FOOD AND FANCY FISHES. 299 



genus Hemirhamphus, are comparatively small elongate fish, rarely extending a foot in length, and 

 distinguished by the beak-like prolongation of their lower jaw. They frequent the coasts and 

 estuaries in large shoals, and are ranked among the most esteemed and delicate fish for the table. 

 As many as five species of garfish have been recorded from Queensland waters. One of these, 

 Hemirhamphus intermedins. Cast., is identical with the form commonly sold in the markets of 

 Victoria. Tasmania, and New South Wales. Another of the species, taken in Moreton Bay, is the 

 so-called snub-nosed gar, Hemirhamphus argejiteus, Benn., remarkable for the circumstance that the 

 beak is reduced to an almost rudimentary condition. In an allied genus, Arrhamphus sclerolepis. 

 Gth., also taken in Moreton Bay, but more plentiful farther north, the beak has altogether dis- 

 appeared. One of the largest species of the genus Hemirhamphus, H. far, Forsk., illustrated on 

 Plate XLVIL, Fig. a, is restricted in its distribution to the northern coast-line, and is taken in 

 some abundance at Thursday Island and Cooktown. It not unfrequently attains to a length of 

 fourteen or fifteen inches, and may be readily distinguished by its black dorsal cross-bars. 



A second group of the Scombresocida?, comprising fish of a much more considerable size than 

 the Hemirhamphi, is represented by the genus Belone ; it contains several Queensland species 

 popularly called long-toms, gar-pikes, or alligator-gars. These fish, while somewhat resembling 

 ordinary garfish in shape, grow to a length of from two to over three feet, and have both jaws 

 prolonged in a beak-like manner, and armed with formidable teeth. The English representa- 

 tive of this genus, Belone vulgaris, Flem., is remarkable for the circumstance that its backbone, 

 on being cooked, turns to a brilliant green hue, wherefore the fish is named the green-bone. A 

 like peculiarity is reported to be associated with certain of the Australian varieties. No less than 

 eight species of Belone have been recorded from Queensland waters, B. depressa, Poey., being the 

 commoner one in Moreton Bay, the remaining species being most abundantly represented in 

 the inter-tropical zone. Included among these is a relatively short, thick, and weighty variety, 

 Belone Krefftii, Gth., having much the proportions of an English pike, and which is taken in the 

 lagoons of the Fitzroy River, near Rockhampton. It grows to a length of two feet and upwards, 

 with a weight of seven or eight pounds, and is locally known as the Fitzroy gar-pike. It is an 

 excellent table-fish. The flying fishes, genus Exocaetus, while not attainable in quantities sufficient 

 for commercial purposes, are delicate eating, and belong to the same family group as the garfishes 

 and gar-pikes. Two varieties, Exoccctus volans, L., and E. nigripinnis, C. & Val., are reported from 

 Queensland waters, the latter as far south as Moreton Bay. 



The small family of the Osteoglossidae has included, up to within a recent date, but a 

 single Australian species, Osteoglossnni Lciehardti, Gth., which is one of the most esteemed 

 fresh-water food fishes of Queensland. It is the species known to the settlers and to the 

 aborigines par excellence as the barramunda, and its flesh has been compared to that of the English 

 salmon by those familiar with the two species. It grows to a length of two or three feet, and 



has an elongate compressed body, with a trenchant lower edge ; the cleit of the mouth is 



p p 2 



