66 EDIBLE riSIIES OF XEAV SOUTH WALES. 



groove below the eye : cheek traversed bj a, spinate ridge terminating at the 

 upper and longer preoperoular spine : preopercle with five spines : opercle 

 with two equal spiues, the lower of which is preceded by an acute elevated 

 ridge. Jaws with a band of villiform teeth, the inner series being rather the 

 largest; vomerine and palatine teeth in a single series, the former obtusely 

 iiugnlar, the latter short. The dorsal commences above the middle of the 

 ■opercle ; the spines are strong, the anterior ones deeply grooved on their 

 outer half, the third and fourth the longest, 2;35 in the length of the head ; 

 height of eleventh si)ine 1'75 in that of the last, which is equal to the 

 eighth, much longer than the second, and 1'33 in the longest spines, which 

 are ccpial to the anterior rays ; the base of the rayed portion is 200 in that 

 of the s])inous, and the last ray is joined for about two thirds of its length 

 by membrane to the tail : the anal commences beneath the last dorsal spine ; 

 the spines are grooved throughout their entire length, the second is the 

 longest and strongest, curved, longer than the longest dorsal spines, 2'20 in 

 the length of the head, but not so long as the rays ; the posterior ray is not 

 attached to the tail : the ventral reaches to or slightly beyond the vent, its 

 length being 1"75 in that of the head ; the spine is moderately strong and 

 grooved, equal in length to the sixth dorsal spine : pectoral rounded, the 

 eleven lower rays simple, the upper of these the longest, l"oO in the length 

 of the head : caudal rounded, the least height of the pedicle 3*40 in the 

 height of the body. Head scaleless ; three series of small scales in front of 

 the dorsal ; body with fine filaments, which are most numerous near the 

 base of the dorsal fin and on the lateral line. Lateral line with twenty two 

 to twenty four tubular scales, and forty four to forty six series above it. 



Colors. — Upper surface reddish-brown, the brown decreasing on the sides, 

 the lower surface pale yellow ; lower jaw with brown and pearly spots ; 

 cheeks with a large dusky patch ; a narrow black band across the anterior 

 mai'gin of the snout; lower part of sides with scattered, round, blackish 

 spots : dorsal fin pale violet with black streaks and a conspicuous pearly 

 basal spot between the third and fourth spines ; anal silvery with an oblique 

 black cross band, outside of which it is spotted and tipped with pink ; 

 ventrals pinkish with brown spots ; pectorals and caudal, variegated with black. 



Bynoe's Hock Cod and the allied Cardinal Rock Cod (Scorpcena 

 cardinalis) are much less commonly sent to the Sydney market than the 

 preceding species. They do not attain to the size of S. crucnta, but as they 

 frequent similar localities, and are taken by similar means, it may be 

 infered that their habits are also similar. 



This species is widely distributed, ranging from north-western Australia, 

 whence the species was first described, through Torres' Straits, and down the 

 east coast, at least as far as Port Jackson. It is also found on the shores of 

 jN'ew Zealand. 



Genus III.— CENTROPOGON. 



Centropogon., Giiuthcr, Catal. Fish. ii. p. 123, ISGO. 



Branchiostegals six or seven : pseudobranchiaj present. Head and body 

 rather strongly compressed. No groove on the occiput. Preorbital and 

 preopercle with strong spines: opercle armed. Yilliform teeth in the jaws, 

 vomer, and palatine bones. One dorsal fin with more spines than rays : anal 

 with three spines : pectoi'al without simple rays : all the articulated fin rays 

 branched. Scales present. A narrow cleft behind the fourth gill. Pyloric 

 appendages in small numbers. 



Geographical distrihution. — Seas of Australia, Malaysia, and India, 

 entering rivers, and at least one species — C. robustus — having become per- 

 manently established in fresh water. 



