200 Transactions. — Zoology 



There are black pigment-spots along the base of dorsal fin 

 and along side of body at posterior end. 



The gonad is 7 in. long. 



From the above it will be seen that the present fish does 

 not agree with any of those enumerated by Dr. Giinther in 

 the British Museum Catalogue (" Fishes," iii., p. 300, et seq.), 

 but it most nearly approaches the Indian species B. russelii, 

 Shaw, which is figured in Day's " Fishes of India," pi. 79, 

 fig. 2. This is 2ft. Sin. in length — i.e., 816mm. For this 

 species Giinther (p. 311) gives the following diagnosis :— 



•' D., 4-5/320 ; C, (?) ; P., 11 ; V., 1. The height of the 

 body is one-twentieth of the total length. Teeth none. Caudal 

 rays distinct." 



The figure given by Day is 193 mm. — i.e., about a quarter 

 the natural size. The greatest height is at the head ; thence 

 the dorsal surface slopes rather rapidly at first and then 

 more gradually to the end of the body (a little more rapidly 

 apparently than in our specimen). Height at level of pectoral 

 is 8 mm. on figure [i.e., 32 mm. in the fish) ; height at middle 

 of body, 4 mm. on figure (i.e., 16 mm. in the fish) ; length of 

 head, 10mm. on figure {i.e., 40mm. in the fish); diameter 

 of eye, 2mm. on figure (i.e., 8mm. in the fish); anterior 

 margin to snout, 2mm. on figure {i.e., 8mm. in the fish); 

 height of dorsal fin in mid-body, 2-5 mm. on figure {i.e., 

 10 mm. in the fish). 



Thus the ratio of height to length is J^ contra (Giinther). 

 Day states of the dorsal-fin rays that the " central rays are 

 the longest." 



This fish is evidently different from Day's, and I propose 

 the name B. parkeri, in memory of my predecessor', who 

 made a careful study of the anatomy of B. glesne. At the 

 same time it is possible that the present fish is the young of 

 some known species, but it is convenient to record the occur- 

 rence under a distinctive name.'" 



* Since writing this article I have received a second specimen of thia 

 fish, captured at Stewart Island by Mr. Traill, and given to me by Mr. 

 G. M. Thomson. This innividual is much longer than the one described 

 above, its measurements being as follows : Total length, 75 in. ; greatest 

 height (exclusive of fin), 175 in. The ratio of leiigth to height is about 

 43 (the fish is proportionately higher tlian the above) ; length of head, 

 3 in. ; distance of ai.us from tip of snout, 2'2 in. There are, on the average, 

 some 7 fin-rays to ihe inch, wliich gives a total of 525 fin rays. The tail, 

 though without the caudal fin, is uniMJure(), i<o that we may supplomenc 

 the above account. At the hmder end of the body, about ^\ trom extreme 

 tip, the dorral fin ceases, and the ventral body-wall suddenly curvea 

 upward and backward to meet the dorsal line in a sharp point. On the 

 upper surface, close to the point, are the broken stumps of three or four 

 fin-raya. 



