72 



attains a weight of from 15 to 20 lbs. Specimens have 

 been captured weighing over 60 lbs. The other, termed 

 Pair or School-fish, is smaller, with a darker hue along the 

 back, with yellowish tinge over the lighter parts, especially 

 on throat and belly. The latter is usually found on a rocky 

 bottom, in shallower water, near shore,* and in this state 

 is never found with mature genital organs, and rarely 

 exceeds 6 to 7 lbs. weight. Unlike the immature Bastard, 

 however, the School-fish or Black Trumpeter, which is 

 most probably the immature form of the Deep Coral-reef 

 Trumpeter, is held in most esteem as an article of food, 

 and commands a higher price in the market. The fisher- 

 men are of opinion that the two forms represent distinct 

 species ; but, as the general characters are identical, — viz., 

 D. 17:1-36-38. A. 328-30. P. 98-9. L. lat. 110,— 

 and as the smaller form caught in shallower water is never 

 found with the genital organs mature, it is most probable 

 that the latter is the immature form of the larger. It is 

 likely, just as in the well-marked type of Red Bastard 

 Trumpeter ( Latris Forsteri), that they seek the deeper 

 coral reefs as they approach maturity. No other conclusion 

 seems possible, taking all the facts into consideration. 



The Bastard Trumpeter (Latris Forsteri), D. 16 : 1 • 37- 42. 

 A. 3-33-36. P. 9-10-8-9. L. lat. 115 - 120. Scarcely 

 inferior to the Real Trumpeter, and superior to it in 

 abundance all the year round, comes the Bastard Trumpeter, 

 especially the well-conditioned mature variety known as 

 the White or Silver Bastard. The latter, or mature form, 

 however, is only taken during January, February, and 

 March. This fish has hitherto been confounded with 

 Latris cU'iaris, (Forst.); but, although the latter species has 

 been reported as existing in Tasmanian waters, it is most 

 probably a mistake : for the two varieties, (the red and 

 white), found in such abundance here, have the general 

 characters as shown above ; and alrhough some of them 

 vary within certain limits, there is little doubt but that they 

 must be referred to the Latris Forsteri of Count Castelnau, 

 which appears to be the Bastard Trumpeter of Victorian 

 waters. It is true that Castelnau's L. Forsteid is described 

 as having only two spines in the anal fin ; but most 

 probably this is simply a mistake, and that the Victorian 

 L. ForsterilidiS three spines like all the other representatives 

 of the genus. 



The following diagnoses of certain external characters 

 taken indiscriminately from a dozen specimens, will give to 



* They have been known to ascend the estuary of the Derwent as far 

 as Hobait. 



