144 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Eock Whiting". 



Plate XXXVI. 



B. V. D. 17-16 13-14 A. 3/11-12. V. 1/4. P. 14. C. 12. L. lat. 55-58. L. 

 tr. 7/20. 



Length of head 8-75-4-00, of caudal fin 600-6-80, height of body 5-50-6-20 

 in the total length. Diameter of eye 5"30-5'70 in the length of the head, 

 2"25-2'50 in that of the pointed snout, and O'85-l'lO in the slightly convex 

 interorbital space. Nasal apertures widely separated, the anterior circular, 

 and protected by a low superior valve ; the posterior oval, simple, pierced on a 

 slightly higher plane than the anterior, and raised above the surrounding 

 epiderm. Upper surface of head almost flat. Upper jaw the longer : lips 

 fleshy. Cleft of mouth small and horizontal, the maxilla reaching midway 

 to the eye, or a little further. Vertical limb of preopercle finely serrated. 

 The dorsal fin commences above the base of the pectoral ; the spines are 

 flexible, and the outer margin of the spinous poi'tion gradually increases 

 in height, the anterior spine being four sevenths of the last, which is 2'80 

 in the length of the head ; the tenth or eleventh rays are the longest, about 

 one seventh longer than the longest spine, and equal to the postorbital 

 portion of the head : the anal commences beneath the second or third dorsal 

 ray ; the third spine is the longest and equal to the second dorsal spine ; 

 the outer margin of the rayed fin is convex, the last six rays being slightly 

 elongated, and much less branched, than those preceding them : ventral short 

 and rounded, its length 2'33-2'50 in that of the head : pectoral rounded, 

 2'10-s2'33 in the same : caudal rounded, its pedicle 1'30-1'40 in its length 

 behind the dorsal fin, and 2'00-2"10 in the height of the body. Scales on 

 the cheeks in three series. Lateral line gently curved to behind the 

 pectoral fin. Rows ol: distinct pores surrounding the eyes, and a series from 

 the chin along the edge of the preopercle to its upper angle. 



Colors. — Above purple or reddish-brown, deepest on the head; sides bright 

 greenish-blue, lower surfaces bluish-white, the whole profusely spotted with 

 orange, and sometimes with indistinct, transverse, darker bands ; cheeks 

 greenish-blue vermiculated with orange : spinous dorsal pale green, the 

 basal half immaculate, the marginal crossed by narrow, oblique, orange or 

 lilac bars ; soft dorsal with a large black spot, often broken up into several 

 smaller spots, occupying the greater part of the base, and with a broad 

 purple marginal band spotted or streaked with orange ; anal violet with 

 purple and orange spots ; the greater part of the ventral rays white, the 

 membrane and tips purplish with a few large orange spots near the base ; 

 pectorals gray ; caudal greenish-blue with orange spots. 



This species is very similar in appearance to Odax semifasciatus C. ^ V. from 

 which it is easily distinguished by the presence of small but constant denti- 

 culations on the preopercle ; the two species are confounded by the fisher- 

 men under the common name of Eock Whiting. 



It is but rarely seen in the market, its habits being similar to those of the 

 Drummer andKelpfish (seej). 41) ; being, therefore, free from the operations 

 of the seine fisher, and preferring the shallow waters of sheltered bays and 

 inlets to the outside reefs, they are but little liable to fall victims to aught 

 but the rod and line of the amateur angler. 



Their food consists of small molluscs, crustaceans, and zoophytes, and is 

 often intermixed with small pieces of fuci, which are perhaps excised while 

 attempting to disengage the animal attached thereto. 



