172 EDIBLE riSKES Or NEAV SOUTH -WALES. 



HEMIKHAMPIIUS INTEKMEDIUS. 



Semirliamplnis infermedi us, dintov, Ann. Nat. Hist. 184!2,ix. p. 4S5; Ricliards. 



Ti'lithvol. China, p. '264 : Gnth. Catal. Fish. vi. p. 2G0 ; Macleay, Catal. 



Aiisti". Fisli. ii. p. I SI ; Johnston, Proc. Eov. 8oe. Tas. 18S2, pp. 91, 



132 ; McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Viet. dec. xiv. pi. 135 ; Shcrrin, liandb. N.Z. 



Fish. p. 33 ; AVoods, Fisher. N. vS. Wales, p. 84, pi. xxxvii. (njjper 

 fgure.) 

 Hemirhamphits mclaiwchir, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xix. p. 41 (18 ) ; 



Castoln. Proc. Zool. >Soc. Vict. i. p. 17.'), 1872, and Pi'oc. Linn. See. 



N. S. Wales, iii. p. 394. 



Sea Garfish. 



Plate XLII. 

 B. xiv. D. 15-lG. A. 18. V. 0. P. 12. C. 15. A>rt. 36/20. 



Length of head 3-2(V3-40, of caudal fin 8-50-9-00, height of body 11-50- 

 12"33 in the total length: breadth of" body 1'15-1'25 in its height: length 

 of lower jaw beyond the extremity of the upper one half or more than one 

 half of the length of the head, and G'10-(!"iO in the total length: the 

 length of the upper jaw measured along the median line, is from 1 00- 

 1"20 in its breadth at the base. Eye moderate, its diameter 1'6G-1'90 in 

 the poslorbital portion of the head, from l"G0-2"00 in the distance between 

 its anterior margin and the tip of the upper jaw, and from 1'10-1"25 in 

 the flattened interorbital space. Height of preorbital equal to, or but little 

 less, than its length. Maxilla expanded behind, completely concealed pos- 

 teriorly by the preorbital when the mouth is closed, andextending to beneath 

 the middle or the posterior margin of the nasal fossa, which is pyriform in 

 shape, with a rounded posterior angle, which does not estend beyond the 

 anterior margin of the orbit. Both jaws with a broad band of small tri- 

 cuspid teeth, the median cusp being the longest. The distance between the 

 origin of the dorsal fin and the base of the caudal is 3"90 in that between 

 the same point and the tip of the upper jaw, or equal to the length of the 

 head without the lower jaw ; the anterior dorsal rays are not quite so high 

 as those of the anal, and are about three fourths of the distance between 

 the origins of the two fins : the anal commences a little behind the oi'ierin 

 of the dorsal, and the bases of the two fins are of equal length : ventral 

 small, the distance between its origin and the base of the caudal equal to 

 that between the same point and the posterior angle of the base of the pec- 

 toral ; its length less than that of the ])ostorbit:il portion of the head: 

 pectoral pointed, its length equal to the height of the body, and 3'25-3G0in 

 the length of the head : caudal fin moderately forked, the lower lobe the 

 longer ; the least height of the pedicle 3'33 in the height of the body. All 

 the scales very deciduous, except those posterior to the origins of the ver- 

 tical fins, which are more or less persistent. Tiateral line with sixty perfo- 

 rated scales, which are profusely branched inferiorly. 



Colors. — Back bright green, with three narrow dark brown streaks from 

 the occiput to the origin of the dorsal, immediately in front of which the 

 three meet; a silvery lateral band, broadest posteriorly, and margined above 

 by a narrower lead-colored band ; lower surfaces pale greenish-silvery : 

 posterior part of the veiitrals and the pectorals dusky. 



In the Eeport of the Royal Commission we find the following statement: — 

 " The ordinary Sydney (xarfish (//. regnlaris) comes in from the sea in the 

 latter end of summer to deposit its spawn in suitable spots in the harbor." 

 As we have pointed out in our accout of the Itiver Garfish {ace ji. 174), the 



