PAPERS READ. 199 Papers Read. Notes on a Collection op Fishes from the Burdekin and Mary Rivers, Queensland. By William Macleay, F.L.S., &c. In September of last year the Trustees of the Australian Museum sent Mr. Alexander Morton to the Burdekin River for the express purpose of collecting and investigating the fishes of that river. The idea of making such an investigation was suggested some years ago by Professor Owen, who thought that a search in some of the inter-tropical rivers of Australia might lead to the discovery of existing species of palaeichthyan forms. No such ancient fishes were found, still the collection, which I have looked over and named at the request of the Trustees of the Museum, is not without interest. Mr. Morton was well supplied with nets of various kinds, lines, dynamite, and every appliance for catching or trapping fish that could be procured, and I think it will be found that he managed to secure, during his short stay on the river, about all the varieties of fishes inhabiting its waters. Mr. Morton's operations were confined to two very distant parts of the river. The first few weeks he was engaged in fishing the river near its mouth, but was unable to extend his search beyond the first rapids — a distance only of 15 miles from the sea — though for some distance below the falls the water was quite fresh and the current strong. The fishes found in this part of the river were, as will be observed, of a mixed character — some undoubtedly sea fish, others salt water fish, but habitually entering rivers, and a few strictly fresh water species. The only other part of the river visited by Mr. Morton was about 200 miles higher up, at or near Charters Towers, where of course there could be nothing but fresh water fishes. The fishes from the Mary River were all collected in the vicinity of Maryborough. I make no attempt in the following notes to give synonyms, and the references to each species are limited to a few of the most useful and most accessible : —
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