84 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA 



CHAPTER V. 



Cuvier's Square-Tail The Whario Family The Grenadiers or 

 Whiptails The Cod Family The Nannygai Family Knight Fishes 

 Bull's-Eyes Centrarchoid Fishes The Black-fish Family The Triple- 

 tails Rifle Fishes The Perch Family. 



CUVIER S SQUARE-TAIL. 



( Family : Tetragonuridcp.) 



THE sole member of this family, is that peculiar fish, 

 known sometimes as Cuvier's Square - tail ( Tetragonurus 

 cuvieri). It is a widely-distributed oceanic species, but is 

 not often obtained. It is known from the Mediterranean 

 Sea, the neighbouring parts of the Atlantic Ocean, and also, 

 the South Pacific Ocean, including the eastern coast of Aus- 

 tralia. "It is said to descend to great depths at certain 

 seasons, and to feed on Medusae; its flesh is poisonous. "- 

 (Boulenger.) It attains a length of 18 inches. Very little 

 is known in regard to the habits of this species. When 

 young it seeks the shelter of the umbrellas of certain 

 Medusae. 



THE WHARIO FAMILY. 



(Family: Stromateidte .) 



THIS family consists of marine fishes, pelagic and deep-sea, 

 feeding on Crustaceans, Medusas, or the fry of other fishes. 

 About 45 species are known, but very few of them are of 

 economic value. Probably the most valuable is Scrioldla 

 brama, which is found on a portion of the eastern coast of 

 Australia, as well as in New Zealand, where it is known as 

 Whario or Warehou. Large numbers of this species are 



