EDIBLE FISHES OE NET7 SOrTH TTALES. 31 



frequents localities having a sandy bottom at a moderate deptb, and, there- 

 fore, but rarely comes into contact with the Snaj^per fisher, no remedy is 

 likely to be found until our magnificent stretches of outside sandy grounds 

 are properly surveyed, and scientifically fished by powerful steam trawlers. 



This species is a native of the southern coast of Australia, the first 

 example described having been obtained on the coast of South Australia, 

 and extends its range northwards along our own seaboard at least as far 

 as Cape Hawke, beyond which I have been unable to trace it. Macleay 

 records it from Tasmania, but Johnston in his more recently published 

 Catalogue of the fishes of that colony makes no mention of it ; it is, however, 

 certain to occur in Tasmanian seas. A closely allied but very distinct 

 species — H. recwvirosfris, Eichardson — characterised by an increased number 

 of dorsal spines, and a broad curved black band extending from the origin of 

 the dorsal to the end of the anal, occurs there and on the Victorian coast, 

 but has not as yet been recorded from New South Wales waters, whence, 

 however, a third easily distinguished species, recently described as S. 

 elevatus, Ems. & Ogl., but which is probably the Japanese H. typiis, Schleg., 

 has been taken on two occasions by the trawl in from thirty five to seventy 

 fathoms between Botany -and Port Hacking Heads; this species may be 

 easily recognised by the greatly increased number of dorsal and anal rays, 

 and especially by the great comparative height of the body, which is 

 contained only two and a third times in the total length. 



Family V.-PRIACANTHID^. 



Branchiostegals six': pseudobranchise present. Body oblong. Eyes large 

 and lateral. Opercles finely serrated, the angle spiniferous. Lower jaw 

 with prominent chin : cleft of the mouth approaching the vertical. Yillif orm 

 teeth in the jaws, vomer, and palatines: no canines: tongue smooth. Dorsal 

 fin continuous: ventrals thoracic. Scales small, strongly ctenid, rough. 

 Airbladder present, simple. Pyloric appendages in small numbers. 



Geographical distrihuiion. — All tropical seas ; on the east coast of Australia 

 extending its range at least as far southward as Port Jackson. 



Genus.— PRIACANTKUS. 



Priacantlius, Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Nat. Poiss. iii. p. 90, 1829. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchias present. Body oblong and some- 

 what compressed. Eye large. Lower jaw prominent. Operele with an 

 indistinct point : preopercle serrated on both limbs and with a more or less 

 prominent and flattened, serrated spine at the angle. YilKform teeth on the 

 jaws, vomer, and palatines : tongue smooth. One dorsal fin with nine or 

 ten spines : anal with three. Scales small and ctenid, extending on to the 

 snout. Pyloric appendages in small numbers. 



Geographical distribution. — As in the family. One genus on]}-. 



PEIACANTHUS BENMEBAEI. 



Priacanthus benviebari, Schleg. Eaun. Mapon. Poiss. p. 19, pi. vii. fig. 1 

 Krusenstern, p. 53, fig. 2 ; Eichards. Ichthyoh China & Japan, p. 237 

 Gnth. Catal. Fish. i. p. 218, and Ann. Xat. Hist. (3) 1S67, xx. p. 57, 

 Macleay, Catal. Austr. Eish. i. p. 37 ; Woods, Ei^^her. N.y. Wales, 

 p. 35, pi. iv. (as Wirrah). 



