FISH AND FISHERIES. 43 
their Vivaria, and the inventor of these Vivaria was named Orata, from 
this fish. It grows extremely fat in artificial ponds. Duhamel states 
that it stirs up the sand with the tail so to get at the shell fish. It is 
extremely fond of mussels, and often makes its presence known by the 
noise caused in breaking in the shells with its broad teeth. (G.S.F.) 
These facts may give a clue to the habits of our own species. 
We have two species in Australia, as already noticed. The Black 
Bream, C. australis, @unth., and the Tarwhine.  C. sarba, Forsk., C. 
hasta, Bleek., is a common fish in India and China, entering all the large 
rivers. It was supposed by Mr. Hill to be our common species, but 
Giinther has shown that they are distinct. The Australian Bream, Plate 
VI, is'as common on the south as on the east coast. It affords excel- 
lent sport to anglers in Victoria. The author remembers in January, 1860, 
catching an immense quantity with a line in the Glenelg River, Victoria, 
where the river was little more than brackish, though not far from the 
mouth. The bait used was a small crab, and no sooner was the line 
down than the hook was swallowed. The sport was only terminated 
when all the hooks were destroyed, for these ravenous fishes broke them 
with their hard teeth. As a food-fish it has good qualities, and is very 
abundant, but never more than about a foot in length. 
It is somewhat difficult to distinguish between the two species, so 
the definitions of both are given. C’\. sarba has the height of the body 
nearly two-thirds of the length, and the head is one-fourth. The distance 
between the eyes is rather more than their diameter. Incisors broad,: 
obtuse, the molars in great number, forming four series in both jaws, 
and a large ovate molar behind. Dorsal spine, moderate, rather 
compressed, broader on one side, the fourth longest, second and third anal 
spines nearly equal. Silvery in colour, with about fourteen indistinct 
longitudinal streaks. 
C. australis has the body proportionately slightly higher, and the eye 
a little longer. The dorsal spines are stronger. The second anal spine 
is very strong, and equal to the fourth dorsal in length. There are five 
series of scales between the preorbital.and the angle of the operculum. 
Colour, silvery and grey on the upper parts.” There is a slight brown 
transverse band on the forehead ; dorsal, hyaline, bordered with black ; 
caudal rather yellow, with a dark external border; anal either yellow 
or dark ; ventrals yellow, or in part blue. Whole body with shining 
longitudinal streaks, but this character is often absent from the 
Victorian specimens. 
The “ black bream” (Chrysophrys australis) and the ‘‘ tarwhine” (Chrysophrys 
hasta) are both excellent fishes, and are frequently abundant. The schooling 
season seems to be summer with both species, but where or when they spawn has 
not been ascertained. They have been occasionally caught outside on the 
schnapper grounds, but their chief resort is evidently the harbours and lakes along 
the coast, where they are taken in the seine in great numbers. In Port Jackson 
line-fishing for “ black bream” is a very favourite sport.—R.R.C. 
The Silver Bream or Silver-belly. 
Mr. Hill, in the series of essays already referred to, speaks of a silver 
bream or white bream. It is probable he refers to-Gerres ovatus, a 
common fish of very compressed form, and very protractile mouth. 
