EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 85 



Kaliawai {Arripis salar) or Snapper, but that they are to be obtained in the 

 open sea if sought for, while iu the Duuedin market they were observed 

 but once iu three years. 



The Kiugfish has an extensive range outside of the Australian Colonies ; 

 it was originally described from the coast of Brazil, from whence it crosses 

 the Atlantic to the Cape of Grood Hope, and it also occurs, but rarely, at 

 St. Helena, and, if we are correct in assigning Lowe's S. diihia to this species, 

 at Maderia also ; while, under the name of *S^. aureovittata, Schlegel has 

 recorded it from the seas of Japan. 



The Kingfish grows to a length of at least fifty two inches, and a weight 

 of sixty pounds. 



SEEIOLA HIPPOS. 



Seriola hippos, Grnth. Ann. Nat. Hist. (4) 1876, xvii.p. 392; Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Pish. i. p. 176 ; Woods, Fisher. N, S. Wales, p. 60. 

 Seriola nigrofasciata, Casteln. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iii. jd. 352 ; 



(not Biippell) Macleay, Catal. Austr. Pish. i. p. 174. 



Samsonfish. 



B. vii. D. 8. 1/23-25. A. 2. 1/16. V. 1/5. P. 20-22. C. 19. Ccec. pyl. num. 



Yert. 10/14. 



Length of head 3-75-4-20, of caudal fin4-40-4-80,heightof body 3-00-3-80 

 in the total length. Eye moderate, the adipose lid scarcely overlapping the 

 iris, its diameter 3'70-4'00 in the length of the head, l"20-l-40 ni that of 

 the snout, and 1'25 in the convex interorbital space. Nostrils approximate, 

 the anterior oval and protected by a flap, the posterior much larger, 

 subcireular, exposed. Jaws equal. Cleft of mouth moderate, and very 

 slightly oblique ; the maxilla greatly dilated posteriorly, extending to beneath 

 the middle of the orbit. LTpper profile of head with a slight concavity on the 

 snout, and rounded on the occiput ; a low longitudinal ridge on the interorbital 

 space and the occiput, beyond which it extends but a short distance. Teeth 

 in the jaws in villiform bands, with several of the outer rows enlarged; the 

 bands separated at the symphyses, broad in front and gradually narrowino- 

 posteriorly ; a patch of villiform teeth on the vomer ; palatines and pterygoids 

 toothed ; tongue with an oval median band, and numerous detached lateral 

 patches. Dorsal spines low, the fifth the longest, one fourth to one fifth of 

 the length of the head ; the anterior rays elongate, five eighths of the same ; 

 the origin of the rayed dorsal is nearer to that of the caudal than to the end 

 of the snout : the anal commences beneath the eleventh dorsal ray ; the 

 anterior rays are elongate, and rather more than half of the length of the 

 head : ventral fins reaching two thirds of the distance between their orio-in and 

 the vent, which distance is subequal to the length of the head ; the anterior 

 ray attached to the body by a skmny flap : pectorals short, about five ninths 

 of the length of the head : caudal forked, the least height of the pedicle 

 equal to its width, and three fourths of the distance between the base of 

 the last dorsal ray and the origin oi the caudal ; a well marked pit in front 

 of the origin of the caudal above and below. Entire head, with the exception 

 of the cheeks scaleless : bases of the vertical fins naked. Lateral line 

 irregularly waved, following the curvature of the back. 



Colors. — Bluish above, the head darkest ; sides golden ; lower surfaces 

 silvery : spinous dorsal dusky, hyaline basally ; rayed dorsal pale yellowish- 

 brown, darkest marginally ; ventrals, pectorals, and anal- dusky, with a 

 silvery base, and a narrow whitish outer margin. 



