GENERAL ZOOLOGY. 19 



Dcemelii, G-iinther, obtained during the voyage of the "Herald"; Plectropoma 

 cinctum, Giinther ; and Trachypoma macr acanthus, Giinther. 



The specimens obtained during our late visit were one hundred and 

 fifty-five in number, distributed over about thirty -two genera, and between 

 thirty-five and forty species. Except a few, too young to be identified, all 

 are of interest, and some, such as Tetragonurus, of especial interest and 

 value. The identification of the genera and species has been carried out by 

 our colleague, Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby, whose appendix to the present sketch 

 will be read with much interest. On glancing through the list given below, 

 the reader will be at once struck by the number of important food fish 

 inhabiting the waters around Lord Howe, a fact to be dwelt on later. 



Serranus Dcemeli, Griinther, the Black Rock Cod or " Sea Perch," and one 

 of the best marketable fish in Sydney, is common, and of large size. The 

 largest seen by us, was one hooked by Mr. Thorpe, which could not have 

 been less than between 80 and 90 lb. An excellent spot for Rock-cod 

 fishing will be found at the western base of Mount Gower, off the Erskine 

 Valley, and the rocky ledges to the east of Ned's Beach, where our monster 

 was hooked. Other members of the Percidce obtained were Plectropoma 

 cinctum, Giinther, a Norfolk Island species, and Trachypoma macr acanthus, 

 Giinther, said to be restricted to Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. 



The so-called Salmon, Arripis salar, Rich., is very common, especially 

 within the Lagoon, where we caught numerous examples, ranging from a 

 few ounces to 3 or 4 lb. in weight. Notwithstanding the reputed poisonous 

 qualities of A. salar, we partook freely of it, and did not experience 

 any unpleasant symptons, nor did we hear of any evil effects arising from 

 its consumption by the Islanders. It is poisonous probably only when stale. 



Of the tropical family Squamipinnes, two genera were caught, the 

 Sweep, Scorpis aiquipinnis, being the most important. The Sparida?, or Sea 

 Breams are represented by Girella cyanea, Macleay, with which the teas 

 around the islands are teeming. It is one of the most important food fish 

 obtained there, and would yield large results to well conducted fishing opera- 

 tions. No species commends itself more highly for carriage to the 

 Sydney market than G. cyanea, both from its size, plentitude, the firm- 

 ness of its flesh, and ease with which it is caught. It reaches a size of 

 fifteen pounds, and is one of the most exquisitely, although uniformly 

 coloured fish, caught off Lord Howe Island. 



Two members of the curious family Scorpcenidce, were secured — one, 

 a handsome Scorpcena, and a dried example of Pterois volitans, Linn., 

 presented by Mr. W. E. Langley. " These fish possess in various degrees of 

 development those skinny appendages resembling the fronds of sea-weeds, 

 by which they either attract other fishes, or by which they are enabled more 

 effectually to hide themselves."* Two other edible forms, members of the 

 Carangidae, are a species of Garanx, a very large fish, allied to the Horse Mac- 

 kerels ; and the Seriola Lalandi, C. & V., the King-fish, called " Yellow-tail " 

 by the Islanders, but not the yellow-tail of Port Jackson. It would be of great 

 assistance in unravelling the confusion existing among the local names of fish 

 if a catalogue of the same could be compiled, showing their application to 

 the different species throughout the Australian seas. As a case in point the 

 Rev. J. E. T. Woods remarkst that Seriola Lalandi, although called " King- 

 fish " in New South Wales, is not the fish of that name caught in Victorian 

 waters, nor that known under a similar designation in Tasmania. 



* Giinther, loc. cit., p. 413. 



t Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales, 1883, p. 59. 



