EDIBLE EISHES OF NEW SOUTH WAXES. 113 



The breeding season of this species diiFers from that of Trigla Jcumu, 

 examples obtained in the S_ydney market having the ova fully developed 

 during the months of July and August ; in no other respects does it differ in 

 its habits from that species. 



Speaking generally, this is a southern, while the Eed Gurnard is a 

 northern, form. The Sharp-beaked Grurnard is not so common on our coast 

 as its congener, and only large specimens occur, while Port Stephens appears 

 to be approximately its northward range. Both on our own coast and that 

 of the sister Colonies, this species is commonly, but erroneously, known as 

 the Flying Gurnard, this name being shared by, and with more propriety 

 applied to, Dactylopterus orientalis. On the Victorian coast, Caste Inau 

 says : — " Without being common in the Melbourne market, this fish appears at 

 all seasons ; but often for months there are none to be seen, and then several 

 will be caught together." On the Tasmanian coast they are •' not uncommon, 

 during May and June, iu the estuaries of the Derwent and Tamar." 

 Johnston, who has had special facilities for observing this species, gives the 

 following interesting account, interesting because the Gurnards, not being 

 strictly littoral fishes, do not come under supervision in their natural state as 

 do shore fishes ; he says : — "At times duringthe winter season these beautifully 

 colored fishes, with their gaudily-painted pectoral wings, may be seen around 

 our wharves in small schools, dashing, or rather flying, through the water, 



with sudden bounds, after their prey They are rarely captured, 



however, on our coasts ; and are, therefore, unimportant here, from a com- 

 mercial point of view." Macleay records it from West Australia, but we are 

 unaware upon what evidence. Castelnau's Trigla amcena is very closely 

 allied to, if not identical with, our fish, the black spot on the spinous dorsal 

 being the most prominent distinctive character mentioned in the description. 



This species attains to a length of twenty inches. 



Family XVII.-SPHYR^NIDNiE. 



Branchiostegals seven: pseudobranchise present. Body elongate, sub- 

 cylindrical or compressed. Eyes of moderate size, lateral. Cleft of mouth 

 wide. Jaws armed with strong, trenchant teeth, with or without a villiform 

 band : teeth present on the palate, absent or present on the vomer. Two 

 dorsal fins remote from each other : anal similar to the second dorsal. 

 Ventrals abdominal, composed of one spine and five rays. Scales small or of 

 moderate size, eyelid. Lateral line continuous. Airbladder present, bifur- 

 cate anteriorly. Pyloric appendages in moderate or large numbers. 



Geographical distrihution. — Seas of the tropical and temperate regions ; 

 carnivorous. 



Genus I.— SPHYR^NA. 



SpTiyrcpna, Artedi, Svnon. Pise, p. 112, 1738 ; Cuvier, Eegne Anim. ; Cuv. & 

 Yal. Hist. Nat.'Poiss. iii. p. 325. 



Branchiostegals seven : pseudobranchia> present. Body elongate, sub- 

 cylindrical. Cleft of mouth ^vide. Eyes lateral. Large trenchant teeth in 

 both jaws and on the palatine bones : vomer edentulous. Two short dorj^al 

 fins, separated by a long interspace . anal with a single spine, similar to the 

 second dorsal : ventrals opposite, or nearly opposite, to the anterior dorsal. 

 Scales small, eyelid, adherent. Airbladder large, bifurcate anteriorly. 

 Pyloric appendages in moderate or large numbers. 



Geographical distribution. — Almost all temperate and tropical seas. 



1£ 



