PISHES WAITE. 199 



The fifty -four species here enumerated are those brought to 

 Sydney, but this number does not exhaust even the common 

 fishes of the Atoll, many different kinds not obtained were 

 observed swimming about the coral growth, or in the deep water 

 beyond. Other species were obtained, but for various reasons 

 were not preserved. We are told (page 65) how a giant ray 

 (probably Ceratoptera) was harpooned in shoal water in the 

 Lagoon, and the large fins cut off to make a meal for the families 

 of its captors. It is also mentioned that the " Bonito " (Thynnus), 

 is attracted and caught with pearl-shell hooks trailed unbaited over 

 the surface, their gleaming nacre being a sufficient temptation. 

 The Barracouta or Barracuda (Sphyrcena) is also mentioned, and 

 the flying-fish (Exoccelus), attracted in the lagoon by torches, and 

 caught in nets, formed a valuable source of food. A shark was 

 caught and can be readily identified as the "Thresher" (Alopias 

 vulpes) from a drawing made by Mr. Hedley. This shark is 

 known as " Mungo " to the natives. There is evidence of another 

 shark, for the swords figured by Edge-Partington,* as possibly 

 from the Ellice Group, are armed with teeth, evidently those of 

 Galeocerdo rayneri. 



Mr. Hedley described to me a fish which there was small 

 difficulty in recognising, and on showing him illustrations of 

 Epibulus insidiator, he at once identified them as portraying the 

 fish he described. A species extremely variable in colour, the 

 example seen was wholly yellow. 



A Diodon (or rather portion of the skin) was brought home ; 

 it was found on the beach, and as it consists of nothing more 

 than spines held together with skin, the species cannot be 

 determined. 



Mr. Hedley brought us some account of a large fish found off 

 the Coral Atolls, known to the natives as " Palu," and to the 

 traders as " Oil fish." It is only caught in the deepest water, 

 and is described as having an immense head, enormous jaws, and 

 large scales. I would hazard the suggestion that it is one of the 

 Macruridce, and as little, if any, information has been published 

 about the " Palu," have pleasure in transcribing the following 

 account, for which we are indebted to Mr. W. S. Crummer, of 

 the Department of Lands, Sydney, who received it from the well 

 known traveller and author, Mr. Louis Becke : 



"This peculiar fish is, as far as I know, only found in the 

 Tokelau (or Union Group), the Ellice Group, the Kingsmill 

 Group, and at the isolated islands of Pukapuka (Danger Island), 

 Suwarrow Island, and Manahiki. I do not know for certain, but 

 have been told by many intelligent natives, that the ' Palu ' is 

 never to be found among the high islands, such as the Fijis, 



* J. Edge-Partington Ethnological Album (1), i., pi. xxxvii., figs. 6-11. 



