50 NEW SOUTH WALES 



Two families follow in this division, and then we pass to the tenth and 

 last of the perch-like Acanthopteiygians, 



The TEUTHIDIDiE. 



Body, oblong ; strongly compressed, covered with very small scales, 

 latei'al line continuous ; a single series of cutting incisors in each jaw ; 

 palate, without teeth ; dorsal, single, the spinous portion most developed ; 

 ventral fins thoracic with an outer and an inner spine with three soft 

 rays between. 



This family consists of one very natural genus, Teuthis, easily recog- 

 nized by the singular structure of the fins. The incisors are small, 

 narrow, and with a serrated edge. The air-bladder is large, forked 

 before and behind. The skeleton is very peculiar, with twenty-three 

 vertebrae, ten of which belong to the abdominal portion. There are thirty 

 species known, all herbivorous, and do not exceed 15 inches in 

 length. 



The Black Trevally. 



The " Black Trevally " of the Sydney fishermen is T. nebulosa, Quoy 

 and Gaimard, a brown fish, irregularly marbled. It extends right 

 round to the tropics. Of this species Mr. Hill says : — " These are net 

 fishes, and are often caught by that means in large numbers, but are 

 not good market fish, and soon after being caught they look dirty — con- 

 sequently they are not esteemed as good fishes." 



" The black trevally is shaped something like the white one, but it is 

 slimy and more rigid, having all its prickles pointed, and has also very 

 small scales. These fishes appear very difierent, and the dorsal i^ay, as 

 well as every fin, is not only kept stifi", but each prickle or point of any 

 one inflicts a very painful wound when it pierces. 



"I recollect many instances of only slight touches, but the pain lasted 

 long ; and on one occasion we were net-fishing in North Harbour, a 

 favourite resort for these fishes, and a goodly number was hauled in. A 

 young gentleman who had accompanied his father on the expedition was 

 cautioned at the time against handling any of these fishes ; he however 

 made a kick at one, and a spine went through his boot and sock, and 

 penetrated the ball of his toe. In less than a minute the boot and sock 

 were ofi" (from pain), the part was well washed with spirits, but to no 

 effect. The father had to put the toe in his mouth and well suck the 

 punctured part, and continually to apply spirits, and not for half-an- 

 hour did the pain commence to subside. 



"The black trevally is a very good-eating fish when used at once. 

 When alive all the fins are cut off with a pair of large scissors we usually 

 provide for that purpose. When the fish is cleaned well, and fried in good 

 clear dripping or butter, adding pepper and salt to the palate, you will 

 find it really good, but they must be used fresh to get out all their nice 

 qualities." 



