THE HARDY HE AD FAMILY. 71 



melanocercus is found on the New South Wales coast ; 

 reaching a length of about 16 inches. 



Amongst the other species of Flying-Fish occurring in 

 our waters, may be mentioned Exocvetus evolans a very 

 widely-distributed species. 



THE HARDYHEAD FAMILY. 



(Family: Athcrinidfc .) 



THE members of this family are small carnivorous fishes, 

 inhabiting the seas and, to a lesser extent, the rivers of 

 the temperate and tropical zones. They are characterised 

 by the possession of a more-or-less elongate, somewhat 

 rounded body covered with scales of moderate or fairly- 

 large size. According to Boulenger, about 65 species are 

 known from various parts of the world ; these being referable 

 to 14 genera. 



In general form they are not unlike the fishes of the 

 Mullet family ; possessing, as do the latter, two short, 

 widely-separated, dorsal fins. Most of them are shore- 

 frequenting fishes ; but few being found in ocean depths. 



In Australian waters the Atherinidee are represented by 

 a number of species, the most familiar of which is the 

 common Hardyhead (Atherina laciinosa). Another, and a 

 highly interesting, member of this family is the tiny but 

 beautiful, Blue -eye (Pseudomttgil signifer), which de- 

 serves to be better known. 



The Hardyhead is very abundantly distributed along 

 the coast of New South Wales and Queensland, as 

 well as along the shores of other portions of Australia. In 

 addition, it occurs also, in the seas of East Africa, India, the 

 Malay Archipelago and other localities. At times, on the 

 New South Wales coast, huge shoals of this little fish con- 

 gregate; forming dense masses. Ordinarily it is to be 

 found in great numbers, spread out over the sandy bottoms 

 and slopes of beaches in our inlets. As it readily takes a 



