Cheeseman. — On new Planarians. 213 



hasmal arch is weakest, it lias completeness and strength given to it both 

 longitudinally and transversely by those locked and overlapping bony scales 

 or plates which I call dermo-hsemal processes. 



As to the habits of the Picton herring, I arn also indebted to Mr. Fell for 

 collecting for rne the following particulars: — "The fish is found all round 

 Queen Charlotte Sound, and also the adjoining Pelorus, but is only caught 

 here (Picton). Generally it is believed that they do not extend outside, but 

 my half-caste fisherman maintains that if sought for properly they would be 

 found all round Nelson waters (Blind Bay) and in the straits. They are 

 not easy fish to find, unless they are rushing on the surface, which is not 

 often, and is a most peculiar sight. My own idea is that they will be found 

 to extend much further to the south, but not into the warmer water north. 

 These herrings are in Queen Charlotte Sound during the whole year, but 

 only come into the shallow bays during winter. At that time of the year 

 they keep together in large shoals, but in summer time they keep more 

 apart, and are sometimes caught then, though rather hard to find. No 

 systematic fishing goes on during summer. The fish prefer colder water, 

 and thus leave the shallow bays when spring sets in. 



" They spawn during summer, are always very full of roe about Christ- 

 mas time, and then keep in small shoals. 



"As to the iDrobable numbers visiting the Sound it is difficult to say, but 

 four smoke-houses were kept going all last winter. The hauls made average 

 one and a half to two tons, but at times ten tons have been landed. 



"As an article of food it is, when fresh, exceedingly good fried. The 

 same fish smoked is sold as Picton herring. The fishermen here have 

 very poor appliances and are not skilled at all in curing, and I am sure the 

 system is capable of improvement." 



Art. XXIV. — On two new Planarians from Auckland Harbour. 

 By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 

 [Read before the Auckland Institute, 27th September, 1882.] 

 1. Thysanozoon aucklandica, n. sp. 



Body thin, depressed ; margin ample, with numerous irregular folds and 

 puckers. Upper surface wholly covered with large mobile clavate papillre. 

 Colour varying from dark ashy-brown to light grey, marbled or shaded with 

 paler streaks, sometimes reddish-brown ; under-surface an opaque greyish- 

 white, the gastro-vascular canals showing through of a chalky- white colour. 

 Head indistinct. Tentacles two, formed by mere folds of the anterior 

 margin of the body. Eye-specks about 75, forming a crescentic patch in 



