52 NEW SOUTH WALES 



different from Giinther's B. affinis, because the lobes of the tail were 

 often so unequal, the lowest being shorter, but this is subject to great 

 variation in the species. 



The name of Nannygai is said by Mr. Edward Hill to be derived 

 from the aboriginal name of Mura ngin a tjai, whatever that may mean. 

 Amongst the early colonists it used also to be called " Mother nan a di" 

 probably a corruption of the native name. The following remarks of 

 the same author will be read with interest : — 



" That which is taken on our coast visits some of the headlands once or 

 twice during the year, is shaped like a squire or small schnapper, and 

 does not attain a great size ; its colour is bright red, with iridescent 

 streaks, and the colouring matter appears to be in the skin and epidermis, 

 as they retain a portion even after having been cooked. 



" The nannygai has a very large eye, and is found in the vicinity of 

 reefs, no doubt for protection, and is first fished for in deep water at the 

 North Head of Sydney, in the month of October, with hook and line, 

 using the ordinary schnapper bait. Great caution is necessary at times 

 in approaching the ground so that the boat may not be pulled over the 

 rocks where they congregate, as these fish have been known to take 

 alarm in such instances, and in consequence not to take a bait during 

 the day ; otherwise they bite freely, and many are taken. A month or 

 so later a few are found off Middle Head, and some have been caught 

 between Shark Island and Milk Beach. The North Head of Botany 

 Bay also affords a rendezvous for these fishes, as also at intervals along 

 the coast, south. 



" The beauty of this fish is to be seen only when fii'st caught, and the 

 flesh is much better when fried very fresh ; in fact, most of the 

 Australian fishes are tenfold better as food when just caught than when 

 stale, although some keep tolerably well ; but it cannot be expected that 

 the nannygai, which puts in an appearance in the month of October, 

 can keep many hours after removal from its element." 



The division of Kurtus-like Acanthopterygians may be passed over. 

 The division which contains the family Polynemidaj is for Acanthoptery- 

 gians with two rather short dorsal fins, somewhat remote from each 

 other ; free filaments at the humeral arch, below the pectoral fins ; 

 muciferous canals of the head well developed. Tropical fish in brackish 

 and fresh waters or very muddy rivei's, the eyes are often covered with 

 a filmy skin, but the long filaments seem to act as feelers instead, where 

 eyes would be of little use. The flesh is esteemed, and the air-bladder 

 is valuable. They sometimes obtain the length of 4 feet. — (G.S.T.) 

 An instance has been mentioned in the introduction to this essay of a 

 purblind fish of this family having been found at Port Darwin. 



Three species of Polynnmia have been seen on this coast, but their appearance is 

 extremely rare, and as useful fishes they are unknown. We mention them how- 

 ever because the group of fishes to which they belong are of the greatest service 

 in the tropical seas of India and Polynesia, some of the species yielding food of 

 the most excellent quality, and a few of them having air-bladders of good size and 

 average quality for isinglass. It is not improbable that some of the species may 

 be found to be abundant on the northern coasts of Queensland. — R.R.C. 



Though three species are here referred to, only two, according to 

 Macleay, have been found — F. indicus (Shaw) and P. mcicrochir 

 Giinther). 



