14 
NOTES OF THE EDIBLE FISHES OF VICTORIA. 
tioil on the lishes of Victoria, in the transactions of the Zoological 
and Acclimatisation Society, a very remarkable soii that the 
tishermen call the ilenil Ji^h; it forms a new genus {Bleecheria), 
characterised by the soft part of its d(n*sal, and of the anal being 
considerably ])roIongated, and its ventrales fomied of one s}>ine 
and only three rays. This sfiecies (catafracta) is over a foot long, 
and is covered witli rather largo scales. In the next volume of 
tlie FroaescUnga above mentioned, I intend giving a full descii])- 
tion of it. 
The family of ATHEiUNiDyE is well represented in Australia, but 
the sorts are too minute to be of much use. 
Muuilid^:, on the contrary, contain some of the princi})al lishes 
of the mai’ket, such as the common mullet (Agonodoma Diemen- 
8id) and another sort of the same genus, found in the lakes of 
Gipi)s Land {Ag. Lacustris). The Sand mullet {Mugil Waigl- 
lii’st observed in the New Guinea sea, is also much esteemed, 
not oidy on account of its esculent qualities, but also of its large 
size. 
The PoMAC’ENTRiDvK are represented by GlypMsodon Victoria', 
I’emarkable by its vciy large scales; it is of rare occurrence and of 
little account. The Labhiide on the contrary are numerous ; their 
large size and beautiful colours always attract notice, but as they 
are not generally considered good food, the tishermen rarely send 
to the market these Parrot-fishes, as they call them; the species 
are numerous, but very difficult to distinguish one from the other ; 
all those I have seen belong to the genus called Lahrichfhys by 
the celebrated ichthyologist, Lr. Bleeker. 
Another sort of this family is the Stranger {Odax Rickard- 
sonii), which is very common in all seasons on the market. It is 
lemarkable by its parrot-like beak and its colours, which are 
sometimes veiy beautiful, but are so much subject to vaiiations as 
to make it almost impossible to find two specimens exactly similai*. 
Olistho'ps cyanomelas is a most elegant fisli, which is also 
subject to considerable valuation in its colouring ; it only occurs 
accidentally, and its flesh being of a green colour is not generally 
eaten, probably for no other reason. 
GERUiDiE have, to my knowledge, only one representative, 
which is rather small and presents no particular interest {Genres 
M eUnmrnensis ). 
Gadopsida^: are of a high interest to naturalists, on account of 
the singnlar composition of their fins. The only sort known is the 
Bladfish (Gadopsis marmoratus), which inhabits nearly all the 
rivers and streams of the southern part of the colony, and is also 
found in Tasmania;' it is considered a good edible fish, and some- 
times attains a length of over sixteen inches. 
In the family of GADTDiE, we find the Pseudopliycw barbatus, 
