2-iO Transactions. — Zoology. 



thermometer it was found that at from 17 to 25 fathoms depth on the West 

 Coast, where the higli surface temperature prevailed, the sea had the same 

 temperature as the surface water on the East Coast. This appears to indicate 

 that the warm Australian current is spread over the surface of this part of 

 the ocean in a very thin stratum. 



The above is a list of the fishes caught in the Sounds I have referred to. 

 Frequently as many as 70 to 80 fish, of from 2 to 15 pounds weight, were 

 obtained at a single haul of the net after it had been set for only an hour, the 

 most abundant being the pakirikiri or rock cod (Percis colias), the tarakihi 

 {Cldlodactylus macropterus)^ and the wrasse {Lahrichthys fucicola). 



1* PLECTROPOMA HUNTII. sp. nov. 



PI. X. 

 B. 6; D. 10-20 ; P. 15 ; Y. 1-5 ; A. 2-1-8 ; L.L. 50 j L.T. 8 | 20. 



Length equal to three times the height, head two and a half times in 

 length ; snout produced, lower jaw longest ; base of spinous dorsal slightly 

 exceeds that of the soft in length ; upper jaw free, nostrils close to the orbits, 

 anterior pair tubular. 



Dorsal fin commences at one-third the total length, and over the posterior 

 angle of the operculum ; fourth spine longest, being twice the height of the 

 first and last j soft dorsal of equal height ; base of dorsal scaly, a scaly lobe 

 extending to half the height of each spine in front. 



Cleft of mouth oblique, equal to the height of longest dorsal spine, and 

 twice the diameter of the eye, which is twice the interorbital width ; upper 

 maxillary broad and thin behind ; teeth in villiform bands in both jaws, with 

 six strong canines, two above and two below in the front, and one on each 

 side in the lower jaw. 



Prffiopcrculum simple, ascending limb with minute denticulations, hori- 

 zontal limb with two flat spines directed forwards j opercle with a superior 

 notch, and a blunt membranous angle, with three flat sharp spines on the 

 surface, the two lower being more distinct than the upper. 



Pectoral rounded, with the middle ray slightly produced, extends to the 

 commencement of the anal ; ventrals shorter than the pectorals, and inserted 

 slightly in advance of them ; base of anal half the length of the soft dorsal ; 

 second spine thick and longer than the first ray, which is simi)le, being a 

 slender spine adherent to the soft rays; fourth soft ray is the longest. Caudal 

 equal in length to the ventral and rounded at the angles. 



Scales moderate size, ctenoid. Lateral line curved. 



Colour, red beneath, sides and back yellow, with dark patches of brown 



