Art. XXVIII.—Contributions to the Ichthyology of New Zealand.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 5, 1872, Page 259

Art. XXVIII.—Contributions to the Ichthyology of New Zealand. By Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S., C.M.Z.S. (With Illustrations.) [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 28th August, 1872.] 1.* The numbers refer to those in the “Cat. of Fishes of New Zealand.” Geol. Dept., N.Z., 1872, the additional species being in large type. Oligorus gigas, Owen. (Cat., p. 1.) This fish is no doubt the same as Sciœna gadoides of Dr. Solander, Perca prognathus of G. R. Forster, and Polyprion cernuum of Richardson, in Dieffenbach's “New Zealand,” II., 206. By the rule of priority, therefore, it should be called Oligorus gadoides. 4. Scorpis hectori, Hutton. (Cat., p. 4.) Pl. VII. A fresh specimen of this fish, caught in the Bay of Plenty, having been brought to the Colonial Museum enables me to correct and add to my former description. B. 6; D. 10/19; A. ⅜; V. 1/5; P. 17; L. lat., 67; L. trans., 7/25. Teeth on the vomer, palatine bones, and tongue; cleft of the mouth very oblique; maxillary much expanded and truncated at the end, extending to the vertical from the middle of the eye; sixth dorsal spine the longest, less than half the length of the head, second anal spine very strong; scales finely serrated; caudal forked. Uniform rose pink, passing into pale grey on the body. Total length of the specimen, 17 ¼ inches. 11. Chilodactylus spectabilis, Hutton. (Cat., p. 8.) Pl. VII. A fresh specimen of this fish having been brought to the Colonial Museum, I am enabled to give a better description of it than that in the “Catalogue of New Zealand Fishes,” which was drawn up from a specimen that had been preserved in carbolic acid and dried.

D. 16-17/25-26; A. 3/9; V. 1/5; L. lat., 56; L. trans., 5/14. Length three and one-third times that of the head, or three times the height of the body; six simple pectoral rays projecting beyond the membrane; fifth the longest, reaching to the perpendicular from the fifteenth or sixteenth dorsal spine; the lower rays graduated; branched rays simply divided only; sixth and seventh dorsal spines nearly equal and longest; the third anal spine longer than the second; scales rugose; lips very thick and fleshy; opercles with small scales; nostrils large, close together, the anterior with an appendage behind. Brownish orange, with traces of six transverse bands of darker; soft dorsal, anal, caudal, and tips of ventrals blackish; lips and throat grey; belly silvery. Total length of the specimen 24 inches. 13a. Mendosoma Lineata, Forst. C.M. Pl. VII. Sciœna lineata, Forst. Latris lineata, Rich., “Dieff. N.Z.,” II., 209. M. lineatum, Gay, “Hist. Chile,” Zool., II., 213; Günther, “Cat. Fishes in Brit. Mus.” II., 85. L. lineata, Hector, “Cat, Col. Mus.,” p. 83. B. 6; D. 23/25; A. 3/19; P. 17; V. 1/5; L. lat., 65; L. trans., 6/17. Length four times that of the head, or three and a quarter times the height of the body; compressed; snout produced, going rather more than two and a half times into the length of the head; upper profile concave; interorbital space flat, one and a half times the diameter of the eye, which is one-fifth of the length of the head; top of the head above the eyes hollowed; lower jaw shorter; maxillary arched, with an obtuse angle on the superior margin; inter-maxillary with a swelling in the centre on the upper and outer margin; mouth very protractile; a few minute teeth on the centre of the upper jaw, none on the lower; cheeks, opercles, and top of the head, as far as the tip of the snout, covered with small scales; præoperculum and operculum entire, the upper margin of the latter sinuated; dorsal single, deeply notched, the sixth to the ninth spines nearly equal and longest, about one-third the length of the head, and equal to the anterior portions of the soft dorsal, and anal; anal spines moderate. Above dark olivaceous grey, more or less marbled with blue; sides greenish silvery, with many thin olivaceous brown longitudinal stripes; belly greyish silvery; fins olivaceous. This specimen, which was 14 inches in total length, was taken in Cook Strait, 1st August, 1872. Dr. Hector also obtained it in Milford Sound in 1863. A drawing of the head is also given with the mouth protruded.

