[Read before the Auckland Institute, 19th December, 1921; received by Editor, 21st December, 1921; issued separately, 17th February, 1923.]

Plates 20–26.

Since the publication of my last paper^* many striking examples of fish have been received at the Museum, and an account of the most interesting will be found annexed hereto. There is yet much to be done before we may consider the knowledge of our local fishes to be anything like complete. At the present time trawling operations are limited to comparatively shallow areas round our coast, consequently we know but little of the possibilities of deep-sea trawling and the productions therefrom.

I am glad to take this opportunity to acknowledge my gratitude to the following gentlemen who are actively interesting themselves in my work: To Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S., Curator of the Auckland Museum, for many courtesies in connection with my ichthyological studies; and to Mr. Allan R. McCulloch, Zoologist to the Australian Museum, Sydney, on whose long experience and expert advice I make many and frequent calls. For specimens of fish: Sandford's Limited; Mr. P. Munro; Mr. G. C. Munro; Captain Nilsson, of the s.s. “James Cosgrove”; Auckland City Council Fish-depot; Mr. J. H. Deighton, late general manager; Captain McKay and Engineer Crawford, of the s.s. “Cowan”; Mr. G. R. Hodgkinson, of the nets department; and Mr. Bostock, mate of the s.s. “Simplon.”

Chimaera novae-zelandiae Fowler. (Plate 20, fig. 2.)

Chimaera monstrosa var. australis Hector, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 34, p. 239, pl. xiv, 1902. C. australis Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 40, p. 88, 1911 (not C. australis Shaw). C. novae-zelandiae Fowler, Proc. Acad. N. Sci. Philad., vol. 62, p. 603, 1911.

Although this species has been described, and figured by an outline drawing, in our literature, neither description nor figure can be considered as altogether satisfactory, many important details having been omitted. The possession of fresh specimens in fine condition gives me the opportunity of redescribing and refiguring this fish.

Body elongate, compressed, the caudal axis prolonged into a long filament. Head compressed, its length 5 in that between the tip of the snout and the posterior margin of the supracaudal fin. The upper profile of the male with a prominence before the eye on which is a small clasper 10 mm. long, distal end of which is formed into a flattened knob covered with small curved spines directed backwards, and when depressed fits into a small fleshy cavity on top of the head. Eye large, 3 ½ in the head. Interorbital space convex, 1 ¼ as wide as the eye. Gills 3 ½; 9 gill-rakers on the lower half of the anterior limb. Snout conical, nostrils situated above the margin of the upper jaw. Between the upper surface of the snout and the mouth are three rows of large open pores extending round the sides of the head; the lowest, which is situated above the mouth, is the longest. Pores also occur on other parts of the head and bordering the postorbital branches of the lateral line. Mouth inferior; tritors on the dental laminae in the form of rods.

First dorsal fin with its origin a little behind the vertical of that of the pectoral; it is furnished with a strong spine, the length of which is not quite so great as the depth of the head at the centre of the eye. It is keeled on its anterior edge, striated on sides, and serrated behind. When laid back it reaches beyond the middle of the interdorsal space. First dorsal ray longest, slightly longer than the spine; those following decrease somewhat rapidly in length backward. Interdorsal space as wide as the base of the first dorsal fin, and traversed by a low membrane which is highest anteriorly. Second dorsal fin low, its margin slightly concave, the median rays being shortest while those of the anterior portion are longest; its length is rather more than half that from the tip of snout to the distal end of the supracaudal. No anal fin.

Pectoral very broad, its breadth subequal to the space between the tip of the snout and the origin of the first dorsal fin; its length is somewhat greater. When laid back it reaches the vertical of the posterior angle of the base of the ventral. Ventral originating a little behind the origin of the second dorsal; the length of its anterior margin is rather more than half that of the upper margin of the pectoral. In front of the pelvic fins are the anterior claspers, which are retractile into shallow crescentic glandular pouches. Behind the fins the large bifid claspers are situated; they are very long, three times the length of the anterior claspers and about equal to the length of the ventral fin; the inner one is split along about half its

length and both claspers are almost wholly furnished with short spines directed backwards. Supracaudal very little shorter than the subcaudal, and about equal to it in height; the caudal filament is rather longer than the distance between tip of the snout and origin of the pelvic fin.

