EDIBLE PISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 15 



pairs o£ anterior canines, the outer one on each side very long and 

 strong ; a triangular patch o£ villiform teeth on the vomer ; pahatines 

 with broad bauds ; tongue with a median longitudinal patch narrowing 

 posteriorly. The dorsal commences above the base of the pectoral ; 

 the spinous portion is higher than the rayed, and the leagth of 

 the base of the latter is three fourths of that of the former ; the spines 

 are weak, the fourth the longest, three times the length of the first, and 

 from 2"33-2"G6 in the length of the head ; the last spine is much shorter 

 than the one preceding it : the aual commences beneath the second dorsal 

 ray, the second spine is stronger than, but not so long as, the third, whose 

 height is 3'20 in the length of the head, and two thirds of the anterior rays, 

 which are much longer than those of the dorsal : the ventral does not quite 

 reach to the vent ; its outer rays are slightly filamentous, the length of the 

 first 1"66 in that of the head, and the spine is about equal to the seventh 

 dorsal spine: pectoral well developed and pointed, reaching to above or 

 slightly beyond the vent, 1"25-1"40 in the length of the head : caudal slightly 

 emarginate, the least height of its pedicle 2'75 in the height of the body. 

 Cheeks, opercles except the outer margin of the preopercle, and a small 

 stripe on the temporal region scaly ; rest of the head naked : soft portion of 

 the vertical fins with a low basal scaly sheath, which in the anal is continued 

 for a short distance between the rays. Lateral line running parallel to the 

 dorsal profile. 



Colors. — Olive brown above, the sides rose color, the lower surfaces 

 yellowish-white ; a large black oval blotch, covering about eight transverse 

 series of scales on the lateral line beneath the anterior dorsal rays ; a black 

 axillary spot; indistinct oblique dusky streaks above and longitudinal 

 yellowish ones below the lateral line : dorsal fia dusky, with a narrow black 

 and chestnut margin ; caudal pale brown tinged with red; other fins bright 

 yellow. 



Examples of this fish are very rarely seen in the Sydney markets, and then 

 only during the winter months, when a few assignments of fishes occasionally 

 find their way thither from the Eichmond and Clarence Districts. They are, 

 however, tolerably abundant on our northern coastline at least as far south 

 as the Bellinger, and are, therefore, entitled to a place here. 



L. fulviflamma has a very extensive range having been recorded from the 

 East Coast of Africa and the Seychelles ; the Asiatic Coast from the lied 

 Sea to China ; the Malay Archipelago ; and the northern portion of 

 Australia, extending as has been shown as far south as the Bellinger lliver 

 on the eastern side of the continent. They attain a length of at least twelve 

 inches. 



Genus IV.— GLAUCOSOMA. 



Glaucosoma, Schleg. Eaun. Japon. Poiss. p. 62, 1843. 



Branchiostegals seven, occasionally eight: pseudobranchia) present. Body 

 oblong-ovate and somewhat compressed. Opercle with one or two incon- 

 spicuous flattened points : preopercle finely serrated : clavicle denticulated. 

 Jaws, vomer, and palatines armed with villiform teeth. One dorsal fin with 

 eight spines : the anal with three. Scales moderate, finely ctenid, adherent ; 

 the entire head and the bases of the vertical fins scaly. 



Geographical distrihution. — Australian seas to Japan. 



GLAUCOSOMA SCAPULAEE. 



Glaucosoma scapidare (Samsay, MS.), Macleay, Catal. Austr. Eish. i. p. 



33 i, 1880 ; Woods, Eisher. N. S. Wales, p. 34. 

 Glaucosoma hurgeri, Casteln. Proc. Linn. Soc. N S. Wales, iii. p. 350 {not 



Richardson) , 