14. Sebastes percoides, Sol. (Cat., p. 9.) Pl. VIII. 15. Scorpœna cruenta, Sol. (Cat., p. 10.) Pl. VIII. 29. Cyttus traversi, Hutton. (Cat., p. 19.) Pl. IX. Mr. W. Travers informs me that this fish was taken in a net in a tidal creek. When first caught it had a beautiful silvery appearance, and the filaments from the dorsal and ventral fins were very long, but have shrunk greatly since being put into spirits. 31a. Neptomenus Bilineatus. sp. nov. C.M. Pl. VIII. B 6; D 6 |1/38; A 2/23; lat. 120| Length three and three quarter times that of the head, which is equal to the height of the body; snout considerably longer than the diameter of the eye; posterior end of præoperculum straight, entire; operculum with an obtuse point over the shoulder. Scales small and deciduous; a second line, but without pores, runs below the lateral line from a little above the point of the operculum, and joins the lateral line at the end of the second dorsal. Pectorals pointed, not quite so long as the head, and not quite reaching to the vent. Back and sides pale violet, with minute black dots; belly silvery; tip of both dorsals and inside the pectorals blackish. Wellington harbour, November, 1872. This species approaches N. dobula from Tasmania, but differs from that species in not having the anal spines detached, and in the proportion between the length and the height. In having apparently two lateral lines it resembles N. travale (Castelnau) from Victoria, but differs considerably from that species. I will take this opportunity of correcting a mistake in my description of Neptomenus brama in the “Catalogue of Fishes of New Zealand;” the length should be two and three-fourths the height of the body, and not four and three-fourths as there stated. 31b. Ditrema Violacea, sp. nov. C.M. Pl. VIII. B. 4?; D. 10/29; A. 3/25; V. 1/5; P. 19; L. lat., 93; L. trans., 14/28. Length four times that of the head, or two and a half times the height of the body; snout rather longer than the diameter of the eye; teeth in villiform bands on both jaws, the vomer, and palatine bones; upper profile convex;

maxillary broad, produced to beyond the vertical from the anterior margin of the eye; margin of the præoperculum striated and finely denticulated; dorsal single, increasing in height as far as the second soft ray; anal higher than the dorsal, less than half the length of the head; pectorals shorter than the head, nearly twice as long as the ventrals, which are situated rather behind them; caudal forked. Above violet, passing into white below; vertical fins violet at the base; a spot of dark violet in the axils of the pectorals; iris yellowish. Wellington, 6th May, 1872. This fish differs from the genus Ditrema, as characterized by Dr. Günther, in having teeth on the palate and a band instead of a single row on each jaw, but I do not think that this difference is sufficient to warrant a new genns being established for it. From Platystethus it differs both in having teeth on the palate, and in the dorsal fin. It is said to be often mistaken for the warehou (Neptomenus brama), but the stronger dorsal spines, and the shorter pectoral fins easily distinguish it. 37. Bovichthys variegatus, Rich. (Cat., p. 24.) Mr. Henry Travers brought a fine specimen of this fish from the Chatham Islands, which enables me to correct the description given in the “Catalogue of New Zealand Fishes,” which was evidently taken from an immature specimen. D 8–9 | 19; A 14. Length two and three-quarter times that of the head, or four and three-quarter times the height of the body; interorbital space more than half the diameter of the eye; soft dorsal as high as the body beneath; base of the spinous dorsal more than half the length of the soft; head rather compressed; interorbital space concave, with two small longitudinal ridges; caudal slightly rounded, with the rays protruding; ventrals not reaching to the vent; lateral line with about eighty flat spines under the skin, directed alternately upward and downward. Purplish brown, marbled with darker, and a few whitish marks on the back; rays of the soft dorsal spotted with black. The young, a specimen of which was also brought from the Chatham Islands, has five transverse black bars on the body and tail, and two on the caudal fin; the soft dorsal also is lower. 40. Notothenia cornucola, Rich. (Cat., p. 26.) C.M. Specimens of this fish were brought by Mr. Henry Travers from the Chatham Islands, and I also saw it last January in Dunedin. The præoperculum is concave, and the top of the head is nearly smooth. The lateral

Scorpis Hectori, Hutton.

