8 
NOTES OF THE EDIBLE FISHES OF VICTORIA. 
tives in Vic^toria. 8omc inhabit the sea, such as the -sm perch 
{La,fCH A and other nearly allied sorts {LafcH h^lm’dis 
and Vidor'ue), Apo<fon Gif idlfcr), KnopJosn.^ o,r/jn/7//x 
Such is also the case witli A iitlt hiK msor, on which I have 
formed the genus Cimioperca, The great genus >SVr/vc7j///.s, of which 
the numerous sorts inhabit almost all the seas of the world, 
appears to be absent from the soutliern regicm of AustT-alia, 
The genus A rvlpli^ is entirely Australian, and is represented by 
the voapluj {arvfpiH G<mphnink)^ ?tm\ the irovf {arrip. 
truftacefii^)\ the full-grown specimens of the latter are called 
mlmoih by the fishermen. The two species of A rvipl^ are very 
fre(piently brought to the market, and are sold at a ])roportionately 
chea]) rate, Imt great caution is recpiired, as their tiesh sometimes 
causes painful poisoning and even death. The skin of the patient 
])resents a curious red tinge. ft is to be remarked tliat after 
liaving efpially eaten of the hsh, some persons will feel the bad 
effect of it when others will remain entirely free therefrom; being 
something like sea-sickness, which will also affect one and not 
all the persons similarly situated. It is generally thought that 
these fishes are only dangerous when in a state of half-putrefaction, 
but I believe that, in a few cases, and in very warm weather, it 
has been found that even fresh specimens Imve caused unpleasant 
consequences; I have not hoard, however, that the large, full- 
grown specimens (salmon) have ever produced sucli effects. 
Among tlie fresh-water sorts of Percid/e, 1 must first mention 
the Murray cod (Oil (form Mftcqaariemld) which sometimes 
weighs one hundred pounds. It formed, before the country was 
settled, the principal article of Iboil of the natives of tlie interior. 
The Acclimatisation Society has intro<luced it in the Yarra, and 
small specimens are often caught in this part of tbe river which 
bathes tlie city. When fresh and just taken from the Murray, it 
is a very good fish; but after having been carried to Melbourne 
by the railway it loses much of its flavour. 
Modem authors have united in the same genus with this, a 
very large sea-fish, from New Zealand (the Olhjorm fjigas, 
of Gunther), wliich is called Ho.pnl:tr. by the natives, and is said 
to be sometimes six feet long. By its armed tongue, its double- 
pointed operculum, &c., it differs too much from the Murray cod 
to bo left with it, and T [tropose forming on it a new genus, I 
would ruime Hedoria, in honour of tlu; illustrious Dr. Hector, to 
whom natural sciences owe so much. 
The Gipps Land perch (L/t/es colonordhii) is very similar to 
the sea sort; it is frequently brought to Melbourne in winter, but 
on acemmt of its nnsavoiiry flesh docs not seem, at least to me, 
to add much to the comforts of tlie jiopulation. 
M'i(‘.Toperc(f, Y(trr(ti is a very pretty hut small fish, common in 