The lateral line forms first a concave, then a convex curve above the pectoral, and thence continues along the side slightly above the middle of the height by a series of very short waves until it reaches the hinder angle of the second dorsal. It then bends downward to the lower margin of the caudal axis, and extends along the filament until it is lost. The anterior portion of the lateral line system has several conspicuous ramifications about the head. Commencing at the postorbital junction with that of the body, it passes over the eye to the first line of pores on the upper part of the snout. A lower branch from the postorbital junction passes below the eye and unites with the middle line of rostral pores, and sends off two branch lines below the posterior border of the eye; the hinder branch reaches downward over the gill-cover, and the anterior one is directed towards the angle of the mouth. There is also a short branch line across the nape, which unites with the interorbital lines on each side, and forms an angle on the median line.

Colour.—Ground-colour cream, marbled with purplish-brown. A double line of bluish-white spots above the eye from the nape to the base of the snout. Light-buff blotches and spots of various shapes occur at short intervals along the margin of the back. Lateral line dull white. First dorsal spine white, its base streaked with brown; the rays and membrane are blackish-brown with a broad mesial white band. Second dorsal with a small dark patch on its anterior rays, and thence broadly margined with black, the bases of the rays much lighter. Caudal rays uniform blackish-brown; the filament white. Pectoral and pelvic fins brownish-grey. Eye silver-white and blue-black. Horny cap on top of the head cream in colour, streaked with brown.

Described from a male specimen, 442 mm. long from tip of snout to end of supracaudal; the filament is 246 mm. long.

In all, five specimens have been examined, of which four are females. The largest is 563 mm. long without the caudal filament, the latter being 210 mm. long.

Locality.—Trawled in the Tasman Sea, nine miles to the north of Kaipara Heads, within the Auckland Provincial District, July, 1921.

Muraenichthys australis Macleay. (Plate 20, fig. 1.)

Muraenichthys australis Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, vol. 6, p. 272, 1881; McCulloch, Biol. Res. “Endeavour” [vol. 1], pt. 1, p. 20, fig. 6, 1911.

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Body cylindrical, vermiform, slender, its depth behind the gill-opening about 4 in the head and 1/50 of the total length. The head rather more than 5 in the trunk and nearly 1/12 in the total length. Eye small, 3 in the snout, the latter being broad, obtusely pointed, and 4 ¾ in the head. Cleft of mouth extends behind the eye, the distance from its angle to the posterior margin of the orbit being 1 ½ times the diameter of the eye. Anterior nostrils in a tube placed near the tip of the snout, and provided

with a minute exterior lobe. A membranous flap overhanging the lips covers the posterior nostril, which is situated just before and below the eye.

Teeth cardiform, in a single row in the jaws, and a median row on the palate. A few longer ones are found on either side of the vomer covered by the lips. The anterior teeth of the mandible are a trifle longer than the posterior ones. A row of 3 pores on either side of the snout before the eye, another row of 3 on either side of the mandible. A single one on top of the head between the eyes, and another single pore on the lateral line above the gill-opening. Tongue immovable. Gill-opening small, about as wide as the eye; branchiostegal sac not greatly developed. Lateral line somewhat nearer the dorsal surface than the middle of the height; slightly arched above the branchial sac, thence bending downward towards the angle of the mouth, which it does not quite reach.

Vent placed nearer the head than the tip of tail, its distance from the snout being rather less than 1·4 in the tail.

Origin of dorsal fin a little posterior to that of the anal, and the distance from its origin to the vent about half the length of the head. Both fins are exceedingly low, almost rudimentary, but they broaden out slightly near the tip of the tail, which they surround. From the dorsal origin a groove is indicated all along the middle of the back, ending near the nape.

Colour.—Dorsal surface as far as or a trifle beyond the lateral line, pale golden-brown covered with clusters of minute darker-brown dots. Sides slightly lighter. Belly pale bluish-silver. On top of nape there is a thin transparent blood-red patch. Branchiostegal sac bright bluish-silver, with the radii slightly deeper blue. Eye bright silver and black. Tip of tail and lowest dorsal and anal rays lemon-yellow.

