Studies in New Zealand Fishes.

By L. T. Griffin, F.Z.S., Assistant Curator, Auckland Museum.

very narrowly margined with black, and with an outer very thin line of pure white. Base of anal greyish-brown broadly margined with black and white. Eye bright bluish-silver with an oblong blue-black lens.

Identity and variation: I have managed to secure only one specimen of this striking eel, which, so far as I am aware, is the first example recorded from New Zealand. The description and plate given by Richardson agree so well with my specimen, that despite very minor differences, I have no doubt as to its correct identity. It is well known that the dentition and other characters are liable to great change with age in all members of this family. In Richardson's fish, the teeth are somewhat greater, while the colour-marking seems much more clearly defined; but beyond this my fish is comparative.

It seems questionable whether Muraena petelli Bleek, should be regarded as conspecific.

Mr. Gilbert Whitley, Zoologist to the Australian Museum, informs me that Gymnothorax patelli (Bleeker) was originally described from “Ora Malang,” Java, and seems to be restricted to the tropics (Vide Weber & de Beaufort, Fish. Indo Austr. Archip., 3, 1916, p. 372), and is perhaps distinct from G. nubilus (Rich.) from Norfolk Island.

Described and figured from a specimen which is 640 mm. long from the tip of snout to tip of tail. Greatest width of body 55 mm.; eye, 9 mm.; gill-opening, 9 mm.; angle of mouth, 40 mm.; dorsal fin, 27 mm.; anal fin, 15 mm.

Locality and distribution: Sister Rocks, near Cape Brett, Bay of Islands, March 1928. Richarson records it from Norfolk Island, while Guenther records it from the Indian Ocean and Achipelago.

Specimen in the Auckland Museum.

Family Trachichthyidae.
Genus Hoplostethus Cuv et Val.

Hoplostethus elongatus (Guenther). Long Roughy. (Fig. 2).

Trachichthys elongatus Guenther. Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., 1, p. 10, and Voy. Chall. Zool., vol. 22, p. 22, pl. V, Fig. C.

Br. 9; D.iv/XI; A.iii/IX; V.i/VI; P.XI; C.xix/5/5; L. lat. Ca65-70 L.tr about 19 above and 27 below. Abdominal scutes 10-11. Depth of body rather more than 2¾ in the length to the hypural joint; head, 3.14 in same. Eye, 2½ in the head or 1.5 in the caudal peduncle. Interorbital space equals 2 of the eye. Snout, ½ the diameter of eye.

Body compressed, dorsal and ventral profiles fairly evenly curved, covered with rather small ctenoid scales, and with a strongly serrated abdomen. Lateral line commencing at upper angle of operculum curves downward for a short distance over pectoral, thence straight to caudal. Cheeks and maxillary with small ctenoid scales similar to those on body. On the operculum scales are present on its upper margin, and below these there are several broad, roughened arched ridges about the centre, with a smooth transparent flap behind ending in a broad flexible point. A moderately strong

spine present on its upper posterior margin. Praeoperculum with two parallel bony ridges on its posterior margin, the edges of which are strongly roughened, and end with a strong spine at the angle, the latter not quite reaching the gill-opening. Humeral bone smooth.

Interorbital space convex. Scales on the nape extend forward to above middle of eye, thence to tip of snout no scales are found, but the skin is roughened. Two narrow bony ridges from nape to tip of snout converging in middle with a narrow triangular cavity above eye. Between these and the superciliary margin, there is a strongly-arched ridge curving from the suprascapulary to the posterior nostril. Nostrils close together, the anterior small, rounded, the posterior larger, ovate. Eye large, placed high up on side, the infraorbital arch transformed into a channel covered by semitransparent skin, and crossed by five or six roughened bony ridges. Snout short, rounded, the cleft of mouth oblique. Exceedingly fine villiform teeth in a narrow band in both jaws. A very minute patch on the vomer, and a narrow band on the palatine bones. Maxillary extends backward to vertical of posterior margin of eye or a little beyond. It is elongate, styliform, but dilated at the end. Lower jaw little shorter than the upper with two small roughened points in front.

Gills 3½ gill-rakers long, slender, 19 on the lower half of the anterior limb. Pseudobranchiae present. Origin of dorsal fin much nearer to tip of snout than to the caudal, the third ray highest, those following getting progressively shorter. The anal originates in the vertical of tenth ray of dorsal to which it is similar in form. Pectoral rounded, sub-equal in length to ventral. Caudal moderately forked, lobes pointed.

Colour: Dorsal above lateral line deep violet-brown, below, silver lightly shot with violet. Base of dorsal and anal bright orange, the rest clear. A broad streak on each lobe of the caudal bright orange, rest of tail clear. Pectoral and ventral bright orange at base, the rest clear. Head similar to body-colour. Eye golden-orange and blue-black.

Described and figured from a specimen which is 83 mm. long from tip of snout to hypural joint. The head is 29 mm., eye 10 mm., caudal peduncle 12 mm.

Locality: Kawau Island, Hauraki Gulf, Jan. 1928. Several specimens presented by Mr. Harold Buddle. Specimens in the Auckland Museum.

