316 Transactions. 



The maxilla is slightly longer than the diameter of the eye, is greatly 

 expanded behind, its distal extremity being one-third the diameter of the 

 eye, and extending slightly beyond its centre. Two small flat spines at 

 th angle of the premaxilla. The cleft of the mouth is nearer the vertical 

 than horizontal, and at its angle on the outside of the mandible there is a 

 fatty body, resembling a luminous organ ; this is only visible when the 

 mouth is open. 



A narrow band of setiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer and palatines. 



The distance between the origin of the dorsal fin and the end of the 

 snout is slightly less than one-half that between its origin and the tip of 

 the middle rays of the caudal ; the first soft ray is the longest, 1-2 in the 

 head, and longer than the base of the fin, which is 1-4 in the same. The 

 anal fin commences beneath the middle of the dorsal, and its base is an 

 eye-diameter longer than the head. The pectoral is long, extending to 

 the base of the first anal ray ; its third ray is the longest, a little longer 

 than the head less the snout ; its lower rays diminish rapidly, the inferior 

 ones being very short. The ventral does not quite reach to the anal. The 

 upper lobe of the caudal appears to be the longer, due to its upper rays 

 being nearly in the same line as the dorsal profile from the origin of the 

 dorsal fin ; the caudal is emarginate, and its length 14 in the head ; the 

 depth of the peduncle is equal to its length below. 



Scales. — With the exception of the upper part of the snout, the whole 

 of the head is covered with ctenoid scales similar to those of the body ; 

 the bases of the anal and caudal are clothed with smaller scales, which run 

 up' the interradial membranes for some distance. The lateral line follows 

 the dorsal profile, and is continued along the middle of the caudal. 



Colours. — Purplish-brown, not darker above than below, lower parts 

 of head lighter, a golden spot behind the eye ; dorsal, caudal, and paired 

 fins yellow ; anal grey ; spines and tip of dorsal and axis and base of pec- 

 toral black -. first few rays of anal also black. 



Length, 189 mm. Nine specimens. 



This species is very nearly allied to P. ouolensis, Cuv. & Val.''^ ( = P. 

 otaitensis, Cuv. & Val.), differing mainly in the constant smaller number 

 of rays in the anal ; those of the latter species are rendered as 40-42 

 also by Gimther,t and as 41 by Seale :% the maximum number found in 

 P. analis is 34, and the minimum 31. Some slight proportional differences 

 are also observable, but can be definite' y ascertained only by direct com- 

 parison. The colour scheme appears to be identical, and specimens 

 showing connection in the matter of the rays may some day be found. 



Mr. Oliver informs me that all examples obtained were washed up on to 

 Denham Bay beach on several occasions between May and September, 1908 ; 

 at one time fifteen were on the beach, but most of them were gnawed by rats. 



Polyprion prognathus, Forster. 



Though specimens of the groper were not preserved, I have no hesita- 

 tion in including this species. Mr. Oliver not only identified it himself, 

 but he made a description which enables me to confirm his statement. 

 He supplies notes of two specimens caught, one in March and the other in 

 September, 1908. 



* CTivier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vii, 1831, pp. 299, 304. 



t Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ii, 1860, p. 508. 



i Seale, Occ. Papers Bern. Bishop Mus., i, 1901, p. 74. 