Neptomenus Billineatus, sp. nov. Ditrema Violacea, sp. nov.

line extends to the end of the second dorsal, while the posterior portion begins under the tenth ray from the end of the second dorsal. 41. Lepidotrigla brachyoptera, Hutton. (Cat., p. 27.) Pl. XV. 44. Gobius amiciencis, G. & V. (Cat., p. 29.) Carteret harbour is not in New Zealand but in New Ireland; this fish should, therefore, be struck out of our list. 45. Eleotris gobioides, C. & V. (Cat., p. 29.) Pl. XV. 45a. Eleotris Radiata. Quoy. C.M. Pl. IX. E. radiata, C. & V., “Hist. Nat. des Poissons,” XII., 250. D. 6 |1/9; A.1/9; L. Lat., 30 | Length three times that of the head, or six times the height of the body; interorbital space flat; scales moderate, minutely ciliated; snout moderate; head depressed, the breadth being rather greater than the height. Colour (in spirits) pale yellowish red, with several vertical brown bands on the caudal. Total length of the specimen two inches. This specimen was obtained near the mouth of the river Thames, where it appears to be not uncommon. The natives call it “kurahina.” Valenciennes gives the following description of the colours of the specimen taken by Quoy:—Reddish, with twelve vertical brownish bands on each side; fins whitish; the first dorsal with two longitudinal black bands, the upper large and dentate; the second dorsal with three less marked, the anal with one. The caudal with many vertical brown lines; at the base of the pectorals a blackish straight line. 47. Trypterygium nigripenne, C. & V. (Cat., p. 31) This fish is very variable in colour, and sometimes the nasal tentacle is wanting. Two specimens brought by Mr. Henry Travers from the Chatham Islands have a purplish lunate spot on the base of the pectorals, and thus resemble T. forsteri; but the fins were D. 4–5 | 17–20 | 13–14; A. 21–25, others were quite black, and others were of the typical colour. I am of opinion that T. forsteri, T. fenestratum, and T. varium, are only accidental varieties of T. nigripenne. 51. Trypterygium compressum, Hutton. (Cat., p. 32.) Pl. XV.

52a. Cristiceps Australis, C. & V. C.M. C. australis, Günther, III., 275. D. 3|27–29/5–8; A.2/23–25; V.1/3. Length equal to three and three-quarter times that of the head, which is equal to the height of the body. The first dorsal commences above the posterior margin of the orbit, and is nearly twice as high as the second. The lateral line ceases before the end of the pectoral fins. A simple tentacle above the eye, and a pair of bifurcated ones over the snout. Colour (in spirits) uniform reddish. Bay of Islands and Cape Campbell. 53. Sticharium rubrum, Hutton. (Cat., p. 33.) Pl. IX. In a letter to Dr. Hector, Dr. Günther says that this fish does not belong to the genus Sticharium, but should be referred to Clinus. I kept both it and Sticharium flavescens out of Clinus, on account of the small number of soft rays in the dorsal, but as Dr. Günther says that they cannot be placed in the genus Sticharium, they will have to be called Clinus rubrus and C. flavescens, and will form a small group by themselves. 54. Sticharium flavescens, Hutton. (Cat., p. 33.) Pl. XV. 56a. Trachypterus Altivelis, Kner.? A.M. T. altivelis, Günther, III., 303. D. 200? A.O. Length about seven times the greatest height of the body, which is at the base of the ventral fins; caudal nearly as long as the head, pointing obliquely upwards; upper profile deeply concave, descending rapidly from the eye; muzzle truncated; cleft of the mouth vertical. Total length 20 inches. The above description is taken from a very bad specimen preserved in the Auckland Museum. 57. Mugil perusii, Val. (Cat., p. 36.) Pl. IX. In a letter to Dr. Hector, Dr. Günther says that he thinks that our mullet is identical with M. cephalotus, C. & V. It appears to me to differ slightly from this species in having the head broader, in the length of the anterior dorsal spine being less than half the length of the head, and in its being placed rather nearer the snout than the root of the caudal. Judging from descriptions only, I should be inclined to think that our fish comes nearer to M. ramelsbergii, but besides the head being broader, the posterior nostril is placed as in M. cephalotus. The second dorsal is also placed further back than in either of these species; the angle formed by the

Cyttus Traversi, Hutton. Mucil Cephalotus, Cuv. & Val.? Eleotris Radiata, Quoy. Clinus Rubrum, Hutton.

