94 



FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



the sides of the body. There is a peculiar knobby protuber- 

 ance on the head in front of, and between, the eyes. 



The Drummer grows to a length of more than 2 feet. 



THE TRIPLETAILS 



( Family: Lobotidee.) 



THIS family contains 2 or 3 species which are large fishes 

 closely allied to the true Perches. They are represented in 

 our waters by one species, known as the Dusky Perch 

 ( Lobotes Surinam ensis}. Comparatively little is known in 

 regard to the habits of this fish. It has a very wide geo- 

 graphical distribution, being found on the coast of America, 

 in the Mediterranean Sea, the seas of India, China and the 

 Malay Archipelago. In Australia, it has only so far been 

 recorded from Queensland and New South Wales ; being a 

 little more common in the northern State. 



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^'y/.'y w'y! '. ''-,':'' ^,/tf^^. 



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Fig. 36. DUSKY PERCH (Lobotes Surinam crisis). 



In colour, it is of a uniform dark-brown, with the ex- 

 ception of the lower surface, which is lighter. 



The Dusky Perch reaches a length of 3 to 4 feet and 

 a weight of 25 to 30 pounds. 



