EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 87 



Temnodon saltator, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. ix. p. 225, pi. cclx ; Cuv. 

 Eegue Anim. 111. Poiss. pi. Ivi. fig. 3 ; Storer, Eeport, p. 57 ; De Kay, 

 New York Fauna. Pish. p. 130, pi. xxvi. fig. 81 ; Baird, Ninth Smithson. 

 Eeport, p. 337 ; Holbr. lehthyol. S. Carol, p. 62, pi. ix. fig. 2 ; Gray, Hist. 

 Chil. Zool. ii. p. 21?! ; Lowe, Trans. Zool. 8oc. ii. p. 183 ; Worclm. in 

 Demidoff, Voy. Euss. Merid. iii. p. 394 ; Gruichen. Explor. Alger. Poiss. 

 p. 63 ; Webb" & Berthel. Hist. Nat. lies Canar. Poiss. p. 58, pi. xiii. 

 fig. 2 ; Gnth. Catal. Pish. ii. p. 479 ; Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. A^iet. 1872, 

 i. p. 118 ; Macleay Catal. Austr. Pish. i. p. 179; Woods, Fisher. New 

 South Wales, p. 60, pi. xx. 



Tailor. 



Plate XXV. 



B. vii. D. 7-8. 1/24-26. A. 1-2. 1/26-28. V. 1/5. P. 17. C. 17. L. lat. 90-100. 

 L. tr. 8-9/19-21. Ccec. pyl. num. Yert. 12/14. 



Length of head 4-20-4-33, of caudal fin 4-50-5-15, height of body 4-50- 

 4"75 in the total length. Eye witli the adipose lid but little developed, 

 its diameter 4-50-6-25 in the total length, 1-10-1-60 in the length of the 

 snout, and 1"10-170 in the interorbital space, which is strongly convex. 

 Nostrils approximate, separated by a narrow bridge of skin only ; the anterior 

 oval and vertical ; the posterior a long, narrow, vertical slit. Upper profile 

 of head gently rounded. Lower jaw the longer. Cleft of mouth wide and 

 oblique, the maxilla extending to beneath the posterior margin of the eye, 

 or not quite so far. Preopercle finely denticulated on the lower limb, and 

 with a notch on the vertical limb immediately above the angle : opercle with 

 a weak bony point. Jaws with a single series of strong subulate teeth ; the 

 upper with a series of smaller teeth anteriorly, separated by a considerable 

 interval from the outer series : villiform teeth on the vomer in a triangular 

 patch ; on the palatines in a band, which is broadest about the middle. 

 Dorsal spines very feeble, the fourth the longest, 4"50-5"00 in the length of 

 the head, and 2"00-2'33 in that of the anterior rays, which are much longer 

 than the posterior ones : the anal commences beneath the fourth dorsal ray ; 

 it is of similar shape to the rayed dorsal, and extends slightly beyond that 

 fin : ventrals rather small, their length from 2"U0 in half-grown to 2*75 in 

 adult examples in the distance between their origin and the vent, and from 

 2'20-2"50 in the length of the head ; its spine long and slender, 2'66-3'33 

 in the same length : pectorals small and pointed, 1"50-1'75 in the same : 

 caudal forked, the least height of its pedicle 3"00-3'50 in the height of the 

 body. Cheeks and opercles scaly ; a few scales on the temporal region and 

 on the hinder part of the occiput : soft dorsal and anal scaly. Curve of the 

 lateral line very slight. Airbladder large. 



Colors. — Pale green above, silvery below : soft dorsal, anal, and posterior 

 half of caudal tinged with yellow. 



During the spring months the Tailor arrives off our coasts in countless 

 numbers for the purpose of shedding their spawn; this function takes place 

 in the open sea, but well within the influence of the tides, and the imj^reg- 

 nated ova float on the surface in large masses, where they become the prey 

 of numerous predaceous fishes and birds; owing to the combined warmth of 

 the sun and water, and influenced doubtless by the action of the tides, the 

 ova mature quickly, and the young fish on their emergence soon find their 

 .way into sheltered harbors and inlets, though, should stormy weather 

 intervene during their passage, thousands of fry under two inches in 



