IlOliX EXPEDITION NAUUATIVE. 10") 



Tlio tow rocky pools lying in tlic uiorc open part of tln^ gorge, tiiougli iiuiu' of 

 them were more than a very few yards s(iuar(^ were well stocked with lish, and out 

 of the eiglit species met with during the Ex[jedition six were caught in one small 

 pool at the entrance to the lledbank Gorge. Tiiese weie (1) the bony Ijream 

 {Chato'cssus liorin) the largest iish of the district, though tlie specimens here were 

 small when compared with those cauglit in the Ijig water-li(j]e at llenhuiy, ("J) 

 a large species of Therapou {T. truttaccus) silver-grey in colour with golden 

 spots, tlie specimens of wliicii were the largest of this species caught during the 

 Expedition, (3) a smaller species of the same genus (7! pcrcoiihs) easily distin- 

 guished from the former by its Ijriglit silver colour and l)y the presence of live 

 strongly marked dark bands running vertically on each side of the body, ( 1) and 

 (5) two small, thinner fish, closely allied to one another {Neniatocentris talci anti 

 N. wiiineckei) with golden lines running horizontally along the side, and ((>) a 

 small but more stoutly built fish {E/co/ris larapiiita^ with the body a general 

 yellow-brown colour with some ten darker vertical bands on each sidi;. 



The first five species were swimming about together, and here as elsewhere 

 when the lish went together in a counnon shoal the most prominent was the little 

 TJwrapon percoides with its silvery Ijody and Ijlack bands, Ijut it was also the 

 quickest in its movements and the most diOicult to catch. The water in these 

 rock-pools was always perfectly clear and the only way to secure the fish was to 

 drive them into a nnrrow jiart of the pool if then^ lia.pjiened to be one and then to 

 use the hand net. The little Therapon when taken out the water made a small 

 but distinct trumpeting noise. The Eleotris did not often swim about with the 

 others but lay near to the bottom of the pool, usually in fact resting on the bed 

 where it was sandy. 



In addition to the eight species collected during the Expedition and identified 

 by Mr. Zietz a single specimen of Tlicidpon jascialns has Ijeen n^corded by Mr. 

 Lucas* which was secured " near the McDonnell llanges." Mr. Lucas has also 

 mentioned the occurrence of a species of Chatoessus which he says " seems to 

 correspond better with C. crebi, Ountlir., than with C. rii/iarJsoiii, C;istl.," but as 

 this was an immature specimen he was not able to identify it with certainty and 

 the wide distribution and large numbers of the single species of Chatoessus met 

 with during the Expedition {C. Iiorni) render it possible that Mr. Lucas' specimen 

 was an iinmaJurc one of the sajiic species. 



* Journ. Liiiii. Soc. N.S.W., 1S!)4, I't. 2, ii. ;iU2. 



