232 DR. J. VON HAAST ON ZIPHIUS NOViE-ZEALANDI^. [Apr. 6, 



The characteristic genus of the Beluchistan fish-fauna would seem 

 to be Scaphiodon or Barbus ; but, if I may judge from the number 

 of examples sent of each, the former is the most common. The genus 

 Barbus is found generally distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa ; consequently the existence of some forms in Beluchistan was 

 to be anticipated ; but out of the three obtained, two seem to be 

 common to India. Scaphiodon extends from the rivers of Syria and 

 Western Asia, along Beluchistan, to the summit of the range of 

 hills ; then passing over into Sind, one form is found to be present 

 even in the Salt range of the Punjab. Then we find they are absent 

 until we reach the Western Ghauts, where they are present as far 

 south as the Neilgherry hills and rivers along their bases. This 

 genus is entirely absent from the Himalayas and the plains of 

 India. The fishes of the fresh waters of the Meckran coast appear 

 to be similar to those of the higher regions of Kelat and Quetta, 

 and would seem to be distinct from those of the deltas of the Hel- 

 mund and the Cabul river. What exists along the Suliemans is as 

 yet an unsolved problem. 



2. On Ziphius novce-zealandice. By Prof. Julius von Haast, 

 Ph.D., F.R.S., C.M.Z.S., Director of the Canterbury 



Museum, Christcburch, New Zealand. 



[Eeceived February 18, 1880.] 



(Plate XXIII.) 



In the 'Proceedings' of this Society for 1876, p. 466, I gave a 

 description of the skeleton of this interesting southern Ziphioid 

 Whale. I there gave, on the authority of the late Mr. F. Fuller, 

 Taxidermist of the Canterbury Museum (who went to secure the 

 skeleton of that specimen, stranded in Lyttelton Harbour), some 

 details about the characteristic form and colour of the skin 

 of the animal in question. When my informant arrived where 

 the fishermen were at work, he found that the blubber had nearly 

 all been taken off; so that he could only partially obtain the required 

 measurements. From the observations I am about to offer to the 

 Society, on two more specimens stranded since then on our sea- 

 beach, it will be seen that some of the statements were far from being 

 correct ; in fact, the animal was so much cut about that its lower part 

 was taken for the upper, and vice versa ; and consequently no 

 dorsal fin could be found where it was looked for. 



The first of the specimens now under review was stranded on 

 Sunday, November 17, 1878, near New Brighton. There were 

 numerous visitors at the time, who observed another whale (according 

 to other lookers-on two whales) in the offing, by which the animal 

 was driven into the surf, where soon it became helpless. Gradually 

 it was drifted upon the low sandy beach, where it died only after a 

 long struggle. 



