kes from the New-Zealand Seas. 79 
fourth lowest ray longest. Ventrals slightly in advance of 
pectorals and reaching to the vent, which is behind the middle. 
Snout rounded, its length being one half the diameter of the 
orbit. Cleft of mouth very oblique. Maxillaries expanded 
behind, and twice the diameter of the orbit in length. Teeth 
in fine villiform bands. Interorbital space equal to the orbit, 
prismatic, with a lozenge-shaped space on each side separated 
by a double elevated ridge that terminates in two spines over 
the nostrils in front, and diverges behind to bound an occipital 
space. The upper part of the head is formed of a delicate 
framework and membranes enclosing large cavities. The in- 
fraorbital area is crossed by seven rays, and the operculum by 
two vertical ridges with five transverse bars, the lowest being 
prolonged over the suboperculum and angle on the gill-opening 
as a roughly serrated spine. Between the occiput and com- 
mencement of the dorsal is a rough elevated ridge. The 
posterior dorsal rays rest in a groove. ‘The caudal is deeply 
forked, each lobe of ten soft rays with seven sharp spines above 
and six below. The dorsal and anal fins end at the same 
vertical line ; and the interspace to the caudal is equal to half 
the length of the body. The greatest height is vertical to the 
commencement of the dorsal. The serrated ventral keel con- 
sists of ten scales. 
Colour silvery white, except the tips of the dorsal fin and 
caudal lobes, which are darkened by crowded black spots ; 
the neck, back, and base of caudal have also a dark shade 
from the presence of minute spots. The scales above the 
lateral line are rough and adherent, but below are soft and 
deciduous. 
Total length 2°7 inches, height °85. 
Dredged by the ‘Challenger’ Expedition in 400 fathoms off 
Cape Farewell. 
This fish approaches 7’ elongatus, Giinth., of which a single 
specimen was obtained at the Great Barrier Island; but 
from its having evidently intermediate characters between 
that species and 7’. australis, I have distinguished it under 
the above name. 
Platystethus abbreviatus, sp. n. 
Bios) 2 olGe | VeolainG) Ae, k262. 2A 2 2Gsu alat.80: 
L. transy. 5. Caudal 3 | 14 | 3. 
Body compressed ; general form rhomboidal, the greatest 
length being vertical to the second dorsal spine, which is over 
the anal spine. Length equal to once and two thirds the 