Ctenolabrus Knoxi, sp. nov. Labricthys Bothryocosmus, Rich. Spotty. Labricthys Psittacula, Rich. Parrot Fish.

anterior margin of the mandible is slightly obtuse; and the space on the chin between the mandibularies is broader than the figure given of M. cephalotus by Dr. Günther. Nevertheless, I am quite willing to accept Dr. Günther's identification, if he still adheres to it. 64. Trachelochismus pinnulatus, Forst. (Cat., p. 40.) Mr. Henry Travers brought several specimens of this fish from the Chatham Islands. 66a. Ctenolabrus? Knoxi. sp. nov. C.M. Pl. X. B. 6; D.15/11; A.3/11–12; P. 14; V.1/5; L. lat., 64; L. trans., 8/17; Vert. 11/15. Length two and three-fifths the height of the body, or four and a half times the length of the head; upper jaw longer; soft portion of dorsal only half the length of the spinous; operculum and præoperculum entire; imbricate scales on the cheeks and operculum; interoperculum naked; teeth in a broad villiform band, with an outer double series of longer, weak, compressed, flat-topped teeth in both jaws, no posterior canines; anal spines strong; base of the dorsal, anal, and caudal, scaly; abdominal portion of the vertebral column slightly shorter than the caudal portion. Dark olivaceous black above, and greyish below; mouth, and a band to, and a little below, the eye tinged with yellowish; iris white. Whangarei harbour; Cook Strait, Dr. Knox. 68. Labricthys bothryocosmus, Rich. (Cat., p. 43.) Pl. X. 69. Labricthys psittacula, Rich. (Cat., p. 43.) Pl. X. 69a. Labrichthys Fucicola, Rich. C.M. Lahrus fucicola, Rich., “Voy. Ereb. & Terr.,” p. 127. “Cat. N.Z. Fishes,” Pl. VII., fig. 68. D.9/11; A.3/10; L. lat., 27; L. trans.,3/9. Length two and four-fifths that of the head, or two and a quarter times the height of the body; two long anterior canine teeth in each jaw, the others graduated; about four rows of scales on the præoperculum; dorsal not scaly, spinous portion lower than the soft; caudal rounded. Darkish purple, passing into light grey on the belly; a yellowish band from the mouth below the eye; four or five irregular yellow spots on the back under the dorsal, and the sides slightly varied with the same colour; humeral region yellowish; lips and pectorals reddish; ventrals black, except the bases, which are grey. Wellington harbour; also found in Tasmania.

Total length, 13¼ inches. This fish was figured by mistake in the “Catalogue of the Fishes of New Zealand,” Pl. VII., No. 68, instead of L. bothryocosmus. 70. Odax vittatus, Sol. (Cat., p. 43.) The following description is taken from a stuffed and highly-varnished specimen in the Otago Museum:— D. 34; A. 15; V.¼; P. 15; C. 14; L. lat., 75? L. trans., 8/16? Length four and a half times that of the head, which is equal to the height of the body; length of the head nearly three times that of the snout; least depth of the tail less than half the distance between the dorsal and caudal; præoperculum sharply serrated; operculum with two points. 71. Coridodax pullus, Forst. (Cat., p. 44.) Length four and two-thirds that of the head, or three and three-fifths that of the body; length of the head three and a half times that of the snout. Purplish grey, lighter below, often with a broad pale band on each side from the mouth to the caudal; mouth, præoperculum, anal, and dorsal fins variegated with bright french blue; belly and under the pectorals sparingly variegated with yellow; lips purplish red; ventrals and pectorals variegated with the same colour. 72. Gadus australis, Hutton. (Cat., p. 45.) In a letter to Dr. Hector, Dr. Günther says that this fish should be referred to the genus Merluccias, and that it is probably identical with M. gayi, from Chile, an opinion with which I quite agree. 74. Lotella rhacinus, Forst. (Cat., p. 46.) Mr. H. Travers brought specimens of this fish from the Chatham Islands. They are of a pale uniform brown in spirits. Calloptilum, gen. nov. Body fusiform, compressed posteriorly; scales cycloid; three dorsal fins, the first reduced to a single ray; anal single, long; ventrals long, composed of two rays; caudal separate; teeth none; gill openings wide, the gill membrane united below the throat, but not attached to the isthmus; pseudobranchiæ none; snout short and rounded. This genus comes next to Bregmaceros, Thompson, afterwards called Calloptilum by Sir J. Richardson, which name I have now adopted for the present genus.

