194 Transactions. — Zoology, 



ventral fins. With these exceptions, however, the specimen 

 was a particularly fine and complete one. The Begaleci, being 

 deep-sea denizens, are generally found to have suffered on 

 approaching the surface from the expansion of their internal 

 gases consequent on the diminution of pressure ; but the spe- 

 cimen under description showed no signs of any " loosening or 

 tearing of its ligaments and tissues" by its ascent to the 

 surface of the sea. 



The following notes were drawn up under considerable 

 disadvantage owing to the fish being under exhibition at the 

 time, and that in a very badly lighted room. I had to 

 write amidst a talkative crowd, while my observations were 

 confined to the one side — naturally the best — exposed to the 

 public. Imperfect as they may be, I lay them before the 

 Institute as a contribution towards our better knowledge — 

 still very imperfect — of this rare genus of fishes. 



It is remarkable that all the New Zealand specimens have 

 been found on the South Island ; and, like all the other speci- 

 mens, European or New^ Zealand — except the Nelson Harbour 

 one, which was a male — whose sex has been determined, the 

 present is a female, and it has occurred on our shores at the 

 same period of the year (the spring and early winter) as they 

 have invariably done on previous occasions. 



In order to facilitate comparison with the observations- 

 recorded by Professor Parker in the Transactions of this Insti- 

 tute for 1887, I shall arrange my notes under the same heads, 

 and in the order adopted by him. 



Size, Proportions, and Number of Fin-rays. — It will be seen 

 from the accompanying measurements (Appendix A) that the 

 present is the largest species of Begalccus j'et taken on the 

 coast, its length being 18ft. lOin., with its protrusile mouth not 

 extended. It is probable, however, that it does not exceed 

 by much the length attained by Professor Parker's Otago 

 Harbour specimen when complete. This specimen was 

 broken across, and he conjectures that it was most likely 

 about 17ft. in length. Its ribbon-like form is indicated by 

 the proportion of its height to its length, which was one- 

 fifteenth ; the New Brighton specimen was one-eleventh; the 

 Moeraki specimen, sent to London, one-tenth ; wliile the Vic- 

 torian specimen was still more band-like, its height being only 

 one twenty-third of its total length. The Otago Harbour 

 specimen is given as one-eleventh ; but if this were corrected 

 for the length that the fish is conjectured, as stated above, to 

 have reached, the proportion of height to length would closely 

 approximate that of the Okain's Bay example. In this speci- 

 men the nuchal crest is damaged, and a gap occurs in the 

 dorsal fin, so that it is difficult with absolute accuracy to deter- 

 mine the number of the fin-rays. Taking 14, the number 



