FISH AND FISHERIES, 61 
connected by a membrane, no finlets. The second dorsal and anal 
covered with very small scales. Our species, Temnodon saltator, Cuv. 
and Val. (Plate XX), has a bluish, lead, or olive colour above, and silvery 
beneath. The maxillary bone reaches to a line drawn from the posterior 
margin of the eye, preoperculum with a notch above the angle and 
denticulations on the lower part. Dorsal spines very feeble. Of this 
species Giinther remarks (G. 8. F., p. 447) that it is found over all 
tropical and subtropical coasts, but is also met in the open sea. On the 
coasts of the United States it is known as the Blue-tish, being highly 
esteemed as food and furnishing excellent sport. It is one of the most 
rapacious of fishes, killing many more than it devours. It grows to a 
length of 5 feet, but the majority of those brought to market are not 
half that length (Giinther). It is called skip-jack in Melbourne, which 
is also a name by which it is known in America and Britain. 
Mr. Oliver informs me that this fish is very destructive to the fisher- 
men’s nets. A school of “ tailors” enclosed in aseine generally involves 
wholesale destruction to the net. After such a haul a considerable 
expenditure of time and twine are necessary to repair the rents made 
by the sharp teeth of these very active and determined fish. Instances 
have been known where the entire bunt of a net has been torn to shreds 
by a few dozen sea tailors, whose vocation is the reverse of their land 
namesakes, The name “sea tailors” expresses the approach to the 
skip-jack size. Though Dr. Ginther is the authority for tailors 5 feet 
long, 3 feet is an unusual size for those found in the South Seas. 
The Bat-fish (Psettus argenteus, L., Plate XLV) belongs to this family, 
and is occasionally caught at Port Jackson. 
Fam, CYTTIDA. 
Body elevated, compressed, covered with small scales, bucklers, or 
naked, teeth conical, small dorsal fin of two distinct portions. Ventrals 
thoracic. Gill opening wide. Marine fishes of temperate latitudes, 
the only genus of which is Zeus, or John Dory. Our species is Zeus 
australis, Plate XV, which Dr. Giinther regards as identical with the 
Z. faber of Europe. The genus is distinguished by a series of bony 
plates along the base of the dorsal and anal fins, and another series on 
the abdomen. These fishes are regarded as excellent for the table. 
“The name seems to be a corruption of the Gascon ‘Jau’ cock, Dory 
being derived from the French, so that the entire name means gilt-cock.” 
—G. 8. F. The name of Gallo, which it. has in other places, confirms 
this, 
The John Dory. 
(Plate XXT.) 
Among the other groups there is one fish of great value—the “‘ John Dory” 
(Zeus australis). It is in every respect apparently the same as the John Dory 
of Europe (Zeus faber), and by some is regarded as the same fish. It is a ground 
fish, living on sandy banks and flats in moderately deep water. It enters Port 
Jackson in the summer months and is then full of roe. It is eoely looked. 
upon as a rare fish, but its rarity is probably owing to its being difficult to capture, 
the seine, even where its haunts can be got at, not taking sufficient hold of the 
ground to enclose it. The trawl would probably be found a more certain mode of 
capture. The excellence of this fish is universally admitted.—R.R.C. 
