Waite. — Notes on New Zealand Fishes. 195 



The gills in the present example are, fortunately, preserved, but as I 

 cannot refer to Lutken's paper* in which Himavtolopkus reinhardtii was 

 described and figured, I am not in a position to decide the question as to 

 generic identity. It is, however, possible that with the aid of the following 

 description others more fortunately situated may be able to do so. 



The figure published in illustration of Clarke's paperf" is somewhat 

 crude, and, gauged by the characters of our example, incorrect as regards 

 the cephalic tentacle and the number and disposition of the dermal scutes. 

 I have therefore thought fit to refigure the species from the assembled 

 remains of the specimen intrusted to me. I have also essayed a descrip- 

 tion of the specimen, but owing to the imperfect condition it will be under- 

 stood that the proportional measurements are merely approximate, or, 

 it may be, even conjectural. These remarks apply, however, only to the 

 relative width and depth of the body and head, the bones being so flexible 

 that the character of the head may be made to assume either depressed or 

 compressed condition, while, as before stated, the absence of the soft 

 portions of the body renders its original shape largely conjectural. 



D. I, 5 ; A. 4 ; V. ; P. 17 ; C. 9 ; Vert, ? 17. 



Head enormous and grotesque, its length half that of the total, com- 

 puted from the tip of the snout to the base of the caudal fin ; its depth is 

 one-fifth greater than its length, and its width is a little more than half 

 its length. The cheeks are subvertical, and the eye is placed in a large 

 shallow depression rather high in the head. The eye is very small, about 

 12-3 in the head ; it lies midway between the tip of the snout and the supra- 

 orbital spine ; the latter marks the termination of the supraoccipital ridge ; 

 this is widely separated from its fellow where it originates behind the 

 premaxilla ; these ridges diverge behind, but are somewhat contracted in 

 the middle. The interorbital space is deeply concave, and from its centre 

 the remarkable tentacle takes its origin. 



The gape is very wide, and the mandibular articulation is in advance 

 of the eye, and even in front of the tip of the snout. When closed the 

 mouth is almost vertical. 



Teeth. — -The teeth are in about three irregular rows, the innermost con- 

 taining the largest ; they are spine-like, slightly recurved, and depressible ; 

 they are slightly longer in the lower than in the upper jaw ; the longest 

 are one-fifth more than the diameter of the eye. There are no teeth on 

 the vomer or palatines. Upper pharangeal teeth only are present ; they 

 form two clusters, which appear to act in apposition, the teeth of each 

 group being directed towards each other to form a grasping apparatus. 

 The teeth are similar to those in the jaws, but shorter and stouter, their 

 combined number being 14. There are no teeth on the lower pharangeals. 



The chin forms the anterior contour of the head, projecting far beyond 

 the mouth when it is closed. There is an extensive frenum behind the 

 teeth in both jaws. 



The branchiostegals are 6 in number on each side ; they do not bear 

 teeth, as stated by Clarke, who possibly wished to express the character 

 of the branchial arches. The gill-opening is small, and placed below the 

 base of the pectoral fin. The gills may perhaps be denoted by the formula 

 applied to Himantohphus — namely, \2\ pairs — but a more detailed account 

 of their character will be advisable, 



* Liitken, K. dansk. Vidensk. Skriv.. 1880, p. 309, pi. ], 2. 

 t Clarke, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 10, 1878, p. 245. pi. 6. 



