82 NEW SOUTH WALES 



Fam. SCOPELID^. 



Like Siluriclpe, hut body often scaly ; no barbels, no air-bladder. 

 Opercular apparatus sometimes rudimentary, an adipose fin. Pyloric 

 appendages few or absent. Intestinal tract very short. Exclusively 

 marine forms. 



" They are all deep-sea fishes, and excellent for food ; but of the five 

 species known in these seas, one only, the " Sergeant Baker" (Aulopus 

 purpurissatus), is of any size. It is a beautiful as well as a good fish, 

 and is frequently caught by the hook in the summer season by the 

 schnapper-tishers. The other species of our waters belong to the genera 

 Saurus and Saurida." — K.R.C. 



The genus here referred to has the head and body rather elongate, 

 slightly compressed, covered with scales of moderate size. Mouth very 

 ■wide. Maxillary well developed, dilated behind. Teeth small, heart- 

 shaped, in bands in the jaws, on the vomer, palatine, and tongue ; eye 

 moderate. Pectorals and ventrals well developed, the latter nine- 

 rayed, inserted close behind the pectorals below the anterior dorsal rays. 

 Dorsal in the middle of the body, rather long, with fifteen or more rays. 

 Adipose fin small, anal moderate, caudal forked. Gill opening very 

 wide. 



The Sergeant Baker. 



(Plate XXXV.) 



Tliis fish is Aulojnts jnirpurissahts, of Richardson, is a species 

 distinguished by having the second and third dorsal ray produced 

 into a long ray in the males. The colours of this fish are very 

 brilliant, consisting chiefly of pui-ple and red. Mr. Hill says of this 

 fish : — " The red gurnard or gurnet, popularly known as ' Sergeant 

 Baker,' is of the genus Aidojms, ' combining the character of the salmon 

 and the cod-fish' (Cuvier).* It was long supposed in this country that 

 the red gurnard or Sergeant Baker and the flying gurnard were of the 

 same family and genus, the distinction being merely in the wings ; the 

 colour and similarity in shape no doubt was the cause of the delusion. 

 The Sergeant Baker in all probability got its local appellation in the 

 early history of the Colony (New South Wales), as it was called after a 

 sergeant of that name in one of the first detachments of a regiment, so 

 were also two fruits of the Geebong tribe (Fersoonia) ; one was called 

 Major Buller, and the other Major Gi*oce, and this latter again further 

 corrupted into Major Grocer ; such was the spirit of corruption in those 

 days. 



" It is not only a good fish, but combines the flavour of the salmon 

 with the rich flakiness of the cod-fish. It can readily be imderstood 

 why connoisseurs select them, after a day's sport with line or net, for 

 they may be caught with either, and at any place, but not many are 

 secured at the same time, and these fishes are what may be termed 

 scarce. I have known the Sergeant Baker and thp flying gurnard 

 caught with hook and line out of the same boat and ofl" the same 

 ground ; both had their heads cut off" and fried in the same pan, but 

 there was a positive distinction, although both were good." 



* There is nothing of the salmon about it, except the adipose fin. 