76a. Calloptilum Punctatum. sp. nov. C.M. Pl. XI. D. 1|11|+18; A. 44; V. 2. Length five times that of the head, which is about equal to the height of the body; first dorsal ray situated over the pectorals, nearly as long as the head; third with the anterior portion rudimentary; anal commencing in front of the second dorsal; ventral rays not reaching to the vent, which is situated at about one-third of the distance from the snout to the end of the caudal; mouth large, the maxillary extending behind the eye; upper profile convex, with a prominent ridge along the top, from the eye to the snout. Colour (in spirits) silvery; back, base of the pectorals, and caudal, with minute black dots. Total length, 4½ inches. Mouth of the River Thames and Cape Campbell. Called “ahuruhuru” by the natives. 78. Macrurus australis, Rich. (Cat., p. 49.) This fish appears to be common in Lyttelton harbour. Mr. J. D. Enys informs me that when first caught it emits such a strong phosphorescent light that a book can be read by its means. 79. Coryphœnoides novœ-zealandiœ, Hect. (Cat., p. 49.) In a communication to Dr. Hector, Dr. Günther proposes to place this fish in a new genus which he calls Macrurorus. 82a. Ammotretis Guntheri. sp. nov. C.M. Pl. XI. B. 7; D. 94; A. 73; V. dext. 10, sinist. 2; P. dext. 12, sinist. 9; C. 17; L. lat., 90; L. trans., 31/38. Length equal to five times that of the head, or not quite twice the height of the body; snout produced into a flap overhanging the lower jaw, about twice as long as the eye, which is one-sixth of the length of the head; lower lip with a fringe of soft rays; mouth small; interorbital space scaly, about one-half the vertical diameter of the eye; lower eye in advance; right ventral commencing on the chin; anterior rays of dorsal and right ventral almost free; longest rays of dorsal go about two and a half times into the length of the head; caudal rounded, about as long as the head. Right side olivaceous with black spots, the spots more or less arranged in longitudinal rows; fins and flap on snout tinged with red; left side yellowish white. Wellington harbour, November, 1872. The total length of this fine new flat-fish was 16½ inches, with plenty of

flesh on it. I have named it in honour of Dr. A. Günther, F.R.S., without whose previous labours it would have been impossible for me to have drawn up my “Catalogue of the New Zealand Fishes.” 83a. Rhombosolea Leporina, Gunth. C.M. Pl. XI. R. leporina, Günth. “Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus.,” IV., p. 460. B. 5; D. 65; A. 42; V. 6; P. 12. Length three and a half times that of the head, or twice the height of the body; snout longer than the diameter of the eye, which goes eight times into the length of the head; interorbital space less than the vertical diameter of the eye; upper lip rather longer, notched; cutaneous fold well developed; anterior dorsal rays produced beyond the membrane, the tips bifid; pectorals rather more than half the length of the head; the longest dorsal spine goes three and a half times into the length of the head; caudal rounded. Above brown, marbled with darker; below yellowish, with small irregular black spots; dorsal with seven, and anal with four, round blackish spots. Bluff harbour; Wellington, where it is known as “yellow-belly”; found also in Australia. 83b. Rhombosolea Tapirina, Gunth. C.M. Pl. XII. B. tapirina, Hect., “Cat. Col. Mus.,” p. 80; Günther, IV., 459. B. 6–7; D. 66; A. 48; V. 6; P. 9. Length three and a quarter times that of the head, or nearly twice the height of the body; the diameter of the eye goes seven times, and the length of the snout five and three-quarter times into the length of the head; interorbital space equal to the vertical diameter of the eye; eyes divided by a narrow ridge; upper lip deeply notched; cutaneous fold and gill openings as in monopus; upper pectoral fin about half the length of the head; anterior dorsal rays produced beyond the membrane, the tips bifid; longest dorsal ray about one-third the length of the head; dorsal and anal terminating at a distance from the caudal, which is equal to one-fourth of the least depth of the tail; caudal about one-sixth of the total. Body covered with broad, deep, rounded, or quadrilateral depressions, in which the scales are imbedded. Brownish black, marbled with olivaceous; below greyish. Wellington harbour. Var. B. D. 62; A. 44; L. lat., 80; L. trans., 22/29. Above brown, with red spots; below whitish, marbled with brown. A fleshy lobe on the left side of the lower jaw; scales smaller.

