SCORPJENOID FISHES. 193 



situations the Red Gurnet-Perch is usually only captured 

 by hook and line. 



It usually attains a length of about 12 inches but at 

 present is not greatly esteemed as food. 



The Red Rock-Cod is found along the greater part 

 if not the whole of the eastern coast of Australia, abound- 

 ing also in Tasmania. It is a very grotesque-looking fish ; 

 having a large heavily-armed head, covered with ridges and 

 spines. The eyes are large and between them is a deeply- 

 concave space. Distributed over the head and body at in- 

 tervals, are numerous short skinny appendages. The spines 

 of the dorsal and anal fins are strong and acute. 



The colours of the Red Rock-Cod are very beautiful. 

 The general colour is a rich carmine very bright towards 

 the back; while the lower parts are a pearly-white. There 

 is a broad transverse pink spot, which is narrowest in the 

 middle immediately at the back of the head on the occiput. 

 The lower surface of the head is a pale red marbled with 

 yellow with which colour the lips are banded. On the 

 sides are scattered many dark chocolate-coloured spots, par- 

 ticularly over the lower portions. 



This species is a rock-fish, being captured by hook and 

 line with a flesh-bait on outside reefs and bomboras in 

 fairly-shallow water along our coastline, being very abun- 

 dant in the vicinity of Port Jackson. It is a very voracious 

 fish, subsisting upon crustaceans, mollusks and other marine 

 animals that are to be found in the vicinity of weedy-rocks. 

 As food it is considered to be of value, as its flesh is of good 

 flavour. 



Though the Red Rock-Cod is more often seen of a 

 length of from 10 to 12 inches, it attains at least 18 inches. 



The Bullrout though an edible fish, is famed chiefly 

 on account of the painful wound which it inflicts upon the 

 unwary handler by means of the strong, sharp preorbital 

 spines ; one of which is short and triangular, while the other 

 is long and thorn-like. The fish is able to erect these spines 

 at will, when they become really formidable weapons of 

 defence. 



In colour this fish is brownish, marbled with black. 



