392 



FISHES. 



on the coasts of "Western Australia, Tasmania, and Xew 

 Zealand. 



OligoeI's. — Body o1)long. covered Avith small scales. Cleft of 

 the mouth rather oblique, the lower jaw being the longer. Teeth 

 villiform, without canines : teeth on the vomer and palatine 

 bones. One dorsal, with eleven spines ; anal with three ; caudal 

 tin rounded. Pra^operculum with a single smooth or obtusely 

 deuticulated margin. 



To this genus belong two hshes well known on account of 

 the excellent flavour of their iiesh. The first {0. macquariensis) 

 is called by the colonists •■ ^lurray-Cod," being plentiful in the 



Fig. 164. — TIk' Muvray-Coil, OUijorus macquariensis. 



IMurray liiver and other rivers of South Australia. It attains 

 to a length of more than three feet, and to a weight of nearly 

 100 lbs. The second {0. gigas) is found in the sea, on the 

 coast of New Zealand, and called by the Maoris and colonists 

 " Hapiiku." Its average weight is about 45 lbs., but occasion- 

 ally lai'ge specimens of more than a Inmdredweight are caught. 

 At certain localities it is so plentiful that it may form an 

 important article of trade. Dr. Hector, who has had oppor- 

 tunity of examining it in a fresh state, has pointed out 

 anatomical differences from the Murray-Cod, from which it 

 appears that it would be better placed in a distinct genus. 



Grystes. — Body oblong, covered with scales of moderate size. 

 All the teeth villiform, without canines : teeth on the vomer and 

 palatine bones. One dorsal fin with ten spines ; anal with three ; 

 caudal tin rounded. Prceoperculum with a single smooth margin. 



