3!) 4 ON A FISH OF THE GENUS GIRELLA. [A.pr. 19, 



under the name of "Blue-fish," in contradistinction to its congener 

 G. tricuspidata, which is the "Black-fish" of New South Wales ^. 

 It is considered rare by them, and must evidently be so, but two 

 specimens having been brought to the Sydney market within tlie 

 last eighteen months ; both of these fortunately came into my hands, 

 and from them when in a fresh state I have drawn up the above 

 description. The larger specimen measured 23|, the smaller 17 

 inches. 



Pdtting aside the difference of coloration, G. cyanea may be at 

 once distinguished from the common G. tricuspidata by the greater 

 number of pectoral rays, the greater length of that fin, the number 

 of scales on the lateral and transverse lines, and the much longer and 

 differently shaped tail-fin ; and the necessity for pointing these 

 difi'erences out is the greater that within a few hours of its capture it 

 entirely loses its beautiful tints, even the conspicuous yellow spots, 

 leaving not a trace behind, and becomes to the ordinary observer a 

 " Black-fish." Without the aid of these variations the two described, 

 though not yet a month mounted, would be indistinguishable from 

 their congener. 



Habits. These fishes appear to be partial to rocky coasts or islands 

 surrounded by deep water, both my specimens having been obtained 

 in such places by hook ; and, so far as I have been able to ascertain, 

 it is never taken in estuaries and lagunes, which are favourite haunts 

 of G. tricuspidata. 



Food. In respect to this they appear to be of an accommodating 

 disposition, though seaweed, especially the calcareous kinds, un- 

 doubtedly form the great bulk of it, along with hydroid zoophrtes'; 

 but in the larger specimen there was also a good-sizt-d squid ' and 

 the remains of a fish some six inches long. 



Breeding. The smaller example showed no signs whatever of 

 breeding, but the larger was a female with the ova well developed ; 

 both were caught in December. 



As food. I had a piece of the larger one boiled, but found it coarse 

 and without flavour ; smaller individuals would, however, be probably 

 found equally palatable as the " Black-fish," which, ho > ever, is not 

 giving it much praise. 



Habitat. Botany Heads and Broken Bay. Both Dr. Eamsay and 

 Mr. W. Macleay are inclined to think that a " Blue-fish '' said to be 

 very common at Lord Howe Island is this species, but we have no 

 example from that locality. 



Finally, I shall take this opportunity of setting right any mistake 

 which might occur through the bad wording of a note in my 'Catalogue 

 of New South Wales Fishes,' 1886, p. 18 ; in the note on G. zonata 



1 Tlie same trivial name being applied to different fishes in the different 

 colonies is liable to cause confusion ; for instance the " Tellow-tail " of Sydney 

 is Caran.r frachurus, while that of Melbou-ne is Seriola lalandei, which goes by 

 the name of " King-fish " here, whereas the Melboui-ne " King fish" is a Scicena. 



' To Mr. Whitelegge I am indebted for the information that the greater part 

 of the hydroid zoophytes belong either to Sertidaria ehtigata or Aglaophenia 

 divaricafa: and to Mr. Brazier that the "squid" mentioned was Sepiateufhis 

 australis. 



