108 EDIBLE FISHES OF KEW SOUTH WALES. 



over. They are sluggish fishes and do not give much sport ; the very large 

 ones, of three to four (?) feet in length, ■« hich arc at times caught with the 

 line, have pretty good strength but are soon exhausted. Tlie flesh is good, 

 Avhite, firm, and flaky, and is preferable when boiled."' The same author 

 also warns anglers against the " great pain and inflammation consequent on 

 a wound inflicted by the preopcrcular spines, with which they strike viciously, 

 and which they can erect to a certain degree at will, when stirred by anger 

 or fear.'* 



How far to the northward the species is found it is difficult to say, but we 

 have seen specimcn'i from ^Maryborough, while Saville Kent, alluding pre- 

 sumably to the Brisbaue Market, writes that Elatheads "yield a substantial 

 contribution to the general fish supply. The most abundant and familiar 

 type is the Common Flathead, Plati/cephalus fiisci/s.'" From Port Phillip 

 Lucas records this species as the " Grass Flathead," while Castelnau, 

 states that it is found on a weedy bottom ; a conclusion which does not tally 

 with our experience in this Colony, but which would seemmgly be more 

 applicable to the Eock Flathead, P. Icevigahis. . 



If we are correct in our suggestion that Giinther's P. cinereus is the same 

 fish as this of which we are now treating, and the differences between his 

 description and ours are trifling, the range of this species would be extended 

 in a westerly direction at least to South Australia, while the anomaly of its 

 absence from Tasmanian waters, where Johnston gives it as " not uncommon, 

 but rarely brought to market," would disappear. 



This species attains a length of forty inches, but the majority of examples 

 sent to market are little more than half that size. 



Genus II.— TRIGLA. 



Trigla, Artedi, Gen. Pise. p. 42, 1738 ; Cuvier, Regne Anim. ; Cuv. & Yal. 



Hist. Nat. Poiss. iv. p. 9. 

 Lepidotrigla, Giinther, Catal. Fish ii. ]). 19G, 1860. 



Branchiostegals seven : pseudobrauchise present. Head parallelepiped, 

 with its upper surface and sides bony, the large infraorbital covering the 

 cheek. A illiform teeth in the jaws and normally on the vomer : palate 

 edentulous. Two dorsal fins, the first being of less extent than the second : 

 three free pectoral filaments. Airbladder well developed, usually provided 

 with lateral muscles, and sometimes partially divided internally. Pyloric 

 appendages in small numbers. 



Geograpliical distribution. — Coasts of Australia, Tasmania, and New 

 Zealand. Beyond these lim-its Day gives its distribution as follows : — " Coasts 

 of Europe, being especially abundant in the 3Iediterranean. One species 

 extending across the North Atlantic is found on the eastern shores of 

 North America. To the south it passes round the west coast of Africa, and 

 from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, apparently avoiding the east coast 

 of Africa, the shores of India, and the contiguous islands." 



One of the most noticeable characteristics of Trigla is the presence of 

 three free pectoral filaments, which are employed as organs of touch and 

 locomotion, and it is most interesting to watch these fishes balancing them- 

 selves by means of their expanded pectoral fins, slowly draw themselves 

 forward by these filaments, and at the same time carefully testing every 

 particle of the ground over which they are passing in order to detect their 

 concealed prey. For the adequate execution of such complex functions 

 it is manifest that these filaments must be supplied with specially 



