1880.] DR. J. VON HAAST ON ZIPHIUS NOV^-ZEALANDl^. 233 



Having received prompt information, I arrived early next morning 

 on the scene, and found the animal quite intact ; so that I vFas able not 

 only to take the necessary measurements, but also to have a careful 

 sketch prepared (Plate XXIII.). This, as the sequel will show, is 

 of importance, in offering us some curious information as to the 

 habits of this species of Ziphioids. 



Colour. Head, neck, and anterior portion of the back, as far as 

 the dorsal fin, white ; the rest of the body black, a white narrow line 

 running along the edge of the dorsal fin, which is otherwise black. 

 The line of division between the two colours is everywhere well marked 

 except upon the cheeks, where blackish blotches advance some 

 distance towards the nose. The form of the animal is rather slender 

 for its length, its height at the occiput being only 2 feet 3 inches, 

 and about 9 feet from the tip of the lower jaw 3 feet 3 inches, 

 after which it tapers gradually to the tail. The animal proved to 

 be a young female. 



The two teeth at the termination of the lower jaw stood half an 

 inch above the gums, having a diameter of one inch where they rose 

 above the latter. They are conical, and have a sharp apex, and are 

 not covered anywhere with enamel, not even on the tip. The dentine 

 shows a number of horizontal lines one above the other, running 

 round the tooth. They are therefore quite different from the teeth 

 of the two specimens described in vol. ix. of the Transactions of the 

 New-Zealand Institute, which were found to be covered with a rouHi 

 cement. They are also different from those of another specimen,'of 

 which I shall give some details further on. 



A single fold begins below the throat, 1 foot 1 inch from the tip 

 of the lower jaw. After rising rapidly for 4 inches, it continues for 

 7 inches more at a smaller angle, ceasing where the black colour of 

 the throat begins ; this fold is separated into two portions by a ridoe 

 of the breadth of half an inch below the centre of the throat. Lips 

 flesh-coloured ; roof of mouth slaty black ; no signs of teeth along 

 the jaws ; there is, however, a hardened ridge along each side of the 

 palate. The extremity of the lower jaw projects about 2 inches 

 beyond the upper. The head rises steeply above the upper lip to the 

 forehead. The blowhole is situated on the vertex of the head, just 

 above the eye. Both the form and the size of the dorsal fin, and 

 of the tail-lobes, show that this species must be a remarkably swift 

 swimmer. 



Measurements. ft. in. 



Total length 19 g 



Greatest circumference 9 9 



From point of lower jaw to the beginning of the pectoral 



fin 4 9 



From fork of tail to termination of falcate dorsal fin 6 5 



Length of the opening of the mouth 1 3 



From point of lower jaw to eye 2 6 



From point of lower jaw to beginning of fold below throat I I 



Diameter of blowhole, concave towards head 6 



