EDTBLE FISHES. 117 



the November gale of 1871 an immense number were thrown up on the 

 coast. Its long thin body and silvery scales has led to its being mistaken 

 for the Frost Fish, from which it is easily distinguished by the form of 

 the mouth, large eye, and tapering tail. PI. VIII. fig. 79 is from a 

 specimen 21 inches in length. 



No. 80 {Corijpliamo'uhs denticidatics) appears only to have been 

 known previous to the same gale from mutilated specimens found on the 

 coast of South Au.stralia, but on that occasion a large number were 

 thrown up. It is a smaller fish than the preceding, and distinguished 

 by the forward position of the vent and the spines on the head. PI. 

 VIII. fig. 80. 



Flat Fishes. 



Four kinds of flat fishes are desci'ibed in the Catalogue, but one of 

 them has not been seen, and of the others that which has been tei'med 

 Brill, on account of its being the only one of our flat fish with the eyes 

 on the left side of the head (No. 82, Pseudorhombus scaplais), is of small 

 size, and is so full of bones that it cannot be eaten with any comfort. 

 PI. IX. fig. 82 is from a specimen 12 inclies long. 



No. 83, the Patiki {Rhomhosolea monopus), is veiy common in the 

 shallow bays and tidal estuaries on every part of the coast, and, though 

 it varies much in quality, is evexywhere highly esteemed both by natives 

 and Eurojieans. They are generally obtained with the net, but on the 

 shallow mud flats the natives capture them with a long slender spear, 

 choosing the night time, and each carrying a lighted torch or a pan of 

 flaming kauri gum on the shoulder, which attracts the fish and enables 

 them to be observed and impaled as they glide over the bottom. The 

 usual weight of this delicate fish is from | to 21bs., but they are fre- 

 quently obtained of a much larger size. PI. IX. fig. 83 is reduced one- 

 fourth from a specimen of the most common size .sold in Wellington. 

 Occasionally a large flat fish, said to resemble the Patiki, has been 

 brought to mai'ket and sold as Turbot, but, from native information, 

 it is probable that several distinct species yet remain to be discovered 

 by the Pakeha fishermen. 



The New Zealand Sole {Peltorhamj)hus) is an inferior table fish to 

 the preceding, and not equal to the English Sole in flavour. It is not 

 so common as the Patiki, and for that reason alone is more in request, 

 and commands a bettei' price in the market. The .sole is caught along with 



