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



Plates 85 and 86. 



OLIGORUS MACQUARIENSIS (Cuv. and Val. sp.) 



The Murray Cod -Perch. 



[Genus OLIGORUS (Gunther). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Sub class 

 Teleostii, Order Acanthopterygii. Fam. Percidse.) 



Gen. Char. — Branchiostegal rays seven. Teeth in villiform bauds on the jaws, vomer, and 

 palatine bones. No canines. Tongue smooth. One dorsal fin, with eleven spinous rays in 

 front of the branched ones. Anal fin with three spines in front. Operculum with one point ; 

 sub-operculum with a smooth or obtusely denticulated edge. Scales very small. Pyloric caeca 

 few. Australian rivers.] 



Description. — Form; Regular elongate ovate, moderately compressed; greatest 

 depth of body 4f times in total length to end of caudal fin in small specimens (a 

 foot and a half long), but only 3^ times in large individuals ; thickness of body fths 

 of the depth. Edges of operculum, preoperculum, and suboperculum nearly smooth. 

 One obscure spine a little within the margin and rounded posterior point of the 

 operculum. Edge of the preoperculum with a slight undulation or imperfect denta- 

 tion on the posterior margin and angle (perceptible only when dry). Fin Rays; 

 Dorsal, 11 spinous and 15 branched; anal, 3 spinous and usually 12 or very rarely 

 13 branched; pectoral, 18 to 20 (usually 19), branched; ventral, 1 spinous and 5 

 branched, the anterior part of first branched ray considerably longer than the others ; 

 caudal, 20 (9 above and 11 below the middle). Scales: Along lateral line, 106 to 180; 

 above lateral line at middle of body, 23 to 35 ; below lateral line, 38 to 70. Color; 

 Ground color a yellowish-olive, becoming whitish on belly, arid blackish on top of 

 head and back, more grey in large old specimens ; covered, except on belly, with 

 dusky variable spots, very small, extremely numerous, and nearly equal in large old 

 fish, much larger, fewer, and grouped in irregular angular cloudy clusters about 

 half an inch or so long in smaller young examples ; fins dark-olive with a purplish 

 tinge and often red at the margins, except the ventrals, which are nearly white ; 

 anterior part of top of head blackish, without spots. Pancreatic cseca of pylorus, 

 about 3. 



Reference. — = Grystes Macquariensis (Cuv. and Val.), v. 3, p. 58 ; id., Rich., 

 E. and T. Fish, p. 118, t. 53, f. 8, 9; = G. Peeli (Mitchell), Exp. Austr., t. 6, f. 1. 



This great Cod-Perch is well known under the popular name of 

 " Murray Cod " from its great abundance in the Murray River, and 



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