The Ceratodus Forsteri

Abstract

I AM much obliged to Dr. Sclater for his remarks on the new fish discovered by me as Ceratodus forsteri, and I take this opportunity to inform your readers who may feel interested in this matter, that I spoke of the animal as an amphibian, principally because it is in the habit of leaving the water during the night. The works to which Dr. Sclater refers me are not at my command, and I adopted the generic term of Ceratodus because the bulk of my specimens greatly resemble those of the above fossil genus. Professor Agassiz has written to me to say that the discovery of the Ceratodus forsteri is of the greatest importance, and that he (Prof. Agassiz) is “amazed” at it. By this mail two of these interesting strangers (with intestines) will be shipped to England, as a present from Prof. A. M. Thomson to Prof. Owen, another by Mr. Ramsay to Dr. Sclater. I am glad to see that my friend Ramsay has complied with Dr. Sclater's request, and ceased classing the Ceratodus as “Salmon,” which he confesses to have done frequently before. Mr. George Masters, the assistant curator of the Museum, is now at Gayndah, with appliances to catch the fish, and he will, if possible, send some alive to Sydney and to the Zoological Society of London.