io8 FISHES I HAVE KNOWN 



perch, called the Palmer, or Murray perch, generally 

 captured on night-lines. It is excellent eating, 

 and runs up to 50 lbs. in weight, and has a singular 

 habit of grunting under water. 



Then there is a silver perch, that cannot be 

 induced to take bait, but is caught in a seine net. 

 Next is the fresh-water black fish, seldom exceed- 

 ing I lb., somewhat rich, but pleasant to the taste ; 

 while in every dam and pool are fine eels, not very 

 long, but very thick in the body. 



The cat-fish, like its American relation, is 

 hideous, but makes fair food. The curious barra- 

 munda, or ceratodus, of Queensland (called 

 " salmon " by the colonists, because of its pink 

 flesh), is dark green in colour, and, unlike a true 

 fish, has lungs as well as gills, resembling the 

 amphibious lepidosiren of South America and the 

 African silurus. It lies in deep pools, and, when 

 caught, spouts like a whale from blow-holes. A 

 fact associated with this fish is that, feeding as it 

 does on aquatic plants, it can be captured by a 

 hook baited with them. 



Besides the foregoing, there are sundry small 

 fish — graylings, or fresh-water smelts, bony breams 

 (but what bream is not bony!), fresh-water 

 herrings, and so-called mountain trout (the real 

 article, together with perch, carp, and other British 



