Arthur.— On New Zealand 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 4^- times into total length, and 4 times in length without the 

 caudal ; depth of body goes 4 r 2 n 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 branched except two anterior ; 

 ventral s 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. Pyloric casca short and narrow. Stomach simple, air-bladder 

 simple and of silvery colour, intestine very long. Although not eaten by 

 rne, this fish looked firm and good for the table. 

 11 



