Hamilton. — On a New Electric Ray. 225 



received the specimen from Mr. Ayson, who was in charge of 

 the experimental trawling, on his return to Dunedin. The 

 fish had been placed with other specimens in a jar of strong 

 alcohol, and presented a very shrivelled appearance, the skin 

 being very loose and full of creases and folds. The shape of 

 the body, excluding the short tail, was nearly circular, being 

 Sin. in each diameter (Plate X.). The total length of the 

 body, including the tail portion, was lOf in. 



In November of the same year I obtained a fresh speci- 

 men of this curious fish from a fish-shop in Dunedin, which 

 had been caught the previous night by the steam-trawler 

 some distance outside of the Otago Heads. The general 

 shape and appearance of this specimen was so unlike 

 the other that I thought they must be different species, 

 but on examination I find no material points of differ- 

 ence, except in the general outline, as shown in the 

 plate. The outline figures there given are mechanically 

 reduced from outlines made by passing a pencil round the 

 edges of the fish while it rested on a piece of paper. I am 

 therefore compelled to think that the first specimen must 

 have been much altered in shape by the action of the spirit. 



The proper shape of this interesting fish appears to be 

 more of a long oval than a circle, the measurements being 

 7 in. in greatest diameter and 14-Jin. in length. 



The very minute, almost invisible, eyes, the single dorsal, 

 and the position of the vent, place it in the genus Astrape 

 of Muller and Henle. In the absence of further specimens 

 (both those obtained being males), and not having the neces- 

 sary literature, I cannot say that it is absolutely the same as 

 Astrape capensis. I have therefore, as already intimated in 

 my report of the 5th July, 1900, called the New Zealand 

 specimens Astrape aysoni, after their first discoverer. 



The British Museum catalogue records Astrape capensis 

 from the Cape and from the coast of Madagascar, and an 

 allied species is recorded from Japan, but I cannot get any 

 description for comparison with the New Zealand specimen, 

 nor any illustrations. 



Family NAKCOBATIDJE. 

 Genus Astbape, Mull, and Henle. 

 Astrape, Mull, and H. 



Tail with a fold on each side. Body entirely naked ; upper 

 surface reddish-brown, lower surface white and yellowish- 

 white. One dorsal fin only on the tail, without spine. 

 Caudal well developed. Anterior nasal valves confluent into 

 a broad flap overhanging the mouth. Teeth pointed ; 

 dental laminae scarcely extending beyond the other margin 

 15 



