be found to be perfectly efficient for the distinction of the species ; I have at least spared no trouble to make them so.

The seventh plate represents two interesting fishes not figured before, one a marine species commonly called Australian Rockling, and the other the most popular of the freshwater fishes of the Yarra and its tributaries, the Yarra Blackfish, a new species of the extraordinary genus Gadopsis, which seems to combine the charac- ters of the two great systematic groups of Fishes, the Acanthop- terygii and the Malacopterygii^ or Anacanthini.

The eighth plate shows the characters of a Mackerel with a swim-bladder, occasionally appearing in Hobson's Bay, which I believe to be identical with the Southern or Spanish Mackerel of Eui'ope.

The ninth plate represents a fi-esh-water Crayfish of the genus Astacoides, abounding in swamps and watei'holes from Melbourne, on the south, to the Murray flats, on the north extremity of the colony. This is commonly called Yabber or Yabbie, and is highly praised as an article of food by some, and spoken of bitterly by others, from the mischief it does in boring through the banks of water-dams.

The tenth plate represents the largest-bodied of our Lepidop- terous msects, the gigantic Wattle Goat-moth, the larva of which is very destructive to the Wattle or Acacia trees, so valuable for their tanner's bark, by boring great holes in the timber, on which they

[5]

PREFACE.

feed ; these larvse, three-quarters of an inch in diameter and five inches long, forming a succulent and most dehcious bonne louche for the natives.

The succeeding Decades will illustrate as many different genera as possihle, and will deal first usually with species of some special interest, and of which good figures do not exist, or are not easily accessible.

Feedeeick McCoy. 10th March 1879.

[6]

PI. 21

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA

3la III lunhrr '

J. udu'iq B^Htr, d(L . rfC hth .

Vrof. .irCoi/t/.rcu-^

Zoology. I

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

[^Mammah.

Plate 21.

STENOEHYNCHUS LEPTONYX (de Blainv. sp.). The Sea -Leopard Seax.

[Genus STENORHYNCHUS (F. Cuv.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Mammalia. Order Pinnipedia. Fam. Phocidse.)

2-2 1-1 5-5

Gen. Char. — Dental formula: — i..

= 32. Incisors conical ;

2 - 2 ' ' 1 - 1 ' ' 5-5 outer upper ones largest and resembling the canines. Molars compressed with the crown, divided into three long, narrow, conical lobes, the middle one largest ; the anterior molar in each jaw with one root, the others double-rooted. Muzzle compressed, elongated, broad, simple, hairy. Wliiskers small, wavy, tapering ; no external ears ; fore feet triangular ; wrist very short ; hind feet of two nearly equal lobes ; three middle toes small ; claws of anterior limbs small ; of posterior ones obsolete. Skull elongate, orbits moderate ; lower jaw strong, with an acute angle behind ; fur close-set, short, of flat, tapering hairs ; without under fur.]

Description. — Length of adult male about 10 feet. Color : above yellowish light ashy-g-rey, with numerous, irregular, large spots, or small irregular patches, of dull yellowish-white, and darker grey spots on the sides of the neck and body, with occasional, smaller, irregular, black spots, and a few smaller, whitish spots on the sides of the body ; upper part of hind limbs dark-grey, irregularly marbled with lighter patches and spots, and dark-brown, large patches and streaks, darkest on the margins. Anterior limb, or pectoral, with the anterior margin marked with dark-brown patches ; the posterior portion dark-grey. Iris blackish-brown. Throat, belly, and lower portion of sides dull yellowish-white with a few small blackish spots. Lips black.

Measueements op Two Specimens in Museum.

Length from tip of snout to extremity of tail „ from tip of snout to occiput ... „ from tip of snout to front of pectoral „ from tip of snout to eye „ of pectoral ...

Large.

ft.	ins.	ft.	ins.
9 1	7 3	6 1	3J 0
3	5	2	4
0 1	6i 8	0 1	6

Reference. — Phoca leptonyx (de Blainville), Journ. Phys. xci., 288, 1820= Stenorhynchus leptonyx (F. Cuvier), Diet. Sc. Nat. xxxix., 549, t. 44.

This, the largest of the Seals frequenting our coast, is a most voracious devourer of fish and occasionally of marine birds. It is a good example of the group of genera termed " Earless Seals," from their having no external ear-conch visible. Unhke the Eared Seals, the hind limbs are directed backwards when at rest, nearly

[7]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORT OF VICTORIA. \_MammaU.

in a line with the body, and closely approximated to the tail, with only a moderate, obliquely lateral, power of motion ; so that, on the land, instead of raising the body clear of the ground and walking on the four legs like the eared seals, it can only progress painfully on the land by the action of the abdominal muscles and singidarly flexible spine. Dr. Ludwig Becker (Avho ched in the Burke and Wills Expedition across the Australian Continent), when making the di-awing for our plate from a living specimen, wrote thus to me on this point : — " The specimen while alive was able to open its mouth so much that the upper and lower jaw formed an angle of nearly eighty degrees. Palate and tongue pale flesh-color. The flexibility of the spine was seen while the poor animal was crying either from pain or for food ; it could raise the head two feet and a half from the floor while still the sternum was level with the belly, and the head when raised was bent backwards. At the same time the spine from above the pelvis to the tail moved right and left. The sound was somewhat between a roaring and a grunting noise, not very strong."

