172 EDIBLE EISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



HEMIEHAMPHUS IXTERMEDIUS. 



Semirhamphus intermedins, Cuntor, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1842, ix. p. 485; Ricliards. 



Ichthyol. China, p. 264 ; Gnth. Catal. Pish. vi. p. 260 ; Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Pish. ii. p. 181 ; Johnston, Froc. Eoy. Soc. Tas. 1882, pp. 91, 



132 ; McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Yict. dec. xiv. pi. 135 ; Sherrin, Handb. N.Z. 



Pish. p. 33 ; Woods, Pisher. N. S. AVales, p. S4, pi. xxxvii. (jipper 

 figure.) 

 HemirJiamphns melanocliu\ Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xix. p. 41 (18 ) ; 



Casteln. Proc. Zool. 8nc. Vict. i. p. 179, 1872, and Proc. Linn. Soc. 



N. S. Wales, iii. p. 394. 



Sea Garfish. 

 Plate XLII. 

 B. xiv. D. 15-16. A. 18. Y. 6. P. 12. C. 15. Yert. 36/20. 



Length of head 3-20-3-40, of caudal fin 8-50-9-00, height of body 11-50- 

 12'33 in the total length : breadth of body l"15-l-25 in its height: length 

 of lower jaw beyond the extremity of the upper one half or more than one 

 half of the length of the head, and 6"10-6'40 in the total length: the 

 length of the upper jaw measured along the median line, is from 100- 

 1"20 in its breadth at the base. Eye moderate, its diameter l"66-l"90in 

 the postorbital portion of the head, from l"60-2'00 in the distance between 

 its anterior margin and the tip of the upper jaw% and from 1'10-1'25 in 

 the flattened interorbital space. Height of preorbital equal to, or but little 

 less, than its length. Maxilla expanded behind, completely concealed pos- 

 teriorly by the preorbital w'hen the mouth is closed, and extending to beneath 

 the middle or the posterior margin of the nasal fossa, wdiich is pyriform in 

 shape, with a rounded posterior angle, which does not extend beyond the 

 anterior margin of the orbit. Both jaws with a broad band of small tri- 

 cuspid teeth, the median cusp being the longest. The distance between the 

 origin of the dorsal fin and the base of the caudal is 3 '90 in that between 

 the same point and the tip of the upper jaw, or equal to the length of the 

 head without the lower jaw ; the anterior dorsal rays are not quite so high 

 as those of the anal, and are about three fourths of the distance between 

 the origins of the two fins : the anal commences a little behind the origin 

 of the dorsal, and the bases of the two fins are of equal length : ventral 

 small, the distance between its origin and the base of the caudal equal to 

 that between the same point and the posterior angle of the base of the pec- 

 toral ; its length less than that of the postorbital portion of the head : 

 pectoral pointed, its length equal to the height of the body, and 3'25-3'60 in 

 the lengtli of the head : caudal fin moderately forked, the lower lobe the 

 longer ; the least height of the pedicle 3'33 in the height of the body. All 

 the scales verv deciduous, except those posterior to the origins of the ver- 

 tical tins, which are more or less persistent. Lateral line with sixty perfo- 

 rated scales, which are profusely branched inferiorly. 



Colors. — Back bright green, with three narrow dark brown streaks from 

 the occiput to the origin of the dorsal, immediately in front of which the 

 three meet ; a silvery lateral band, broadest posteriorly, and margined above 

 by a narrower lead-colored band ; lower surfaces pale greenish-silvery : 

 j)osterior part of the ventrals and the pectorals dusky. 



In the iieport of the Royal Commission we find the following statement : — 

 " The ordinary Sydney Garfish {H. reijnlaris) comes in from the sea in the 

 latter end of summer to deposit its spawn in suitable spots in the harbor." 

 As we have pointed out in our accout of the River Garfish {see p. 174), the 



