Mair. — On Fishes in Uiyper Whanyanui Pdver. 815 



group of tree-lizards, whose colours and markings, for protective purposes, 

 bear a strong resemblance to their natural surroundings. The bright green 

 tints of one species enables it almost to defy detection amidst the evergreen 

 foliage of the native shrubs ; the marbled-brown skin of another is peculiarly 

 adapted for concealment as it clings to the bark of a tree, or hides in the 

 crevices ; whilst a third, which inhabits the sulphur- crusted grounds in the 

 Lake District, is of a uniform bright sulphur-yellow. 



The species described by the author of this paper is beautifully marked 

 on its upper surface with patches of pale brown and minute granulations of 

 yellow, exactly resembling in appearance a peculiar Lichen common on the 

 bark of certain trees. Apart fi-om good specific characters, it fm-nishes 

 another remarkable instance of the law of assimilative colouring referred to. 



Art. XL VI. — Notes on Fishes in Upper Whanganui River. 

 By Captain Maib, F.L.S. 

 [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society 10th January, 1880.] 

 DuEiNG the summer and autumn rains, large quantities of fish are caught 

 by the Natives in weirs or single lines of stakes driven into the bed of the 

 river at the heads of the rapids, and placed at an angle of about 10 degrees 

 across the current. These lines of stakes are 50 feet or 60 feet long, and 

 16 yards or 20 yards apart, according to the width of the river. Hinakis or 

 wicker baskets are placed at the bottom of each row of stakes, and the fish, 

 which appear always to swim down the middle of the river, upon meeting 

 these lines of stakes placed at a slight angle to the stream, follow them 

 down into the funnel-mouthed hinakis aforesaid, and are thus caught. As 

 soon as the pot is full, it is replaced by an empty one. In this manner, I 

 saw about 7 cwt. obtained from two hinakis, at Whenuatere, on February 

 25th, 1879. The fish so obtained are : — Pajxcnoko, Toitoi, Inanga, Atutahi, 

 Upokororo, and a peculiar kind of eel called Tunaheke. 



Pajmnoko are small fish, from six to eight inches in length, and very 

 deep in proportion, as the accompanying rough sketch will show, and 

 weigh about the eighth of a pound. At this season of the year they are very 

 fat, full of spawn, and are most delicious eating. The fins are red ; scales 

 very smaU ; back, pepper-and-salt colour- ; belly, silvery. This fish is called 

 Te ika huna a Tanemahuta — the hidden fish of Tane — the god of the forests ; 

 for they are never found in the streams or rivers, unless during a flood, and 

 then only dming the night. Great ceremony is observed in cooking them, 

 and they are taken some distance from the village for the purpose. The 

 natives aver that if this were not done, no more fish would enter the 

 hinakis. 



