132 



Transactions . — Zoo logy . 



Remarks. 



( a ) Follows the hapuka in its time of arrival and departure, and it is 

 occasionally got when fishing for hapuka in deep water. Excepting during 

 the spawning time of the hapuka I have never caught the Scyllium in 

 shallow water. It has a most disagreeable odour. 



( b ) Speared a large specimen two years ago. Could be got occasionally 

 if wanted. 



( c ) I have only observed five or six individuals in the course of four 

 years. 



In addition to the species above enumerated as occurring 

 here, twelve others, as yet unidentified, have been sent to Sir 

 James Hector, Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., or remain in my 

 own collection. Very little is known to me regarding the species 

 which confine themselves to deep water, most of my captures 

 having been made fishing from the rocks in depths varying from 

 a couple of feet up to 15 fathoms; but I have sufficient grounds 

 for believing that many of the deep-sea fishes visit shallow water 

 to spawn, and in the case of some summer visitors, because the 

 feed, such as shrimps, medusa?, different kinds of spawn, etc., is 

 most abundant there and nearer the surface during the warmer 

 months, the smaller fish being of course followed by predaceous 

 species. Observations extending over a period of four years and 

 a half convince me that visiting fishes are almost as punctual 

 in their arrival and departure, after accomplishing their purpose, 

 as some of the birds of passage ; but few, if any, of the species 

 enumerated leave the neighbourhood, of the island, the change 

 being merely from deep water to shallow water, or vice versa, 

 according to the season. Possibly Scoiiibnso.r forsteri, Trachums 

 trachurus (the small variety), Thyrsites pronu'theoides <m<l K.roactus 

 sp., are exceptions, for regarding these I cannot speak with any 

 certainty, because I have never observed them during the winter. 



