392 



FISHES. 



on the coasts of Western Australia, Tasmania, and New 

 Zealand. 



Oligorus. — Body oblong, covered with small scales. Cleft of 

 the mouth rather oblique, the lower jaw being the longer. Teeth 

 villiform, without canines ; teeth on the vomer and palatine 

 bones. One dorsal, with eleven spines ; anal with three ; caudal 

 fin rounded. Praeoperculum with a single smooth or obtusely 

 denticulated margin. 



To this genus belong two fishes well known on account of 

 the excellent flavour of their flesh. The first {0. macguariensis) 

 is called by the colonists " Murray-Cod," being plentiful in the 



Fig. 164. — The Murray-Cod, Oligorus macpmriensis. 



Murray Eiver and other rivers of South Australia. It attains 

 to a length of more than three feet, and to a weight of nearly 

 100 lbs. The second {0. gigas) is found in the sea, on the 

 coast of New Zealand, and called by the Maoris and colonists 

 " Hapuku.'' Its average weight is about 45 lbs., but occasion- 

 ally large specimens of more than a hundredweight are caught. 

 At certain localities it is so plentiful that it may form an 

 important article of trade. Dr. Hector, who has had oppor- 

 tunity of examining it in a fresh state, has pointed out 

 anatomical differences from the Murray-Cod, from which it- 

 appears that it would be better placed in a distinct genus. 



Grystes. — Body oblong, covered with scales of moderate size. 

 All the teeth villiform, without canines ; teeth on the vomer and 

 palatine bones. One dorsal fin with ten spines ; anal with three ; 

 caudal fin rounded. Prseoperculum with a single smooth margin. 



