52 NEW SOUTH WALES 
different from Giinther’s B. affinis, because the lobes of the tail were 
often so unequal, the lowest being shorter, but this is subject to great 
variation in the species. 
The name of Nannygai is said by Mr. Edward Hill to be derived 
from the aboriginal name of Mura ngin a gai, whatever that may mean. 
Amongst the early colonists it used also to be called “ Mother nan a di” 
probably a-corruption of the native name. The following remarks of 
the same author will be read with interest :— 
“That which is taken on our coast visits some of the headlands once or 
twice during the year, is shaped like a squire or small schnapper, and 
does not attain a great size; its colour is bright red, with iridescent 
streaks, and the colouring matter appears to be in the skin and epidermis, 
‘as they retain a portion even after having been cooked. 
“The nannygai has a very large eye, and is found in the vicinity of 
reefs, no doubt for protection, and is first fished for in deep water at the 
North Head of Sydney, in the month of October, with hook and line, 
using the ordinary schnapper bait. Great caution is necessary at times’ 
in approaching the ground so that the boat may not be pulled over the 
rocks where they congregate, as these fish have been known to take 
alarm in such instances, and in consequence not to take a bait during 
the day ; otherwise they bite freely, and many are taken. A month or 
so later a few are found off Middle Head, and some have been caught 
between Shark Island and Milk Beach. The North Head of Botany 
Bay also affords a rendezvous for these fishes, as also at intervals along 
the coast, south. * 
_ “The beauty of this fish is to be seen only when first cauglit, and the 
flesh is much better when fried very fresh; in fact, most of the 
Australian fishes are tenfold better as food when just caught than when 
stale, although some keep tolerably well ; but it cannot be expected that 
the nannygai, which puts in an appearance in the month of October, 
can keep many hours after removal from its element.” 
The division of Kurtus-like Acanthopterygians may be passed over. 
The division which contains the family Polynemide is for Acanthoptery- 
gians with two rather short dorsal fins, somewhat remote from each 
other ; free filaments at the humeral arch, below the pectoral fins ; 
muciferous canals of the head well developed. Tropical fish in brackish 
and fresh waters or very muddy rivers, the eyes are often covered with 
a filmy skin, but the long filaments seem to act as feelers instead, where 
eyes would be of little use. The flesh is esteemed, and the air-bladder 
is valuable. They sometimes obtain the length of 4 feet.—(G.S.T.) 
An instance has been mentioned in the introduction to this éssay of a 
purblind fish of this family having been found at Port Darwin. 
Three species of Polynemus have been seen on this coast, but their appearance is 
extremely rare, and as useful fishes they are unknown. We mention them how- 
ever because the group of fishes to which they helong are of the greatest service 
in the tropical seas of India and Polynesia, some of the species yielding food of 
the most excellent quality, and a few of them having air-bladders of good size and 
average quality for isinglass. It is not improbable that some of the species may 
be found to be abundant on the northern coasts of Queensland.—R.R.C; 
Though three species are here referred to, only two, according to 
“Macleay, have been found—/. indicus (Shaw) and P. macrochir 
Giinther). 