This species abounds in countless myriads on the packed ice of the Antarctic Ocean, and only occurs on our shores as an occasional visitant strayed from its usual haunts.

Fine specimens from the Victorian coasts are in the National Museum.

Explanation op Tiguees.

Plate 21. — Fig. 1, specimen, of average color, when at rest, viewed from the side, one-twelfth the natural size. Fig. la, side view of skull, one-sixth the natural size. Fig. 16, front view of same, one-si.\th the natural size. Fig Ic, half of palate, showing proportion and position of teeth, and the palatal vacuity ; reduced one-half. Fig. \d, similar view of teeth of lower jaw. Fig. le, third molar, lower jaw, natural size.

Frederick McCoy.

[s]

PI. 22

ZUOLQGY OF VICTORIA

Mammalia )

T.Schmfeld tun .

FntM''CtY,duti<.

Hamil <f Cfiiiui.

Zoohgy.} NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORLl. ^Mammals.

Plate 22.

DELPHINUS NOV^ ZEALANDI^ (Quoy and Gaim.).

The Yellow-sided Dolphin,

[Genus DELPHINUS (Lm. as restricted by Gbat). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Mam- malia. Order Cetacea. Fam. Delphiuidie.)

Head and forehead rounded, witli a suddenly narrowed beak in front, separated by a trans- verse groove from the head. Dorsal fin falcate, in middle of back. Pectoral fin elongate, falcate. Skull with hind wings of maxilla horizontal ; nose much longer than the head, taper- ing, depressed in front, wider than higli, nearly parallel-sided, convex above, slightly concave in front of blow-hole. Teeth subequal, pointed, tucm'ved, Jg'io ^o ttti> extending along greater part of the length of each jaw.]

Description. — Teeth: XTTi- Body rounded in front, taperino- behind, becoming- much compressed and carinated above from about half-wav between the end of the dorsal and the caudal fins ; snout, narrow cylindrical, depressed above, pointed in front. Color: up])er part of bodj' g-lossy rich bhick as tar as half-wav between dorsal fin and tail, beyond which the posterior part of the body is dark slate-coloi'; edo-e of upper jaw, lower jaw, and belly dull-whitish ; pectorals blackish above, whitish below ; dorsal dull-whitish or leaden-g'rej^ in middle, the maigins darker; eye moderate, dark-brown, surrounded with a black margin extending- as a narrow- streak forwards to join the black of the head, at front of triangular groove ; the upper and lower edjres of this black mark being- margined with white. A laro-e, wide, dull yellow-ochre colored patch extends on each side from the eye backwards nearly as far as the hind edges of dorsal, widening- on middle of side and then tapering- to posterior end. Skull. — Palate deeply concave along- each side behind, middle very prominent.

JlEASnREMENTS OF MODEKATE-SIZED SPECIMEN.

Length from tip of lower jaw to centre of tail

„ from tip of snout to anterior edge of blower

„ from tip of snout to anterior point of triangular furrow in

front of forehead „ from tip of snout to eye Girth behiud pectorals...

Length from tip of snout to front of pectoral „ from tip of snout to front of dorsal „ of pectoral Greatest width of pectoral Height of dorsal along front edge Length along base of dorsal Width of tail

Length of .^kull from condyles to tip of snout Lower jaw projecting 4 lines beyond upper jaw — Length of lower jaw

„ of dental series of lower jaw

„ from tip of snout to anterior edge of blowers on skull...

Reference. — Quoy and Gaimard, Voyage de I'Astrolabe.— PI. 28, f. 1. Deem. [ 9 ] J

Ft,	ins.
5	u
1	0
0	4f
0	lOJ
2	H
1	ii
2	H
U	9
0	3
0	8
0	6i
1	0
1	54
1	2J
0	8*
I	Oi

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. ^Mammals.

This is the only Dolphin, or "Bottle-nose," as sailors say, which I have noticed on the Victorian coasts. It not unfrequently visits Hobson's Bay, generally in August, and following shoals of Pilchards or other fish, on which it feeds.

Explanation of Fiq0ke3.

