PREFACE. 



AUSTRALIA possesses a rich and varied fish- fauna. Of 

 over twelve-thousand species of fishes at present known, 

 about one-tenth have been recorded from the waters of 

 Australia. As the exploration of our waters has but just 

 begun, it is reasonable to suppose that in the near future, 

 the number of fishes known to inhabit them will be 

 greatly augmented. 



Amongst our indigenous fishes are many which are of 

 immense importance from an economic point of view, 

 while there are others which are of the greatest interest 

 to the lover of Nature some because of their intrinsic 

 beauty or remarkable habits, others because of the admir- 

 able way in which they have been adapted either in colour 

 or form to their surroundings, and others again because 

 of their intimate connections with fossil fishes of a far- 

 distant geological age. 



Viewed from the economic standpoint alone, it may 

 be stated that the fishes of Australia are destined shortly 

 to play an exceedingly important part in contributing to 

 the material wealth of our country. 



In the following pages, an attempt has been made by 

 the author, to place before the reader as comprehensive 

 a view of our vast fish-fauna as is possible within the 

 *pace at our disposal. And here I must point out that 

 a complete list of the whole of the known fishes inhabit- 

 ing the waters of Australia is not for what are, perhaps, 

 obvious reasons included within the scope of this 

 volume. Had such been attempted, my present aim must 

 have been entirely defeated ; as the work would of neces- 

 sity have been exceedingly bulky (and correspondingly 

 costly), and, under the circumstances, unnecessarily 

 technical. 



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