252 Transactions. — Zoology. 



tions projecting beyond the membrane. At the commence- 

 ment of the dorsal on the top of the forehead was a stout curved 

 spine or horn pointing forwards. Caudal fin small, but quite 

 distinct. Veutrals were not noticed. Pectorals were not 

 pointing upwards ; they were described as being similar in 

 shape to those of the Tamure. Anal fin placed very far back, 

 in front of anal orifice ; it was described as covering same 

 when bent back. Gill-openings wide ; eyes very large ; mouth 

 with short blunt teeth according to Mr. Saxton, without teeth 

 according to the other describers, and was noted as being very 

 small and tubular, "as if the fish lived by suction." In this 

 Mr. Saxton's description differed from the others, he stating 

 the mouth, though small, was 7wt prominent, rather the re- 

 verse. This may be explained by its having been made to 

 protrude after his seeing it. He was quite certain as to the 

 existence of the blunt teeth; and, with regard to the dorsal 

 spine, he estimates its height as much less than the others. 



Skin very smooth and silky ; scaleless. Colour purple- 

 grey on back and upper sides, in places running down on to 

 sides, making whitish patches. Eest of sides rose-coloured ; 

 belly golden. Flesh was described as very solid and white. 



Length, about 4ft. 6in. to Mt. Sin. Extreme depth at head, 

 1ft. ; minimum depth at root of tail, about l|-in. ; extreme 

 thickness, about If in. 



I append an outline sketch (Plate XVI.) compiled from 

 those supplied me; also one of Loplwtes siculus, of Swainson, 

 enlarged from one as figured by him, which was copied from a 

 water-colour drawing prepared for the King of Sicily in 1815.''' 



Aet. XVIII. — Notes on certain S])ecics of New Zealand Ducks. 



By W. W. Smith, F.E.S. 



[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 1st July, 1896.'] 



Anas superciliosa, Gm. (Grey Duck.) 



At the present time, when so much interest is evinced by 

 ornithologists in the abnormal coloration of birds, it may be 

 opportune to offer to this Institute some notes upon varied 

 forms of the grey duck. Although the species is compara- 

 tively free from aberrations in plumage, several specimens 

 exhibiting partial albinism and other forms of aberrant colour- 



* Since writing, I have seen vol. xxvi. of the Transactions, where I 

 find, at p. 223, that a Lophotes was found in Otago (December, 1893). It 

 seems to have been about the same length as the one now referred to. 



