472 MUSEO NACIONAL DE BUENOS AIRES. 



straight eourbe through tlie tail. Tlie scales are moderately large. 

 The belly is deejjly fissured to form a sheath for the reception of 

 the large veritrals, in which they can be completely t-oncealed. 

 Tbe inside of this sheath is liiied with delicate membraiie, and the 

 small tubular orífice of the aiis is situated near its posterior end. 

 The ventral, equal in leiigth to one-third of the whole fish, is atta- 

 cher under the basy of the pectoral as in Nomeus. It is probable 

 that their last ray is attached throughout to the mesial line of the 

 sheath by a wide membraue; as in the genus just named, bntif so, 

 the membrane has been torn away in ourspecimen. The pectorals 

 are in proportion considerably smaller tlian in Xomeus mauritii. 

 The first dorsal is arched, and is supported by sK^nder, brittle 

 rays, which are half the height of the body. The membrane of the 

 posterior part of the dorsal and anal is either altogether wanting 

 or perishes early, leaving six or seven detached pinnuies behind 

 each fin. There is no vestige of any sepárate spines before the 

 anal, and the first spine of this fin is a mere point. The ventrals 

 retain their intense black colour, but the original tintsof the other 

 fins and rest of the fish cannot be traced in the specimen, which 

 has suffered from long maceration in spirits. 



Length 8 inches. 



Hab. Port Nicholson, New-Zealand. 



Lepidothyniiiis u. gen.- 



For the Knowledge of this fish I am indedted to Professor Hut- 

 ton of Canterbury CoUege, Cristchurch. The specimen, 5 '/a f^et 

 long, was driven on shore in Lyttelton Harbour on April 17, 1887. 

 It had the appearance of a Tunny; but was coverded with scales. 

 Of these Prof Huttou fortunately preserved some, and he also 

 made a sketch of the fish which is reproduced on Pl. vi. fig. A. 

 The specimen is preserved in Christchurch Museum as a skeletom 

 of which Prof. Hutton kindly sent a photograph to me (Pl. vi. 

 f. A'). These materials, as well as some notes taken by my corres- 

 pondent from the fresh fish, offer sufficieut evidence that this form 

 represents an undeseribed genus of Scombroid fishes show^iug dis- 

 tinct affinitees to Gostrorhisma. It may be characterised thus: 



" A. Günther. Report on tlic iielagie Fishes. The Voyage ofH. M. H. Challeii- 

 j;er, T. xxxi, y. 15, |il. vi, fig. A, A', a. 1889. 



