I2 4 



FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



2\y 2 inches; that being the size of the largest example 

 handled by me ; the specimen being from the Macleay River, 

 N.S.W. 



Richardson's Boar-Fish : This remarkable looking 

 fish has achieved fame because of its peculiar appear- 

 ance, rather than through its importance as an edible fish. 

 Still, in the latter respect, it has already gained some renown, 

 as it attains a length of nearly 2 feet, and the flesh, is much 

 esteemed as food. It is found chiefly upon the coasts of 

 Victoria and Tasmania, also being occasionally obtained 



Fig. 44. Head of RICHARDSON'S BOAR-FISH 

 ( Histiopterus recurvirostris ) . 



upon the southern seaboard of New South Wales and 

 Western Australia. The most remarkable portion of this 

 fish is the head, in which the snout is greatly produced, the 

 small mouth being situated at the extremity of the snout. 

 Taking the front part of the head alone there is a quaint, 

 far-away suggestion of the head of a gigantic sea-horse 

 without any of a sea-horse's trimmings. 



The Giant Boar-Fish : If one is to go by actual 

 appearances, this fish is more deserving of the name of 

 "Boar" than any of the others, there being an undoubted 

 suggestion of a "Tamworth" Pig. It is distributed over the 

 greater portion of the coastline of New South Wales, Vic- 

 toria, South Australia and probably Tasmania. It is a fine 

 fish, growing to a large size (specimens of over 2 feet in 



