Part 21 (2/2)

Teeth strong and sharp. Grows to a great size; as I am informed by the natives, that they often spear individuals weighing sixty or seventy pounds. This fish enters the fresh-water periodically, like the Salmon of Europe, to sp.a.w.n, and it is the only fish in this country which I have distinctly made out to do so. It is tolerably good eating. The specimen was caught at the mouth of Oyster Harbour by a hook, on the 30th August, 1841. (This may be the adult of the CORVINA KUHLII of the HISTOIRE DES POISSONS, 5. p. 121.)

SERRANIDAE.

No. 19.--CENTROPRISTES TRUTTA. SCIAENA TRUTTA, G. Foster, Icon. 210.

(vide Ichth. of Ereb. and Terror, p. 30.)--Native name KING-NURRIE, or IINAGUR. ”Salmon” of the sealers. Pectorals yellow or orange coloured, with dark bases; scales faintly fan-streaked; last rays of dorsal and a.n.a.l elongated. Faint oblong, orange-coloured spots on the sides, not in vertical rows. ”Rays, D. 9-16; A. 2-10; P. 16.” Eye remarkably brilliant.

Good eating in the summer time, but far inferior to the SALMO SALAR. It congregates in vast shoals, and pursues the fry of other fishes in shallow bays, but never enters fresh-water. It is often taken of from seven to ten pounds weight. It affords excellent sport to the angler. The specimen was caught by the hook from my own door on the 4th May, 1841.

No. 3.--CENTROPRISTES (CIRRIPIS) GEORGIa.n.u.s. C. et V. 7. p. 451. Jenyn's Zool. of Beagle, p. 13.--Native name WARRAGUIT. ”Herring” of the settlers. Rays, D. 9-14; A. 3-10; etc.

Inhabits rocky sh.o.r.es, and is taken in the summer, by net on sandy beaches. Specimen caught by the hook, on the 27th March, 1841.

No. 23.--SERRa.n.u.s? vel CAPRODON (Schlegel.) aut PLECTROPOMA.--Native name TANG or TAA (It bites.) The ”Perch” of the Sealers. ”Rays, D. 10-24; A.

2-9; P. 14; V. 1-5.”

Eye fine crimson: pupil deep blue-black. Tail slightly rounded.

Remarkably strong canines, from which peculiarity it has obtained its native name of TAA, as it bites severely when taken, if the fisher be not on the alert. It is good to eat, but is not common. Caught by the hook on 9th of April, 1841.

No. 4.--PLECTROPOMA NIGRO-RUBRUM. C. et V. 2. p. 403.--Native name BUNDEL. ”Crab-eyed soldier” of the settlers. ”Rays, D. 10-17; A. 3-9.”

Inhabits rocky sh.o.r.es, and is not common. Specimen caught by the hook, on the 4th April, 1841. Good eating.

No. 21.--HELOTES?--Native names, BOORA, BOWRU, also CHARLUP. The ”Pokey,”

or ”small Trumpeter” of the sealers. ”Rays, D. 11--1-11; A. 2-11; etc.”

Inhabits rocky places. Good to eat. Caught by the seine, on the 3rd March, 1841.

CIRRHITIDAE.

No. 24.--CHEILODACTYLUS GIBBOSUS. Solander. Icon. Ined. Banks. No.

23.--Richardson Zool. Trans. 3, p. 102.--Native name KNELOCK (not certain).

Inhabits sandy beaches; is little known to the sealers. Caught in a net, 3rd March, 1841.

No. 39. CHEILODACTYLUS CARPONEMUS.--C. et V. 5. p. 362.--Native name CHETTANG. ”Jew-fish” of the sealers (the name ”Jew-fish” is applied otherwise by the colonists).

Inhabits rocky sh.o.r.es. Some specimens weigh upwards of sixteen pounds.

Caught by hook, 17th May, 1841.

No. 42.--CHEILODACTYLUS. Native name TOORJENONG. ”Black Jew-fish” of the sealers. ”Rays, D. 16-26; A. 2-10; P. 13; V. 5.”

Inhabits rocky points of sandy bays, where they love to run in and root up the sand with their fleshy mouths. They are sluggish, and easily speared by the Aborigines, whose chief food it const.i.tutes at certain seasons. The specimen was speared in my presence by Wallup, on the 8th of June, 1841. The TOORJENONG grows to a large size, exceeding twenty pounds in weight. It is a gross feeder, and its flesh is hard and dry, but the head and sides are much prized by the natives, and the head of a large one makes tolerable soup.

No. 45.--LATRIS? (vix. GERRES?)--Native name QUIKE or QUIK, (horned).

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