EDIBLE FISHES OF QUEENSLAND, PAET II.—OGILBY. 
71 
the longest ray. Length of pectoral 1-55 to 1-9 in that of the head. Inner 
branch of ventral ray the longer, 2 3 to 31 in the space between its origin and 
the vent. 
Gill-rakers 2 or 3 -(- 5, the longest 2-5 to 2-7 in the eye-diameter. Vent 
postmedian, its distance from the root of the caudal 115 to 1-4 in that to the 
tip of the snout. 
Pale olive-green, the back and sides more or less conspicuously marbled 
with dark olive- or chocolate-brown, the marking often taking the form of more 
or less regular vertical bars between the dorsal fin and the lateral line ; abdominal 
region light yellowish green finely powdered with darker. Upper surface of 
head beyond the occiput dull blue, the cheeks similarly but more lightly tinted. 
Basal half of vertical fins greenish yellow, shading to a dull blue-gray on the 
outer moiety ; dorsal fin with a basal series of brown blotches, which are much 
more pronounced on the soft rays, where also there is sometimes an inconspicuous 
series of median blotches: caudal uniform in the adult, but with a broad terminal 
and median darker transverse band in the young, the pectorals and ventrals 
immaculate, the latter yellowish ( marmoratus , marbled). 
Described from 10 examples, measuring from 110 to 235 millim., in the 
State Museum ; four of these belong to the old collection and are in fair condition ; 
they were, I believe, obtained in the Condamine at Killarney by Mr. J. Lamb. 
The remaining 6 are in perfect condition, and were forwarded lately from the 
same locality by Mr. J. IT. Stevens, Chief Inspector of Fisheries. 
V ernacular Names : — Considering its present wide distribution the species 
is not over-burdened with local names. In the Southern States (Tasmania and 
the coastal belt of Victoria) it is commonly known as the “ Blaekfish,” a name 
which is inadmissible as it more properly belongs to the kyphosid genus Girella. 
To obviate this Stead proposed the addition of the word “River,” and describes 
and figures it as the “River Blaekfish.” This, though an improvement, is too 
pronounced a misnomer to ever become popular. Similarly the title, proposed by 
me in 1893, of “Marbled Cod” must be discarded, since the fish has nothing 
to do with the gadoid anaeanthines. Speaking of New South Wales Stead (in 
lit.) says : — “This species is known under a variety of names in different portions 
of its New South Wales habitat. Rarely is it called ‘River Blackfish. ’ The name 
of ‘ Slippery ’ is applied to it commonly in the vicinity of Orange and thereabouts, 
and occasionally in other parts, including the Upper Snowy River. That of 
‘Tailer’ is very widely used, more than any other name, for the species, though 
why, I never could ascertain. In the Maeciuarie and its feeders— especially the 
Cudgegong where I have found Gaclopsis marmoratus to be especially abundant, 
the name ^ of ‘Tailer’ is very firmly established. I have found the name of 
Gudgeon applied to the fish in some places ; and on some of the Upper Murrum- 
bidgee feeders it has been described as a ‘ Cod.’ ” In Queensland, according to 
