Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



The " Bream " of colonists is the chief sport of amateur fisher- 

 men, who catch great quantities by rod and line in the brackish 

 water of the mouths of the rivers and creeks, and sea entrances to 

 the Gippsland Lakes, which they enter during the summer months, 

 spawning there about November and December. They go down 

 to the sea again about the end of June, when the cold weather 

 comes on, and may be caught in the sea, commonly about the ends 

 of the piers, with rod and line during the winter months. The 

 bait is usually small fish, or small shrimps or worms. The fish 

 is moderately good for the table, except at spawning time, when 

 the flesh becomes flabby, and the colors dull. The weight rarely 

 exceeds 6 lbs., and is usually much less. The largest specimen I 

 have seen, now in the Museum, is 17^ inches long, but differs in 

 nothing from the above described example in proportion, or num- 

 bers of fin-rays and scales. It is from the Mordialloc Creek. 

 Young specimens, 4^- inches long, from Hobson's Bay, agree 

 exactly in the number and disposition of the scales and fin-rays 

 with the largest. 



The species has not been figured before. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 4. — Fig. 1, average specimen, natural size. Fig. la, inner view of upper surface of 

 mouth, showing the rows of rounded crushing teeth on the sides, and 6 pointed teeth in front. 

 Fig. 16, inner view of lower jaws and tongue, showing 6 pointed conical teeth in front, and the 

 rows of rounded crushing teeth on each jaw, with the clusters of minute intervening ones 

 behind the prominent anterior teeth. Fig. lc, form of section of tail. Fig. \d, form of section 

 from below third dorsal ray. Fig. le, ordinary scale above lateral line, three times larger than 

 nature. Fig. If, scale of lateral line, three times larger than nature. 



Frederick McCoy. 



[16] 



