Page:Sea and River-side Rambles in Victoria.djvu/136

117 Flying Gurnard, which darting from the sea is able to sustain itself for some time in the air, as in the Exoceti, or Flying Fishes, is at any rate nearly allied to it. This pretty fish was about a foot in length, head covered by a bony plate, terminating just before the first dorsal fin in a spine on each side, teeth much crowded, upper jaw defended on each side by short projecting spines. The eyes are also protected on each side by two sharp spines, arising out of the, bony plate before mentioned. The first dorsal is pinkish, about three-quarters of an inch behind the termination of the bony plate and 9-rayed. Second dorsal immediately behind, silvery, with two pink lines across, extending to within half an inch of the tail, 15-rayed. Both these are placed in a furrow, with a row of spines on each side; the pectorals are divided, the upper being very large, dichotomously ribbed, of an olive green, with ultra-marine spots; three cirrhi-like processes, attached at the base by a membrane, form the second pectoral; ventral fins immediately under the pectoral, 6-rayed and pinkish. Anal commences at termination of ventral and extends to tail. Head and upper parts brown, with occasional dots of black, sides slightly silvered, under parts white, mingled with a reddish tint.

But coming to the sea, the channel of the river is somewhat narrowed, consequently the stream rushes down with greater rapidity, now forming deep pools which have formed our bathing places in the morning, and our fishing ground later in the day, from which, as long as crabs were to our hand to serve as bait, we never failed to secure a dish of Bream. The entrance