Described and figured from a living specimen, 247 mm. long, which was captured in Whangarei Harbour, Auckland District, by Mr. W. M. Fraser, Engineer to the Whangarei Harbour Board. Mr. Fraser informed me that he found it at a depth of 9 in. below the surface of a sandy mud-flat at low-tide mark, where the common marine grass grows.

Affinities.—The species was first described and named by Macleay from a specimen captured at Port Jackson, and later redescribed and figured by McCulloch from Macleay's original specimen. The only other one of this genus so far known to occur in New Zealand, and recorded by me in Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 53, p. 351, pl. liv, fig. 1, 1921, is M. breviceps, which has several marked specific differences, particularly those in regard to the position of the dorsal fin and the form of the teeth. In M. breviceps the origin of the dorsal fin will be found not far behind the head, while its teeth are granular.

Locality and Distribution.—Whangarei Harbour, Auckland Provincial District; Lane Cove, Port Jackson.

Cypselurus cribrosus Kner. Flying-fish. (Plate 21.)

Exocoetus unicolor vel cribrosa Kner., Reise “Novara,” Zool., i, p. 325, 1867. Cypselurus cribrosus McCulloch, Mem. Qld. Mus., vol. 5, p. 59, pl. 7, 1916.

One specimen, 200 mm. long from the tip of the snout to the middle caudal rays, was received during the year, trawled in the Bay of Plenty.

palatine bones, or tongue. Preoperculum with its angle rounded and somewhat oblique. Operculum rounded, its margin very thin. Gills 4, a slit behind the fourth. Gill-rakers 16, on the lower half of the anterior limb. Dorsal fin with its origin well in advance of that of the anal, and somewhat elevated. Its first ray is longest, subequal with the height of the head at the operculum; the rest decrease in length gradually backward, the last ray being about ¾ the width of the eye.

The origin of the anal is the vertical from the third-fourth dorsal rays, but its last ray is almost below the last dorsal ray. Pectoral long, reaching backward as far as the base of the procurrent caudal rays, while its greatest width is subequal with the distance from the tip of the snout to its own base.

Origin of the ventral nearly below the centre of the pectoral. Its longest ray reaches backward as far as the tips of the third-fourth anal rays, while its greatest width is subequal with the base of the pectoral. Caudal strong, its lower lobe considerably longer than the upper.

Colour.—Dark steel-blue above, somewhat lighter on the sides, with the centres of the scales a little darker as far down as the middle of the height; below this it is silver-white as far as the lateral line, which is a trifle purer white in colour. Abdomen dirty-white. Cheeks and opercles from about the centre of the eye bright silver, with very pale golden reflections. Mandibulary region and lower jaw silver-white. Branchiostegal membrane white. Eye silver, with pale golden reflections and streaked bluish-grey on its outer margin, the lens being blue-black. Anterior pectoral rays light-coloured, the segmentations pale brown. The inner rays are pale brown, becoming much darker near their extremities and much lighter basally. There is a large white patch reaching across the fin almost mesially, but the position of this seems to vary somewhat in different individuals. The membrane of the pectoral varies in colour from slaty-blue at the base to almost black on its outer margin.

Dorsal fin dusky brown, the rays somewhat darker. Ventral with its central rays dusky brown, becoming lighter towards the margin; the membrane being dirty-white. Caudal brown, streaked darker.

Described from a specimen 365 mm. long from the tip of the snout to the hypural joint. Its greatest depth is 60 mm.; the length of the head 70 mm. Diameter of the eye, 18 mm.

Locality and Distribution.—Generally distributed throughout the Auckland east-coast district from the Bay of Plenty northwards. Plentiful at the entrance to the Hauraki Gulf and about the near outlying islands. Also recorded from the coast near Sydney, New South Wales, but considered rare.

Paristiopterus labiosus. Giant Boar-fish. (Plate 23.)

