86 



FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



its upper surface. The whole head is covered with small 

 plates, the surfaces of which are provided with small spines. 



Fig. 31. Macrurus austral is. 



Little is known of the distribution of this fish. 



A species allied to the above, known as Coryphtenoides 

 variabilis, was obtained from the waters South of Australia 

 by the "Challenger" at a depth of over 2,000 fathoms ; while 

 two other species of the same genus have been described 

 from our waters, one being from South Australia and the 

 Other from Tasmania. 



THE COD FAMILY. 



(Family: Gadida'.} 



THE Cod family, which is so well represented in the waters 

 of northern climes, and which is of such great importance 

 to mankind, is comparatively unimportant so far as our 

 Australian waters are concerned. Still, it contains several 

 species of economic value: The most important being the 

 Beardie or Ling (Lotella callarias) and the Red Cod 

 (Physicultis backus). 



The Beardie is fairly common along parts of the 

 New South Wales coast, and is also found on the coasts 

 of Victoria and Tasmania. It is a small-scaled species, of 

 a rich chestnut-brown, on the upper parts, being lighter on 



