166 



Transactions. — Zoology. 



the dermal and haemal apophyses or with the flakes of the flesh. All the 

 fins are clear, but are distinguished by a bright red margin. The sides of 

 head silvery and body generally light in colour. Scales small, adherent and 

 soft. 



It does not look like a very edible fish, but I do not know anyone who 

 has tried it. 



The stomach is siphonal ; intestine long and folded a number of times in 

 short turns. Liver large ; no caeca discernible. From the stomach of a 

 larger specimen about the time I got this described one, a sprat was taken, 

 showing the presence of these delicious fish on the coast at the time. In- 

 deed Mr. Smith informs me he has taken them from the stomachs of cod 

 and other fish at all seasons of the year. 



Dimensions. 



Inches. 



Total length .. .. .. .. ..9-0 



Length without caudal , . . . . . 8*0 



Depth .. .. .. .. 1-0 



Least depth of tail . . . . . . . . - 3 



Head .. .. .. .. .. ..2-0 



Diameter of eye . . . . . . . . 016 



Eye from snout . . . . . . . . 0-60 



Dorsal „ .. .. .. .. 3-10 ; length 4-5 



Pectoral „ .. .. .. .. .. 2'30 „ 1.7 



Ventral „ .. .. .. .. .. 170 „ 0-7 



Anal „ .. .. .. .. .. 2-80 „ 5-0 



I have drawn this fish life size and had it reduced. 



References. — Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. v., p. 275 ; vol. vi., p. 104 ; vol. 

 vii., p. 248 ; and vol ix., p. 469, where closely allied species are described. 

 Specimens of L. angusticeps in Otago Museum. 



ACANTHOPTEBGYII COTTOSCOMBEIFOEMES. 

 Family Psychrolutid^, Gunther. 

 NeophrynicJithys latus, Gunther. The Toad Fish. PL xiv., figs. 5 and 5a. 

 D. 10/13 ; P. 20 ; V. 1 ; A. 9 ; C. 10 ; Br. 4 ; gills 4. 

 A specimen of this fish, said by Dr. Gunther to be very rare, was got in 

 the trawl of the cutter " Dauntless," off Otago Heads, in October, 1884. 

 Head broader than long, and being rather less than one-third of the length 

 without the caudal. Depth of head five-eighths of its length ; depth of 

 body one-third of length. Head broad and flat, interorbital space one-half 

 of breadth of head ; mouth wide, lower jaw slightly projecting. The trunk 

 tapers rapidly towards the extremity of the tail, while the whole fish includ- 

 ing the fins is covered by a loose flabby naked skin. I made an incision in 

 this skin but found no fluid beneath, and inflated it to a great extent by 

 blowing through a quill. The teeth are very fine and in villiform bands on 



