282 FISHES 



the Maori name of hupuku ; it is called by Hutton and Hector 

 Oligorus gigas, and stated to be closely allied to the Murray cod, 

 Oligorus macquariensis, of Australia, but it is doubtful if it be- 

 longs to that genus ; its usual weight is about 45 lbs., but it may 

 exceed 100 lbs. Arripis salar, called the native salmon, though 

 having nothing to do with the Salmonidae, belongs to the 

 maigre family, Sciaenidae ; it visits the New Zealand coasts in 

 summer and is 2 to 7 lbs. in weight. The southern family of 

 Scorpididae is represented by the red snapper, Scorpis hectori. 

 Latris is another genus occurring only in the southern hemi- 

 sphere, being confined to New Zealand and Australia ; Latris 

 ciliaris, called the moki, is abundant. Chilodactylus macropterus, 

 the tarkihi, is common and is also a characteristic form of 

 southern seas. Sparidae or sea-breams are represented by 

 Pagrus unicolor called the snapper, which is abundant. Of 

 Carangidae or horse-mackerels the cosmopolitan Caranx 

 tachurus is as common as on the coast of England ; C. georgi- 

 auus, the trevally, is more palatable for eating. Seriola lalandii, 

 one of the yellow-tails known in New Zealand as haku or king- 

 fish, is also well-flavoured. The red mullet family is repre- 

 sented by small and unimportant species of Upenoides and 

 Upeneichthys. One species of gurnard, Trigla kumu, is very 

 abundant. True weevers are absent but represented by the 

 Leptoscopidic, one of which, known as rock-cod, Percis colias, 

 is chiefly remarkable for its brilliant colours. Wrasses are re- 

 presented by Coridodax, the kelp-fish or butter-fish, which like 

 the gar-fish has bright green bones. Two species of the John 

 dory family occur, Zeus austmlis, which scarcely differs from 

 the European species, and Cyttus austmlis, which is of no value 

 as food. Genypterus blacoides, belonging to the Ophidiidas, is 

 an eel-like fish with confluent vertical fins ; it reaches a length 

 of five feet and a weight of 15 to 20 lbs. It is abundant on 

 the more southern coasts of New Zealand and is caught in 

 large numbers. It is known as ling and Cloudy Bay cod, and 

 is used as food, but its flesh is not of the finest quality. 



Space will not allow of a detailed enumeration of Australian 

 fishes ; we can only point out that the coast of the island contin- 

 ent is of great extent, its northern half being within the tropics, 

 while the southern reaches to the latitude of New Zealand. 

 The fish-fauna therefore includes both tropical and temperate 



