Haast. — Notes on Eegalecus pacificus. 247 



On measurement I found this beautiful fish to be 12 feet 5 inches long, 

 having an average breadth of 13-5 inches and a thickness of 3-5 inches. 

 The whole skin is covered with a coating looking as if it consisted of frosted 

 silver, and which adlieres to the fingers very easily. The brilliancy of this 

 silvery appearance is still more prominently brought out by numerous 

 tubercles which stand above the skin, and by a number of irregular black 

 fines and spots in the anterior portion of the body. 



If we add to this the fine metalHc iridescence of the head, which 

 possesses at the same time a crest of bright red spines on the top, it is not 

 too much to say that the form and colouring of this species make it the 

 most beautiful fish ever obtained on the coasts of New Zealand. 



The capture of these greatly compressed, sword-like, deep-sea fishes 

 occurring at such long intervals, and of which so little is known, has 

 always excited the curiosity of the public and the deep interest of the 

 naturalist ; and cases w^hen specimens of this genus were secured in 

 England and on the continent of Europe were generally noted in the 

 publications of the day. 



On examining the literature dealing with this genus, I find that this 

 specimen is new to science, and I therefore propose to describe it here 

 under the specific name of Regalecus pacijicus. It is very different from the 

 Regalecus described by Mr. W. T. L. Travers, which towards the middle of 

 October, 1860, was stranded on the beach near the entrance of Nelson 

 harboui', as " from the lower lip of that specimen depended a large number 

 of rigid slender barbules about sixteen inches long and of a brilliant red 

 colour."* 



The description given in that standard work proves that very Httle is 

 known of these occasional visitors from the deep seas, as there are six 

 species enumerated, of which most have been described from single and 

 generally mutilated specimens only. 



REGALECUS PACIFICUS, Haast. 



B. 6 D. 9 P. 12 



223 



The length of the head is 7-75 inches, and height behind the eye 6-75 

 inches, consequently the length of the head is one-nineteenth of the total. 

 The height of the body is — 



2 feet from snout .. .. .. .. .. 13*25 inches 



3 ,, 9 inches from snout .. .. .. .. 13-75 ,, 



4 ,,11 „ ,, „ at anus 13-25 „ 



after which it tapers gradually to the tail. 



3 feet from tail 9-50 „ 



1 „ „ „ .. 6-25 „ 



* Giinther's Catalogue of Aeauthopterygian Fishes, Brit. Mus., III., 807. 



