FISH AND FISHEUIES. 51 



The White Trevally. 



This is another species, the " White Trevally,"* or Teuthis javus, 

 Linn. The ground colour is dark with whitish spots, round on the back, 

 confluent at the side, and forming large natural streaks on the belly — 

 spots and streaks narrower than the interspaces, vertical fins without spots. 



II.-Div. ACANTHOPTERYGIANS. 

 Fam. BEHYCID^. 



Body short, with ctenoid scales, rarely absent. Eyes lateral, large- 

 (except Melaniphdes). Cleft of mouth lateral, oblique, jaws with viliform 

 teeth, palate generally toothed. Opercular bones more or less armed. 

 Eight branchiostegals. Head with large muciferous cavities covered with 

 thin skin. 



Marine and generally deep-water fishes, frequenting warmer temperatures, and 

 having a wide range, some species being common to Madeira and Japan. This 

 family is most abundant in tropical seas, three genera only being represented in 

 Kew South Wales waters — Trachkhthjjs, Berijx, and Holocentrum. Of these one 

 only merits notice — it is the well-known " nannygai," Beryxajfinis of Giinther. It 

 is a deep-sea fish, caught only with hook and line, and rarely taken during the 

 winter months. It seems generally to make its appearance soon after the com- 

 mencement of the warm season, and to judge by the number sometimes taken at 

 one time, probably comes in considerable shoals, but we have not been able to 

 determine whether it is a migratory fish in the true sense of the term, visiting 

 these temperate seas in the summer and returning in winter to warmer latitudes, 

 or whether its appearance is merely, as is the case with very many fishes, a move- 

 ment only from deep water to the neighbourhood of the land. The same uncer- 

 tainty exists as to its spawning season. It is seldom seen full-roed, and we have- 

 not found that the very young fish are ever seen in our harbours or on our coasts^ 

 so that it may be fairly inferred that the "nannygai" does not as a rule spawn iu 

 this vicinity. We have no evidence of its having been found south of Jervis Bay, 

 and we know that it is unknown in Port Phillip, but to the north its range seems 

 to be unlimited. As an edible fish it ranks high, indeed there are few better in 

 the country. It cannot however be much depended upon for the market, owing 

 to the irregularity of the supjjly, but this may proceed not so much from the 

 scarcity of the fish as from the fact that the fishermen never specially seek it, and 

 that it is only caught accidentally when fishing for schnapper. The "nannygai" 

 when slightly corned and smoked is said to be a great delicacy. — R.R.C, 



The genus thus referred to has a very short and obtuse snout, pro- 

 minent chin and large eye, viliform palatine and vomerine teeth ; a 

 strong spine at the scapulary and angle of preoperculum, rather small 

 scales, abdomen serrated. Dorsal with from three to six spines, ventral 

 with six soft rays. Four species known from New Zealand to Madeira. 



The Nannygai. 



(Plate XV.) 



Beryx affinis. Giinth. Catal. The " Nannygai." Dorsal, seven 

 spines and twelve rays, first highest, caudal very deeply forked, of four 

 spines and twelve rays. Yentrals with one strong spine and seven 

 rays, pectorals with thirteen rays. Colour, a most beautiful pink, with 

 silver stripes on the body and edges of the opercula. Length, from one 

 to two feet. Count Castelnau doubted if this Sydney fish was not 



* So called by Mr. Hill. 



