The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay: With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789)Phillip, Arthur
History
The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay: With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island (1789)
Phillip, Arthur
Natural history -- Australia -- New South Wales; New South Wales -- Discovery and exploration; Norfolk Island
This beautiful Lizard is not uncommon at Port Jackson, where it is
reputed a harmless species. Individuals vary much one from another, in
respect to the length of the tail, as also in the colour of the markings;
some having those parts marked with a pure silvery white, which in the
above described are yellow.
Genus CXXXV. Balistes.--Lin. Syst. Nat.
BAG-THROATED BALISTES.
The size of the fish figured in the plate is uncertain, as we have only
obtained a drawing of it without any description.--It agrees in many
things with others of the genus, and does not greatly differ from one
figured in Willughby's Icthyologia, Tab. 1. 22. but has the body longer
in proportion. The erect horn or spine is placed over, and a little
behind the eyes, as in Willughby's figure, attended with two shorter ones
directly behind the first: the long spine is quite straight, sharp at the
point, and deeply sawed on the back part. Another singularity presents
itself in this species, which is, a deep pouch-like appendage beneath the
throat, in shape not unlike what is called Hippocrates's sleeve, or
rather a jelly bag.
This fish is found pretty commonly on the coast of New South Wales, and
was called by the sailors the Old Wife, having much resemblance in many
things to the species so named. When skinned, it was thought pretty good
eating.
A FISH OF NEW SOUTH WALES.
Of this fish it can only be said, that the ground colour is much the same
as that of our mackarel, marked with several round, blue and white spots;
and that, in the plate, it is represented faithfully from a drawing by
Daniel Butler sent from New South Wales, where it is in great plenty, and
is thought to taste much like a dolphin. As to the genus, it is difficult
to say with certainty to which it belongs, as it is deficient in the
characteristics of those generally known; it is therefore left to the
reader to settle this matter according to his own opinion.
Genus CXXXI. Squalus.--Lin. Syst. Nat.
PORT JACKSON SHARK.
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