Waite. — Notes on New Zechnnl F/s/k.^. 221 



features being incorporated in the description. The oeiieral contour is 

 Avrong, the head and fore part of the body being represented as altogether 

 too massive. The opercles as drawn bear no resembkince to the actual 

 condition, while the area whereon the scales originate behind the head is 

 not properly defined, and scales are not represented as present on the 

 cheeks. Some of the features as portrayed are of positive value ; the lateral 

 line is shown as extending from the opercle to the caudal rays, and thus 

 extends even farther than shown by Eichardson's artist. Two keels are 

 noted and illustrated at the base of the caudal, and the pectoral is described 

 as being rather short, the fin thus agreeing better Avith Gasterochisinn than 

 \\\t\ my specimen. 



The specimen to which I have alluded is more fully described below, 

 and illustrated on the accompanying plate. It was caught at Kaikoura in 

 Novem] !r, 1910, and presented to the Canterbury Museum by Messrs. 

 Dennis Bros., of Christchurcli. to whose kindness we owe mauv interesting 

 fishes. 



We have published records of four other specimens, all taken in Otago. 

 Two obtained in June, 1873, were described by Hutton* under the name 

 GasterocMsma. Unfortunately, their 'size was not given, but, judging from 

 the accompanying figure and the fact that they were associated Avith 

 Richardson's species, we may presume thej^ were small. The figure appears 

 to have been copied from Richardson, with slight modifications. 



In 1898 Parkerf recorded tAvo examples — one from Otago Heads and the 

 other from Blueskin Bay. The sizes were not recorde<l, but being associated 

 with Lepidothyiinus, and one of the specimens being stuffed, we may pre- 

 sume they Avere adult, or, at least, large individuals. [Since Avriting, I learn 

 from Professor Benham, Curator of the Otago Museum, that the specimen 

 is 59 in. (1,500 mm.) in length.] 



The paper was read before the Otago Institute, but does not appear 

 to have been published. " Particular attention was drawn to the great 

 difference in size between tlie heart of the common tunny and that of this 

 species." 



By the kindness of Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of the Dominion Museum, 

 Wellington, I hold his private copy of Hutton's " Catalogue of the Fishes 

 of New Zealand," 1872, and against GasterocMsma nielam'pus (p. 20) find the 

 following interesting and significant note in pencil, the comparisons insti- 

 tuted being apparently with Richardson's figure : " Napier, May, 1888, 

 from Dr. Spencer ; length, 12 in. ; pectorals more falcate, 20 scales below 

 median line ; head more rounded ; position of median line AVrong ; ventrals 

 not attached, as in Nomeus." 



Since writing the foregoing paragraph as to the need of specimens of 

 intermediate size, I have examined the description giveii by JohnstonJ of 

 an example obtained in Tasmanian waters. This is of intermediate size, 

 and indicates the assumption of adult characters, though the specimen A\'as 

 not fidly grown, as thought by Johnston. The folloAving are the most in- 

 teresting features recorded : The specimen was captured in 1882 at the 

 mouth of the esttiary of the Derwent, and constituted the first record of 

 the species in Tasmania. The total length was 39 in. (992 mm.), so that it 

 may be regarded as an intermediate example. 



* Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inwt., vol. 6, 1874, p. 104, pi. xviii 

 t Parker, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 30, 1898, p. 575. 

 j Johnston, Rep. Roy. Soc. Tasm., 1883, ]). 118. 



