THE MULLET FAMILY. 79 



larger and consequently less numerous than those of the 

 Sea-Mullet, there being from 35 to 38 transverse rows from 

 the head to the foot of the tail. 



The colours are as follows: Steel-blue above, silvery 

 on the sides, white below. The scales of the back and sides 

 have each a narrow longitudinal streak along the middle, 

 forming bands ; often with golden reflections. There is a 

 small black spot at the root of the pectoral fin, preceded by 

 a bright golden blotch. The second-dorsal, anal, and caudal 

 fins are tinged with gold on their outer margins. 



The Diamond-scaled Mullet : This species is notable 

 for its very large scales and its broad, flat head. It 

 is captured in some abundance along the central and 

 northern portions of the coast of Queensland; being less 

 common farther south, and exceedingly rare in the north of 

 New South Wales. The species is distributed throughout 

 the Seas of India and the Malay Archipelago, and probably 

 is to be found along portions of the northern coastline of 

 Australia. 



It attains a weight of several pounds and is of a pretty 

 silvery colour, each scale being very prettily-margined with 

 black. 



The Sand Mullet : Of the three common commer- 

 cial species of Mullet in New South Wales this is the least 

 valuable. 



Its distribution along our coastline is very similar to 

 that of the Flat-tail Mullet,* with which it agrees somewhat 

 in habit. 



It grows, exceptionally, to a length of about 15 inches, 

 the average size being very much smaller. 



Like the two preceding species, it has no fleshy eyelid. 

 There are about 45 rows of scales along the body, which 

 is considerably more elongate than that of the Flat-tail 

 Mullet. 



In clear water its colours are very similar to those of 

 the Flat-tail Mullet ; but the golden spot on the upper half 

 of the operculum is not so distinct ; being more diffused. 



The Yellow-eye Mullet : This fish is distributed 

 right round the southern half of Australia from about 



* It has been recorded from Western Australia. 



