42 " THETIS " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



Richardson remarks that he is not aware if the electrical 

 powers of this fish has attracted the attention of the colonists. 

 I was able to practically demonstrate that its electrical properties 

 are quite manifest to the human system, but in so small a species 

 (or at least of the size of our example) the shock is not unplea- 

 santly strong. It is to be borne in mind, however, that in con- 

 sequence of the handling to which it had been subjected in the 

 trawl, it may have largely exhausted the batteries in electrifying 

 its fellow captives. 



This interesting addition to our fauna was taken off Wata 

 Mooli (south of Port Hacking), in 70-78 fathoms. Not pre- 

 viously known outside the waters of Tasmania, this is an 

 admirable example of hov*' southern forms seek the deeper waters 

 of milder zones. Although the immediate area around Port 

 Hacking has been systematically fished for years, the Narcine 

 has probably never before been taken, doubtless owing to the 

 fact that operations are always conducted in water shallower 

 than suits it in these warmer latitudes. Another signal instance 

 is that of the large mollusc Valuta viaraiUa, taken in the waters 

 of New South Wales by the " Thetis," and hitherto regarded as 

 a characteristically Tasmanian species. 



H YPN OS, Dumeril. 



HYPNOS SUBNIGRUM, Dumeril. 



Numbfish. 



Hypnos stobnigrum, Dumeril, Rev. Zool., 1852, p. 279, pi. xii. 



Stations 21,24,25,52,55. 



Dumeril describes this species as being of intense blackish- 

 brown colour. Such would apply to all small examples, but the 

 adults taken were of much lighter tint, being rich yellowish- 

 brown. 



It was provocative of considerable amusement whenever it 

 appeared on board ; the uninitiated, however, shortly learned to 

 recognise it and respect its peculiar qualities, so that soon no one 

 could be persuaded to touch it even with an iron pi^odder. 



At Station 55 I unwittingly placed my hand on one as 

 it lay on deck partly concealed by overlj-ing fishes. As was 

 afterwards found, it was the largest example obtained, and 

 measured 690 mm. (2 feet 3 inches) in length. The shock I so 

 unexpectedly received was very intense, and it is quite conceiv- 

 aljle that the one from such a fish, not previously harassed, 

 would be sufficient to disable a man. AVhen compared witli 

 Narcine, the mouth of Hypnos is very large, and a medium sized 



