Arthur. — On New Zealand Fishes. 169 



with convex posterior margin, rays branched. Lateral line detached in two 

 portions. Colour, head, trunk and fins mottled with patches of dull red on 

 a yellow ground ; most of the fin-rays variegated like tortoiseshell, forming 

 altogether a prettily -marked fish. Scales cycloid and adherent, cheeks 

 naked. This individual was a gravid female, its eggs, of a yellow colour and 

 in size like sago piles, were protruding from the vent. Stomach continuous 

 with intestine and both curved about the abdominal cavity ; air-bladder 

 simple. 



Dimensions. 



Total length . . 



Length 



Depth 



Least depth of tail 



Diameter of eye 

 Eye from snout 

 Dorsal ,, 

 Pectoral ,, 

 Ventral ,, 

 Anal ,, 



Caudal ,, 



Inches. 

 8-0 

 6-8 

 22 

 0-45 

 1-8 

 0-3 

 0-6 



1-1 ; length 5-3 

 1-9 „ 1-6 

 1-4 „ 1-0 

 3-5 „ 3-3 

 6-8 



This fish, although gay in colours, is not considered of value as a food 

 fish locally. 



A specimen beautifully preserved in its native tints by Professor Parker's 

 glycerine process is at present in Otago Museum. 



References. — Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. v., p. 263 ; vol. viii., p. 214. 

 ACANTHOPTEEYGII PHABYNGOGNATHI. 

 Family LabridvE. " Wrasses." 

 Odaoc vittatus, Sol., variety. PI. xiv., fig. 7. 

 D. 35; P. 15; V. 4 ; A. 15; C. 14. 



A specimen brightly-coloured of this fish caught off Otago Heads, May 

 9th, 1884, was given me by Mr. A. K. Smith, fishmonger, Dunedin. The 

 fish is occasionally caught, although not numerous seemingly, about our 

 coast. I have called it a variety, as it differs from Professor Hutton's 

 described specimens in the greater length of the tail portion from the dorsal 

 to the caudal fin, and also in its colours. As to the latter, I must observe 

 that none of the few individuals I have seen agree closely in colour, so that 

 as a distinctive mark of this fish, that is not of much use evidently. 



Form. — Head triangular, lips fleshy and movable, jaws each with a 

 band of white confluent teeth forming rather formidable cutting edges, 

 gape very small and contracted. Hindmargin of opercula pointed into two 

 blunt angles, one forming posterior extremity of operculum, and the othei" 



