160 



GADOPSIS MABMORATTTS. 



G-adopsis marmoratus, Richard., Ereb. and Ter., p. 122, pi. 59. 

 (The Slack Fish.) 



The Black Fish, well known to the colonists, is found in 

 almost all the streams of South-Eastern Australia ; but it is not 

 quite certain that it belongs to the sort described by Eichard- 

 son, and which was brought from Tasmania ; at least the figure 

 given by this author is much shorter than the specimens found 

 in the Tarra River, and these have one dorsal spine more. D. 

 12 — 26. C. 16 (with six small rays on each side). A. 3 — 18. 

 P. 17. V. 1 (bifid). 



The height is six and a-half times in the total length ; the head 

 four and a-half times in the same ; and the orbit five and a-half 

 times in the length of the head. The teeth are very numerous, 

 cardiform, and arched backwards. On the very old specimens, 

 there are a few larger ones in front, having rather the appear- 

 ance of canines. 



It is of a dark olive colour, with the lower parts of a dirty 

 yellow ; the back is covered with obscure blotches, which give 

 the fish a black appearance ; the fins are almost black. 



The largest specimens I have seen were 16i inches long. I 

 am not certain that the Black Fish of all the streams of the 

 Colony belong to the same sort ; it is considered good food. 



Nota. — Mr. Merle, of Daylesford, has kindly sent me some 

 specimens from the Loddon Biver. They are of a light green, 

 with very few obscure blotches on the back ; the belly is white, 

 and the sides of the head rosy. There are a few irregular obscure 

 spots on the dorsal ; the eye is rather green. The dorsal has 

 nine spines and twenty-seven rays, and the anal three spines and 

 eighteen rays. The height of the body is contained five and 

 two-third times in the total length. The largest of these speci- 

 mens is a little over 6 inches long. The ventrals are evidently 

 formed of two rays, united in a great part of their length ; but 

 the fresh specimens of the common Black Fish of the Tarra 

 have the same appearance. 



