no FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



land and to a lesser extent along a portion of the Victorian-, 

 coast. In Tasmania it occurs sparingly. 



It dwells upon clean, sandy bottoms in all of the har- 

 bours within its habitat ; as well as the larger coastal lakes 

 and on sandy bottoms in fairly shallow water off the various 

 ocean-beaches. In these localities it obtains its food, which 

 consists chiefly of sand-crustaceans, worms and the little 

 bivalve mollusks known as "pippies." 



Fig. 40. SAND WHITING (Sillayo ciliula). 



The Sand Whiting is one of our sporting-fishes, and 

 is captured in great numbers by hook-and-line ; but the prin- 

 cipal means by which the market supply is kept up, is by 

 the use of the hauling-net. This fish has the habit of bur- 

 rowing into the sand, and when a number of them are en- 

 closed within a net and more especially when it is near- 

 ing the shore there is always a large percentage of them, 

 that quickly burrow, so as to escape. If the fishermen did 

 not know of this habit, of course a large number of the 

 Whitings would be lost, but they are well acquainted with 

 the fishes' wiles ; so they walk about in the sand in the water 

 and when they feel a wriggle, put the hand down quickly 

 and bring forth a struggling beautv. In other cases, the 

 fishermen are able to locate their quarries as they are dis- 

 appearing. The young also have this same habit of hiding 

 themselves when danger is near. 



The Sand Whiting is of a yellowish-brown, sand colour 

 along the back, and silvery- white below. All over the sides 

 and back are the most lovely purple, green and gold re- 

 flections and altogether it is a truly handsome fish. In 

 addition to this, young examples up to about 4 to 5 inches. 



