Zoology.^ 



NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. 



\^Fishes. 



Plate 73. 



GIRELLA SIMPLEX (Rich. sp.). 



The Ludrick. 



[Genus GIRELLA (Gray) = MELANICHTHYS (Tem. and Sen.). Sub-kingd. Verte- 

 brata. Class Pisces. Sub-class Teleostea. Order Acanthopterygii. Fam. Sparida3. Sub-fam. 

 Cautharinaj.) 



Gen. Char. — One to three rows of large, flat, sharp-edged teeth, with tricuspid or straight, 

 horizontal edges, on outer margins of each jaw, within which is a baud of numerous minute 

 teeth ; no molars ; in some species a patch of small teeth on the vomer and palatine bones. 

 Cheeks scaly. Operculum without scales, except on the upper angle. Dorsal spines fourteen 

 or fifteen ; when depressed resting in a groove. Scales moderately large. Branchiostegals six. 

 Pyloric caeca numerous. Swimming bladder bilobed behind.] 



Description. — Form: Ovate, moderately thick. Fin-rays: Dorsal 15 spined, 

 12 soft, the last one double, 7th spine long-est, slightly exceeded by long-est (3rd) 

 soft ray; caudal 20; anal 3 spined, 11 soft, last one double; pectoral 17; ventrals 

 1 spined, 5 soft. Scales minutely serrated, 69 along- lateral line, and about 5 

 beyond on the caudal fin; 12 above lateral line, and 17 large and 9 or 10 small 

 below. Colour: Nearly uniform blackish-g-rey, with a purple tinge, darkest on back 

 and soft dorsal, and on caudal and anal fins; sides of mouth and head below the eye 

 from snout brig-ht king-'s yellow, gradually fading* on operculum ; pectoral fin pale- 

 brownish yellow; chin, throat, belly, and ventral fins whitish ; iris silvery. Teeth: 

 Three outer rows in each jaw large, incurved, with nearly straight, broad, cutting- 

 edges; within them a band of very minute similar ones; a trigonal patch of minute 

 teeth on the vomer, and an ovate similar patch on each palatine bone. 



Measurements of moderately large Specimen. 



Length from tip of snout to end of body 

 „ of middle of caudal 

 „ from tip of snout to corner of mouth 

 „ „ „ anterior edge of orbit 



„ „ „ end of operculum 



„ „ „ base of pectoral 



„ „ „ base of ventrals 



„ „ „ first spine of dorsal 



„ „ „ last spine of dorsal 



„ „ „ last soft dorsal ray 



„ „ „ first spine of anal 



Greatest depth of body 



„ thickness of body 

 Diameter of orbit 

 Length of pectoral 



„ ventral spine 



„ 1st soft ray of ventral 



„ 1st dorsal spine 



„ 7tn „ 



„ 1st anal spine 



''nd 

 „ oiCl ,, ... ... 



„ 2nd soft ray... 

 Width of caudal 

 Number of scales in one inch at middle of body, three. 



Reference. = Crenidens simplex (Richard.), Voy. Er. and Ter., Fishes, p. 120. 

 Dec. VIII. [ 17 ] C 



