2i 4 FISHES OF AUSTRAL/ A. 



of Thalassophryne from Central America, in which the first 

 dorsal fin is formed by two spines only : each of which is 

 hollow (as is also a spine on the op'erculum), and convevs 

 the contents of a poison-bag situated at its base into any 

 wounds inflicted by the points of the spines. Wtmds from 

 these fishes are said to cause death and native fishermen 

 are exceedingly careful to avoid standing upon them. A 

 common representative of this family in Australian waters 

 is the Frog-Fish (Batrachus dubius). This is often to 

 be met with in Port Jackson and other localities. Appar- 

 ently, it ranges from New Guinea to Tasmania. It is a 

 squat-looking tadpole-like fish, having a smooth, soft, naked 

 skin which, though darkly coloured, is rather prettily mot- 

 tled. Small, tentacle-like weedy growths are placed all 

 round the mouth and on other parts, these with the dark 

 mottlings contributing to give to the fish a protective re- 

 semblance to the weed amongst which it is usually found. 

 Wounds inflicted by the spines of this fish are very painful. 

 The Frog- Fish grows to a length of 6 or 7 inches. 



ZOARCOID FISHES. 



(Family: Zoarridee.) 



SPEAKING in a general way, this family of fishes is but 

 little met with ; consequently, with few exceptions, they are 

 unfamiliar to the majority of people. They are widely dis- 

 tributed; many of them being adapted for an existence in 

 great ocean depths. They have a more-or-less elongate 

 body and there is usually no distinct caudal fin, the dorsal 

 and anal fins forming as in the Australian Rockling one 

 continuous fringing fin. 



Included in this family are the curious Cave-fishes of 

 Cuba, which are organised for an existence in subterranean 

 waters never coming to the light the eyes being either 

 absent or quite rudimentary, and covered by the skin ; while 

 others are found in depths of 2,500 fathoms (nearly 3 



