EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 129 



caudal deeply emarginate, the least height of the pedicle much less than 

 the distance between the base of the last dorsal ray and the origin of the 

 caudal, and 2'40-2'60 in the length of the head. There are seventeen or 

 eighteen scales between the occiput and the origin of the spinous dorsal, 

 nine on the interspace between the dorsals, and ten between the rayed 

 dorsal and the caudal ; no enlarged axillary scale ; elongate scale above the 

 base of the ventral small. 



Colors. — Light reddish-brown or dark green above ; sides pink ; lower 

 surfaces silvery ; a small black axillary spot. 



The Sand Mullet, or, to use the more euphonious aboriginal name, Talle- 

 galane, does not materially differ in its habits from its congeners. 



Like the preceding species they deposit their spawn on sandy beaches 

 during the autumn months, and these ova do not seem to germinate until 

 the succeeding spring, when we have seen the fry swept ashore by thousands 

 in the back wash of a seine net, along with those of ^tigmutopliora, Slllago, 

 and others. 



The Tallegalane is found along the entire coastline of New South Wales, 

 but is more abundant towards the northern boundaries of the Colony ; in 

 Victoria, from whence Grunther received one of his types, it is so scarce that 

 is has not since been recorded, nor have the Tasmanian authorities as yet 

 obtained examples from their seas. Writing of Queensland, Saville Kent 

 says: — "A member of the genus Myxus — M. elou(/atus, Gnth. — is also a 

 native of Queensland ; it, however, rarely measures a foot in length, and is 

 but little esteemed as food." We are not, however, told how far its range 

 extends in a northerly direction. At Lord Howe Island this species is 

 abundant at all seasons, and forms a staple article of food among the islanders, 

 either fresh, salted, or dried. 



This is a common fish in the Sydney market, but does not average more 

 than eight inches ; it is not, therefore, of much value, and has consequently 

 attained a bad reputation as a food fish ; nevertheless we consider that large 

 examples, from twelve to fourteen inches in length, are equally as good as 

 the preceding species, and in fact that when cooked it would take an expert 

 to detect a. difference between the two fishes. 



Family XIX.-LABRID^. 



Branchiostegals five or six : pseudobranchia^ present. Gills three and a 

 half. Body oblong or elongate. Teeth in the jaws : palate edentulous : 

 lower pharyngeal bones ankylosed into one along the median line, and with- 

 out median suture. One dorsal fin with the spinous portion as well developed 

 as the rayed, or more so : the anal rays generally similar to those of the 

 dorsal : ventral fins thoracic, with one spine and five rays. Scales eyelid. 

 Lateral line complete or interrupted. Airbladder present, without pneu- 

 matic duct. Stomach without coecal sac. Pyloric appendages absent. 



Geographical distrihution. — Marine fishes inhabiting the shores of all 

 tropical and temperate seas. 



As the food of the Lahrido} consists chiefly of molluscs and crustaceans, 

 they are provided with exceedingly strong teeth, which are admirably- 

 adapted to crush the hard outer coverings of these animals, and even the 

 corals on which some species feed ; many Labrids are in addition possessed 

 of a strong, pointed, generally curved tooth, directed forwards, and rising 

 from the posterior end of the premaxillary, which is supposed to be employed 

 for pressing shells and other hard substances against the front and lateral 



