126 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



While agreeing fairly well with previous descriptions, the Vic- 

 torian example differs slightly in some respects. The first dorsal 

 has only four instead of five spines. In two specimens examined 

 from the Bay of Naples one show's five spines and the other six. 

 The pectoral has fourteen rays, the first being extremely short, 

 and not measuring more than i^ mm. in length. This character 

 is also shown in the two Naples specimens, but each have sixteen 

 rays, as in Johnston's Tasmanian example. In the Naples 

 specimens the length of the second dorsal spine equals the 

 height of the body, while in the Victorian example it is much 

 longer. The length of the head is noticeably less than its 

 distance from the base of the caudal, while in those from Naples 

 one has the head and body exactly the same length, in the other 

 it is considerably longer. 



Total length, without caudal, 3.45 inches. 



The height of the body is 1.35 in the length of the head, and 

 1.4 in that of the body, measuring from the operculum to the base 

 of the caudal. 



The second dorsal spine is 1.2 in the length of the body. 



D. 4.12, A. 19, P. 14, V. 1.5, C. 9|. 



The colour is given by Giinther * as " rose or reddish-olive on 

 the back and silvery on the sides and belly." 



Family SCOMBRESOCIU^. 

 Belone ferox, Giinth. 



Giinther, Cat. Fish Brit. Mus., vi., p. 242, 1S66. 



T.-Woods, Fish N.S.W., p. 83, pi. xxxvi., 1882. 



Ogilby, Edib. Fish N.S.W., p. 168, 1893. 

 Slender Long Tom. 

 D. 20, A. 26, V. 6, P. 12, C. 15. 

 In the fishes of this genus both jaws are prolonged into a long, 

 slender beak, furnished with a series of long, sharply-pointed 

 teeth, set widely apart. The body is long and narrow, similar to 

 the well-known Garfish. They swim very rapidly, skimming 

 along close to the surface of the water, with an undulating 

 motion, and seize with their long jaws such small fishes as they 

 are able to swallow, according to some authorities attacking 

 without hesitation comparatively large species. Giinther states 

 that when very young their jaws are not prolonged, and during 

 growth the lower jaw is much in advance of the upper, giving 

 them a resemblance to some of the Garfish or " Half-beak," 

 (Hemirhamphus), in which the lower jaw is much produced, while 

 the upper is very short. The flesh is said to be well flavoured, 

 though rather dry, but, in consequence of the green colour of 



* Giinther, Cat. Fish Brit. Mus., iii., p, 518, 1S61. 



