198 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



wonderful assimilation of its colours to the prevailing hues 

 of whatever bottom it is on; on muddy bottoms being a 

 dirty brownish-black with transverse bars of black, while 

 in sandy places a light sandy-grey is assumed. 



The Dusky Flathead is exceedingly ravenous ; nothing 

 much in the way of animal food coming amiss to it. 



It is one of the commonest of our food-fishes, the flesh 

 being of good flavour and much appreciated. 



The Rock Flathead is more particularly a Victorian 

 fish, being more common on that coast. It is not uncommon 

 on the most southern portions of the New South Wales 

 coast, but is rarely obtained as high up as Port lackson. It 

 occurs also in Tasmania, ( ?) South Australia, and Western 

 Australia. 



If one took a rubber duplicate of a typical Dusky Flat- 

 head from New South Wales, and stretched it out so that 

 it became relatively much longer, narrower and rounder he 

 would have a very fair resemblance to the Rock Flathead. 



In its colours it is somewhat similar to the Dusky Flat- 

 head, but the sides are very prettily mottled with white and 

 when fresh there are very distinct dark crossbands. 



This species is considerably smaller than the preceding, 

 growing to a length of less than 2 feet. 



The Long spined Flathead is a small, large-bellied 

 species, occurring on the coast of New South Wales. It 

 is not uncommon on sandy patches in deep water off a 

 number of the beaches in the vicinity of Sydney. 



In this Flathead there is a great development of the 

 lower of two preopercular spines (on each side) this being 

 exceedingly large and sharp. From this character, the fish 

 is known to the fishermen of Coogee by the very appropriate 

 name of "Spikey." 



This only attains a length of about 12 or 13 inches, 

 even that being considered very large, and it is sexually 

 mature at a length of 7 or 8 inches. 



It is of a light sandy colour, spotted over with small, 

 brilliant, red or vermilion spots. 



The Variegated FJathead I have included solely be- 

 cause of its remarkable appearance and beautiful colours. 



