Aethuh. — On New Zealand Finhes. 163 



towards the tail. Striaa radiate from origin of spine on operculum, which 

 coincides with upper end of posterior ridge, in all directions across surface of 

 operculum. Suboperculum is narrow with a sinuous outline. Interorbital 

 space covered by three smooth plates, the two anterior being diamond- 

 shaped, Eye large and full, black pupil, and iris bright silvery ; nostrils 

 close to eye, large and surrounded by bright coloured plates. The keel 

 carries eleven scales, or bony plates, terminating in sharp spines, from the 

 ventral to the anal fin. Anal opening exactly between the ventrals, lateral 

 line slightly sinuous. Colour: A silvery fish with a very faint nut-brown 

 tint along dorsal aspect, fins all more or less scarlet. The palate of 

 a beautiful blue streaked longitudinally with white. Teeth small and 

 villiform, present on mandible, maxillary, palatines, vomer and tongue. 

 Scales small, ctenoid, and covering part of caudal fin, also the cheek. Those 

 along lateral line distinguished by small spines like needle points, of a bright 

 silvery colour. Stomach siphonal ; contents, remains of a small shrimp. 

 The abdominal cavity lining of a black colour. Air-bladder black, and 

 lying close under the vertebrae. Two lobes about 1J inches long, each 

 containing a clear jelly-like substance — appeared to be milts. Pyloric caeca 

 11 in number, from |— 1 inch in length, small in diameter, and covered with 

 a great deal of fat. 



Dimensions. 



Total length . . 



Length 



Depth or height 



Head 



Least depth of tail 



Eye (diameter) . . 



Eye from snout 



Dorsal • „ 



Pectoral ,, 



Ventral „ 



Anal „ 



Inches. 

 7-5 

 6-1 

 2-7 

 1-8 

 0-8 

 0-6 

 0-7 



2-6; length 2-1 

 2-1 „ 12 

 2-4 „ 09 

 4-1 „ 1-0 



References. — Gunther's Study of Fishes, pp. 420-422 ; Trans. N.Z. Inst., 

 vol. vii., p. 245 ; vol. viii., p. 212. 



In Otago Museum there is a stuffed specimen, also one in spirits. 

 Family Cytthxe. 

 Zeus novcB-zealanclm, n. s. PI. xiv., fig. 3. 

 D. 1/6/31 ; P. 1/10 ; V. 1/6 ; A. 2/30 ; C. 13f ; Br. 7 ; Pyl. c. 82 ; Lat. 1. 114. 



A specimen of this fish was handed to me by Mr. William Gray on 

 September 8th, 1884 (similar in general appearance to the John Doree), 

 which had been taken in the trawl of the cutter " Dauntless," in 25 fathoms 

 of water, off Otago Heads. Two other specimens of the same species and 

 nearly the same size as mine were about the same time given by Mr. Melville 

 to Professor Parker as a new fish, and which had been caught in Otago 



