50 NEW. SOUTH WALES 
Two families follow in this division, and then we pass to the tenth and 
last of the perch-like Acanthopterygians, 
The TEUTHIDIDZ. 
Body, oblong ; strongly compressed, covered with very small scales, 
lateral line continuous ; a single series of cutting incisors in each jaw ; 
palate, without teeth; dorsal, single, the spinous portion most developed ; 
ventral fins thoracic with an outer and an inner spine with three soft 
rays between. 
This family consists of one very natural genus, Teuthis, easily recog- 
nized by the singular structure of the fins, The incisors are small, 
narrow, and with a serrated edge. The air-bladder is large, forked 
before and behind. The skeleton is very peculiar, with twenty-three 
vertebra, ten of which belong to the abdominal portion. There are thirty 
species known, all herbivorous, and do not exceed 15 inches in 
length. 
The Black Trevally. 
The “ Black Trevally” of the Sydney fishermen is 7. nebulosa, Quoy 
and Gaimard, a brown fish, irregularly marbled. It extends right 
round to the tropics. Of this species Mr. Hill says :—‘“‘ These are net 
fishes, and are often caught by that means in large numbers, but are 
not good market fish, and soon after being caught they look dirty—con- 
sequently they are not esteemed as good fishes.” 
“The black trevally is shaped something like the white one, but it is 
slimy and more rigid, having all its prickles pointed, and has also very 
small scales. These fishes appear very different, and the dorsal ray, as 
well as every fin, is not only kept stiff, but each prickle or point of any 
one inflicts a very painful wound when it pierces. 
“T recollect many instances of only slight touches, but the pain lasted 
long ; and on one occasion we were net-fishing in North Harbour, a 
favourite resort for these fishes, and a goodly number was hauled in. A 
young gentleman who had accompanied his father on the expedition was 
cautioned at the time against handling any of these fishes; he however 
made a kick at one, and a spine went through his boot and sock, and 
penetrated the ball of his toe. In less than a minute the boot and sock 
were off (from pain), the part was well washed with spirits, but to no 
effect. The father had to put the toe in his mouth and well suck the 
punctured part, and continually to apply spirits, and not for half-an- 
hour did the pain commence to subside. 
“The black trevally is a very good-eating fish when used at once. 
When alive all the fins are cut off with a pair of large scissors we usually 
provide for that purpose. When the fish is cleaned well, and fried in good 
clear dripping or butter, adding pepper and salt to the palate, you will 
find it really good, but they must be used fresh to get out all their nice 
qualities.” 
