﻿Knox. — Notes on the Anatomy of the Kanae. 189 



Art. XXYII — N'otes on the Anatomy of the Kanae. (Mugil, sp.J 

 By F. J. Knox, L.KC.S.E. 



[Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 14ith October, 1871.] 



On the 29th December, 1870, when on a professional visit to the Maoris 

 residing on the shores of Porirua Bay, I accidentally procured a fish which I 

 had not seen previously in that locality. Three specimens had just been 

 captured in a powerful net by Major Edwards, and he kindly put one at my 

 disposal. 



The general colouring of the fish resembled, at first sight, that of a salmon 

 just landed ; there was no apparent lateral line, bxit the body was divided by 

 the dorsal segment, presenting a greenish shade, passing gradually to a silvery 

 white on the abdominal surface; the dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins, partook 

 of the greenish shade, whilst the ventral (pelvic) and anal fins were of a silvery 

 white. The scales, measuring when detached -5 inch by -33 inch adhered 

 firmly to the skin. The eyes were surrounded by a complete cii'cle of a semi- 

 cartilaginous tissue, adhering to the margin of the orbit, not moveable, and 

 consequently in no way resembling eyelids. 



The anatomical examination of this fish presented many interesting 

 features, being altogether new to me. 



The stomach was remarkable, not only in shape, but in its organization. 

 When first removed from the body it presented a firm solid mass, and upon 

 being divided longitudinally it was found full to distention of a greenish, 

 earthy looking, pasty substance, which, upon being turned out, continued to 

 retain the shape of the stomach. The pyloric extremity was composed of a 

 powerful mass of muscular fibres, resembling the gizzard of a bird, and about 

 its centre measured one inch in thickness. The intestines were of extreme 

 delicacy. The pancreatic caeca, two in number, were distended with a brownish 

 mucous. Liver weighed 320 grains, and was composed of numerous lobes. 

 Gall bladder free, 1 inch in length, filled with a bright green bile. Spleen 

 weighed 60 grains, was 1-25 inches in length, resembling a clot of blood in 

 colour. 



Milb, 4 inches in length by 1 inch in breadth, weighed 320 grains ] the 

 artery supplying it and the blood-vessels, more especially near the cloaca, 

 were enlarged, indicating that the organ was in an active state previous to 

 the spawning season. 



The muscular system presented an appearance not unlike the curd of 

 milk, or what I used to know as French-white colour. I obtained from the 

 specimen one and a half pounds (avoirdupois) of muscle, free from bone, and 



A A 



