246 Trayisactions. — Zoology/. 



The infraorbital area is crossed by seven rays, and the operculum by two 

 vertical ridges with five transverse bars, the lowest being prolonged over the 

 suboperculum and angle of the gill-opening as a roughly serrated spine. 



Between the occii)ut and commencement of the dorsal is a rough elevated 

 ridge. The posterior dorsal rays rest in a groove. The caudal is deeply 

 forked, each lobe consisting of ten soft rays and seven sharp spines above, and 

 six below. The dorsal and anal fins end at the same vertical line, and the 

 interspace to the caudal is equal to half the length of the body. The greatest 

 height is in the vertical of the first dorsal. Dorsal begins at one-third the 

 total length and over the origin of the ventral. The serrated ventral keel 

 consists of ten scales. 



Colour silvery white, except the tips of the dorsal fin and caudal lobes 

 which are darkened with crowded black spots. The neck, back, and base of 

 caudal have also a dark shade from the presence of minute spots. The scales 

 above the lateral line are rough and adherent, but below are soft and 

 deciduous. 



Total length 27 inches. Height -85. 

 . Dredged by H.M.S. Challenger Expedition in 400 fathoms off Cape 

 Farewell. 



This fish approaches T. elongatus, Giinth., of which a single specimen was 

 obtained at the Great Barrier Island, but on account of its having evidently 

 intermediate characters between that species and T. australis^ I have 

 distinguished it under the above name. 



21A. ZIPHIUS GLADIUS. L. 



Sword-fish. 



Z. gladiuSf Giinth., II., 511. 



D. 3-40; A. 17; Ventral fins, none. 



" The sword-shaped upper jaw much depressed and flat. Dorsal fin 

 elevated in immature specimens. In old specimens the middle part of the 

 dorsal and anal fins becomes very low or disappears so that there are two 

 fins on the back and behind the vent." 



My attention was drawn to a snout of this species in the Auckland 

 Museum, which was obtained near Wangarei, to the north of Auckland. 

 Being in that district I found on inquiry that the sword-fish was captured by 

 the natives in Ngunguru Harbour, where it was seen swimming about in 

 shallow water, with its dorsal fin high above the surface. The snout only was 

 preserved, and given by the natives to Mr. McLeod, of Wangarei, by whom 

 it was presented to the Auckland Museum. I record this statement as this 

 sword-fish is mentioned only as an inhabitant of the North Atlantic, but is 

 frequently brought out to the colonics and presented to museums. 



