KiNGSLEY. — On Eegalecus argeuteus. 333 



" 12. On evaporation, 25cc. of the spirit-solution gave 

 1-135 grammes of extractive matter dried at 100'- C, or 2-270 

 grammes for 25ec. of your original fluid. On incineration the 

 mass swelled up and formed an enormous balloon of coke, but 

 the carbon burnt off readily with a strong sodium flame, and 

 left 0-248grm. of fixed salts, = 0-496grm. on original fluid. 



" 13. Tested for uric acid = no result. 



" 14. Tested for allantoin = no result. 



" Hence, taking all the reactions into account, this fluid 

 seems to contain a very large percentage of urea ; but a change 

 may have taken place since it was collected." 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XIX. 



Fig. 1. Uterine egg of Mnsfehis antarcticits removed from the uterus, 

 and with the surrounding pseudamniotic membrane spread 

 out (natural size). 



Fig. 2. Ideal transverse section of the same. 



AiiT. XXXIX. — On a Specimen of flic Great Bibbon-fislL 

 (Eegalecus argenteus) taken 'in Nelson Harbour. 



By E. I. KiNGSLEY. 



'Bead before the Nelson Fliilosopliical Society, oth November, 1SS9.] 



Plate XX. 



The fact that a capture of a specimen of the genus Eegalecus 

 is of very rare occurrence — no doubt partly owing to their 

 inhabiting the deep parts of the ocean, — and the fact also that 

 it cannot be studied, like many other fish, in its native element, 

 create more or less interest in every specimen that may by 

 chance be secured — an interest that affects even such of the 

 general public who care nothing for genera or species, whose 

 first anxiety is, perhaps, "Is it good for food?" To any one, 

 however, who is the least inclined towards natural history or 

 science there sliould be additional interest in the fact that 

 (I think I am correct in so saying) there has not yet been a 

 single perfect specimen captured : consequently all existing 

 descriptions are either more or less compiled from imperfect 

 or mutilated examples. It therefore becomes a duty to watch 

 for opportunities such as the one I have made the subject of 

 this paper, in order not only to add to our stock of knowledge 

 fresh items of information, Init to check and, if need be, correct 

 the published descriptions. 



