99 



LAMPEIS. 



By Alex. Morton. 



Bead August lOthj 1896. 



Lampris, Retzius in Nya Handl., 1799. pt. iii., p. 91 ; 



Cuv. Regne Anim., vol. x., p. 200. Chrjsotosus, Lacep. 



iv., p. 586. 



Bodj compressed and elevated, covered with very small 

 deciduous scales ; cleft of the mouth narrow. A single 

 dorsal fin without a spinous portion ; no distinct anal spines j 

 ventrals composed of many rays ; teeth, none ; branchio- 

 stegals six ; air bladder large, posteriorly bifurcate. Pyloric 

 appendages in very great number. 



Northern parts of the Atlantic ; Mediterranean. 



Lampris Luna.— This very interesting specimen, the first 

 on record of having been captured in Australia, was for- 

 warded to the Museum by Mr. Alfred Lovett on December 

 18th, 1895. Mr. Lovett states that it was found washed up 

 on the beach near Port Arthur, and weighed ISOlbs. Un- 

 fortunately the crows had picked and destroyed one side. 

 The fins, when fresh, were of a bright scarlet, but faded 

 shortly after death. The bright silvery spots all over the 

 side also faded from a bright silvery to a dull white. On 

 measuring, the following was found to be the dimensions : — 

 Total length to centre of caudal, 3ft. 7iu.; height, taken 

 from the base of the dorsal to base of anal, 2ft. 3^in.; head, 

 1ft. lin.; diameter of eye, 2^in.; pectoral fin, 12in.; greater 

 depth of dorsal, 9|in.; depth of ventral, llin.; caudal, 1ft. 

 4in.; greatest length of silver spot on the side, IJin.; length 

 withoui caudal, 3ft. 4in. The silvery spots on the side varied 

 in size from the size of buck-shot to IJin. Upper parts, 

 greyish brown ; lower parts, silvery ; no teeth ; tongue large ; 

 branchiostegals 6, no sign of a seventh ; the fl.esh not unlike 

 the meat of the dolphin. 



Specimen measuring 3ft. 6in. was found on the beach near 

 the Manawatu River in December, 1882, and presented to 

 the Wellington Museum by Mr. Jas. Jones, of Foxton. (See 

 Transactions N.Z. Inst., vol. xvi., p. 322.) 



Art. XXV. — Notes on New Zealand Ichthyology. By De, 



Hectok. 



(Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society 13th 



February, 1884.) 



Lampris lunay Risso. Gunth. ii., 415. 



A specimen measuring 3ft, 6in. in length of this superb 

 fish was cast on the beach near Manawatu River in December, 