Plate 22. — Fi?. 1, side view, natural colors, reduced ; the position of the blowers marked by the spoutint!;. iTig. la, view of forehead and snout from abore. Fi<j. 16, form of section beliiiid pectorals. Fig. \c, form of section near tail, showing the compressed, sharp, upper mid-line. Fig. Id, form of tail, viewed from above. Fig. le, side view of skull, reduced. Fig. \f, skull, seen from below, showing tlie deep concave channel on each side of the narrow, pro- minent palate. Fig. \y, e.Ktreraity of lower jaw, viewed from above, natural size, showing length of symphyses and size and position of teeth. Fig. lA, tooth from middle of jaw, natural size, viewed ia front and profile.

Frederick McCoy.

[ 10]

MEMOIRS or thi MUSiUM.

ZOOLOGY or VICTORU.

4.HartJiol'n»c>r. del.

Iha' .WCcr dtreu'

r SclimteU Utk

Zoohgy.l

NATtTRAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

[Reptilet.

Plate 23, Fia. 1.

DIEMENIA SUPERCILIOSA (Fischer).

The CoiMMON Brown Snake.

[Genus DIEMENIA (Gray). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class ReptUia. Order Ophidia. Fam. Elapsida;.)

Gen. Char. — Body and fail moderately stout ; head subquadrate, muzzle blunt. Plates : rostral moderate, vertex plate narrow ; loreal replaced by deflected posterior frontal, anterior ocular, second labial, and posterior nasal ; oculars one, sometimes two, anterior, and two pos- terior ; two nasals with nostril between them. Scales smooth, 15 or 17 rows on back ; sub- caudals in two rows. A row of small, equal, solid teeth behind the grooved fang. Australasia and New Guinea ]

Description. — Form: body moderately stout, cylindrical; head only mo- derately exceeding the width of the neck, flat above, sides nearly vertical, con- verg-ing to a narrow, rounded, blunt muzzle. /Scales: 17 rows of scales across middle of back, large, flat, rhombic, and smooth; ventral plates, 190 to 216; subcaudals, 57 to 73; anal plate double. Plates: rostral shield one-fourth broader at base than high, obtuse-angled behind ; anterior frontals small, quadrangular, nearly twice as wide as long ; posterior frontals nearly twice the length of the anterior ones ; vertex plate hexagonal, anterior angle so obtuse as to be scarcely marked, the length equalling- the inner sides of the anterior and posterior frontals, the width in front nearly twice the width behind, or about two-thirds of the length. Parietal and occipital shields moderate. Color: color of head and upper part of body and tail nearly uniform olive-brown or warm sepia, with a slight bronze reflection ; the lower surface of a lighter tint of pale yellowish-grey, the edges of the scales darker colored, with a glassy lustre ; the anterior part of the belly freckled with pale- brownish spots, the hinder part dotted with grey ; eyes black, with a yellow line round pupil; skin between the scales greyish. Teeth: 17 small, solid, equal pala- tine teeth on the left side, and 18 on the right in the specimen (Fig. 1); 6 small solid teeth behind the fang on the left side, and 7 on the right in same specimen.

The following are the numbers of scales in seven specimens counted in the Museum collection : —

	Scales of Back.	Plates.	Length.
	Across Middle.	Over Base of Tail.	Abdomen.	Tail.	TotaL	TaU.
1. Toung, S. Brighton 2. Average sp., Heidelberg... 3. Queenscliff 4. Murray Downs 5. Sebastian, Sandhurst 6. Footscray 7. Figured PI. 23, fig. 1	17 17 17 17 17 17 17	15 14 15 14 15 14 15	190 2U4 197 200 201 206 202	46-46* 57-57t 63-C3t 57-57 73-73 60-60§ 62-62	ft. ins. 1 10 4 3 5 6 3 6 3 6 4 5 5 2	ins. 3i 7J 11 6J 7 9

• Third and foorth subcaadal plates single. t Tip of tail absent.

§ Second, third, fonrth, and fifth single.

X Four first single.

[11 ]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Reptiles.

Reference. — Pseudoelaps snperciliosus (Fischer), Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete dei' Natui-wissenscbalten, h. v. d., naturwissenschaftlichen Verein in Ham- burg ; vol. 3, t. 2, f. 3.

This is one of the largest of the poisonous and very dangerous snakes of the colony, and is more generally distributed than any of the others, being equally common from the south coast to our northern Murray boundary. In the experiments made by Dr. Halford on snake-poisoning, taljulated in the Medical Society^s Journal for March 1875, all the cases of people bitten by the Brown Snake and treated by the injection of ammonia recovered ; but in one of the last cases mentioned in the public journals {Bendigo Advertiser, 27th October 1877), a snake of this species, 3 feet 6 inches long (the fifth in above table of measurements), bit Mrs. Eleanor Ingleby, residing at Sebastian, in the hand, and she died from the effects within fifty minutes. The acting coroner, Mr. Strickland, who held the inquest, sent the specimen to the Museum, where it is now dejDosited, so that the species is deter- mined with certainty.

