FOBBES.- 



-On Eegalecus. 



197 



debris, among the fine sand at the bottom of still deep waters. 

 It has no teeth. 



As was found in the gigantic skate recently thrown on the 

 Smimer coast, this Bcgalecus was infested to an extraordinary 

 degree with intestinal worms, thousands extruding themselves 

 from the liver as it lay on the table. They were found in the 

 oesophagus also. Perhaps these fishes become infested during 

 the winter season with these parasites, and in their desire to 

 rid themselves it may be that they seek shallower water, and 

 are thus thrown on our coasts by currents in a dying state. 



Again following Professor Parker, I have given a table of 

 measurements for easy comparison of B. argentcus with 

 B. grillii, Lindroth (cf. Appendix B). 



I have to record my thanks to Mr. Warnes and the syndi- 

 cate exhibiting this fish for their extreme courtesy and good- 

 nature in allowing myself and my assistant to intrude on 

 their show whenever we desired in order to make the notes 

 recorded above, and especially for their kindness in permitting 

 us to remove the fish from its stand for the purpose of obtain- 

 ing a photograph of it. I am indebted also to Mr. Sparks, 

 the taxidermist of the Museum, for his help and care in taking 

 the measurements. 



Appendix A. 



New 

 Brigbtou. 



Moeraki. 



Otago 

 Harbour. 



Okain'i 

 Bay. 



Victorian. 



Total length 



Greatest height of body 

 Length of heacl(jaws retracted) 

 Distance between snout and 

 anus 



Proportion of height to length 

 Proportion of length of head to 



total length 

 Proportion of pre-anal region 



(= head -f trunk) to total 



length 



Total number dorsal- fin rays. . 



Ft. in. 

 12 5 



13-5 

 7-75 

 4 11 



1:11 

 1:19 



1:2-5 



232 



Ft. in. 

 12 6 



15-25 

 9-0 

 5 6 



1 : 10 

 1:17 



1:2-27 



205 



[9+223] i [14 + 191] 



' Gap. 



Ft. in. 



[17 0]1 



11 i 



12-1 



9-5 



9-5 







4 



1 : 11 

 1 :14 



Ft. in. I 



18 10 I 



14-5 

 8-125- 

 5 4-125 i 



1 :15-G 

 1 : 27-35 



189 ( ?) 



[14 + 175] 



422 

 (-221 



Ft. in. 

 13 7 



1 : 2-29 1 : 3-36 I 





 



7-25 

 7-5 



1:23 

 1:22 



14+^ 17C?)* 



423 

 [17+406] 



,170 



