130 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



teeth, by which they are broken up ; zoophytes enter largely into the food 

 supply of some species, while others, such as the Scarina, feed principally on 

 fuci and other seaweeds. 



In many of the genera the lips are abnormally thickened, and even 

 folded internally, a peculiarity which has suggested for them the family name 

 of Lahridce, and, among the Grermans, that of " Lip-fishes." 



In the majority of species beautiful tints prevail, " the intensity of which," 

 says Day, " are greatly augmented during the nuptial season." The same 

 author continues : — " They are subject to great individual variations in the 

 mode in which they are colored, while in some the livery of the two sexes 

 is very dissimilar." 



Genus I.— CHOEROPS. 



Ghoerops, Hiippell, Yerz. Mus. Senckenb. Pisch. p. 20, 1852 ; Bleek. Proc. 



Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 416. 

 Hifpsigenys, Giiuther, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1861, viii. p. 383. 

 Torresia, Casteln. Ees. Fish. Austr. p. 36, 1875. 



Branchiostegals five or six : pseudobranchiae present. Body oblong-ovate, 

 compressed. Snout more or less obtuse. Cheeks high. Preopercle serrated 

 or entire. Pour strong free canine teeth anteriorly in each jaw : lateral 

 teeth confluent into a more or less obtuse osseous ridge : posterior canines 

 present or absent : inferior pharyngeal teeth not confluent or pavement- 

 like. Dorsal fin with thirteen spines and seven rays : anal with three spines 

 and nine or ten rays. Scales large, eyelid : cheek scales generally jion- 

 imbricate : opercles scaly : base of the dorsal and anal fins with a low scaly 

 sheath. Lateral line continuous. Airbladder large, simple. 



Geograpliical distribution. — Prom tropical and subtropical Australia, 

 through Malaysia to the seas of China and Japan ; and through India to the 

 Ked Sea and the east coast of Africa. 



CHCEROPS OMMOPTERUS. 



? Cossyphus sclionJeinii (Agass.) Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xiii. p. 143, 



1839. 

 Cossyphus ommopterus, Eichards. Ichthyol. China, p. 257, 1846. 

 ? Grenilahrus leucozona, Bleek. Biliton, iv. p. 238. 

 Cossyphus schunleinii, Bleek. Celebes, v. p. 252. 

 Choerops ommopterus, Grnth. Catal. Fish. iv. p. 94, 1862 ; Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Pish. ii. p. 72 ; Ogilby, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1889, p. 158. 

 Choerops schoenleini, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. i. p. 163, pi. xlvi. f. 1. 



Blue-spotted Groper. 



B. vi. D. 13/7. A. 3/10. Y. 1/5. P. 16. C. 14. L. lat. 29-30. L. fr. 4/9-10. 



Yert. 11/16. 

 _' Length of head 3'50-3-90,of caudal fin 4-60-4-85, height of body 3-20-3-40 

 in the total length : height of head equal to or rather more than its length. 

 Diameter of eye 5'G0-5"66 in the length of the head, 2'40-3"00 in that of the 

 pointed snout, and 1'20-1"66 in that of the interorbital space, wliich is strongly 

 arched. Nostrils distant, minute. Jaws equal. Cleft of mouth slightly 

 oblique, the maxilla reaching to beneath the internasal space. Preorbital 

 very high : vertical margin of preopercle finely but distinctly serrated. 

 Anterior canine teeth very strong and curved ; no posterior canine. The 

 dorsal fin commences above the opercular flap, the spines are moderately 