Histiopterus labiosus Günther, P.Z.S., p. 658, pl. 59, 1871. H. farnelli Waite, Mem. Austr. Mus., No. 4, pt. 1, p. 116, pl. 27, 1899. Paristiopterus labiosus McCulloch, Check List, vol. 2, Aust. Zoologist, pt. 3, p. 92, pl. 28, fig. 239A, 1922.

D. viii/XVII; A. ii/XI; V. i/V; P. xvii; C. xvii/3+3; Br. 4.

Head 3 in the length to the hypural joint, and rather more than 1 ½ in the height below the fourth dorsal spine. Eye 3 ½ in the head, about as wide

slightly raised base. The first spine is equal to the first dorsal spine, and the second equals the length from the tip of snout to the anterior margin of the eye. Ventral very long, its origin beneath that of the pectoral. The longest ray reaches backward to the tip of the second anal spine when depressed. The length of the ventral spine nearly equals that of its longest ray; it is much flattened, rugose beneath and striated above like the dorsal spines. Length of the pectoral equal to the depth from the top of the orbit to the throat. Caudal subtruncate, its upper and lower lobes equal in length.

Colour. — Body yellowish-silver, somewhat deeper on the nape and above the anal fin. A black looped band, commencing at the base of the first and second dorsal spines, extends downward to the top of the operculum, and thence forward to the top of the supraoccipital. A second black band, commencing at the base of the fifth dorsal spine, extends vertically downward to the base of the pectoral, behind which it becomes very broad, and, following a lateral course along the lower half of the fish, embraces the basal quarter of the caudal peduncle and reaches the tail. A third band, commencing at the base of the sixth and seventh dorsal spines, is divided below the dorsal rays by a broad yellowish-silver streak; it becomes united again below the hinder margin of the fin, and again divided on the caudal peduncle; the upper surface of the latter is black, like the lower, while mesially the black band continues to the tail. There is also a small curved band, somewhat lighter in colour, originating at the base of pectoral, and, passing backward over the abdomen, reaches the first anal spine.

Cheeks blackish. Top of snout black. Frontal bones brown, with their radii bluish-grey. Premaxillary and mandible pink, the barbels at their apices dusky. Maxillary pale purple-pink, and covered with minute black dots. Throat pinkish-white. Operculum pale greenish-silver, the radii much lighter. Eye yellowish-silver and blue-black. Dorsal spines and rays plumbeus, the membrane black. Anal fin similar to the dorsal. Ventral spine light yellowish-silver, the rays and membrane similar to the dorsal. Pectoral blackish above, its lower rays being dull white. Caudal black, with its radii dull-greyish.

Described and figured from a young specimen, 140 mm. long to the hypural joint, which was trawled off Tauranga. Its greatest height is 70 mm., the length of the head 46 mm., the diameter of the eye 13 mm., and the depth of the caudal peduncle 16 mm.

Locality.—Not an uncommon species, and frequently trawled in good numbers from the Hauraki Gulf as far as the Bay of Plenty.

Definition. — Body compressed, oblong-ovate, the upper and lower profiles subequal, that above the eye convex. Body and greater part of the head covered with small ctenoid scales. Preoperculum serrated. Jaws with bands of teeth, and an outer more or less enlarged series. Minute teeth are also present on the vomer, palatines, pterygoids, and tongue. One dorsal with 9–10 spines increasing in length backwards, and 25 to 29 rays. Soft portions of the vertical fins with a scaly sheath. Pseudobranchiae and air-bladder present. Pyloric appendages in large numbers.

Origin of the anal fin is the vertical from the eighth to ninth dorsal spines; it is similar to the dorsal in form. The first spine one-half the width of the eye, and subequal with the ninth dorsal spine. The second anal spine is equal to the width of the eye, and subequal with the third dorsal spine. The first ray is 3 ¼ in the head, and rather more than twice as long as the last ray.

Origin of the pectoral near to the opercular margin; its length about 3 times that of the first dorsal ray, and reaching backward as far as the vertical from the eighth dorsal spine.

Ventral inserted a little behind the base of the pectoral, its spine sub-equal with the second anal spine.

