Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



This is one of the best fishes for the table found in Victoria, but 

 is not well known to the public or the dealers, although abundant 

 in the Gippsland Lakes. It is also not very uncommon in the sea 

 outside as far as Hobson's Bay, where it is occasionally found 

 at Mordialloc and Brighton, although it is there so unknown to the 

 fishermen as to be brought to me as a rarity when they catch it. 

 In the Gippsland district it goes by the native name of " Ludrick," 

 and is greatly preferred even to the excellent Gippsland Perch 

 {Lates colonorum, see our Plate 14). It has a remarkably thick 

 skin, by which the unscientific carver distinguishes it from its allies 

 at table. The three outer rows of long, incurved teeth, having 

 each a broad, nearly straight cutting edge, like a chisel, instead of 

 the trilobed edge of the other species of Girella, is the perfectly 

 constant and easily observed character referred to in the specific 

 name. The patches of small, crowded teeth on the vomer and on 

 the palatine bones seem another dental peculiarity of the species. 

 The disc of each scale is smooth, the remainder towards the margin 

 with rough, radiating, minute ridges, terminating in a very fine 

 serration of the edge. 



The species is curiously like the G. tricuspidata, or "Black 

 Perch" of the fishermen, except in the simplicity of the edges of 

 the teeth, almost suggesting the idea of this being a sexual instead 

 of a specific character. 



It is rarely quite so large as the one measured above ; but one 

 specimen in the Museum is 1 ft. 11 inches in total length. 



This fish has not been figured before. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 73. — Fig. 1, side view, reduced. Fig. la, inner view of upper portion of mouth, 

 natural size, showing the large outer rows of teeth, and the more numerous rows of similar but 

 much smaller teeth, as well as the patches of small teeth on the vomer and palatine bones. 

 Fig. lc, front view of large teeth, magnified. Fig. lb, same, viewed sideways. Fig. Id, teeth of 

 lower jaw and the tongue, natural size. Fig. le, outer teeth, magnified. Fig. If, scale from 

 lateral line, magnified. Fig. la, scale from above lateral line, showing the minute serration, 

 magnified. Fig. 1/t, patch of scales from middle of body, natural size. 



Frederick McCoy. 



[18] 



