FISH AND FISHEEIES. 53 



In the next few divisions of the Acanthopterygians there is only one 

 family of interest to the Colony, so this need alone be referred to. 



SCI^NID^. 



Soft dorsal more developed than spinous or anal. No filaments, 

 head with well developed muciferous canals ; scales ctenoid. Lateral 

 line well developed and frequently extending over the caudal fin. Eye 

 lateral, of moderate size. Teeth in villiform bands, no molars or 

 incisors, canines sometimes present, palate toothless, preoperculum 

 unarmed. Stomach ccecal. Air-bladder often with numerouns append- 

 ages. Coast fishes near rivers or exclusively inhabiting them, tropical or 

 sub-tropical, with very wide specific range, sometimes very large ; all 

 edible. Dr. Giinther says they are rare in Australia, but this is hardly 

 correct. Two of our largest market fishes belong to the family, the 

 " Jew-fish" and the " Teraglin." 



The Jew-fish. 



(Plate XVI.) 



This fish is of the genus Scicena, which has either an overlapping 

 upper jaw or both jaws equal. Interorbital space moderately broad and 

 slightly convex. Outer series of teeth larger than the rest, but no 

 canines, no barbels. Some fifty species are known, among which is the 

 " Meagre" or " Maigre," attaining the length of 6 feet. It has been 

 found in European seas, at the Cape, and in South Australia — at least 

 this is Dr. Giinther's opinion, who unites our Scicena antarctica (Castel- 

 nau) with the Meagre [S. aquila). Count Castelnau, however, points out 

 the difference. He says on comparing the fish with the descriptions of 

 Cuvier and Giinther, he even doubts if it belong to the same genus. 

 The maxillary does not reach the eye, and the eye is propox'tionately 

 smaller. The colour also different ; the back is blue, changing to green, 

 the sides and lower parts of a dirty white, rather silvery, dorsal, anal, 

 and ventral fins reddish, pectorals whitish, with their extremities dark ; 

 some sinuosities or notches at the angle of the pre-operculum. 



The jew-fish is a fish that attains a great size, even to 5 feet in length, and 

 always finds a ready sale in the market. It is said to be very frequently cooked 

 by fishmongers and others and sold as "fried schnapper." It is found at almost 

 all seasons, but most abundantly in summer. It is a deep-sea fish and caught only 

 by the hook, though young specimens may be occasionally taken in the net inshore. 

 Of its history and habits nothing further is known. It is found in Victoria, bvit 

 not in abundance. It is the " king-fish " of the Melbourne market. It has been 

 more than once asserted that this fish is identical with Scicena aquila, the well 

 known and highly appreciated ' ' maigre " of the Mediterranean, and Count 

 Castelnau, though originally describing our jew-fish as a different species, has 

 lately admitted having some doubt on the subject. — R.R.C. 



In alluding to the ordinary jew-fish, Mr. Edward S. Hill says "that 

 it attains an immense size, and is caught in our bays and harbours. 

 Care must be taken in a description that I do not cause it either to be 

 confounded with the teraglin or the silver jew, as there is a wonderful 

 difference in the value of these fishes in a gastronomic point of view, 

 an ounce of the latter being preferable to a pound of the former. An 

 old jew-fish, and what might be called a large one, will weigh 50 to 60 



