252 Transactions, 
slightly. raised base. The first spine is equal to the first dorsal spine, 
and the second equals the length from the tip of snout to the anterior 
margin of the eye. Ventral very long, its origin beneath that of the 
pectoral. The longest ray reaches backward to the tip of the second 
anal spine when depressed. The length of the ventral spine nearly equals 
that of its longest гау; it is much flattened, rugose beneath and striated 
above like the dorsal spines. Length of the pectoral equal to the depth 
from the top of the orbit to the throat. Caudal subtruncate, its upper 
and lower lobes equal in length. 
olour.— Body yellowish-silver, somewhat deeper on the nape and 
above the anal fin. A black looped band, commencing at the base of 
Cheeks blackish. Top of snout black. Frontal bones brown, with 
their radii bluish-grey. Premaxillary and mandible pink, the barbels at 
their apices dusky. Maxillary pale purple-pink, and covered with minute 
black dots. Throat pinkish-white. Operculum pale greenish-silver, the 
radii much lighter. Eye yellowish-silver and blue-black. Dorsal spines 
and rays plumbeus, the membrane black. Anal fin similar to the dorsal. 
the dorsal. Pectoral blackish above, its lower rays being dull white. 
Caudal black, with its radii dull-greyish. i 
Described and figured from a young specimen, 140 mm. long to the 
hypural joint, which was trawled off Tauranga. Its greatest height is 
70 mm., the length of the head 46 mm., the diameter of the eye 13 mm., 
and the depth of the caudal peduncle 16 mm. 
ocalit4.—Not an uncommon species, and frequently trawled in good 
numbers from the Hauraki Gulf as far as the Bay of Plenty. 
Family SCORPIDIDAE. 
Genus Scorris Cuvier and Valenciennes. (Plate 24.) 
Definition, — Body compressed, oblong-ovate, the upper and lower pro- 
€ 
with bands of teeth, and an outer more or less enlarged series. Minute 
teeth are also present on the vomer, palatines, pterygoids, and tongue. 
One dorsal with 9-10 spines increasing in length backwards, and 25 to 29 
. rays. Soft portions of the vertical fins with a scaly sheath. Pseudo- 
_ branchiae and air-bladder present. Pyloric appendages in large numbers. 