Family Stromateidae.
Genus Seriolella, Guichenot.

Family Bramidae.
Genus Brama, Bloch & Schneider.

Brama raii (Bloch). Ray's Bream. (Fig. 4).

Sparus raii Bloch, Ausl. Fische. 5, 1791, p. 95, pl. 273.

Brama squamosa Hector. Trans. N.Z. Inst., 9, 1877, p. 465, pl. 9, Fig. 32a.

Brama raii (Bloch). McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. 14, 1887, pl. 133.

Brama raii (Bloch). Phillipps, N.Z. Journ. Sci. & Tech. 7, p. 246 with fig.

Br. 8; D.iii/XXXII; A.ii/XXVI; P.xix; V.i/V; C.xxiii. Line lat. 90; L.tr, 14 above, 28 approx. below.

Identity and synonymy: The species here described is the first of its kind received at the Auckland Museum. It was taken in the trawl by Capt. Holt of Sandford's, Ltd., to whom I am indebted for saving the fish for the Museum collection.

Although there is some variation noted by different observers, my specimen agrees so well in all essential points that I have no doubt as to its correct identity. There is little doubt that Toxotes squamosus Hutton^* should be regarded as synonymous; unfortunately Hutton's specimen appears to be lost, so that a comparison is out of the question. According to McCulloch, Ray's Bream appears to be rare in Australian waters, but McCoy records it at Portland, Victoria, in considerable numbers in April 1884. In New Zealand, Phillipps records it from Napier, Queen Charlotte Sound, and Plimmerton. Clarke's figure given by Phillipps in the N.Z. Journ. Sci. and Technology was drawn from a specimen taken at Hokitika in 1872. The fish, however, has a very wide geographical range; Guenther states, it is found on the English coasts, Meditterrean, and Cape seas.^†

Locality: Trawled between Te Kaha and White Island, Jan. 1928. Specimen in the Auckland Museum.

Family Pempheridae.
Genus Pempheris, Cuvier.

Family Latrididae.
Genus Latris, Richardson.

Latris lineata, Trumpeter. (Fig. 6).

Cichla lineata Bloch. & Schneider, Syst. Ichth., 1801, p. 342.

Latris hecateia Richardson, Trans. Zool. Soc. 3, 1842, p. 106, pl. 6, 1.

Latris hecateia Rich. Hutton, Cat., Fish. N. Zealand, 1872, p. 8, pl. 2, Fig. 12.

Br. 6; D.xviii/I/XXXV., A.iii/I/XXVII., P.XVIII., V.i/V., C.xv/3/3.

More than one hundred scales in the lateral line, the transverse series being about seventeen above, twenty-nine below. Head, 3.7¾,

This fish does not appear to be so plentiful in our warmer northern waters as it is in the south of New Zealand. Waite mentions that it was but once taken in the trawl of the “Nora Niven,” a single specimen being obtained east of Lyttelton in 44-46 fathoms, while another example was caught at the Chatham Islands on a long line.^*

Hutton, in his notes on the edible fishes of New Zealand, referred to at the head of this description, gives a very full account. He states that this species is very local in its habits, the areas which they frequent being very limited. It is found in one or two spots on the west coast of Otago, while the Kaikoura Peninsula appears to be a favourite haunt, about three miles off Point Keene; but that they may be taken off almost every point in the peninsula where the water exceeds sixteen fathoms.

I have seen this fine fish taken on the hand-line at Castle Point on the east coast, not a great distance from Wellington. It is probably much more plentiful in Tasmanian seas, to which it was supposed to be peculiar. It is also recorded from the banks near the Vietorian coast, from whence supplies are taken to the Melbourne market. McCulloch states that it is said to occur in the southern waters of New South Wales, but is not reliably recorded.

Family Scombridae.
Genus Scomber Linn.

Scomber australasicus, Mackerel. (Fig. 7).

Scomber scombus, Solander in Linné, Syst. Nat. 10th Ed., 1758, p. 297.

Scomber australasicus, Id Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. 8, 1831, p. 49. Id Hutton, Cat. Fish. N. Zealand, p. 21, pl. 5, Fig. 32.

Scomber colias Stead. Ed. Fish. N.S. Wales, 1908, p. 94, pl. 63. Id McCulloch Check list. Fish. N.S. Wales, pt. 3, 1922, p. 104, pl. 33, Fig. 286a.

Br. 6; D.xi/I/XI/5; A.i/I/XI/5; V.i/V; P.XXII; C.XVI/5/5. Line lat, Ca 160; L.tr. Ca 20 above, 33 below.

Height of body, 4.5¾; head, 4.14½ in the length to hypural joint. Eye 4.10 in the head or nearly 1¾ in snout, and subequal with the interorbital space. Caudal peduncle width, 6 in the head. Adipose eye-lid 0.7 in head, or 2.4 in the snout. Body rather elongate, rounded, the dorsal and ventral profiles evenly curved, covered with small cycloid scales. A few scales are found on lower margin of cheeks, and on upper half of operculum, but the rest of head is scaleless.