Caudal forked, the upper and lower lobes about equal in length.

Colour.—Dorsal to just below the lateral line dark silvery-blue, lateral line somewhat darker; below lateral line greyish-silver, lightly sprinkled with a brassy or coppery tinge; abdominal region lighter. Dorsal fin a little lighter than the back; anal similar to the dorsal but a trifle lighter. Pectoral, ventral, and caudal uniform dark bluish-grey with the rays somewhat lighter. Eye silver and blue-black.

Described and figured from a specimen, 272 mm. long from the tip of snout to the hypural joint, trawled in the Hauraki Gulf, and often miscalled “maomao,” which is the Maori name for S. violaceus, a fish much resembling S. aequipinnis excepting in colour and a few other specific differences which are shown in the key at the head of this description. It is common throughout the waters of the Auckland Provincial District. When on a visit to Whangaroa in March, 1914, I found the young of this species particularly abundant, swarming beneath the rocky headlands within the harbour. I do not agree with Sandager's remarks to the effect that it does not shoal, or feed upon the surface like S. violaceus. I have frequently observed huge shoals moving in a wide circle round some rocky island, or backwards and forwards past a headland, always swimming leisurely, many with their backs wholly exposed, undoubtedly feeding at or near to the surface.

Locality and Distribution.—Generally distributed throughout the Auckland Provincial District; South and south-western Australia.

Chromis dispilus n. sp. (Plate 25.)

The following key will serve to show the principal distinguishing characters between Chromis dispilus and its Australian congener:—

Br. 4; D. xiii/XIV; A. ii/XIV; V. i/V; P. 1/XX; C. xvi/3/3.

About 27 scales between the head and the hypural joint, the transverse series being 4 above and 10 below the lateral line.

Described and figured from the holotype, a female, 157 mm. long from the tip of snout to the hypural joint, which was trawled on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand in June, 1921. Its greatest height is 88 mm., the length of the head is 43 mm., diameter of the eye 17 mm., and the depth of the caudal peduncle 24 mm.

Variation.—Three specimens were trawled about the same time, two of which were females, with the third a male, the latter being much narrower in body than the females; apart from this they appeared identical in every other way.

Affinities.—This species is very similar to Chromis hypsilepis, recorded from Lord Howe Island, and the coast of Australia near Sydney, and described and figured by Mr. A. R. McCulloch in Zool. Res. “Endeavour,” pt. i, p. 73, pl. xiv, 1911. In submitting a specimen of our species to him for comparison with C. hypsilepis, he writes as follows: “I have carefully compared your specimen with several of C. hypsilepis, and am satisfied it represents a distinct species. Apart from the colour-marking, the differences between the two are comparative, and cannot be expressed in definite terms.”

Locality.—Trawled off Reef Point, a little to the south of Ahipara Bay, North Auckland district.^*

Zenopsis nebulosus Schlegel. Mirror-dory. (Plate 26.)

Zeus nebulosus Schlegel, Faun. Japon., Pisces, p. 123, pl. 66, 1847. Zenopsis nebulosa McCulloch, Zool. Res. “Endeavour,” vol. 1, pt. 1, p. 83, pl. 16, fig. 1, 1911.

During the months of June and July a number of specimens of the mirror-dory were trawled by the s.s. “James Cosgrove” between White Island, in the Bay of Plenty, and the entrance to the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, this being, I believe, the first time the species has been recognized from our waters. The most noticeable difference between this fish and the common john-dory (Zeus faber) lies in the remarkable mirror-like appearance of the scaleless body of the former, while it has three only instead of four anal spines. That it has not often been seen in the Auckland markets is doubtless due to the fact that it is a deep-sea species, and our trawling operations seldom extend to the deep waters it inhabits. From recent observations I feel confident it is fairly plentiful with us, and should become an important addition to our list of prized table fish.

Locality.—From Hauraki Gulf to White Island, in the Bay of Plenty. McCulloch records it from off Cape Everard, Victoria, in 70 fathoms, and from twenty miles north-east of Babel Island, Bass Strait, in 68 fathoms, and Disaster Bay, New South Wales, in 45 fathoms.