THE AUSTRALIAN ROCK LING. 215 



miles). Two specimens only, of one species, known as 

 Typhlonus nasns measuring 10 inches in length were 

 dredged by the "Challenger" Expedition off the north-east 

 coast of Australia at a depth of 2,440 fathoms. This is a 

 very remarkable-looking fish, possessing curious protuber- 

 ances formed by projecting portions of the cranium, occu- 

 pying the upper and side surfaces of the head ; there being 

 also one in the front and another on each side of the snout, 

 these being very conspicuous. In this species the eye is not 

 externally visible, being reduced to a minute rudiment 

 hidden below the skin. 



THE AUSTRALIAN ROCKLING. 



( Family : Ophidiidce. ) 



THE members of this family are marine, carnivorous fishes 

 from Atlantic and Southern Pacific coasts, as well as from 

 great depths in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans 

 (Boulenger). About 25 species are known. They have 

 usually narrow, elongate bodies and large heads and are 

 chiefly of small size. 



The only representative of this family of any import- 

 ance, that is resident in our waters, is the Australian 

 Rockling (Genypterus blacodes). This is a widely-distri- 

 buted fish, in addition to its Australian habitat, being known 

 to occur on the coasts of New Zealand, Chile and Peru. A 

 closely-allied species in South Africa is known as "Klip- 

 visch." 



The Australian Rockling is most abundant on the coast 

 of Victoria, seldom being seen on any part of the New South 

 Wales coast.* It is a comparatively-large, somewhat Eel- 

 shaped fish, growing to a length of over 3 feet. As in the 

 other members of this family, there are no true ventral 

 fins, these being replaced by a pair of bifid filaments or 

 barbels, which are placed beneath the lower jaw. The pos- 



* There is a fine example in the collection of the New South Wales 

 Department of Fisheries, this being from Jervis Bay. 



