Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [FisAes. 



Abundant on our coasts in the winter season ; not uncommon 

 in the market, and moderately good for the table. It rarely reaches 

 three feet in length, and is usually much less. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 27. — Fig. I, average specimen, one-third the natural size. Fig. la, dentition of lower 

 and upper jaws, vomer, and palate, natural size. 



Plate 27, Fig. 2. 



GADOPSIS GRACILIS (McCoy). - 



The Yarra Blackfish. 



[Genus GADOPSIS (G'cJNTH.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Anacanthini. 

 Fam. Giidopsidfe.) 



Gen. Char. — Body moderately elongate, ovate ; head moderate, lower jaw much shorter than 

 snout ; one dorsal fin, with spinous anterior rays and longer posterior portion with soft branched 

 rays ; anal fin moderate, with three strong anterior spines. Dorsal and anal fins with a thick 

 scaly skin on basal two-thirds of height ; caudal fin moderate and rounded, separate from 

 dorsal and anal ; ventral fins jugular, each of a bifid filament ; branchiostegals seven ; gills four, 

 with narrow slit behind fourth ; pseudobrancliiie glandular ; gill-opening wide ; gill-raenibranes 

 not united ; an air bladder ; pyloric appendages moderate. Scales small, cycloid. Teeth small, 

 cardiform, in numerous rows on the jaws, palate-bones, and vomer; much larger conical teeth 

 on outer row of jaws. Fresh water, Australia and Tasmania.] 



Description. — Form: slender, elongate, the profile of back very slightly convex, 

 Dearly straight (more so than in G. marmoratus); profile of head moderately convex 

 (less so than in G. marmoratus), concave over eye ; snout semi-oval, prominent ; 

 lower jaw more broadly rounded and much shorter than the snout; tubular anterior 

 nostrils nearer to the end of snout than to the edge of orbit ; posterior ones simple, 

 nearer to eye; space between the eyes slightly convex; operculum ending in a 

 slightly acute angle with a small spine ; superior maxillary, when the mouth is 

 closed, extending to vertical of posterior third of the eye ; small scales extending over 

 the whole head, except the jaws, snout, and cheeks in front of the eyes. Rays : 

 branchiostegal, 7 ; anal, 21, the first 3 short and spinous ; dorsal, 11 or 12 spinous, 

 26 or 27 not spined ; ventral, of two filaments, inner or hind ray longest ; pectoral, 

 16 to 17 ; caudal, 23 or 25. Scales: along lateral line, 100 to about 140 if the 

 small terminal ones be counted ; vertical rows of scales from front ray of dorsal to 

 lateral line, 21 to 23 ; below lateral line, 5G to 08. Color : extremely variable ; 

 some specimens light olive-green, becoming yellowish-white towards the belly; the 

 back, sides, and fins marbled with distant, irregular patches of dark -brown ; other 

 specimens have the dark-brown spots very much more numerous, smaller, and extending 

 over the belly as well as over the head, back, sides, and fins; such specimens having 

 the smaller intervening spaces on the head, back, and sides dark brownish-olive, and 

 with an orange tint on the base of the pectoral and belly ; iris silvery. Teeth : in 



[39] 



