EDIBLE EISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



it is circumscribed absolutely distinctive. Tu some forms (certain Blen- 

 niids) the structure of the fius is almost the same as in Anacauths." And 

 " the presence or absence of a pneumatic duct" — to the airbladder — " loses 

 much of its value as a taxonomic character, when we consider that probably 

 in all fishes a communication between the pharynx and the airbladder exists 

 at an early stage of development." 



Family I.— PEIiCID^. 



Branchiostegals six or seven: pseudobrauchife generally present (rudi- 

 mentary in Lates). Body oblong or oblong-ovate, rarely elevated or 

 cylindrical. Eyes lateral. Opercles strongly denticulated or spiniferous. 

 Mouth in front of the snout, with lateral clef t, which is horizontal or slightly 

 oblique. Teeth in the jaws villiform, with or without canines: present or 

 absent on the vomer, palatines, and tongue. Dorsal fius generally separated : 

 ventrals thoracic. Scales ctenid or eyelid, small or of moderate size. Lateral 

 line continuous. Airbladder present or absent, simple. Pyloric appendages 

 in small numbers. 



Geographical disti'ihifion. — Carnivorous fishes, inhabiting chiefly the fresh 

 waters and estuaries of both hemispheres ; a few species marine, but never 

 wandering far from land, nor descending beyond a moderate depth. 



Genus I.— PERCALATES. 



Lates, 2^arf. Giinther, Ann. Nat. Hist. (3) 1803, xi. p. 114. 



Perccdates, Ems. & Ogl. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales (2), 1SS7, ii. p. 182. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobrauchife present. Body oblong-ovate and 

 somewhat compressed. Opercle with two spines : preopercle serrated on 

 the vertical limb, denticulated on the angle andlowerlimb : preorbital serrated. 

 Yilliform teeth on the jaws, vomer, and palatines: tongue smooth. One dorsal 

 fin, deeply notched, with nine spines : the anal with three. Scales moderate, 

 ctenid, absent on the upper surface of the head : bases of the vertical fins 

 scaly. Airbladder large. Pyloric appendages in small numbers. 



Geograpliical distribution. — South-eastern and southern coasts of Aus- 

 tralia ; northern Tasmania. 



PERCALATES COLONORUM. 



Lates coloiwrum, Gnth. Ann. Nat. Hist. (3) 1863, xi. p. 114 ; Castelu. Proc. 



Zool. Soc. Yict. 1872, i. p. 43, and Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. AVales, iii. 



p. 3G5 ; McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. ii. pi. 14 ; Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Pish. i. p. 4 ; Woods, Pisher. N. S. "Wales, p. 31, pi. i ; Johnston, 



Proc. Eoy. Soc. Tas. 1882, pp. 59, 110. 

 Lides novem-aculcatus, Steindach. SB. Ak. Wien, 1866, liii. p. 428, pi. ii. fig. 1. 

 Lates simiJis, Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict. 1872, i. p. 44 ; Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Pish. i. p. 5. 

 Lates a?2tarcticus, Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict. 1872, i. p. 41 ; Macleay, 



Catal. Auslr. Fish. i. p. 5. 

 Lates victoria, Castelu. Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict. 1872, i. p. 45; Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Pish. i. p. 5. 

 Lates ciirtiis, Casteln. Res. Fi.sh. Austr. p. 5, 1875 ; Macleay, Catal. Austr. 



Fish. i. p. 6. 

 Lafes ramsagi, Macleay, Catal. Austr. Fish. i. p. 6, 1881. 



