26 REPORT— 1842. 



60. Mesitf.s attenuatus (Jenyns, Zool. Beagle, p. 123, pi. xxiv.f. 5). 

 This fish was taken in the fresh waters of the Bay of Islands by Mr. Dar- 

 win. The genus Mesites seems to be very nearly allied to Galaxias, and this 

 species in particular to be scarcely distinguishable from a young Galaxias 



fasciatus. 



61. Sairis scombroides. {Esox scombroides, Solander, p. 40 ; Esox saurus, 

 G. Forster, ii. t. 233 ; J. R. Forster, MS. II. 65, apud Bl. Schneider, p. 394.) 



Solander first saw this very handsome fish in lat. 39^° S., long. 204?° W., 

 between New Zealand and New Holland. He describes it as having the most 

 intense ultramarine or " garter-blue " on the back, and a silvery hue on the 

 belly. Forster's description corresponds with Solander's, both agreeing in the 

 colours, and in mentioning a blue network on the caudal fin, in the numbers 

 of the dorsal and anal finlets, and in the upper jaw being only about two lines 

 shorter than the lower one. They may therefore be considered as identical, 

 or at least as very closely allied species. The specimen figured by G. Forster 

 was captured on the 27th March, 1773, in Dusky Bay. The aborigines named 

 it " he-eeya." 



62. Hemiramphus marginatus (Cuv. Reg. An. ii. p. 286). 



Polack includes " Flying Fish " in his enumeration of the animals of New 

 Zealand. The Exoccetus exiliens and volitans inhabit both oceans, and both 

 are mentioned by White in his ' Voyage to Botany Bay,' as existing in the 

 seas of New Holland. We have no means of judging what the species are to 

 which Polack alludes, unless the Esox subpellucens of Solander (' Pisces 

 Australia?,' p. 14) be an Exoccetus. The only particulars of form that he men- 

 tions are, that the upper jaw is longest ; that there is a barbel beneath, and an 

 appendix at the base of the pectoral. It cannot therefore be either of the 

 common species, but is rather allied to the bearded ones of America, and will 

 stand in our list as 



63. ExOC&TUS? SUBPELLUCENS. 



An inhabitant of Tolaga Bay. 



None of the voyagers, whom we have consulted, mention any of the Salmon 

 family as peopling the waters of New Zealand. Saurus and Aulopus exist in 

 the sea that washes the north-west coast of New Holland. Vide Icon. Pise. f. 1 . 



Esox lewinii (Griff., Cuv. pi. 60) is from New Holland. 

 Clupeoideje. 



64. Clupea lata (Solander, p. 17). 



Solander records the colours merely of this fish, and as there is no figure 

 of it, the group of Clupeoidese, to which it ought to be referred, must remain 

 for the present undecided. It was procured in Tolaga Bay. The Clupea se- 

 tipinna of Forster, discovered by him in the island of Tanna, is a Megalops 

 which ranges southwards to the coast of New Holland. 



Gadoidete. 



Polack mentions Cod-fish, bearing the native name of " wapuka," as inhabit- 

 ing deep banks on the east coast of New Zealand. He also particularises Hake, 

 Haddock and Polack as being frequently taken, though it is not likely that they 

 correspond exactly with the European species, whose names the settlers have 

 appropriated to them. 



65. Lota baccha (Cuv. Reg. An. ii. p. 334). ( Gadus bacchus, G. Forster, ii. 

 1. 180; J. R. Forster, MS. II. 34, apud Bl. Schneider, p. 53, sub Encheliopode.) 



This is probably the Haddock mentioned above, as it has a large black spot 

 on the upper base of the pectorals. Solander obtained it in Murderer's Bay, 



