EDIBLE EISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 185 



profile of head flat. Jaws equal. Cleft of mouth moderate, the maxilla 

 reaching to beneath the anterier fourth of the orbit. Opercles smooth ; 

 subopercle narrow, tapering behind. Lower jaw with a baud of small teeth 

 anteriorly ; a small anterior patch on the palate ; and a series along the 

 median ridge of the tongue. The distance between the origin of the dorsal 

 and the tip of the snout is four fifths of that between the same point and the 

 base of the caudal ; the third and fourth rays are the longest, from l"20-r33 

 in the length of the head, and much higher than the base of the fin ; the 

 outer margin of the fin is truncate, or but slightly concave : anal low, the 

 longest rays subequal to the diameter of the eye : ventrals inserted on a 

 line with the anterior fourth of the dorsal, their posterior margin rounded, 

 and their length equal to the distance between the tip of the snout and the 

 posterior margin of the orbit : pectorals rounded behind, their length three 

 fourths of that of the head : caudal deeply forked, the least height of the 

 pedicle 2'66-2'90 in the height of the body. Scales thin, smooth, and 

 firmly adherent : a triangular scale rather more than half the diameter of 

 the orbit in length, above the insertion of the ventral : abdominal scutes 

 well developed, sixteen to eighteen in front, and fifteen behind the origin of 

 the ventrals ; well developed scutes along the median line of the back 

 between the occiput and the dorsal fin. Gillrakers fine and closely set, half 

 as long as the diameter of the eye. 



Colors. — Back and sides straw-color or olive green, belly silvery ; a broad 

 silvery dark-edged longitudinal band down the middle of the sides : fins 

 hyaline : irides silvery. 



Though abundant in many of the coastal rivers of New South Wales and 

 Victoria, nothing whatever appears to be known concerning the breeding 

 habits of this species, nor have we succeeded in eliciting any information on 

 the subject from our correspondents. With regard to the supposed differences 

 in color and size between specimens from the Hawkesbury and its tributaries 

 and those from the Richmond River, we may mention that the Freshwater 

 Herrings from the former drainage area have the silvery lateral band quite 

 as well developed as those from the latter, and that we have seen numbers 

 from both localities which exceeded seven inches in length. We have not 

 seen specimens of Castelnau's 0. vittata, but the description is not sufficiently 

 full to enable us with any certainty to establish its identity or otherwise 

 with C. novceJiollandice ; nevertheless the position of the ventral, if correctly 

 stated, the increased number of rays in the anal fin, and the small size, suggest 

 a close alliance with D. spratteUides* 



Macleay tells us that angling for this fish is a favorite sport in some of 

 the upper waters of the Nepean, and that it is of no great value as a food fish. 



Castelnau writing of the Melbourne market says : — " This little fish is 

 very abundant at times ; its length is about four inches. It is known in 

 Melbourne as the Smelt. This species is never found in the Sydney market." 



The Freshwater Herring grows to a length of nine inches, and the largest 

 examples seen as yet were forwarded from the Richmond River. 



* See foot-note p. 183. Should Meletta vittata and Diplomystus sprattellides prove identical, the latter name 

 must stand, since that of Castelnau has been previously utilised by both Mitchell and Valenciennes. 