Explanation op Figures.

Plate 23. — Fig. 1, average specimen, one-fifth the natural size. Fig. la, side view of head, natural size (the groove in front of the eye not sufficiently shaded to indicate the projection of the eyebrow and apparent division of the first ocular). Fig. 16, same, with mouth closed, groove in front of the eye not sufficiently shaded. Fig. \c, view of the top of the head, natural size, to show the form and disposition of the plates. Fig. \d, same viewed from below. Fig. le, nasal plates with nostril. Fig. \f, inside of palate of same specimen, natural size, showing the two small fangs with the row of smaller solid teeth behind on each side, and the two palatine rows of small, solid teeth.

Plate 23, Figs. 2 and 3. DIEMENIA MICROLEPIDOTA (McCot).

Small-scaled Brown Snake.

Description. — General appearance of D. supercil'wsa and with a similarly small ro.stral plate ; but the vertex plate is nearly pentaj>;onal, from the broad front beinfc almost destitute of ang-le, forming the greatest width of the plate, which is three-fourths of its total leng-th, the sides converffin"- backwards to the narrow

. ^ on

posterior end ; posterior frontals proportionally much more elongate, more than twice the length of the anterior frontals, and the occipital plates much narrower behind. The scales are also much smaller and more numerous, being 30 or 36

[ 12]

Zootogy.l

NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA.

[Beptihs.

across the neck, 23 across the middle, and 17 over base of tail. The ventral scales are also more numerous, being' from 232 to 237, the anal one being- undivided, while the subcaudals are only 61 to 66. Color : dark-brown above, j-ellowisb-gTej' below, the ventral scales edged and blotched with dark-g'rey; one specimen with the head sooty-black g-radually passing- into blackish-brown on the body and tail. The g-eneral size is larger than the Common Brown Snake.

This large well-marked species is only found in the warmer northern parts of the colony. It is very easily distinguished from the Common Brown Snake {D. sicperciliosa) by the greater number of rows of scales across the back, and their obviously much smaller size and greater number, particularly across the neck. The two type specimens in the Museum have the following dimensions and numbers of scales : —

	Scales of Bcick.	Plates.	Length.
Specimens.	Across Middle.	Over Base of Tail.	Abdomen.	Tail.	Total.	TaU.
Pale-brown sp Large blackish-brown sp.	23 23	17 17	237 232	66-66 61-61	ft. ins. 4 9 6 1	ins. 10

Locality, junction of Murray and Darhng.

Explanation of Figures.

Plate 23. — Fig. 2, under side of head and neck, natural size, of large dark specimen. Fig. 2a, upper side of head of same specimen, showing the long posterior frontals, the broad- fronted, nearly pentagonal vertex plate, and the narrow occipital plates converging to the wedge-shaped posterior end. Fig. 3, head of smaller specimen, natural size, showing also the long posterior frontals, broad-fronted pentagonal vertex plate, and wedge-shaped posterior nar- rowing of the occipitals ; as well as the smaller and more numerous scales when compared with fig. Ic, showing head, of nearly the same size, of D. superciliosa. Fig. 3a, under side of base of tail of same specimen, natural size, showing the undivided anal plate.

Plate 23, Fig. 4.

DIEMENIA ASPIDORHYNCHA (McCor).

The Shield-fronted Brown Snake.

Description. — General appearance of D. svperciliosa, but the head narrower, and with the front of the muzzle truncated instead of being- rounded ; and with a very much larger rostral plate extending backwards over the top of the head more than

[ 13]

Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IReptiles.

twice as far relatively as the rostral shield of D. superciliosa or D. microlepidota, equalling in backward extension the anterior and posterior fi-ontals together. The posterior frontals are but little longer than the anterior ones, contrasting in this respect strongly with D. microlepidota. The vertex plate has the pentagonal form, broad front, and backward-converging sides of D. microlepidota, but is shorter and more obtuse-angled behind, contrasting with the angular front and parallel sides of the hexagonal, vertex plate of D. superciliosa. The occipital plates agree with D. superciliosa in being shorter, broader, and widely rounded behind, contrasting in this respect with D. microlepidota. Color : a dark, rich, warm sepia-brown above, dark-greyish below, with lighter edges to scales ; plated part of head very dark- brown or brownish-black. Hcales : moderate, 24 or 20 across neck, 17 across middle of back, 15 over base of tail ; abdominal scales, 219, anal scale divided ; sub- caudals, 55 on each side. Teeth: 16 in each palatine row; 7 on one side and 4 on the other behind the fings. The anterior grooved ocular plate often appearing (erroneously) divided into two. Length : total, 4 feet 8 inches ; tail, 8 inches.

