Abslractn. 26 



ABSTRACTS. 



1. Additions to the Fish Fauna of New Zealand, hy EdpaT R. Waite, 

 F.Ii.tS., Curatoi-, Canteilnii V Museum. 



Thtj following are among the more noteworthy species taken in 1907 by the- 

 (Jovernment trawling expedition, additional to those previously enumerated. Fuller 

 descriptions and figures will be published late)'. 



('hlorophthalmus nujripinnis Giinther. 



This species was freely taken on two occasions in the Bay of Plenty, and is aa 

 addition to the known fauna. The on.ly species of the genus hitherto recognized 

 from New Zealand is ('. f/mrilis Giinther, but it wa.s not obtained by the expedi- 

 tion. 



Marrorhamphosiis i-colopax Linnaeus. 



Not having European examples for direct comparison. I provisionally associate 

 with this species examples netted in the Bay of Plenty. The snipe-fish was but 

 once taken, seventeen examples being secured ; great numbers escaped through the 

 large meshes of the trawl net as it was being hauled to the surface, and the majority 

 of those preserved were skimmed off the surface of the water with a hand-net. The 

 genus was previously unknown in the waters of the Dominion. 



Syngnalhui iioine sp. nov. 



D., 39; P., 13: C, 8; rings, IS +49 = 67. 



Length of head 7'4 in the total, 26 in head and body, height 2'8 in the same j 

 eye, 7'0 ; snout, 17 in the head. The dorsal begins on the I7th ring, and stands 

 on ten rings. The brood-pouch occupies twelve rings, and measures 5'1 in the tail. 



The head is low. being but half the depth of the body ; the snout is long, more 

 than twice the post-orbital length of the head ; the dorsal begins on the anterior 

 of the two rings occupied by the vent, and its base is not elevated : the opercJe is 

 not crossed by a ridge. 



Colour green with brown cross bands, five semi-bands on the body ; the three 

 middle bands, each of which occupies three rings, have, above the lateral ridge of 

 the body, a brown vertical mark on each of the contributing rings ; there are eight 

 complete bands across the tail : a brown line from the eye to the snout, on each 

 side. 



The nearest ally of ,S'. noraf appears to be S. setnistriatux Kaup, the markings 

 being described thus : "Under the interrupted lateral line, 19 cross stripes; above 

 that line, yellow spots with black borders." In the New Zealand species the body- 

 bands are confined to the upper half of the side. Length, 224 mm. 



Netted from Stewart Island northward to Pegasus Bay: also obtained from 

 the stomachs of CaUorhijnr]iiiK and Poh/jnion. 



/anrfistius elevatus Ramsay and Ogilby. 



A single example of this fish was taken in the Bay of Plenty, and >onstitutes 

 an addition to the known fauna of New Zealand. 



MacuUochia gen. nom. nov. 



In 1872 Castelnau used the name Richardaoaiu generically for Histiopicrus 

 faOiosiis Giinther, but in 1903 I drew attention to the fact that it had been first 

 applied by Steindachner in 1866 in the Atherinidae. I did not, however, move 

 further in the matter. Since that time Dr. Jordan has reviewed the Histiopterid 

 fishes of Japan, and has supplied a key to all the genera of the family. He appears 

 to have overlooked my former note," for he still uses the name Richardsonia as 



