EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 177 



trifle more than the distance between its origin than that of the ventral : 

 caudal emarginate in half grow^i, truncated in adult, examples ; the least 

 height of the pedicle l"6u in the distance between the dorsal and caudal fins. 



Colors. — Upper surfaces yellowish-brown the head darkest, with the 

 operculum dusky, and an inconspicuous, oblique, dark bar below the eye ; 

 sides pale greenish-yellow, wdth numerous, narrow, irregular, vertical stripes, 

 which are frequently broken up into spots especially on the caudal region ; 

 abdominal region pinkish-white ; a conspicuous black spot above the base 

 of the pectoral, and a dusky blotch in front of the caudal ; under the lens 

 the entire body, head, and fins appears to be powdered with dusky dots : 

 fins orange, the dorsal, caudal, and pectorals more or less dusky basally : 

 irides orange. 



During the latter part of March and the beginning of April the ova, which 

 are small and exist in very large numbers, are ready for extrusion ; at this 

 season they conceal themselves and refuse to take a bait, though during the 

 summer months they greedily snap at any flesh bait offered, and are even 

 said to rise at any small substances floating on the surface ; it is probable, 

 therefore, that they would rise to a small trout fly. As the waters in the 

 deep gullies which they frequent is very cold during the spawning season, 

 it is probable that the ova do not mature until the succeeding spring. 



Their food consists principally of small water insects, but jDortions of 

 worms, grasshoppers, crickets, and such-like are eagerly seized when used 

 as bait. They are excellent little fish for the table. 



Cox's Mountain Trout was origin^tlly described from examples taken in 

 the streams flowing from Mount Wilson and emptying into the Glrose Eiver ; 

 we have since received it from streams in the neighborhood of Springwood, 

 and since these empty into the Nepean, Macleay's conjecture that it does 

 not occur in the tributaries of that river is not borne out ; it is more probable 

 that this species is common to all suitable streams in that section of the Blue 

 Mountains. Their favorite haunts are the cool, shady pools, margined by 

 overhanging rocks, in the clear streams flowing down the deep and secluded 

 gullies of that district. At Springwood it is known as the Mud Gudgeon, a 

 most inappropriate name. 



This species attains to a length of eight inches, and finds its nearest allies 

 in the Tasmanian G. truttaceus and the New Zealand G.fasciatiis. 



Family V.— CLUPEID^. 



Clupeidce, ft. Cuvier, Eegne Anim. 



Clupeoidei, Milller, Arch. f. Natur. 1SJ<3, p. 82i. 



Gill-openings usually very wide : pseudobranchiae, when present, well 

 developed. Abdomen generally compressed into a sharp edge, which is 

 usually serrated. Opercular apparatus complete. Eyes lateral, with or 

 without an adipose lid. Margin of the upper jaw formed mesially by the 

 premaxillaries, and laterally by the maxillaries, which are composed of 

 three pieces not ossified together. The mouth may have a deep cleft, with 

 small premaxillaries, an elongated maxilla, and either the upper or the lower 

 jaw projecting ; or it maybe transverse. Fin rays articulated. A single 

 dorsal with a moderate or small number of weak rays: anal sometimes many- 

 rayed. Body covered with scales : head generallv naked. Lateral line 

 usually absent. Stomach with a blind sac. Airbladder more or less simple. 

 Pyloric appendages, when present, numerous. 



Geograpliical distrihution. — Almost all seas, many species periodically 

 ascending rivers, and some permanently resident in fresh water. 



M 



