214 Transactions. — Zoology. 



localities they occurred at certain seasons in enormous quan- 

 tities. From Moeraki they are only reported as occurring 

 in March " in enormous abundance." In Catlin's Eiver 

 estuary they were found in numbers in the rock-pools in June, 

 the larger ones with the ova well advanced. From Waipa- 

 papa Point they are recorded by Mr. Erecson as passing con- 

 tinuously through Foveaux Strait from November to April, 

 usually pursued and driven ashore in great numbers by the 

 mutton-birds. In January the ova ^vere nearly ripe in many 

 of the fish ; while of those taken in April some were ripe and 

 some spawned. In Milford Sound these fish are reported as 

 occurring all the year round, being frequently driven ashore 

 by cow-fish and other enemies. Their abundance is testified 

 by entries hke the following : " December, 1885 : Tons of pil- 

 chards thrown up on the beaches at the end of this month." 

 Fish taken in October had the ova nearly ripe, while for two 

 years in succession they w^ere found to be spawning during 

 November and^December. 



37. CoNGEK-EEL {CongcT vulgaris). 



Number of Fish recorded. — 23. 



Localities. — Bean Eock, the Brothers, Moeraki, Waipa- 

 papa, Dog Island, Centre Island, Milford Sound. 



Dates. — All the year round. 



Weight. — Average, 191b. ; largest recorded, 371b., from 

 Waipapapa Point. 



Food. — Fish, Crustacea, shellfish, octopus, and sea- 

 weeds. 



ReprodiLction. — All observations under this head were 

 negative. 



38. Leather- JACKET (Monacantlms convexirostris). 

 Only recorded from Mokohinou, where seven specimens 

 were obtained during the month of September in two succes- 

 sive years. In every case they contained ripe ova, and seem 

 to have approached the coast to spawn. The average weight 

 was l-llb., and the food consisted of Crustacea and corallines. 



39. Skate (Baja nasuta). 



Ninnber of Fish recorded. — 19. 



Localities. — Cape Saunders, the Nuggets, Waipapapa 

 Point, Dog Island. 



Dates. — February, March, April, and May. 



Weights. — Average, lllb. ; largest recorded, 201b. 



Food. — Crayfish, crabs, shellfish, and young cod. 



Bejyroductioji. — The ova were ripe in several fish from 

 February to May. It would seem that the fish come into 

 shallow water to spawn during those months. 



