Waite. — Fishes of Kermadec and Noi-folk Islands. 371 



The group lies on meridian 178 of west longitude, and the 30th parallel 

 of south latitude passes through it. Norfolk Island lies in the same latitude, 

 but considerably to the westward, the longitude being 168° 1' east. Still 

 further to the west, in longitude 159° 5' east, is Lord Howe Island ; this 

 island has a rather more southerly position, the latitude being 31° 33' south. 

 As the temperature of the water, or the food-supply which it maintains, is 

 an important factor in the geographical distribution of fishes, a comparison 

 of the fauna of the three islands mentioned, lying as they do in approxi- 

 mately the same parallel, may be of some interest. 



Unfortunately, the fish fauna of the islands is very imperfectly and 

 unequally known, for, while that of Lord Howe Island has been tolerably 

 exploited, our knowledge of the fishes of Norfolk Island and of the Ker- 

 madec Group rests upon meagre records, which are here presented for the 

 first time in collected form. 



Kermadec Islands. 



As above mentioned, Giinther has recorded two fishes from Raoul 

 Island — namely, Murcena euptera* and Scorpcena cooki.'f In his account 

 of the Kermadec Islands, Mr. Percy SmithJ writes, " Fish abound round 

 the coast in great quantities. We caught hapuka {Polyprion prognathus)^ 

 of great size ; a variety of kahawai {Arripis trutta), a very handsome fish ; 

 kingfish, or yellow-tail (Serioki lalandii), a delicious fish, very superior 

 for eating to our New Zealand species ; and trevalli {Caranx platessa) ; 

 besides others whose names I have no idea of." I have not come across 

 further records, and the following is a complete list of the fishes obtained 

 by the party. Mr. Oliver has supplied me with a few field notes, and these 

 have been made use of where they appear to be of interest. 



Among the most interesting forms are those which were previously 

 known only from either Norfolk or Lord Howe Islands, including Machce- 

 rope latispinis, Ogilby ; Acanthistius cinctus, Giinther ; Cantherines analis, 

 Waite ; and Limnichthys fasciatus, Waite : while of special note is that 

 interesting Paralepid, Lestidium nudum. Gilbert, previously known from a 

 single example taken in the Hawaiian Islands. Examples identified Avith 

 Lampanijctus guntheri, Goode and Bean, are described ; while the following 

 are regarded as new, and are herein figured : Gonostoma raoulensis, Muroe- 

 nichthys oliveri, Pempheris analis. 



An examination of the recorded species may show a slight excess of 

 Australian over New Zealand forms ; but in the majority of cases they are 

 common to both areas, while many have a much wider range. It would 

 appear, however, that the Kermadec. Norfolk, and Lord Howe Islands 

 have much in common as regards the fish fauna, and that some interesting 

 types have been developed in these groups. It is to be hoped that further 

 collections may be made in the neighbourhood of the Kermadec and Norfolk 

 Islands, so that a more satisfactory comparison may be made. 



Carcharias (Rafinesque), sp. 



Mr. Oliver says that sharks are fairly common during the summer 

 months, and were taken ofi Fishing Rock, on Sunday Island. Young ones 

 were caught from the beach. Specimens were not preserved, but Mr. Oliver 



* Giinther, Gat. Fish. Brit. Mus., viii, 1870, p. 122. 



t Id., " Fische der Sudsee," 1874, p. 78. pi. Iv. 



I Smith, " The Kermadec Islands," 1887, Wellington, p. 22. 



§ I have sujiplied the probable scientific names. 



