160 
GADOPSIS MAEMOEATTJS. 
Gadopsis marmoratus, Biclard., 3reb. and Ter., p. 122, pi. 59, 
(The BlacTc Fish.) 
The BlacTc Fish, well Imown 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 Eiver, 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, haying 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, Avhich 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. 
HoTA. — Mr. Merle, of Daylesford, has kindly sent me some 
specimens from the Loddon Eiver. 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 I’ays, united in a great part of their length ; but 
the fresh specimens of the common Black Fish of the Tai-ra 
have the same appearance. 
