206 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



small and can be raised or depressed at will. Of sluggish 

 disposition, as befits their structure, they generally remain 

 hidden away at the bottom of the waters they frequent, 

 lurking in some cases amongst rocks and in others burying 

 themselves in the sand ; the eyes and the edge of the mouth 

 only being uncovered only being visible, I was about to 

 say, but that expression would hardly apply; as, owing to 

 their protective colouration, it is almost impossible to dis- 

 tinguish any of these fishes when at rest in their natural 

 surroundings. 



Amongst the Australian species may be mentioned the 

 Mottled Star-gazer (Anema inerme) and the Stone-lifter 

 (Kathetostoma Iceve). 



The Mottled Star-gazer is a native of the coasts of 

 India, Ceylon, Japan and Eastern Australia. Along parts 

 of the northern half of the New South Wales coastline it 

 is not uncommon though rarely captured. Though "hauling - 

 nets" are often drawn over the kind of ground frequented 

 by this species, it is enabled to escape capture by its habit 

 of burrowing into the sand the net passing over it. Lurking 

 quietly and craftily in this position, it snaps up the unwary 

 searcher for such delicacies as "pippies" and sand-worms. 

 The mouth has a curious fringed appearance, this assisting 

 to deceive its prey. Recently there passed through my hands 

 a specimen of this Star-gazer, which had been found lying 

 dead, buried in the sand at Pelican Island, Brisbane Water 

 (N.S.W.), and jammed tightly by the head in its mouth 

 was a fair-sized Black Bream, also dead. Here was re- 

 vealed a rather pitiful tale. Nemesis had at last overtaken 

 the crafty one; like most villains he had at last attempted 

 too much and had "fallen in." All of the upper surface of 

 this fish is very prettily marbled or mottled with black and 

 white, with occasionally, several distinct, dark cross-bands. 

 In addition to being found in shallow water, it is interesting 

 to note, that the Mottled Star-gazer was trawled from the 

 "Thetis" in 1898 off the coast of New South Wales at a 

 depth of from 63 to 75 fathoms showing that it possesses 

 quite a considerable bathymetrical distribution. 



In India, it is known in parts by the appropriate native 



