I08 THE EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



pointed at the tail end, and is well-named " tongue " fish. 

 The upper part of the snout is produced backwards over the 

 mouth, into a long hook-shaped flap, known as the " rostral 

 hook." The eyes are on the left side. 



The color is a pale yellowish-brown, with numerous 

 round spots of a creamy tint. 



In capturing the Tongue-Fish, it is necessary to have a 

 net which is so arranged as to " bite " the bottom well, 

 owing to the habit of this species of clinging so close to the 

 sand. 



THE RED ROCK COD FAMILY. 



Red Gurnet Perch {Sebasta pistes percoides). 



This is a rock-frequenting fish usually obtained by hook 

 and line in the vicinity of reefs at sea. It enters but little 

 into the food-supply of New South Wales, as it only appears 

 in any numbers along the most southern portion of our coast- 

 line, being usually rather uncommon in the vicinity of Sydney. 



Like so many of the scorpgenoid fishes, the Red Gurnet 

 Perch is exceedingly beautiful in coloration. 



It attains exceptionally a length of about 12 inches. 



Thetis-Fish {Sebasiodes thetidis). 



This name has been given to a fish, allied to the preceding, 

 which was first captured during the trawling of Mr. Farnell's 

 " Thetis " Trawling Expedition in 1898. As it may prove 

 later to be of some importance, I have included it in this list. 

 It was obtained on four occasions by the " Thetis," in depths 

 ranging from 55 to 78 fathoms, and up to a length of about 

 12 inches. 



Red Rock Cod {ScorpcBna cruenta). 



Plate LXXV. 

 Under the name of Red Rock Cod are commonly included 

 two species, that mentioned above, and an allied form known 



as ScorpcBna cardinalis. As the latter is rather rare, it is 



