i2 EDIBLE riSHES OF NEW SOrTlI T^'^VLES. 



Geoqvapliical distrihution. — Australian, Chinese, and Japanese seas. 



As nothing appears to be accurately known as to the place selected for the 

 deposition of their ova by our herbivorous Sparid fishes, the following remarks, 

 published by Mr. "W. Saville Kent, in Nature (May 8, 1873), on the 

 breeding habits of the allied genus Canthams may prove of interest, and 

 may induce some of our seashore residents to observe more carefully 

 the time and place of spawning of these and other valuable food fishes of 

 the Colony. Writing of C. lineatus, which curiously enough goes by the 

 name of '' Black Bream "' on the soutli coast of England, he remarks con- 

 cerning examples under his personal observation in the Brighton Aquarium, 

 that the males, " retiring from the remainder of the shoal, select certain 

 separate and prescribed areas at the bottom of the tank, where they com- 

 mence excavating considerable hollows in the sand or shingle by the rapid 

 and powerful action of the tail and lower portion of the body. A depression 

 of suitable size having been produced, each male now mounts vigilant guard 

 over his respective hollow, and vigorously attacks and drives away any other 

 fish of the same sex that ventures to trespass within the magic circle he has 

 api')ropriated to himself. Towards his companion of the opposite sex his 

 conduct is far different. Many of the latter are now distended with spawn, 

 and these he endeavors by all the means in his power to lure singly to his 

 prepared hollow, now discovered to be a true nest or spawning bed, and 

 there to deposit the myriad ova with which they are laden, which he then 

 protects and guards with the greatest care." 



GIEELLA TEICUSPIDATA. 



Box tricuspidafios, Quoy & Gaim. Yoy. Freyc. Zool. p. 29G., 1824?. 



Ohlata tricmpidata, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. vi. p. 372. 



Crenidens frir/Iyphus, Eichards. Yoy. Erebus & Terror, Fish. p. 3G, pi. xxv. 



fig.2. 

 Girella tricuspidata, Gnth. Catal. Fish. i. p. 428 ; Macleay, Catal. Austr. 



Fish. i. p. 107 ; AYoods, Fisher. X. S. Wales, p. 39, pi. vii ; Johnston 



Proc. Eoy. Soc. Tas. 1882, pp. 69, 111. 

 Jilelanicldhys tricuspidata, Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. Yict. 1872, i. p. 57. 

 Girella blacJcii, Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. Yict. ii. p. 41. 



Blackfisli. 



Plate XIT. 



B. vi. D. 15 11-12. A. 3/11-12. Y. 1/5. P. IG. C. 17. L. lat. 48-51, 

 L. tr. 10/23-25. Ccec. pyl. num. Yert. 11/16. 



Length of head 4-50-5-00, of caudal fin 4-75-500, height of body 3-00-3-75 

 in the total length. Diameter of eye 4-00-4"50 in the length of the head, 

 1'50-1"66 in that of the obtusely rounded snout, and 1'33-1'GG in that of 

 the interorbital space, which is convex. Upper profile of the head slightly 

 convex, much swollen in front of the eves so as to form a marked concavity 

 immediately behind the jaws. Upper jaw the longer. Cleft of mouth small 

 and transverse, the maxilla reaching to or a little beyond the posterior nostril: 

 the height of the preorbital is four fifths of its breadth. A small flat spine 

 on the opercle : vertical limb of the prcopercle slightly inclined back^vards, 

 and finely denticulated ; lower limb smooth. A pluriserial band of tricuspid 

 teeth in the jaws, the two outer rows functional, and separated from the 



