DISTRIBUTION AND LOCATION 281 



rays of the genera Narcine and Astrape swarm along the Meck- 

 ram coast. 



New Zealand. — The Clupea sagax of the South Pacific, 

 which is abundant off the shores of New Zealand, is really a 

 pilchard and does not exceed seven inches in length ; by 

 American ichthyologists it is placed with other pilchards or 

 sardines in the genus Sardinella. An anchovy also occurs, not 

 distinguishable from that of the European seas. Gonorynchus 

 greyi is a soft-finned fish (Malacopterygian) almost confined to 

 the southern hemisphere, it extends from the Cape to Japan ; 

 it is common in New Zealand, is from a foot to eighteen inches 

 long and from the fact that it is found on sandy ground is 

 known as the sand-eel. A species of the gar-fish family, 

 Hemirhamphus intermedins, one of the half-beaks, is abundant. 

 A species of grey mullet, Mngil perusii, is also common and 

 valuable. The Gadidae, or cod-like fishes are few and not very 

 important; a species of hake {Merluccius gayt), the same which 

 occurs on the coast of Chili, is not abundant, the red cod 

 (Physiculus backus) is common and valuable, and Lotella 

 callarias almost equally so ; these two genera are confined to 

 New Zealand and Australia. Of Pleuronectidae or flat-fishes, 

 there are not many species, but those which do occur are fairly 

 plentiful and valued as food ; they are all distinct from the 

 northern forms and one, Peltorhamphus, is peculiar to New 

 Zealand. R/iomboso/ea, of which there are three species found 

 also in Australia, represents the plaice and dab of our own 

 seas. The remaining species are spiny-finned (Acanthoptery- 

 gians) ; there is a species of mackerel, Scomber australiensis, 

 which is probably identical with the widely distributed Scomber 

 colias. As in South Africa the hair-tails (Trichiurids) Thyrsites 

 atun and Lepidopus caudatus are valuable fishes in New Zealand ; 

 the former is called barracoota or snoek, it is caught with a piece 

 of red wood with a nail driven through it and is largely ex- 

 ported in the dried state ; its usual size is about three feet with 

 a weight of 5 lbs. Lepidopus caudatus is known as the frost- 

 fish because it is found cast up on the shore on exposed beaches 

 after frosty nights ; it is considered the most delicious fish in 

 the country for eating and its price is as much as 2s. 6d. per lb. ; 

 it is usually about four feet long and 4 lbs. in weight. A 

 large and characteristic species is the groper, also known by 