Calloptilum Punctatum, sp. nov. Ammotretis Cuntheri, sp. nov. Rhombosolea Leporina, Gunth.

Eleotris Cobioides, C & V. Trypterycium Compressum, Hutton. Clinus Flavescens, Hutton. Photicthys Arcenteus, Hutton. Scopelus Parvimanus, Gunth.

Bluff harbour. Found also in Australia and the Auckland Islands. 87. Arrhamphus sclerolepis, Günth. (Cat., p. 54.) Dr. Krefft states that this fish comes from Fitzroy River, in Queensland; it should therefore be struck out of our list. 90. Phosichthys argenteus, Hutton. (Cat., p. 56.) Pl. XV. In a letter to Dr. Hector, Dr. Günther suggests that the name of this genus should be altered to Photichthys, a suggestion that I Willingly adopt. 90a. Scopelus Parvimanus, Gunth? C.M. Pl. XV. S. parvimanus, Günth., V., p. 406. D. 12; A. 15; V. 8; L. lat., 38; L. trans., ¾. Length four and a half times the height of the body, or three and a half times the length of the head; least depth of the tail one-half the height of the body; the depth of the head is contained once and one-third in its length; eye large, rather less than one-third of the length of the head; snout short, rounded; cleft of the mouth slightly oblique, with the lower jaw slightly prominent; the maxillary reaches to the angle of the præoperculum, and terminates in a triangular dilatation. The origin of the dorsal fin is rather nearer the snout than the root of the caudal, slightly in advance of the base of the ventrals, and the last ray a little in advance of the anal. Pectorals short, not extending much beyond the base of the ventrals; scales cycloid, concentrically striated, those of the lateral line raised. There are fourteen phosphorescent spots on each side behind the anal, five on each side between the anal and the ventrals, two on each side above the end of the ventrals, and one on each side above their base; also six in a double row between the head and the ventrals, and one at the point of the operculum. An elliptical pearl coloured patch on the back of the tail. Total length of the specimen 2½ inches. Cape Campbell, January, 1873. 90b. Scopelus Boops, Rich. Myctophum boops, Rich., p. 39; S. boops, Günth., V., 408. D. 14; A. 20–22; V. 8; L. lat., 37–39; L. trans., 3/5. Origin of the dorsal considerably nearer to the end of the snout than to the root of the caudal, above the root of the inner ventral rays; its last ray is before the vertical from the origin of the dorsal fin. The pectorals extend to the vent. Sea between Australia and New Zealand (Dr. Hooker); Vancouver Island. I have seen no specimens.

