Dr. A. Giinther on new Sjyecies of Fishes. 399 



Rhombosolea tapirina (Gthr.). 



We have received from Capt. Hutton, under this name, a 

 specimen with the ejes on the left side and with two ventrals. 

 I beHeve that he is right in considering- it to be merely an 

 accidental variety, the development of a second ventral being 

 in connexion with the reversal of the sides. 



Scopelus Hectoris. 

 D. 12. A. 16. L. lat. 39. 



The height of the body is two ninths of the total length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head two sevenths. The 

 least deptli of the tail is less than half the height of the 

 body. Eye rather large, two sevenths of the length of the 

 head, or one half of its distance from the end of the oper- 

 culum. Posterior margin of the prgeoperculum obliquely de- 

 scending backwards. Snout very short, obtuse, with the lower 

 jaw scarcely projecting. Cleft of the mouth slightly oblique. 

 The maxillary reaches to the angle of the prgeoperculum, and 

 is scarcely dilated behind. Origin of the dorsal fin nearer to 

 the end of the snout than to the root of the caudal, above the 

 root of the ventral ; its last ray is just in front of the vertical 

 from the first anal ray. Pectoral fin short, scarcely reaching 

 the ventral. Scales perfectly smooth, those of the lateral line 

 rather smaller than the others. 



One specimen, 2^ inches long, from the southern side of 

 Cook's Strait, New Zealand ; presented by Dr. Hector, C.M.G. 



Maurolicus amethystino-^unctatus^ Cocco. 



Having seen a specimen of M. australis^ described by Dr. 

 Hector in Trans. N.Z. Inst. vii. p. 250, and presented by him 

 to the British Museum, I believe it to be identical with the 

 Mediterranean species named by Cocco. The number of fin- 

 rays is difficult to ascertain whenever the specimens are not 

 well preserved ; but the New-Zealand specimen appears to 

 agree with the European species also in this respect. 



Tetragonopterus alosa. 



D. 11. A. 29. L. lat. 40. L. transv. 8/7. 



The height of the body is contained twice and three fourths 

 in the total length (without caudal), the length of the head 

 four times. Interorbital space convex, its width being one 

 third of the length of the head, of which the diameter of the 

 eye is one fourth. The upper profile is very little concave 



