253 



with three ; operculum with one point ; scales small. 

 Australasia. 



Oligorus gigas. Owen. 



HapuJca. Button's Fishes of New Zealand, p. 1 ; G-unth. 

 Cat. I., 251. 



B. 7 ; D. i4 ; A. 



Length equals three times that of the head ; height of 

 body rather less than the length of the head, which is three 

 and one-third times that of the snout ; spinous part of the 

 dorsal lower than the soft part but two and a-half times its 

 length ; ventrals under the pectorals, which are short ; prae- 

 operculum obtusely serrated ; scales cycloid. Color, dark 

 greyish above lighter below. 



A very large representative of this species was recently 

 captured near the mouth of the Derwent. Unfortunately I 

 had no opportunity for examining the fish personally, but on 

 several occasions I have learned from fishermen of the capture 

 of the " Hapuka " in our waters, and from enquiries made of 

 several intelligent observers I am satisfied that the reference 

 to 0. gigas is correct Any doubts existing, however, will 

 be soon removed. This fish is closely allied to the fresh- 

 water " Murray cod " {Oligorus Macquariensis) , and therefore 

 is of more than usual interest seeing the great difference in 

 habit of the two fishes. Dr. Hector states (p. 102, Fishes 

 of New Zealand) that the " Hapuka " fishing in New 

 Zealand " is excellent sport, the average weight of the fish 

 being about 451b., but occasionally large specimens reaching 

 to 1301b. weight are caught. The head and shoulder cut of 

 this fish is most dainty food, but the flesh of remainder is 

 rather coarse and stringy." 



Family Pristipomatid^ — Genus Erythrichthys. 



Rather elongate ; mouth protractile ; two dorsals with 

 several isolated spines between ; caudal forked ; no teeth in 

 the jaws nor on the palate {prceoperculum entire f); scales 

 rather small, clenoid. 



Molucca sea, Sunda sea, Australasian seas, Pacific. 



Erythrichthys nitidus. Rich. 

 B. 7 ; D. M ; A. ill ; P. 21 ; L. lat. 96 ; L. tr. ^^j. 

 Body of a handsome elongate shape. Length rather more 

 than three and a-quarter times that of the head, which is 

 about equal to the height of the body. Whole of the head, 

 base of the pectorals, lower half of anal and soft dorsal and 

 outside of the ventrals covered with ctenoid scales. Caudal 

 with small scales almost to the tip ; small scales also inter- 

 mixed with the normal-sized body scales ; angle of praeoper- 

 cular rounded. In the specimen examined, however, the 



