148 EDIBLE FISEES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



OoJor,s'. -^Wvery, the b;\ol< washed with bright frveen, which gradually dies 

 away on the sides : fins opaline, the posterior third ot" the ventral golden. 

 Irides brown. 



Nothing is accurately known as to the places selected by these fishes for 

 the depo.sition of their ova, but as it is wi-U ivuown that they are to be found 

 only on shallow sandy ilats or gently shelving shores we may conclude that 

 it is in such localities that they spawn. This important function takes place 

 twice in the year, the principal season being the months of December 

 and January, this being supplemented by a winter season in July and 

 August. 



If obtained perfectly fresh they are delicious little fishes, but being very 

 delicate they quickly deteriorate when kept, and become soft and flavorless. 

 Their food consists of minute shellfishes, crustaceans, entomostraca, foramini- 

 fera, and the like. 



They are not known to take a bait, but are sent to market in large numbers 

 by the seine fishermen, especially during the breeding seasons; they are, 

 however, to be found all the year round. 



This species does not appear to run up estuaries to any great extent, as is 

 said to be the case with certain of its congeners. 



The range of the Silverbelly is limited to the south-eastern shores of 

 Australia, and extends northwards at least as far as Moreton Bay, its place 

 on the Queensland coast being taken by numerous other species ; it has 

 not been recorded from Victoria, being replaced on the southern coasc by 

 the allied Chthamalopteryx melhoiirnensis. (See Proc. Zool. Soc. 1887, p. 

 616, fig.) 



They attain to a length of eight inches. 



