192 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



milesii). Of these only the first three are of economic im- 

 portance, the principal one being the Red Rock-Cod. 



The Red Gurnet-Perch is not uncommon along the 

 coasts of New South Wales and Victoria, being also found 

 in Tasmania and New Zealand. In Tasmania it is known 

 as "Rock Gurnet," while in New Zealand, where it is quite 

 common, it is called "Sea Perch," or the Maori name of 

 "Pohuiakaroa." In shape, it is somewhat like the Red 

 Rock-Cod, but its form is devoid of the fleshy weed-like 

 filaments which adorn the head and body of that species. 

 Also, the head of the Red Rock-Cod is scaleless, while in 

 the Red Gurnet-Perch, that portion down to the space be- 

 tween the eyes, is covered with scales. Other differences 

 also exist. 



In colouration, this species, like so many scorpsenoid 

 fishes, is very beautiful ; but it requires to be seen while 

 fresh to be properly appreciated. The following descrip- 

 tion is chiefly from McCoy. It will be found to apply fairlv 

 well in most cases, though there is a certain amount of 

 variation. 



Colour: variable; cheeks, sides, tail and upper part of 

 body orange, scarlet or vermilion, and carmine-red; dotted 

 or minutely-spotted with blackish-brown ; rendering the top 

 of the head and the middle of the back darkest. On the 

 sides are four irregular, broad, dark transverse bands, the 

 first two not reaching to the abdominal profile and the last 

 of which crosses the base of the caudal fin. These bands 

 are formed by a confluence of the more numerous blackish 

 freckles of the upper part of the body ; a few of which are 

 also scattered between the bands. All the fins are of a 

 vermilion, tinged with orange on the rays ; the membranous 

 portions of the dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins being pale- 

 purplish, the dorsal being strongly speckled with black at its 

 base especially over the dark body-bands. The membranes 

 of the ventral and anal fins are orange. In front of the 

 pectoral fin and along the lower part of the sides is a yellow- 

 ochre tint separating the red of the upper part from the 

 pearly white of the throat and. belly. 



Occurring as it does in fairly-deep water in rocky 



