Natural History on the Lower Murray. 133 



Plate III, Fig. 11. (E.) 



" Poke," of tho Yarreo Yarree. 



This little spotted trout is a delicious eating fish, and is not only 

 found in the Billybongs and the River Murray, but also observed 

 by me in the Yarra Yarra, near Melbourne. It is nearly tran- 

 sparent, of a slightly greenish colour, with blackish spots of large 

 size on the back, and of a smaller description on the belly. 

 Becomes a fat, plump Httle fish, seldom larger than six or seven 

 inches. . . . 



Plate III, Fig. 12. — liter anka Irvingu. 



" Uterank," of the Yarree Yarree. 



This long thin fish seldom grows larger than seven inches, and 

 is caught by the boys jn the Yarra Yarra, in great numbers. Is 

 considered a very fine eating fish, but appears to be rare in 

 the Murray, and only serves to support the fish drawn at figure 15, 

 which principally feeds on it. 



Plate III, Fig. 13. — Gristes Macquariensis. (S.) 



" Yaturr," of the Yarree Yarree. 



Is of a dirty green colour and has less spots, than Gristes Peelii. 

 In both the scales ar.e small and covered by an epidermis. Both 

 are characteristic forms of the Murray River and its tributaries,- 

 and the principal fishes on which the natives subsist during the 

 greater part of the year. They grow from 36 to 40 inches in 

 length. In winter, when the river overflows it banks, the 

 natives spear them at night by firelight, while sleeping behind an 

 old log ; in the summer season, from January to June, when the 

 river is low and the water clear, this fish sleeps in the river, behind 

 a log or stone. The native, spear in hand, (now an iron rod of „ 

 about six feet in length), dives, head foremost, to the bottom of 

 the river, where the fish sleeps and there spears it, an exciting 

 sport even to the white man. 



Plate III, Fig. 14. — Gristes Peelii. (J.) 



" Barnta," of the Yarree Yarree. 



This fish, as well as the preceding, No. 13, have both been 

 already observed in America, I may as well allude here to Mr. 

 Edward "Wilson's experiment of transferring these fishes to the 

 rivers joining the sea on the southern side of the range, and I 

 believe them likely to prosper, if they find ample food in those 

 rivers ! 



