71 



CHRTSOPHRTS ATJSTRA.LIS . 



Chrysophrys australis, Gunther, Oatal. Brit. Mus., v. i. p. 494. 

 {The 'Bream?) 



This fish is one of the most common in the Melbourne Market 

 throughout all seasons of the year. It is esteemed as food, but 

 never attains to a large size, the longest specimens being about 

 12 inches. 



The Australian Bream is a sea fish, but often enters the rivers, 

 and is common in the lower Yarra and also in the Gripps Land 

 lakes. 



Its colour is silvery ; grey on the upper parts. There is a 

 slight brown transverse band on the forehead ; dorsal fin hyaline, 

 bordered with black ; caudal rather yellow, with a dark external 

 border ; anal sometimes yellow, other times dark ; ventrals 

 yellow, sometimes in part blue ; pectorals yellow. 



Dr. Grunther has been mistaken when he says (page 494) that 

 this sort has shining golden longitudinal streaks. Nothing similar 

 is seen in the fresh specimens. 



SQUxiMIPINNES. 



"Body compressed and elevated, covered with 

 scales, which are sometimes exceedingly finely 

 ciliated, and sometimes smooth. Lateral line con- 

 tinuums, not continued on the caudal fin. Mouth 

 in front of the snout, generally small, with lateral 

 cleft. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Six or seven 

 branchiostegals. Dentition formed by villiform 

 or setiform bands, without canines or incisors ; some 

 of the genera with teeth on the palate. Dorsal fin 

 formed by a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal 

 development ; anal with three or four spines, simi- 

 larly developed as the soft dorsal, and both many- 

 rayed. The vertical fins more or less densely covered 

 with small scales ; the spinous portions sometimes 



