Notes on the infusorial parasites of the Tasmanian white ant

It was with much interest that I discovered soon after my arrival in Tasmania, that a species of White Ant (specific name at present undetermined) abounds in this colony, feeding after the manner of the North-American type upon decaying timber, and having its intestine similarly laden with parasitic Infusoria. No specific description of these Infusoria has been published up to the present date, and it is only so recently as the year 1881, that a detailed account, with illustrations, of the analagous parasites of the American White Ant (Termes flavipes), has been contributed by Dr. Joseph Leidy to the "Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences," Philadelphia. William Saville-Kent, F.L.S., F.Z.S., was Superintendent and Inspector of Fisheries, Tasmania

Notes on the identity of certain Tasmanian fishes.

The opportunity recently afforded me of inspecting the collection of fish contained in the Australian Museum, Sydney, has enabled me to establish the identity of two species inhabiting Tasmanian waters, concerning which there has hitherto been some amount of uncertainty. The first of those is the large species of Parrot Fish, abundant on many parts of the Tasmanian coast, and familiarly known to the fishermen by the title of the " Bluehead." The second species to which I have to draw attention is the fish commonly known as the " Magpie Perch." It is not unfrequently exposed for sale in the Hobart Fish Market, and has been referred with some doubt by Mr. Johnston to the Chilodactylus gibbosus of Richardson

Notes on the Tasmanian "Butter Fish" (Chilodactylus mulhalli), Macleay

From among the specimens of fish that I have had the pleasure of contributing to the Tasmanian Museum within the last few months, and which have hitherto been unrepresented in that institution, I would direct brief attention on this occasion to the form known to the local fishermen by the name of the " Butter Fish." This species is evidently identical with the type taken near Port Jackson, and first described by Macleay in the Proceedings of the Linnaean Society of New South Wales, p. 366, 1882, under the title of Chilodactylus mulhallii. The probable identity of that species with the Tasmanian Butter Fish has been already recognised by Mr. E. M. Johnston in the appendix to his Catalogue of Tasmanian Fishes, published in the same year

Observations on a suspected hybrid species of trumpeter, and upon other rare fish taken in Tasmanian waters

I propose in this communication to make a few rernarks upon certain varieties of fish that have been remitted me by the local fishermen within the past twelve months as varieties with which they were more or less unfamiliar. The first specimen to which I have to draw attention was captured on the East Coast in a graball net in company with ordinary silver bastard trumpeter, and being brought to Hobart alive was kept for some time in one of the tidal ponds at the fishery establishment. When taken by the fishermen it was at once recognised by them as an unfamiliar form which could not be correctly identified with either the real trumpeter, Latris hecateia, or the ordinary red and silver bastard trumpeter, Latris Forsteri, but which combined the character of both of these familiar species in a very remarkable manner

Observations on the acclimatisation of the true salmon (Salmo salar), in Tasmanian waters, and upon the reported salmon disease at the breeding establishment on the River Plenty.

The disease, as I recognised immediately upon reading the announcement referred to, is one prevalent among the fish to a greater or less degree at every breeding season, and is caused, by the growth upon some wounded or abraded surface of the fishes skin of a species of aquatic fungus, known technically by the name of Saprolegnia ferax. From the point first attacked the fungus gradually invades and disintegrates the surrounding tissues, living at the expense of and absorbing all their nutrient juices and ultimately, it not eradicated, destroys the fishes life

Note upon the occurrence of the Sydney crawfish, Palinurus hugelli, on the coast of Tasmania

Notes on the specimen now enumerated accord with the diagnosis of the New South Wales species Palinurus Hugelli contained in Mr. Hassell's Catalogue of the "Australasian Stalk and Sessile-eyed Crustacea," and with which I have no hesitation in identifying it. To make more sure of this suggested identification, I remitted drawings of the more essential features of this crawfish to my brother, Mr. Acland Kent, at present residing in Sydney, asking him to compare them with the typical examples in the Sydney Museum