80 Transactions. — Zoology. 



District designate them " mingles " — I suppose an evolution 

 from " minnows," by which name they are commonly known 

 in many other parts of New Zealand. 



The whole of the family are very voracious fish, the most 

 meek- and harmless-looking attenuatus being proportionately 

 the worst in that respect. When turning out trout-fiy (by 

 necessity, not having developing-ponds therefor) at that su- 

 premely ridiculous age which by absurd fad had been adopted 

 by so many for their liberation — I allude to the period soon 

 after absorption of the umbilical sac^I have often seen three 

 or four of these ubiquitous little rascals rush into the shoal — 

 from goodness knows where — even when the greatest pre- 

 cautions had been taken in selection of a site comparatively 

 free from them — and with lightning-like darts here and there 

 avail themselves of the expensive change of diet so easily 

 afforded, and completely decimate them in a very few minutes. 



In captivity, both in the pond and aquarium, experiments 

 ranging over many years have shown that G. attenuatus must 

 return to salt water, otherwise it dies. A certain proportion 

 each year have to take their departure to the ocean or be pro- 

 vided with salt water if their continuation in life is required. 



G. attemiatus runs up to the heads of all streams, of what- 

 ever size and almost of whatever nature. Even the most 

 trivial of little " trickles " of water will be found to be in- 

 habited by them. Dark or clear, thin or thick water — none 

 comes amiss. 



They very seldom exceed a total adult length of Gin. The 

 largest ever observed by me in either of the other colonies or 

 New Zealand in an experience of forty-four years was barely 

 Yin. in length. Average length of adult fish, 4|in. to 5 in. 

 (total). Attenuatus will take a fly, in brisk or still water; and 

 in its adult state is a sweet little fish gastronomically. 



As this species is ocean-frequenting, its greater extension 

 of habitat is not so much to be wondered at, but it is difficult 

 for one to surmise whether this capacity is an evidence of 

 enhanced development or not. Certainly, in its corporeal 

 characteristics, as compared with the more giant types we 

 possess, and which I refer to hereafter, it has in my idea de- 

 preciated in type. 



So far as my researches have gone in the streams of the 

 North Island, the place of the five larger varieties of the 

 family (as enumerated by Professor Hutton='=) frequenting those 

 of the South Island are occupied by G. fasciatus and G. ab- 

 breviatvs only. Numerous native names are given by several 

 authorities for varieties. These might represent two or three 

 definite species, but more probably only mean the local native 



Tran.s. N.Z. lust., vol. xxviii., p. 317. 



