146 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



latter are soft and flexible as are all the other fins of this 

 fish. 



The Rock-Whiting is quite common along the shores 

 of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, while in 

 South Australia and Western Australia it is also known to 

 abound. In New South Wales it is more common in a 

 southerly direction, the waters of Victoria being, apparently, 

 its principal home. In Victoria and Tasmania, this fish is 

 known as "Stranger" ; this name even being occasionally 

 used in the Sydney markets. 



This species is commonly obtained of a length of 12 to 

 14 inches, though larger specimens are obtainable. 



It is carnivorous if not wholly, very largely so sub- 

 sisting principally upon small marine mollusks, crustaceans 

 and other organisms to be obtained in the vicinity of, or 

 amongst, weedy rocks at sea. 



In colour there is a good deal of variation, but the 

 following description, which is adapted with slight modifica- 

 tions from that of Ogilby, may be taken as fairly typical 

 Above purple or reddish-brown, darkest on the head. The 

 sides are of a bright greenish-blue, the lower surfaces 

 bluish-white, the whole being profusely spotted with orange, 

 and, usually, with indistinct, darker, transverse bands. The 

 cheeks are greenish-blue, beautifully vermiculated with 

 orange. The spinous portion of the dorsal fin is a pale- 

 green (sometimes blue), the basal half being unspotted, 

 while the marginal half is crossed by narrow, oblique, orange 

 or lilac bars. The soft-rayed or hinder portion of the dorsal 

 fin possesses a large blackish spot, often broken up into 

 several smaller spots, occupying the greater part of the 

 base ; there being a broad, purple, marginal band spotted or 

 streaked with orange. The anal fin is violet with purple 

 and orange spots. The ventral fins are whitish, tipped with 

 purple and having large orange spots near the base. The 

 pectoral fins are greyish and the caudal is a greenish-blue 

 with orange spots. 



From the above description it will be at once apparent 

 that this species is a very beautiful fish; and such is cer- 

 tainly the case. 



Before leaving this fish, I must mention that there is 