In the enormous size of the rostral shield, its great backward extension over the crowai, and in the size and shape of the frontals and vertex plate, this species agrees with the Pseudonaja nuchalis of Giinther, but it is not banded, and presents no generic difference fi*om the other two Brown Snakes above described, and certainly belongs to the genus Diemenia.

Explanation of Figukeb.

Plate 23. — Fig. 4, head, natural size, viewed from above. Fig. 4a, side view of same Bpecimen.

Frederick McCoy.

[11]

.o-CV-

Tl.2,^

ZOOLOGY OF VICTORIA.

I My 20 a. )

S O'dks (fei et liJ'

. ':-j M' t>> ■':hj\u:

V /■'^vu^on vrnp

tratUA. at du Tdamp t OaoLyuai I>tpart^ 'jcvrirwti. Jhrau QSU*. Mt^ir^t

Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IPolyzoa.

PLATES 24, 25, 26.

POLYZOA.

The number of observers with the microscope is so considerable in Victoria that it seemed to me particularly desirable to take advantage of the microscopic skill and powers of observation of some of my friends to present the means of readily identifying some of the more easily preserved, beautiful, and interesting of the minute members of the animal kingdom found in the colony. From the Polyzoa presenting these recommendations in a high degree, and an exact determination of our living species being hkewise of great prospective interest to the geologist, as a necessary prelimi- nary to the right understanding of the numerous species occurring in our Tertiary formations, I several years ago mentioned to my Mend Mr. P. H. MacGillivray, so well known for his studies of this group, my desire to publish in this work all that were known on our shores ; and I have to express my greatest thanks to him for immediately presenting a series of his specimens to the National Museum, and furnishmg me with his notes on them. The specimens I have had most carefully figured, the three foUowng plates giving the species of the genera Catenicetla and Memhranipora^ represented in all the views that seemed needful for the easy and certain recognition of the species.

Plate 24, Fig. 1.

CATENICELLA MARGARITACEA (Busk).

[Genus CATENICELLA (Blainv.). (Sub-kingd. Mollusca. Class Polyzoa. Order In- fundibulata. Sub-Order Cheilostomata. Fam. Catenicellida;.)

Gen. CAar.— "Cells arising one from the upper and back part of another by a short corneous tube, all facing the same way and forming dichotomously divided branches, of an erect phytoid polyzoary ; cell at each bifurcation geminate ; each cell with two lateral pro- cesses, usually supporting an avicularium. Ovicells either subglobose and terminal, or galeri- form, and placed below the opening of a cell in front." The species of Catenicetla abound in the Australasian seas, to which they are almost confined.]

[ 15 ]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Polyzoa.

Description. — Cells widely ovate. Fenestras 5. Lower lip with a minute rounded notch. Lateral processes large; avicularium large, supporting a widely- open cup-shaped process above. Back of cell finely sulcated.

Reference. — Busk, Voy. Ratt., i., 3.56 ; Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., t. 6, f. 12 3

J., ~i, o.

Forms dense tufts, 2 to 4 or 5 inches liigli, of a reddish-brown color ; common on the Victorian coasts.

This species is readily distinguished by the number of the fenestrje, the slight notch in the lower lip, the form of the lateral processes, with the widely-open, superior, cup-shaped, chamber, and the sulci on the back of the cells.

Explanation op Figukbs.

Plate 24. — Fig. 1, natural size. Fig. la, front view of a branchlet, magnified. Fig. IJ, back view of ovicell, niagnitied. Fig. le, front view of ovicell, magnified. Fig. \d, back view of a branclilet, magnified.

The species of this genus may be divided into five well-defined groups. The first, Fenestratoi* of Busk, is distinguished by the presence of a certain number of marks or fenestrse on the front of the cell, caused by the deficiency of the ectoderm at these points. The species are mostly of large size, and the ovicells are large and terminal. In the second group, VittatcBf of Busk, there are no fenestrse, but there is a narrow lateral or sublateral band or vitta on each side. The ovicells are of two forms, either on the summit of a cell of a series and cemented to the succeeding one, which is sessile, so that the three form a continuous mass ; or they are terminal, and situated on the summit of a cell of a geminate pair. They are usually small species. The third group, Simplices of Busk, comprising the single species C. carinata^ has neither fenestrae, vittae, nor any other appendage, except the peculiar transversely spreading lateral processes. The fourth group, AuritoB\ of Wyville Thomson, has neither true fenestrae nor vittae, and is chstinguished oy the presence of several thick blunt hollow processes on the upper edge of the mouth. The fifth group, Fasciatce of Thomson, consists of the single species C. Harveyi.

* Fenestrata includes C, margaritacca, plagiostoma, veniricosa, liaslata, rtifa, cribraria, alata, lorica, intermedia,

f Vittala includes C. formosa, elegaiis, perforata, Buskii, Hanna/ordi, crystallina, cornuta. f Aurila includes C. aurita, geminata.

