Zoohgy.-\ NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Fishes. 



Plate 6. 



TRIGLA KUMU (Lesson and Garn.). 



The Ku&ru Gtjrnard. 



[Genus TRIGLA (Artedi). (Sub-kingd. Vertcbrata. Class Pisces. Order Acanthop- 

 terygia. Fam. Triglidas.) 



Gen. Char. — Head subrhomboidal, with the top and sides bony, covered with granular 

 ridges ; scales of body very minute; anterior dorsal tin much shorter than posterior one; 

 three long slender pectoral tilaments ; teeth Tilliform in numerous rows on both jaws, and a few 

 on the vomer, none on the palatine bones ; air-bladder bilobed in front.] 



Description. — Fin-rays: dorsals, anterior 9 or 10, posterior 15 or 16; anal, 

 15 or 16 (last two united at base); ventral, 1 simple and 5 branched rajs; pec- 

 toral, 10; caudal, about 18 (llf). Scales: along- lateral line about 69 to 73, 16 

 rows above between the dorsals, and about 65 below the lateral line ; no spine to 

 scales of lateral line. Snout acutely pointed when viewed sideways ; profile nearly 

 straight ; concave space between the eyes rather less than diameter of orbit, and 

 only slig-htly hollowed ; vertical diameter of eye about 3 J times in the depth of the 

 head; 2 small spines in front of the eye; 1 suprascapular, 1 opercular, and 2 

 preopercular spines, small, about 2 lines long; lateral angles of snout, or ends of 

 sub-opercular bones, blunt, nearly rectangular, with small blunt spines, about 5 or 6 

 in number ; a row of 25 spines on each side of the concave channel in which the 

 dorsal fins originate ; first dorsal spine little shorter than the second and third, which 

 are longest, and equal to the length from anterior nostril to tip of spine at angle of 

 preoperculum. Color : head yellowish on cheeks, purplish-grey above, in front, and 

 behind; back and sides a dtill pale cinnamon-brown, with an olive tinge, and with 

 large blotches, irregular in size, shape, and disposition, of a didl indian-red or 

 reddish-brown. Dorsal fins very pale, brownish, and yellowish ; anal and ventral 

 fins whitish ; 3 pectoral filaments dotted with brown ; pectoral fins blackish-green, 

 ■with reddish rays on outer side ; on inner side pale yellowish-olive, with a pale, 

 narrow, greyish-blue margin, with 2 or 3 rows of small oval spots of the same color 

 within the border ; a large ovate black blotch between the third and sixth rays from 

 the lower edge, having about five oblong opaque white spots tinged with bluish along 

 its upper edge, and three running down the middle ; caudal fin reddish, with 

 brownish rays darker towards the margin ; throat and belly pure white. Iris golden 

 yellow. Teeth : about 5 rows on upper jaw of 60 each in the length ; a transverse 

 arched group of about 35 small teeth on front of vomer ; about 4 rows in lower 

 jaw, 50 each in the length. Transverse section of bodj^, with a narrow rounded 

 back, widening towards the belly. Total length to end of caudal, 19 inches ; length 

 of head, 4 inches 6 lines; second spine of dorsal, 2 inches 6i lines ; length of pec- 

 toral, 5 inches (reaching to third ray of anal and second dorsal) ; diameter of eye, 9 

 lines ; space between eyes, d^ lines. 



Reference. — Lesson and Garn. Voyage de la Coquille. Poissons, t. 19. 



[ 19] 



