IS IT A MACKEREL ? 97 



dull silvery sheen on the sitlcs of the body and on the sides 

 and lower parts of the head. Fins: pectoral, greenish-black, 

 first dorsal likewise; the membrane washed over with greyish. 

 Anal fin with the forepart (edge) greenish-blue, the rest of 

 the fin greyish-white, dusted over with darker. Ventral, 

 somewhat similar to anal. Caudal, greenish-black, — not 

 uniformly so, however, as there was a tendency for a little 

 dirty grey to show through in parts. Finlets, of a bright 

 orange, edged with greenish-black. 



I might add that a very fine cast was made of this 

 magnificent specimen at the Technological Museum, Sydney, 

 where it now is. This cast was nicely colored under my 

 observation. 



Frigate Mackerel {Auxis thazard). 



During IQ03, and towards the latter end of last year, 

 small shoals of this species made their appearance in the 

 waters of Port Jackson. They were from 12 to 15 inches in 

 length. As this widely-distributed fish usually roams about 

 in large shoals, it is highly }:)robable that they were present 

 in considerable quantities in the vicinity of Port Jackson. 



When freshly taken, these examples had the appearance 

 of polished lead, and they appeared to be familiar to some of 

 the Sydney fishermen, who called them " Leadenalls." 



Butterfly-Fish [GasterocMsma melampus). 



Pl.ATF. LXV. 



First recorded by me from these waters last year, the 

 record being based upon two examples captured a short 

 distance to the southward of Sydney, at the latter end of 

 August, 1906. The larger of these two measured 16 inches. 



This remarkable fish is a rather aberrant form of Mackerel. 

 Its body is highly compressed or slab-sided, suggesting tha:t 

 of the Tailer. The ventral fins are exceedingly large and 

 fan-like. The scales are of moderate size, thin and deciduous, 

 and are concentrirallv striated. 