[ 16]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. IPolyzoa.

The lateral processes, tlie characteristics of which are largely used in the discruniuation of the species, can, ui many, be seen to consist of three divisions, the middle one being the true avicularian chamber. One or more of the divisions may be largely developed, abortive, or wanting.

In adcUtion to the species here described, C. amphora and umbonata of Busk, and castanea and Harveyi of Thomson — which have been found in Bass's Straits — are certain to occur on our coasts ; and there is no doubt that a careful search will add several undescribed forms to the list.

Plate 24, Fig. 2. CATENICELLA PLAGIOSTOMA (Busk).

Description. — Cells large, wide. Fenestrre 5, very large. Mouth lofty, directed obliquely to one side of the cell. Lateral processes very wide, consisting of an avicularium surmounted by a wide hollow fringe. Avicularia of two sorts, of moderate size, or very much elongated and exceeding half the length of the cell. The back of the cell with a broad longitudinal band, from which proceed, on either side, two narrow bands, one to the avicularian process, the other across the middle of the cell. Ovicell very large.

Var. a Icevis. — Back of cell destitute of spines.

Var. (i setigera. — Back of cell with small setose spines in the intervals between the dorsal band and its branches.

Eefeeence.— Busk, Voy. Ratt., i., 358 j Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., t. 5, f. 1, 2.

Very common, forming handsome, dense, reddish tufts, 3 or 4 inches high.

This is one of the most peculiar species of the genus. The cells are very broad, the front almost entirely occupied by 5 fenestrae, the real natm-e of which is here probably better shown than in auy other sj^ecies. The marks on the back of the cell are produced in the same manner as the fenestrse in front, the broad mesial and the narrow diverging bands consisting of the ectoderm which is deficient in the other parts, as it is in the fenestrse in front. The mouth of the cell is very lofty and chrected obliquely to one side, which is constant in all the cells of the same series, and follows the same dhection as that of the gemmate cell from which

Dec. m.

[ 17 ]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Polyzoa.

it arises — the mouths of the geminate pair being directed towards each other. The form and arrangement of the avicularia present a very marked feature. On all the cells there is a small avicularium with a sharp-pointed mandible, lodged in the edge of one or both lateral processes ; while in many cells this position is occupied, on one side, by an avicularium of enormous size, frequently nearly equalling the cell in length. These large avicularia, when present, are situated on that side of the cell towards which the mouth inclines.

The ovicell is of large size, and surmounted by an avicularium sessile on a thick calcareous process. Encircling and forming the upper rim of the mouth is a large semilunar plate on each side, the two being united together in the mesian line.

Of the two varieties the first is very common, the second of much rarer occurrence.

Explanation op Figuees.

Plate 24. — Fig. 2, natural size. Fig. 2a, front view of ordinary single and double cells, magnified. Fig. 26, front view of a cell with an ovicell, magnified. Fig. 2c, back view of ovicell, also single and double cells, magnified.

Plate 24, Fig. 3. CATENICELLA VENTRICOSA (Busk).

Description. — Cells ovate. Fenestrse 7, pyriform or with aline from the pointed inner extremity. Lower lip entire, notched, or. with a small snboral foramen. Lateral processes of moderate size, the upper division generally pointed upwards. Back of cell smooth.

Reference.— Busk, Voy. Ratt., i., 3575 Cat. Mar, Pol. Brit. Mus., t. 2, f. 1, 2 j t. 3, f. 1-5.

Forms large, dense, brownish tufts, 3 or 4 inches high, and is of common occmTence. It is readily distinguished by the number and arrangement of the foramina, and by the smooth back of the cell.

Explanation of Figures.

Plate 24. — Fig. 3, natural size. Fig. .3o, front view of a branchlet, magnified. Fig. 3i, back view of a single and double cell, magnified.

[ 18]

Zoohgy.-\ NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Polyzoa.

Plate 24, Fig. 4. CATENICELLA HASTATA (Busk).

Description. — Cells ovate. Fenestrse surrounding a scutiform area, and with intermediate fissures radiating towards the median line. Lateral processes very wide, the upper portion with several small perforations. Back minutely sulcate.

Reference. — Busk, Voy. Ratt., i., 355 ; Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., t. 2, f. 3, 4.

Queenscliff, Western Port, Cape Otway, and other localities; frequent.

Forms thick brownish-white tufts, 1 to 3 inches high. It is readily distinguished by the peculiar scutifomi an-angement of the fenestras and intermediate fissures, and by the perforated superior lateral processes.

Explanation op FiGuitEs.

Plate 24. — Fig. 4, natural size. Fig. 4a, front view of a branchlet, showing single and double cells with ovicell also, magnified. Fig. 4e, back views of ovicell with ordinary cells also, magnified. Fig. ib, drawn by mistake, back of cells with adherent extraneous matter.

