370 Transactions. — Zoology. 



The total length of my specimens, exckisive of the ovi- 

 ferous tubes, is from 16mm. to 20mm. 



Ilah. On the gills of the red. cod [Lotclla bacchus). (Otago 

 Museum.) 



Fam. CHONDRACANTHINA. 



Genus Lesteira, Kroyer. 



This genus is characterized as follows by Kroyer : — 



Head enlarged at the sides as if into two rounded wings, 

 by which the animal is attached ; antennae and rostrum (or 

 buccal protuberance) not very clearly defined. Neck very 

 long, cylindrical, thin in the front, and entirely destitute of 

 all traces of limbs. Genital segment provided behind wnth two 

 clusters of tubuliform appendages ; oviferous tubes straight 

 and somewhat thick. Abdomen rudimentary. 



Male not known. 



Young, at its earliest stage, furnished with four antenna?, 

 maxillae and palps, and six feet. 



This is perhaps the same genus as is referred to by Cuvier 

 imder the name of Spliyrion (" Regne Animal," t. 3, p. 257), 

 but of which he only gives the following imperfect character : 

 "Head enlarged on both sides like a hammer; small hooks 

 at the mouth ; neck thin, succeeded by a depressed body in the 

 form of a heart, w-hich, besides the two long cords, carries on 

 each side a large bunch of hairs." 



1. Lesteira kroyeri, n. sp. Plate XXVIII., figs. 4 and 4(t. 



Front part of animal dilated into a thick, wide, float-like 

 body, which is about 55mm. across, and 20mm. wide, inclusive 

 of its protuberances. This tapers to the rounded ends, and 

 seen from behind shows two long and obtusely-pointed pro- 

 jections on its upper margin, and two rounded shorter knobs 

 below. When looked at from the front it is seen that the two 

 long protuberances define the position of the mouth-organs. 

 These are situated on a small protuberance — about 11mm. in 

 width— the upper part of which is dilated into two hammer- 

 like wings, and the lower into two rounded lobes. The former 

 probably represent the antennae, while above the latter may 

 be seen the mouth-organs, consisting of a conical upper and 

 an under lip, with a small rounded maxilla on each side. 

 This part of the body is soft and fleshy in consistence. From 

 near the middle of it arises the slender neck, which reaches 

 back to a length of 12mm., and connects with the compressed 

 and heart-shaped genital segment. This part of the body is 

 about 20mm. long, 25mm. broad, and about 10mm. thick. 

 Both it and the neck are of very hard and horny consistence, 

 and are absolutely destitute of any traces of limbs. Its sur- 

 face, though somewhat smooth, bears — in one specimen at 



