Arraur.—On New Bestánd Fishes. 161 
Harbour, about the 5th January, 1884. Mr. Melville also recognized it as 
similar to a fish sometimes received from Stewart Island in odd specimens. 
It agrees so closely with L. lineata, or Mendosoma lineata, described by 
Professor Hutton in Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. v., p. 260, that it must be 
regarded as of the same species, although by certain differences I have 
observed, it may possibly be more accurately called a variety of that species, 
These differences are greater length as compared with depth of body, a 
greater length of longest dorsal rays, the absence of teeth, and in being 
very hog-backed. 
As this species might easily be mistaken for a variety of moki or 
trumpeter, both species of the same genus with L. lineata, I will note some 
of the main distinctions for reference. From both moki and trumpeter it 
differs in having fifteen longitudinal stripes or lines along trunk of a faint 
yellow colour, while the moki has none, and the trumpeter three stripes 
along side and one along dorsal ridge. Its mouth is much more protractile 
and has free end of maxillary ovate, while in these allied fish it is triangular. 
Further differences are in depression of interorbital space, arrangement of 
fins, with body not so deep, and form of air-bladder. 
Description.—Body compressed, deepest below sixth dorsal spine. Hog- 
backed between head and dorsal fin; interorbital outline very depressed. 
Head goes 444, times into total length, and 4 times in length without the 
caudal; depth of body goes 42, times in total length; jaws equal and 
mouth very protractile and seemingly toothless ; cleft of mouth oblique, free 
end of maxillary ovate and not extending to anterior margin of orbit; 
margin of opercles smooth and forming a rounded angle opposite upper 
origin of pectoral fins ; anterior half of dorsal spinous, posterior soft, sixth 
to ninth spines longest; pectoral rays soft and branehed except two anterior ; 
ventrals thoracic with one spine and four soft rays; anal fin damaged, but 
posterior part with soft rays ; tail fin bifurcate with branched rays. Lateral 
line continuous ; scales cycloidal large and adherent on trunk and small on 
cheeks. Colour: Indigo-blue on back and sides shaded off into white on 
belly. There are about fifteen more or less distinct olive-yellow longitudinal 
stripes on sides of trunk, with an azure tinge between the stripes; dorsal 
fin clear without colour, also belly fins clear or slightly dusky ; tail fin olive 
colour. Eye bluish-black, iris white—this organ being large and full. 
Palate covered with small dark spots. 
The sex in specimen was indistinguishable, the viscera being partially 
decayed.  Pylorie esca short and narrow. Stomach simple, air-bladder 
simple and of silvery colour, intestine very long. Although not eaten by 
me, this fish looked firm and good for the table. 
11 
