322 Transactions. — Zoology. 



With regard to the food of the species, in all rny experience I have 

 found H. novit-zealandm to subsist on larger game than II. brunnea. "When 

 the three young birds of II. nov<B-zealandi(B were two months old, I put a living 

 weka into the cage. They were kept without food for one day to try their 

 courage. The weka walked around the cage twice, when the female sprang 

 upon it and seized it by the neck. I noticed that the hawk tried to bear 

 down the weka by keeping on its back, but the weka succeeded in getting 

 clear. This was repeated several times, and being then evening I left the 

 four birds together in the cage. In the morning I found the weka killed, 

 and the female and one male feeding on its remains. 



I tried the same experiment with the smaller species but they never 

 made any attempt to kill the weka. 



I should have liked to add a few more experiments I made with the 

 two species. I should also have liked to make a few remarks on the 

 eggs, etc. ; but I may have an opportunity of doing so on some other 

 occasion. 



Art. XXV. — Notes on New Zealand Ichthyology. By Dr. Hector. 

 [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, Vdth February, 1884.] 

 Lampris luna, Kisso. 

 Grunth., ii., 415. 

 A specimen, measuring 3 feet 6 inches in length, of this superb fish was 

 cast on the beach near the Manawatu Eiver in December, 1882, and pre- 

 sented to the Museum by Mr. James Jones, of Foxton. 



Unfortunately it had been partly eviscerated so that the chief characters 

 which are relied on by the Eev. Mr. Lowe (Fishes of Madeira, p. 27), for 

 his species L. lauta could not be observed, viz., the absence of lingual 

 teeth, having six instead of seven branchiostegal rays. 



Thyrsites nrometheus, Webb and Berthel. 



vel T. prometheoides, Bleeker. 



Gunth., ii., 351. 



A single specimen of this fish was captured in September, 1883, along 



with the commoner species of barracoota, at Nelson, and presented to the 



Museum by Mr. J. H. Thomas. 



The specimen was slightly mutilated, so that there is a doubt as to 

 which of the above species it should be referred to. 