Plate 24, Fig. 6. CATENICELLA EUFA (P. MacGil.).

Description. — Cells vase-formed. Front with numerous round fenestrse, the circumferential being the largest. Mouth with a notch in the lower lip. Lateral processes small and pointed. On the back of the cell an elevated band runs up the middle, sending a narrow branch horizontally to each lateral process, and a small band extends up each side. Ovicells large, cribriform, surmounted by two avicularia.

Reference. — P. H. MacGillivray, Trans. Royal Soc. Vict., 1868.

Common, forming handsome reddish-brown tufts, 4 or 5 inches high.

This and the next species, although presenting many points of resemblance, are easily distinguished. The cells in both are of nearly the same size and form, and are cribriform in front. In

[ 19]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_roJyzoa.

both the exterior foramina are of much larger size, and usuallv form a distinct series round the edge of the cell. Both have frequently a semicircular area beneath the mouth more elevated than the rest, and both are destitute of the upper appendage of the lateral process.

In C. cribraria the lower lip is entire, and there is a crescentic pore a short distance beneath it ; the avicularia are lodged in deep gaping excavations in the tolerably large lateral processes ; and the back is smooth and destitute of any special marks. In C rufa^ the lower lip presents a constant notch ; the lateral processes are small and pointed, and the notch for the avicularium is very shallow and inconspicuous ; and the back of the cell is occupied by a broad mesial band connected inferiorly with two narrow lateral ones, and sending off superiorly on each side a narrow band to join the lateral in the avicularian processes. In this and the next species the fenestrse are probably formed by the opening of small tubercles.

Explanation op Figures.

Plate 24. — Fig. 5, natural size. Fig. 5a, front view of ovicell, with other cells attached, magnititd. Fig. bb, front view of a branchlet of cells, magnified. Fig. 5e, back view of ovicell, magnified. Fig. 5rf, back view of branchlet, magnified.

Plate 24, Fig. 6.

CATENICELLA CRIBRARIA (Busk).

Description. — Cells oval or subo;lobular. Surface cribriform, with a suboral lunate pore, the circumferential foramina being- largest. Lateral processes destitute of superior appendage, deeply excavated for the reception of the avicularia, and jiroduced inferiorly as a narrow fringe along the side of the cell. Back of cell smooth.

.Reference.— Busk, Voy. Ratt., i., 3595 Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., t. 5, f. 3, 4.

Queenscliff, Sealers' Cove, Western Port, and other localities.

Explanation op Figures.

Plate 24. — Fig. 6, natural size. Fig. 6a, front view of a branchlet of single and double cells, magnified. Fig. 66, back view of cells, magnified.

[20]

Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Polyzoa.

Plate 24, Fia. 7. CATENICELLA ALATA (Wyv. Thomson).

Description. — Cells pyriform. Fenestrse, 5-7. Lateral processes very large, extending; as a broad flat fringe the whole length of the cell. Back of cell minutely sulcate.

Reference. — Wyville Thomson, Dublin Natural History Review, April 1858, quoted in Microscopical Journal, 1859, p. 143.

Queenscliff.

Forms small tufts of a pinkish color, about an inch high, grow- ing on polyzoa and algae. It is at once distinguished from the other species by the enormous width of the lateral processes, each of which is as large as the cell. The avicularian chamber is a long narrow tube, expanding in the outer half and contracting at the orifice. There is a constant pyriform or triangular opening in the process immediately above the avicularian chamber, and generally one or more irregular ones in the lower part of the fringe.

Explanation of Figiibes.

Plate 24. — Fig. 7, natural size. Fig. 7a, front view of cells, magnified. Fig. 76, back view of cells, magnified.

Plate 24, Fig. 8.

CATENICELLA LORICA (Busk).

Description. — Cells elongated, truncated at both ends. Fenestrse, 3, two below the mouth, and one median much larger. Lateral processes of considerable size. Back of cell minutely sulcate.

Reference.— Busk, Voy. Ratt., i., 3585 Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., 1. 1, f. 1-3.

QueenscliflF and elsewhere ; not common.

Forms tufts one or two inches high, of a dirty reddish-white color. Beneath the third division of the lateral process, which is

C 21 ]

Zoohgy.1 NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Poli/zoa.

very wide and covered liy a tliiu membrane, is another similar closed compartment extending almost to tlie base of the cell. This gives to the cell a peculiar hexagonal or rhomboidal figure, which, ■with the constant three foramina, at once cUstinguishes this fi'om the other species. The ovicell is of large size, surmomited by a single avicularinm.

Explanation of Figukes.

Plate 24.— ri?. 8, natural size. Fig. 8a, front view of cells, with ovicell, magnified. Fig. 86, back of cells, magnified.

