FISH AND FISHERIES. 69 
of its pectoral fins, which would lead one to imagine it capable of 
supporting its body in the air, like the noted flying-fish. It is not, 
however, known to exert this power, or even to possess it. Their heads 
are said to be so placed as to enable them to move among the stones and. 
rocks, and remove from thence any crabs or shell-fish which may be 
concealed, their well-armed head preventing them from receiving injuries. 
while exploring the rocky retreats for their prey. The flying gurnard 
is not a common fish here, and its flesh is not so dry as in gurnards of 
other parts of the world,.and, served up with a nice sauce, it makes a 
very good dish.” 
The family Cataphracti can be passed over, merely stating that one 
species, Dactylophorus orientalis, Cuv. and Val. (which has the habits 
of the Flying-fish), is seen as far south as Port Jackson, though more 
commonly in the tropics. It is the Indo Pacific species. 
The families of “ Gobies Blennies,” d&c., have been already mentioned. 
Passing at once to the eleventh division of the Ancanthopterygians, or 
those generally resembling the mullets. They have two dorsal fins 
more or less remote from each other; the anterior either short, like the 
posterior, or composed of feeble spines. Ventrals abdominal, with one 
spine and five rays. 
SPHYRAENIDA. 
The first family is the Barracudas, or Sea Pike.* There are three 
fishes of this small family occasionally found in Port Jackson and on 
other inlets of the coast. They are easily known by the elongate. 
muzzle and strong teeth, and in general outline are not unlike the 
British pike. This gives them the name which they bear of “ pike” 
amongst the Sydney fishermen. They are only caught by the seine, and 
are most abundant in summer, when they seem to come to the coast in 
small shoals. They are also caught at other seasons, but the adult fish 
rarely in large quantities. The young are taken much more frequently 
in seines. 
‘The Pike. 
(Plate XX'VIIL) 
“‘ Pike,” as generally understood here, is Sphyrena obtusata, Cuv. and 
Val. (Plate XX VII), a long narrow fish, with a long head and scaly oper- 
cula. It is greenish lead colour above, silvery beneath, fins deep yellow, 
outer rays black, a dark band from snout to tail below lateral line ; 
there is also a black blotch under the root of the pectorals. We have 
another species in Port Jackson, S. Nove Hollandie, Ginth. Another 
kind of Pike is Lanioperca mordax, Giinth. (Plate XXVIII). 
Mugilide or Grey Mullets. 
Distinguished by moderately large cycloid scales, dentition very feeble 
or none, no lateral line. 
* This name is no doubt the same as Barracouta, and is of Spanish origin. The 
application of it to Thyrsites atun in the Southern seas was founded on some 
fancied resemblance to the West Indian fish, which originally bore the name, 
though of course they are entirely different. x 
