9 o FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



It is indeed a quaint-looking creature, as it is clad in a 

 strong coat of mail, formed by the large bony scales. In- 

 stead of the ventral fin, there are two enormously-developed 

 ventral spines. On each side of the head near the mouth 

 are peculiar luminous discs, which are probably of service 

 to the fish in assisting it to obtain its food. Though this 

 fish is not often obtained, it is most probably not uncom- 

 mon on our coast. Its ordinary habit of life is not likely 

 to lead it often either into the scope of the fisherman's net, 

 or, to take a bait. Examples are occasionally thrown up 

 on ocean beaches with debris, after a storm. 



The Australian Knight-Fish reaches a length of 9 

 inches. 



BULLS-EYES 



(Family : Pempheridce.} 



Two species of fishes known as Bull's-eyes occur on the 

 eastern coast of Australia; the Small-scaled Bull's- 

 eye (Pempkeris compressits) and the Large-scaled Bull's- 

 eye (Pempkeris macrolcpis}. Both of these are found 

 on the coast of New South Wales; the former being 

 the more common kind. Their most noticeable character- 

 istics are : a deep, highly-compressed, short body ; a short 

 dorsal fin, a very long anal fin and exceedingly large saucer- 

 eyes like the Nannygai, but relatively larger. This last- 

 mentioned feature is responsible for the common name of 

 Bull's-eye. The small-scaled species is of a light-brown 

 colour, clouded over, particularly on the upper parts, with 

 fine dots of a darker hue ; the fins being also darker. The 

 Large-scaled Bull's-eye in addition to the greater size of 

 the body-scales, is further characterised by possessing light- 

 coloured longitudinal lines, between each row of scales, on 

 the body. In life, it is of a rich reddish-brown colour. 

 Neither species attains to a large size, the average being 

 about 8 to 9 inches; and, as they are never captured in 

 numbers, they cannot be said to be of much value from an 

 economic standpoint. 



