28 Papers. 



" Colour brown. Tentacles capable of great extension, sometimes. 

 when fully expanded, several times the length of the body. Average number, 

 six. Embryonic chitinous membrane plano-convex, its convex side only 

 covered with spines." — (Hickson.) 



Habitat. — Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and Dunedin. 



In the paper by Dr. Brauer referred to above II. oligactis is divided into 

 two species- — viz., H. oligactis Pall, and II. polypus Linn. The defining 

 characters given by him are, — 



" H. oligactis Pall. Stalked, tentacles very long. Body 2-3 cm. long. 

 Three kinds of thread-cells, sexes separate, testes on all parts of the body 

 except the stalk. Eggs usually adhering in groups, spherical, and covered 

 with very short spines. Colour grey, brown, or red." 



" 77. polypus Linn. Stalked, body not more than 2 cm. long, usually 

 1-1-5 cm. Four kinds of thread-cells. Hermaphrodite, testes only in 

 distal third of body, eggs attached singly with under-surface smooth, upper 

 convex and covered with short spines. Colour grey or brown." 



The brown forms I have examined seem to belong to H. oligactis. Only 

 three kinds of thread-cells can be made out. the three kinds apparently 

 corresponding to those described by Brauer as occurring in H. oligactis. 

 It has not been possible, however, to examine the gonads in these forms, 

 and until this is done their identity must remain to a certain extent doubtful. 



Of the specimens found near Melbourne, Mr. W. M. Sale observes that 

 " the attenuation of the lower part of the body is by no means so conspicuous 

 as shown in Mr. Hmck's figures of the English species." This, too, is the 

 case with most of the specimens of H. oligactis seen in Christchurch. 



It is to be noted that all the specimens of Hydra in New Zealand seem 

 to have been found near habitations. I have not heard of any having been 

 found in spots where the possibility of introduction by man could be excluded. 

 The consideration of this, and the fact that the New Zealand species are 

 apparently the same as those found in Europe, seem to lead to the conclusion 

 that Hydra is not indigenous to New Zealand, but has at some time or other 

 been accidentallv introduced. 



4. Additions to the Fish Fauna of the Kermadec Islands. 



By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Curator, Canterbury Museum. 



[Bead before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 12th July, 1911.] 



In consequent of the destruction of his farm at the Kermadec Islands 

 by the recent hurricane, Mr. Roy C. Bell returned with his family to New 

 Zealand. H*^ brought with him a small collection of fishes, in continua- 

 tion of the endeavours of Mr. W. R. B. Oliver, who, as a member of the 

 party which visited the islands in 1908, supplied the material already 

 recorded.* The specimens were, for the most part, picked up dry upon 

 the beach or gathered from rock-pools on Sunday Island. Owing to mutila- 

 tion many of them are irrecognizable, and those which can be identified 

 are known species. The following have not been previously recorded from 

 the Kermadec Islands : — 



* Waite : Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 42, 1910, pp. 370-383, pi. xxxv and xxxvi. 



