FISHES OF NEW ZEALAND. 47 



caudal ; distance of the end of tlie doi-sal from tlie end of the tail equal 

 to two and a half times the depth of the body at the end of the dorsal. 



Reddish or greyish silvery, with fine brown reticulated markings on 

 the back and sides ; below and ventrals whitish ; dorsal like the back ; 

 lower liji and barbel red; a black spot in the upper paxi; of the axil of 

 the pectorals ; iris greyish white. 



Wellington Harboui". 



PSEUDOPHYCIS. 



Body of moderate length, with rather small scales ; two dorsal fins 

 and one anal; ventral fins with a very narrow styliform base, but 

 composed of several rays ; teeth in the jaws in a band, of equal size ; 

 palate smooth ; chin with a bai-bel ; seven brancliiostegals. 



New Zealand only. 



76. PSEUDOPHYCIS BREVIUSCULUS. Rich, CM. 



Lota breviuscula, Rich., p. 61, pi. 38. P. breviusculus, GUnth., lY., 350. 



D. 8 I 46 ; A.. 50 ; Y. 5 ; L. Lat, 85. 



The ventral fin does not extend to the vent ; seven or eight series of 

 scales between the anterior dorsal and the lateral line. 



This species is represented in the Museum by a sketch by Mr. 

 Buchanan. Dr. Hector infoi'ms me that it is very common in Dusky 

 Bay. 



I have seen no specimens. 



OPHIDIID^. 



Body elongate, naked or scaly ; vertical fins genei-ally united into 

 one; dorsal occupying the greater poi-tion of the back; ventrals 

 rudimentary, jugular; gill openings wide, the gill membranes not attached 

 to the isthmus. 



Genypterus. 



Body elongate, compressed, covered with minute scales ; ventral fins 

 replaced by a pair of bifid filaments ; teeth on the jaws, vomer, and 

 palatine bones, the outer series in the jaws, and the single series of the 

 palatines contain strong teeth ; lower jaw received -within the ujiper ; 

 vent situated at some distance behind the pectorals ; seven or eight 

 branch iostegals. 



South Africa and South Pacific. 