90c. Scopelus Coruscans, Rich. Myctophum coruscans, Rich., p. 40 (not of C. & V.) D. 12; A. 20; C. 17/66 P. 17; V. 8; L. lat., 38. Eye moderate, less than one-third the length of the head; dorsal commences a little behind the ventrals; the pectorals extend nearly to the vent. Sea between Australia and New Zealand (Dr. Hooker); South Atlantic. I have seen no specimens. Dr. Günther (V., p. 413) remarks that this fish is very like S. coccoi. The typical specimens appear to be lost. 92. Retropinna richardsoni, Gill. (Cat., p. 58.) Mr. H. Travers brought specimens of this fish from the Chatham Islands. 94a. Galaxias Olidus, Gunth. C.M. G. olidus, Günth., VI., p. 209. D. 11; A. 13; P. 14; V. 7. Length five times that of the head, which is rather more than the height of the body; head broad and depressed, upper jaw longer; mouth wide, the maxillary extending to the middle of the eye; diameter of the eye rather more than one-sixth the length of the head, and about half the length of the snout; interorbital space more than twice the diameter of the eye; the length of the pectoral goes two and a half times into the distance of its root from the ventral, and the length of the ventral is more than half the distance to the anal; the anal if laid back extends just to the base of the caudal. The depth of the body in front of the dorsal is one-sixth of the length, and the least depth of the tail is one-half of the distance between the dorsal and caudal. Yellow, with small black spots on the head, opercles, back, sides, and fins. Total length of the specimen 7 inches. Lake Wakatipu. Presented to the Colonial Museum by J. S. Worthington, Esq. This fish appears to be identical with G. olidus in form and dimensions, but to differ from it in colour. 99. Engraulis encrasicholus, L. (Cat., p. 62.) Var. amtipodum, Günth. This fish is found at the mouth of the river Thames; the natives there call it “korowhawha.” 100a. Clupea sprattus. Pl. XII. Var. antipodum, Hector, “Fishes N.Z.,” p. 133. This fish is called “kupai” by the Thames natives.

Rhombosolea Taperina, Gunth. Clupea Sprattus, var. Antipodum, Hector. Sprat. Ceotria Chilensis, Gray. Lamprey. Ceotria Australis, Gray. Lamprey.

103. Anguilla latirostris, Risso. (Cat., p. 65.) Mr. Henry Travers brought three specimens of this eel from the Chatham Islands. 112. Solenognathus spinosissimus, Günth. (Cat., p. 69.) Last April I saw a nearly fresh specimen of this fish that had been picked up at the Bay of Islands; it was of a uniform pale yellowish colour. 114. Monacanthus convexirostris, Günth. (Cat., p. 71.) When fresh this fish is of a darkish grey colour, with the dorsal and anal fins, as well as the iris, bright yellow. 115a. Aracana Aurita, Shaw. C.M. A. aurita, Günth., VIII., p. 266. Carapace compressed, rough with papillæ, posterior edges sinuated, five-keeled, those on each side of the back and abdomen slight, that on the lower part of the abdomen strong; a spine over each eye, two of equal size and near together on each dorsal ridge, a single one on each side, and two of equal size on the keels on each side of the abdomen, the foremost situated at about the vertical from the tip of the pectoral fin. Yellowish, with thin irregular undulating brown longitudinal stripes. Two specimens were left at the Museum, the donor and locality unknown. Found also in Tasmania and South Australia. 117. Chilomycterus jaculiferus, Cuv. (Cat., p. 73.) In a letter to Dr. Hector, Dr. Günther says that he finds that this fish should be referred to the genus Dicotylicthys. 118. Orthagoriscus truncatus, Lacep. (Cat., p. 73.) Since the “Catalogue of New Zealand Fishes” was published I have had an opportunity of examining the sun-fish in the Auckland Museum, and I find that it belongs to O. mola and not to O. truncatus. 122. Zygœna malleus, Risso. (Cat., p. 76.) A small specimen of this shark has lately been caught in Auckland harbour. 127. Notidanus indicus, Cuv. (Cat., p. 79.) A specimen of this shark is in the Auckland Museum. 131. Euprotomicrus, sp. (Cat., p. 81.) I now believe that the jaws which I doubtfully referred in the “Catalogue of New Zealand Fishes” to this genus really belonged to a young specimen of Carcharias brachyurus. 139. Geotria chilensis, Gray. (Cat., p. 87.) Pl. XII. Riwaka River, Nelson.

139a. Geotria Australis, Gray. C.M. G. australis, Günth., VIII., p. 508. Pl. XII. Skin on the throat, dilated into a large sac; maxillary lamina thin, crescent shaped, with four sharp teeth, the middle pair of which are only half as broad as the outer; mandibulary lamina very low, slightly sinuous; suctorial teeth in numerous series, rather distant from one another; anicuspid small, those nearest to the mouth rather larger; only one transverse series of very small teeth between the mandibulary lamina and the posterior lip, which, as well as the remainder of the margin of the disc, is beset with numerous broad leaf-like fringes; suctorial disc subtriangular, with the lateral lobes very broad; dorsal fins widely separated. Uniform blackish; in spirits bluish black (Günther). Stewart Island; found also in South Australia.