o 



6 EDIBLE FISHES OF XEW SOUTH WALES. 



Little is known of the range of this species ; tlie only localities from which 

 it has been recorded being Port Jackson and Botany Bay ; recently, however, 

 it has been found to occur at Lord Howe Island, whence it was brought by 

 the Australian INIuseum Expedition of 1888. These specimens were the 

 largest seen as yet, one of them measuring up to ten inches. 



Of the two other species — Hi/peneoides tragula and H. vlamingi — mentioned 

 by Macleay as inhabitants of Port Jackson, the former is very rare, only one 

 immature specimen, taken with prawns in the Parramatta Iliver, having come 

 under our notice. As to Mi/Uus vlamingi, the authority for the occurrence 

 of which in Port Jackson we are unable to trace, we are inclined to think that 

 some confusion has arisen between it and M. porosus, as originally happened 

 to the writer. 



Family VII.-CH^TODONTID^. 



Branchiostegals six or seven (four in Zand us) : pseudobranchia? well 

 developed. Body elevated and compressed. Eyes lateral and of moderate 

 size. Arouth situated in front of the snout, generally small, and with a 

 lateral cleft. Teeth in villiform or setiform bands, without canines or 

 incisors : palate edentulous in most genera. Soft portion of the dorsal fin 

 generally of greater extent than the spinous, sometimes considerably more 

 so : anal with three or four spines, the soft portion similar to that of the 

 dorsal : the lower pectoral rays branched : ventrals thoracic with one spine 

 and five rays. Scales eyelid or ver^' finely ciliated, extending to a greater 

 or less extent over the vertical fins, but occasionally absent from the spinous 

 portions. Airbladder present and generally simple. Intestines usually 

 with many convolutions : stomach coecal. Pyloric appendages in moderate 

 numbers. 



Geor/rapliical distrihution. — Marine carnivorous fishes, mostly of small 

 size and brilliant coloration, inhabiting tropical and subtropical regions, 

 chiefly hauiiting coral reefs, from which habit they have received the name 

 of " Coral Fishes." A few species have been recorded from rivers and 

 estuaries, but they rarely penetrate beyond reach of the tide. 



Genus T.— SCATOPHAGUS. 



Scatoplagus, Cuv. & Yal. Hist. Nat. Poiss. vii. p. 130, 1831. 

 Cacodoxus, Cantor, Catal. Malay. Fish. p. 1G3, 1850. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchia? present. Body elevated and much 

 compressed. Snout of moderate length. Preopercle without spine. Palate 

 edentulous. Two dorsals, united at their bases, the first with ten or eleven 

 spines, and with a recumbent spine directed forwards anteriorly : anal with 

 four spines : pectorals short. Scales very small, absent on the spinous 

 portions of the vertical fins. Airbladder simple. Pyloric appendages 

 numerous. 



Geograpliical distrihution. — From the east coast of Africa through the seas 

 of India, China, and the Malay Archipelago to Australia. 



SCATOPHAGUS MULTIFASCIATUS. 



Scatoptliogus midtifasciatus, Pichards. Voy. E,*ebus & Terror, Fish. p. .57, pi. 

 XXXV. ff. 4-0;' Gnth. Catal. Fish. ii. p. 00 ; All. & Macl. Proc. Linn. Soc, 

 N.S. AVales, i. p. 277 ; Caeteln. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. A\"ales, ii. p. 235. 

 and iii. p. 376 ; Macleay, Catal. Austr. Fish. i. p. 96. 



