574 



NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 



Mr. Stead exhibited an interesting series of New South Wales 

 Whitings (Fam. SiUaginidce), embracing Sillago ciliata (Sand 

 Whiting), S. maculata (Trumpeter Whiting), S. punctata 

 (Spotted Whiting), and S. basserisis (School Whiting); and he 

 offered some observations upon their general appearance, their 

 occurrence and distribution. He also contributed the following 

 note upon S. bassensis : — "The specific name bassensis has had a 

 most unhappy career. It was first applied in 1829 to a form of 

 Sillayo taken at Port Western, Victoria, by Quoy and Gaimard 

 during the voyage of the ' AstrolaVje.' Since then the species has 

 been treated, by most authors, as synonymous with either one or 

 other of the species ciliata and maculata^ principally the latter. 

 Castelnau even went so far as to suggest* that it might be a 

 variety of S. punctata; but the very elongate body, small scales, 

 and increased number of second dorsal and anal rays at once put 

 this out of consideration. Great confusion has prevailed all along 

 regarding the identity of our Whitings; but, in my opinion, the 

 confusion has been caused to a great extent by either insufficient 

 material, or from careless examination. There appears to me no 

 doubt that the fish here determined as Sillago bassensis is the 

 true bassensis of Cuvier and Valenciennesf, figured later on by 

 Quoy and Gaimard J. This Whiting is exceedingly common along 

 the New South Wales coast, where it inhabits fairly deep water 

 off shore. At certain seasons of the year, particularly from 

 January to March, it is found in considerable numbers at the 

 entrance to Port Jackson, and is captured in abundance by means 

 of hook and line, being familiarly known to boys as " School 

 Whiting." Though this must have gone on for a number of 

 years, it seems very strange that it should have seemingly 

 altogether escaped the notice of naturalists. It is a comparatively 



* Proc. Zool. Acclim. Soc. Vict, i., 1872, p.93. 



t Hist. Nat. Poiss. iii., 1829, p.415. 



X Voy. 'Astrolabe,' pi. i., fig. 2. 



