266 "ENDEAVOUR" SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



Hah. New Zealand; Chatham Islands. 



Described from three specimens, 225-330 mm. in total 

 length. 



5. AMMOTRETIS. 

 Ammotretis, Gtinther, Cat. Fish., IV, p. 458 (1862). 



Eyes separated by a flattish scaly space, the upper 

 at some distance from the dorsal profile. Snout longer 

 than eye and produced into a fleshy hook which hangs 

 freely in front of the mouth. Nasal organs nearly 

 symmetrical, that of the blind side being at some distance 

 from median line of head ; olfactory laminae parallel to 

 one another and to the main axis of the body, no central 

 rachis. Mouth small, very asymmetrical, jaws of blind 

 side strongly curved ; lower lip of eyed side fringed ; teeth 

 small, movable, acutely pointed, in bands in the jaws of 

 the blind side. Lower pharyngeals moderately broad, 

 expanded posteriorly, more or less in contact for the 

 greater part of their length; teeth pointed, in several 

 irregular series, smaller and more numerous posteriorly. 

 Upper angle of gill-opening just above base of pectoral 

 fin ; gill-rakers few or in moderate number, tubercular. 

 Dorsal fin with 69 to 90 rays; commencing at extremity 

 of rostral hook ; anterior rays simple, more or less free, 

 their upper edges bluntly serrated distally; remaining 

 rays mostly bifid ; nearly all the rays scaly on both sides ; 

 no basal sheath. Anal with 47 to 59 rays; similar to 

 dorsal ; no spine. Pectoral fins equally developed on 

 both sides of body, or that of ocular side larger. Two 

 pelvic fins ; right with 7 to 13 rays, joined to the anal ; 

 left with 3 to 6 rays. Caudal fin convex, scales extending 

 on to both sides; caudal peduncle short. Scales moder- 

 ate or small, imbricated, ctenoid or cycloid; none on the 

 eyeballs. Lateral line rising slightly or with a slight 

 curve anteriorly; a short temporal branch sometimes 

 developed. Intestinal tract moderate or rather elongate. 



Five species from southern Australia. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Right pelvic fin with 7 rays. 



A. Pectoral fins subequal, that of left side pointed 



1. rostratus 



B. Left pectoral much shorter than right, rounded; a fleshy 



tubercle at tip of first ray 2. brevipinnis 



