238 WAITE 
of the skin in R. promethoides, for I have only Giinther’s 
epitomised description for guidance, and he does not mention 
the feature, which indeed may not be referred to by Bleeker. 
Supposing that the character has not been overlooked in regard 
to the ventrals fins, all the previously described forms differ 
from our specimens in the smaller number of spines or rays. 
I have chronicled the four components as spines, for they are 
all stiff, simple and do not exhibit any jointed feature. The 
comparative measurements given in the different descriptions 
are taken in such varied manner as to be useless for diagnostic 
purposes; I therefore supply the above description and figure 
for the use of those who may have access to further material. 
The following table shows the comparatively close agreement 
in the radial formule. 
Dorsal. Anal. Ventral. 
R. promethoides. XVili. ii. 15. ii. i. 14. il. i. 
R. maicropus Xvi. iv. 12. vi. iis, dik, Thy. i. 
R. bengalensis XVili. ii. 18-14. ii. rie Valea a. ie 
R. furcifera xvili. ii. 15. ii. i. 14. ii iv. 
LEPIDOPUS Gouan, 1770. 
LEPIDOPUS CAUDATUS Euphrasen. 
Frost FIsuH. 
Trichiurus caudatus Euphrasen, K. Vetensk. Acad. Nya. Handl. 
ix, Ifeeupowes 
Station 83. 
This species was but once taken in the trawl, four small 
examples being netted in Hawke Bay, at a depth of 68-78 
fathoms. The specimens range from 320 to 415 mm. in length, 
and are of the usual silver-grey colour, but the lateral line lies 
in a rust-coloured band, and there are similar narrower and 
fainter bands above and below it. 
The name frost fish is applied in reference to its well known 
habit of going ashore in the winter months. I once witnessed 
such an occurrence. Coaching along the shores of the Bay of 
Plenty in July, 1908, I witnessed the fishes in the surf; they 
seemed to be writhing helplessly, and were carried further and 
further inshore by each succeeding wave until finally stranded 
on the beach. Specimens were picked up in different parts of 
the beach for a distance of forty miles, and on arriving at my 
destination, I learned that other travellers had similar experiences 