Plate 24, Fia. 9. CATENICELLA FORIMOSA (Busk).

Description. — Cells pyriform or subglolmlar; in front covered with numerous papilla?; a broadly linear or ellijitical vitta extends up each side. Lateral processes larg'e, straig-ht or nearlj' so above, jirodiiced downward.*! as a narrow f'ring-e, a round perforation at the base of each. Avicularia small, lodged in shallow excavations. Back of cell smooth.

Refekence.— Busk, Voy. Ratt., i., 3G0 ; Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., t. 7, f. 1, 2.

QueensclifF, Cape Schanck, Eivoli Bay, and other places.

This, the largest as yet known of the vittate di-\nsion, forms handsome dusky-brown tufts. The cells are broadly pyriform or subglobose. The front is covered mth minute, pointed, papillEe, and has, on cither side, a broad vitta, extending fi-om the base to nearly the level of the lower lip. The lateral processes are large, straight above, generally projecting a little upwards, and produced interiorly into a nari'ow fringe usually running to the base of the cells ; on each process there is at the base nearly opposite the lower lip a constant round opening ; the avicularinm is of small size, and lodged in a shallow excavation in the edge of the lateral process.

Explanation of Figures.

Plate 24. — Fig. 9, natural size. Fig. 9«, front view of cells, magnified. Fig. 96, back view of cells, magnified.

[22]

Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Pohzoa.

Plate 24, Fig. 10. CATENICELLA ELEGANS (Busk).

Desceiption. — Cells ovate, papillose in front. Vittae sublateral, extending about half-way up the cell. Lateral processes larg-e, projecting' slightly forwards, blunt, with an excavation under the point for the small avicularium. Ovicell superior, projecting on the surface of the cell above, with which it is incorporated, with a smooth margin.

Reference.— Busk, Voy. Ratt., i., 361 ; Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., t. 9, f. 3, 4.

Forming small glassy tufts, 1 to 2 inches high ; frequent.

This is distinguished from the other small vittate species by the short sublateral vittae and imperforate lateral processes. The ovi- cell is of similar structure to that of C. Buskii, but the upper edge is smooth. Thomson's C. Dawsoni, judging from his description and figure, and from specimens which seem referable to it, I believe to be a form of this species.

Explanation of Fiqukes.

Plate 24. — Fig. 10, natural size. Fig. 10a, front view of a branchlet of cells, magnified. Fig. 106, back view of cells, magnified.

Plate 24, Fig. 11. CATENICELLA PERFORATA (Busk).

Desceiption. — Cells elongated, minutely papillose in front. Vittae narrow, lateral, extending the whole length of the cell. One or both lateral processes usually large, triangular, pointed forwards, perforated at the base, or forming a blunt cupped process. Ovicell galeate, sessile on one of the cells of a geminate pair, terminal, smooth, or slightly tuberculate.

Reference. — Busk, Cat. Mar. Pol. Brit. Mus., t. 8, f. 1, 2.

Not unconmion.

In most of the specimens with ovicells the lateral processes are very small.

Explanation op Figukes.

Plate 24. — Fig. 11, natural size. Figs. 11a and lie, front view of cells, magnified. Fig. 116, front view of double cell with ovicell, magnified. Fig. llrf, bacli view of cells, magnified. Fig. lie, back view of ovicell, magnified.

[23]

Zoology.} NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Pofyzoa.

Plate 24, Fig. 13. CATENICELLA BUSKII (Wtv. Thomson).

Description. — Cells very much elongated, narrow. Vittse very narrow and extending' the whole length of the cells. Ovicell galeate, superior, projecting on the surface of the cell above, with which it is incorporated, with a beaded border.

Reference. — Wyville Thomson, Dublin Natural History Review, April 1858.

A small species growing on other polyzoa ; rare. Readily dis- tiuguislied from the other small species by the long, entirely lateral vittse, and the aduate beaded ovicell.

Explanation op Fioukes.

Plate 24. — Fig. 12, natural size. Fig. 12ff, front view of a Ijranchlet of cells with OTiceU, and showing the side view also of some cells, magnified. Fig. 126, another series of cells, front view, magnified. Fig. 12c, back view of cells, magnified.

Plate 24, Fig. 13. CATENICELLA HANNAFORDI (P. MacGil.).

Description. — Cells wide, ovoid or subglobular. Lateral processes large, gaping, directed forwards, usually equal on both sides. VittiE narrow, entirely lateral, extending the whole length of the cell. Anterior surface smooth, or very finely papillose ; posterior surface faintly sulcate.

itEFEKENCE. — P. H. MacGilHvray, Trans. Royal Soc. Vict., 1868.

Lady Bay, Portland, adhering to algas ; Mr. Hannaford.

This species may be distinguished by