26 EDIBLE FISHES OE NEW SOUTH WALES. 



lu the type specimen of Krefft's Dales riverinus, now lying before me, 

 and which measures a trifle over five inches, the scales of the lateral line 

 number on the one side forty nine on the other fifty one to the base of the 

 caudal fin, the difference between these and Kreii't's published numbers 

 having been caused by that author's inclusion of the tubular scales on the 

 caudal fin. This being so it is manifest that the sole objection to including 

 this fish with those of Castclnau is removed. 



The accidental occurrence of an extra dorsal spine, whicli is always 

 accompanied by the loss of a ray, the first ray having in point of fact become 

 ppinate, and the want of palatine teeth, which have been previously shown 

 to be in all cases cither almost or wholly obsolete, being the only differences 

 which separate Castelnau's Riverina jluviatilis from the same autbor's 

 Murraijia hramoides, it follows that this too must share the fate of the 

 others, and sink into a synonym of Macqiiaria ausfralasica. 



Nothing is icnown as to the breeding habits of this species, but doubtless 

 they do not materially differ from those of the other Murray Perches ; as to 

 the season we liave only the negative evidence that no signs of spawn were 

 present in any of a fine series of specimens, netted during October, and 

 specially forwarded from Tulpa Creek, near Deniliquin, from whicb place 

 also Castelnau received some of his specimens. 



They are excellent fish for the table, and according to Castelnau are sent 

 regularly to the Melbourne market, but they are never sent to those of 

 Sydney. In the specimens examined remains of shells, water beetles, vrorms, 

 and entomostraca were detected. 



The range of Macquarie's Percli is limited to the waters of the Murray 

 Eiver system. They attain a length of at least fourteen inches. 



Genus III.— THERAPON. 



Thei'apon, Cuvier, Eegne Anim. ; Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Is at. Poiss. iii. p. 125, 



1829. 

 TDatnia, Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Nat. Poiss. iii. p. 138. 

 Pelates, Cuvier, Eegne Anim. ; Cuv. & Val. Plist. Nat. Poiss. iii. p. 145. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchise present. Body oblong or oblong- 

 ovate, compressed. Eyes of moderate size. Opercle spiniferous : preopercle 

 and sometimes preorbital serrated. Teeth villiform in both jaws : deciduous 

 on the vomer and palatine bones. One dorsal fin, more or less deeply 

 notched, witb from ten to thirteen spines : the anal with three. Scales of 

 moderate or small size. Airbladder divided transversely into two parts, 

 separated by a constriction. Pyloric appendages in small or moderate 

 numbers. 



Geographical distrihution. — Coasts and fresh waters of Australia; from 

 the Malay Archipelago northwards through the Chinese seas to Japan, and 

 westwards along the coasts of Asia to the Eed Sea ; east coast of Africa to 

 the Cape. 



THEEAPON QUADEILINEATUS. 



Holocentrus qv.adrilineatus, Bl, pi. ccxxxviii. fig. 2, 1797. 

 Frisfipoma sexlineatum, Quoy & Gaim. Voy. Uranie, Poiss. p. 320. 

 Therapon quadrilineatus, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. iii. p. 134 ; Eichards 



Ichthyol. China, p. 239 ; Blcek. Perc. p. 51 ; Gnth. Catal. Eish. i. p. 



282 ; "Kner, Yoy. Novara, Eisch. p. 46 ; Peters, Mon. Ak. Berl. 1868, p. 



256 ; Day, Fish. Ind. p. 70, pi. xviii. fig. 5. 

 Therapon o:anthurus^ Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Nat. Poiss. iii, p. 135. 