Interorbital space almost flat. Preorbital extends as far as centre of eye, and maxillary as far as anterior border of orbit; it can be completely hidden beneath preorbital. Eye large, completely covered with thick transparent skin, which extends as far as posterior margin of cheek. Snout pointed. A single nostril situated about midway between anterior margin of orbit tip of snout. Lower jaw

slightly the longer. Minute teeth in a single series in both jaws. Very minute teeth present on vomer and palatine bones, tongue smooth. Gills, 4; gill-rakers long, 27 on the lower half of the anterior limb. Pseudobranchiae well developed. First dorsal fin in a shallow groove, its origin slightly posterior to middle of pectoral, second spine longest, equal to distance from posterior margin of operculum to centre of eye, and subequal with base of dorsal rays. Second dorsal separated from first by interspace equal to three of the eye, its origin the vertical of vent. The fin is low, only half the height of longest spine, and followed by five spurious finlets. Origin of the anal is the vertical of third dorsal ray. It is similar to the second dorsal in every way, with five spurious finlets behind originating in vertical of dorsal finlets. Ventrals thoracic, their origin below first quarter of pectoral. Caudal forked, lobes subequal, with two low keels at base of procurrent rays.

Colour: Above lateral line bright bluish-green silver with darker oblique bars, most of which form a chevron pattern, except above pectoral where they are more rounded. Below lateral line, bright silver with a golden hue, covered with numerous irregularly-formed diffused spots and bars. First dorsal clear greenish-blue, second dorsal dusky greenish-blue, finlets somewhat darker. Anal fin, finlets, and ventrals white. Pectoral, thin bluish at base and on outer margin, lighter in the middle. Caudal same as second dorsal. Top of head, deep blue with darker bars. Preorbital, lower jaw, lower half of operculum and preoperculum bright silver with a golden hue; there is also a dark blue patch on upper posterior margin of operculum. Maxillary, dark brown.

Described and figured from a specimen which is 343 mm. long, from symphysis of the lower jaw to hypural joint. The head is 80 mm. long, eye 21 mm., greatest depth 70 mm.

Locality and Distribution: Auckland Harbour, December, 1927. Said to be very common in deep water beyond the Hauraki Gulf, moving along the coast in large shoals. Also common in Australian seas. Average length 14-15 inches.

Family Gobiesocidae (Cling-Fishes).
Genus Diplocrepis.

Family Antennaridae.
Genus Antennarius Cuvier, Reg. Anim. Ist. ed., ii, 1817, p. 310 (chironectes).

Antennarius striatus, Striped Angler. (Fig. 10).

Lophius striatus Shaw, Nat. Miscel. 5, 1794, pl. 175.

Antennarius pinniceps Cuv et Val. Guenther. Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish. 3, 1861, p. 190.

Antennarius striatus Guenther. Fisch Sudsee 5, 1876, p. 162, pl. 99.

Antennarius striatus McCulloch, Check List, Fish and Fish-like Anim., N.S.Wales, pt. 3, 1922, p. 123, pl. 12, Fig. 357a.

D.iii/XII., A.vii., P.X., V.v., C.ix.

Height 2.14, head, 3.39 in the length to the hypural joint. Eye, 7 in the head or 3 in the snout. Head, with swollen cheeks and a deep depression below the eye. A deep pit on the occiput, perfectly smooth inside, receives the distal ends of the two anterior dorsal spines. Tip of snout produced into a bulb-like depressable process, first and second dorsal spines being attached to this.

Mouth subvertical, maxillary the same. Lower jaw slightly longer than upper. Cardiform teeth in both jaws in a single series. Cardiform teeth also present on palatine bones and tongue. Nostrils small, subequal, lateral, placed close together, anterior almost on margin of premaxillary, both surrounded with a moderately high transparent rim. Gill-opening reduced to a small foramen situated behind pectoral, rather nearer angle than end of fin. Gills 4, no cleft behind the fourth. One half only of anterior arcus branchialis provided with lamellae, and no gill-rakers present on this limb. Pseudobranchiae none.

Body robust anteriorly, compressed towards caudal, covered with rough skin containing numerous minute trifid spines which form into clusters on maxillary, front of lower jaw, above eye, and extending over body in the form of a lateral line ending above the centre of anal fin. A few longer cutaneous branched fillaments depend from margin and centre of lower jaw. Stomach wide; pyloric appendages none; air-bladder present.

Anterior dorsal spine slightly longer than the second, very delicate, terminating in three lanceolate flaps with minute doubly crenulated margins. Second and third spines of dorsal furnished with clusters of minute spinules at tips. All spines in fourth dorsal are subequal, reaching base of caudal when laid back.

Anal origin below sixth spine of the fourth dorsal, very similar to the latter in form and structure.

Pectoral long, arm-like, owing to the protraction of carpal bones. Ventral jugular short, extremity being similar to pectoral.

Colour: Light greyish-brown irregularly streaked with dark-brown bars of various shapes and sizes. Numerous streaks of dark-brown radiate over sides of head from eye. A series of oblong and rounded spots on cheeks, ventrals, and pectorals, also on undersurface.