Haast.—On some Undescribed Fishes of New Zealand. 275 
cat-fish hitherto described, is 29 in. long, 11 in. 9 lines broad, and 7 in. 2 lines 
high. 
ESCRIPTION OF SPECIES, 
D. 16; rere cigs; 40315. VD. 
Length of the head is four times in the total; teeth large and bent 
inwards in several rows, but not closely set ; six TLPR ; three strong 
spines on the inferior margin of the præoperculum, two below the mandibula, 
and two on the throat ; head partly rugose and covered with numerous grains 
starting from star-like centres and forming regular figures; one dorsal, of which 
the rays are slight and entire, whilst those of the ventral, pectoral, and anal 
fins are strong and branched ; lateral line straight, and only slightly bent 
down near its junction with the caudal. From the neck and the anterior 
portion of the lateral line, which stands well above the skin, start numerous 
raised flat lines, branching repeatedly and diminishing gradually, the whole 
forming an elegant pattern ; interorbital space deeply excavated 3 scales none, 
Head and back of a brown olive colour, with darker undefined spots ; 
sides and abdomen and fins light brownish yellow; The upper surface of 
the body is like the head remarkably flat. 
LEPTOSCOPUS HUTTONII.* sp. nov. 
D. 31; A. 36; L last; 88 (44). 
Length four and a quarter times that of the head, which is eight times 
the diameter of the eye. A strong and well pointed humeral spine ; caudal 
rays branched (and in specimen B. also ventral rays); the scales of the 
lateral line twice as large as those of the adjoining series, each corresponding 
to the transverse series. 
The Canterbury Museum possesses two specimens, which were both caught 
in the river Avon. The smaller one (A), presented by Mr. E. Barker, of New 
Brighton, is 11 in. long, and was caught near that locality. 
Colour.—Head above and back dark olive green, the posterior portion of 
the latter becoming gradually lighter ; cheeks, sides and abdomen white, the 
lateral line dark olive throughout, forming the division between the two 
colours ; anterior portion of sides, above pectoral fins, below lateral line olive 
green, gradually shading off inta white, with a few darker spots near the 
junction ; pectoral fins above dark olive, nearly black, below white ; anal fin 
white ; dorsal fin white, with dark olive green rays and a fringe of the same 
colour ; caudal fin—central portion white, with a dark line entering it at the 
base as a continuation of the lateral line for a third of its length, upper and 
lower portion dark olive green, like body. 
* Named in honour of Captain Hutton, F.G.S., author of ‘‘Catalogue of New Zealand 
