166 THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



described by the writer under the title of Latris Mortoni, and two small and some 

 what doubtful species, L. bilweata and L. inornata, have been reported by Count 

 Castlenau from the Victorian coast-line. The genus Chilodactylus, belonging also to 

 the Trumpeter family, that of the Cirrhitidje, possesses representatives which are 

 much more extensively distributed. It includes the so-called Sea Carp, Chilodactyhis 

 Allporli; Sea Perch, C. macropterus ; Magpie Perch, C. bizonarius and Butter-fish, 

 C. niffricans, of the Tasmanian and Victorian markets. Two species, Chilodactylus 

 nigrescms, the so-called Groper, and C. carponemus, the Leather Mouth, are not 

 unfrequently exposed for sale in the Fremantle market, while a small form, C. gibbosm, 

 which is also met with in Western Australia, occurs likewise on the eastern coast-line 

 as far north as Moreton Bay. The several species of Chilodactylus of economic value 

 that frequent the coast of New South Wales are distinguished in the Sydney market 

 by the aboriginal title of "Morwongs." 



The portraits of coloured plaster models of the majority of the species of the 

 genus Chilodactylus above enumerated will be found among the series illustrated by 

 Plate XXVIII. The four fish occupying the fourth row from the top are all Cirrhitidae, 

 and with one exception referable to the aforesaid genus. The fish to the extreme 

 left, characterised by its boldly defined black and white bands, is the so-called Magpie 

 Perch. In captivity it proved to be specially susceptible of domestication. One 

 example was, in fact, so tame that it was accustomed to thrust its head out of water 

 and permit itself to be stroked and fed from the hand with its favourite food, which 

 consisted of the small round Pea-crabs, Pinnotheres, which abounded as mess-mates or 

 commensals in the common mussels that were opened and cut up for the general 

 commissariat. This Magpie Perch, and also a Tasmanian Flounder, which manifested 

 similar sociable proclivities, constituted, it may be remarked, special objects of 

 admiration and attraction to the late Admiral Sir George Tryon, who, when 

 visiting Hobart with the Australian squadron, was a frequent visitor to the writer's 

 Fisheries establishment. 



The fish next on the line to the Magpie Perch is the so-called Sea or Black or 

 Silver Perch of the Tasmanian market, and is especially notable for the abnormal 

 length of one of the free rays of its pectoral fin. The larger, transversely striped fish 

 next to this is "the Carp" of the Hobart market, Chilodactylus Allporti, notable in life 

 for its handsome colouration, in which alternate bands of white and vermilion red 

 predominate. Soon after removal from the water the whole body becomes suffused 

 with the vermilion tint, but that again speedily gives place to a more uniform hue 



