106 



THE NEW ZEALAND GURNARD. 



Trigla kurnu, LessoK. 

 PLATE VL 



Trigla kumu, Lesson. — Voi/. de la Coquille, plate xix. rol. u. 



page 214. 



This beautiful species was found abundantly in the 

 bays of New Zealand by the expedition of Duperey, 

 where it was used as food by the natives, and 

 brought on board by them in abundance. It is not 

 a large fish, reaching only a length of from fifteen 

 to eighteen inches, and is in form rather slender. 

 The dorsal fins are relieved by the strong rays being 

 of a dark yellowish-red, the intervening webs pale 

 rose colour. The upper part of the fish is of a 

 brownish-red, rather abruptly broken in the middle, 

 below which it is of a shining silvery hue. The 

 pectoral fins are very large and roimded ; they are 

 of a brilliant emerald-green, broadly bordered >vith 

 azure blue round the extremity, and having an oval 

 patch of velvety-black upon the interior edge, which 

 is beautifully relieved with snow-white spots. In 

 another fish, forming a distinct, but nearly allied 

 ^enus, the pectorals are also of extreme size. This 

 is 



