EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 171 



head with a shallow median groove between the occiput and the upper 

 jaw: occiput moderately striated, the strife diverging from a pair of lateral 

 centres: posterior half of occiput deeply grooved laterally. A series of 

 large pores near the hinder margin of the preoi'bital. Jaws with an outer 

 band of fine teeth and an inner series of moderately stout conical ones. The 

 distance between the origins of the dorsal aiid the caudal is 3 30-8"75 in that 

 between the same point and the tip of the snout, and equal to or less than that 

 between the posterior margin of the eye and the tip of the lower jaw; the anal 

 commences in front of the dorsal ; both fins are falciform, and the anterior rays 

 of the former are one sixth higher than those of the latter; the posterior dorsal 

 rays are elongate, and extend backwards to the base of the caudal ; the bases 

 of the two fins are subequal, and the distance between their origins is 1"33-1 "GG 

 in the height of the longest anal ravs : the distance between the ori";in of the 

 ventral and the base of the caudal is 1'40-1'GG in that between the same point 

 and the tip of the lower jaw ; its length is rather more than the height of 

 the body, from l'75-2"20 in the distance between its origin and the vent, and 

 five sixths of the postorbital portion of the head : the pectoral is rounded 

 behind ; its length is equal to or not quite so much as the distance between 

 its base and the posterior margin of the orbit, 3'25-3"o0 in the length of the 

 head, and from one eighth to two fifths longer than the height of the body : 

 caudal emarginate, with the lower lobe produced ; its pedicle much de- 

 pressed, about as high as wide, one third of the height of the body, and with- 

 out, or with hardly recognisable lateral keel. Scales small, thin, and 

 deciduous ; cheeks and anterior half of cephalic groove scaly. 



Colors. — Dark green above, silvery below, the snout blackish : dorsal 

 and caudal fins yellowish-green more or less distinctly tipped with black, the 

 pectoral yellow wdth the outer third distinctly black ; elongate anal rays and 

 ventrals pale yellow, the latter more or less clouded. 



This species differs in no wise in its habits, breeding, &c., from Bel one 

 ferox, and is equally common and etjually irregular in its appearance, while 

 the ova are shed during the same mouths. 



Their distribution, so far as is known, and the size to which they grow is 

 also similar. 



Genus II.— HEMIRHAMPHUS. 



Hemirliamplius, Cuvier, Eegne Anim. 



Arrhamphus, Gunther, Catal. Fish. vi. p. 27G, 1866. 



Branchiostegals numerous. Gill-openings wide. Body elongate, slender, 

 and slightly compressed. Eyes lateral. Lower jaw more or less produced 

 beyond the upper, which is short, the premaxillaries forming a triangular plate. 

 Both jaws with a narrow band of minute teeth : no vomerine or palatine 

 teeth. All the dorsal and anal rays connected by a membrane. Scales 

 large or of moderate size. Intestinal tract simple. Airbladder large. No 

 pyloric appendages. 



Geographical distribution. — Tropical and temperate seas, many species 

 entering fresh waters. 



We do not think that the single unimportant character of a less produced 

 lower jaw in Arrhamphus sclerolepis is sufficient to separate that species 

 generically from Hemirhamphus., the transition from the long and slender- 

 beaked forms to the short-beaked being gradual. Young Hemirhamplii have 

 both jaws short. 



