Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. {Fishes. 



Eeference. — Centropristes truttaceus (Cuv. and Val.), Hist. Nat. des Poiss., 

 v. 3, p. 50, 1829. Centropristes salar (Richardson), Zool. Proc, 1838, Zool. 

 Trans., v. 3, p. 78. Centropristes Tasmanicus (Hombr. and Jacq.), Voy. au Pole 

 Sud Poiss., t. 4, f. 1. (?) Perca trutta (Cuv. and Val.), Hist. Nat. des Poiss., 

 v. 4, p. 54. (^Wc^ f&jt* -£+*J *f fixate 



The genus Arripis of Jenyns was named from the absence of the 

 usual fan of diverging ridges on the basal portion of the scales in 

 his typical species the A. Georgianus (or Ruffy of the colonial 

 fishermen) ; but it is slightly indicated by a few longitudinal ridges 

 in our fish which is referable to the same genus. The two spines 

 on the operculum, likewise noted by Jenyns in his type, although 

 well marked in it, are almost entirely obsolete in the present fish, 

 so that I have omitted them also from the generic character. The 

 RufFy {A. Georgianus) differs from the present fish, when speci- 

 mens of the same size are compared, by its much coarser serration 

 of the scales of the body, giving rise to the popular name, as the 

 difference in roughness may be felt by the finger ; also by the two 

 distinct spines on the hind edge of the operculum ; and by the last 

 spines of the dorsal not being so much shorter than the next ray 

 of the branched portion : the coloring also is greyer, and otherwise 

 different in the A. Georgianus, as I will point out when figuring 

 that species. 



The adult condition of this fish, which is attained at about 2 feet 

 in length, is improperly called " Salmon " by the colonists of the 

 Victorian coasts, and is of a nearly uniform pale-olive color, without 

 spots, paler on the lower half of the body. When about a foot in 

 length it is popularly called " Salmon trout " by the fishermen and 

 in the markets, and then differs from the adult in its smaller size, 

 proportionately larger eyes, dark cloudy spots on the back, and 

 the conspicuous rows of large round brass-like spots on the sides. 

 All these characters I have many years ago proved to be merely 

 characteristics of the younger stages of growth. 



The Centropristes truttaceus of Cuvier was mainly characterized 

 by the posterior edge of the preoperculum not being denticulated. 

 This I have also proved by the demonstration of the characters in 

 several specimens to be a character of the very young of the same 

 species, with which it should, as well probably as the Perca trutta 

 of Cuvier, be united. The very young when examined alive have 



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