PISCES 161 
This herring was taken along the whole of the coast line 
explored, though it is improbable that it was trawled from the 
bottom, the specimens being more likely entrapped as the net 
was hauled to the surface: hundreds were washed through the 
large meshes, all appearing to be dead, their delicate bodies 
being unable to withstand the pressure to which they were 
subjected ; most of the examples preserved were skimmed off the 
surface with a hand net. 
Mr. W. Arthur collected some very interesting information on 
the habits of the sprat, publishing it in the paper above noted. 
Captain J. Bollons of the Government steamer ‘‘Hinemoa’’ 
has sent me this species from Auckland Harbour. 
Family ARGENTINIDA. 
ARGENTINA Linneus, 1758. 
ARGENTINA ELONGATA Hutton. 
SILVERSIDE. 
Plate XXIV. 
Argentina elongata Hutton, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) ii., 1879 
(Jan.), p. 53. Giimther, Chall. Rep. xxii., 1887, p. 218, pl. 
lv,. fig. B. 
Argentina decagon Clarke, T.N.Z.1. xi., 1879 (May), p. 296, 
pk xiv. 
Staone 16. 17, 19.20) 21 22) 23, 20,.2 
fo, Sl. .83, Say 80, 69, 90: 
Ba vies Do tlAc I Vi lee Robs C20 45 12 Li. lator; 
L. tr. 4 + 5; Vert. 54. 
Length of head 3.64, height of body 6.37, length of caudal 
4.93 in the total: diameter of eye 3.0, interorbital space 6.0 in 
the head. 
Head long, slightly deeper than wide, nearly flat above; the 
eye is very large, cutting the upper profile, and leaving less 
than half its vertical diameter below: the snout is pointed, one- 
sixth longer than the eye; the nostrils are close together, the 
anterior one being a large round pore, situated midway between 
the end of the snout and the eye: the mouth is small and sub- 
horizontal, the upper jaw is a little the longer, and the maxilla 
reaches slightly more than half way to the eye; gills four, a slit 
behind the fourth; gill rakers moderate, very slender, thirteen 
6, 38, 50, 67, 74, 
