Contributions to Galaxiid Taxonomy By G. Stokell Shand's Track, No. 4 R.D., Christchurch. [Read before the Canterbury Branch June 6, 1951; received by the Editor, November 12, 1953.] Since the writer reviewed the classification of the Galaxiidae in 1945 a quantity of material has been received which shows the need of extending the number of genera then recognised. One genus (Paragalaxias) has been dealt with elsewhere (Stokell, 1950), and another (Brachygalaxias) is redefined below. The latter was created by Eigenmann (1928) for a fish from Chile which Regan (1908) described, under the name of Galaxias bullocki, as having five rayed ventral fins and the anal fin inserted in advance of the dorsal. Eigenmann based his genus principally on these two characters, but recent examination of the species has disclosed others of at least equal importance. Through the good offices of Professor George S. Myers, of Stanford University, the writer has received three of Eigenmann's specimens which had been stored in the Indiana University. Dissection of these specimens revealed a much lower number of vertebrae than has been found in any species of Galaxias, two specimens having 39 each and the other 41. A further distinction exists in the presence of a median ridge or keel between the ventrals and the anus, very similar to that occurring in Retropinnidae but not extending as far forward as it does in the latter family. Another fish, described as having the anal fin originating before the dorsal and five rayed ventrals is Galaxias pusillus Mack (1936) of Victoria, Australia. A keel is indicated in the line drawing presented, but no mention of it is made in the description, which is incomplete in other respects also. A re-examination of the fish was facilitated by the courtesy of Mr. R. T. M. Pescott, Director of the National Museum, Melbourne, in which the whole of the material of the species is housed. Three specimens were dissected, and showed an even lower number of vertebrae than Brachygalaxias bullocki, the counts being 34–38–40. In the Australian species the keel is much more strongly developed than in the Chilean one, but does not extend forward of the ventrals. The anal origin is well before that of the dorsal and the ventrals are usually five rayed, but one specimen has one fin with four rays and another has one fifth ray extremely rudimentary. Of the four characters noted, only the keel is really exclusive, a low number of vertebrae occurring also in Paragalaxias, five rayed ventral fins in Galaxias burrowsius and a tendency for the anal fin to precede the dorsal existing in Neochanna diversus, but the association is so distinctive in the family that it must be regarded as indicating a natural group. While Eigenmann's genus as defined by him appeared to be of questionable validity, its position is now considerably strengthened, and its retention justified. It may be redefined as follows. Brachygalaxias Eigenmann, 1928. A single series of conical teeth in jaws and on entopterygoids, tongue with two rows. Vertebrae 34–41. Dorsal fin inserted at 68–77 of the standard length, anal originating in advance of the dorsal, ventrals with 4–5 rays. A median ridge or keel between base of ventrals and anus. Adult length 25–45 mm.