20 



LORD HOWE ISLA^^D. 



Wo were not siiccessful in obtaining any of the Fisliing Progs, but Mr. 

 Campbell Stevens, the postmaster presented an example of the pelagic 

 Antennarius coccineus, Les. & Garn. This and its congeners are tropical forms 

 attaching themselves to masses of seaweed. Their habits when inshore, 

 appear to be those of concealment under and amongst stones, from whence 

 they descend on their prey. To Mr. Stevens we are again indebted for the 

 second example known of Tetragonurus Wilkinsoni, Macleay, originally 

 brought from Lord Howe by the Visiting Magistrate, Mr. H. T. Wilkinson,* 

 and described by the Hon. W. Macleay,t under the name of Gtenodax. It 

 was subsequently shown by Mr. Macleay,4: on the authority of Dr. E. P. 

 Eamsay, to be referable to the genus Tetragonurus, Eisso., a scarce deep 

 sea fish found in the Mediterranean, and off Madeira. The general name 

 of "Coral-fish" has been applied to numerous fish frequenting tropical 

 coral-reefs, although appertaining to various families. Under this appella- 

 tion in our collection may be mentioned a species oi Apogon, with coloured 

 spots on the tail, also met with at ]N"orf oik Island ; Plesiops nigricans, Eiipp., 

 one of the Nandido;, this being, in the opinion of Mr. Ogilby, a far south 

 station for its occurrence; and a blue-spotted Pomacentrus, to which the 

 same remark may bo applied. One mullet only can be so far recorded from 

 Lord Howe, Myxus elongatus ; it is, however, tolerably common. 



The Lagoon is frequented in quantity by a Gar-fish or Half -beak, Ilemir- 

 hamplius intermedins, easily taken from a boat with fine tackle. Amongst 

 other forms obtained were, — a Herring, Spratelloides gracilis, Sohl.; the semi- 

 pelagic Gonorhynchus Oreyi, Eich., the "sand-eel" of the New Zealand 

 Colonists ; one of the " Skippers," Scombresox Forsteri, C. & V. ; and two 

 Wrasses, LahrichtJiys luciilentus, Eich., and L. inscriptus, Eich. 



Three fish to which more than passing attention should be called are a 

 new species Hoplodactylus 'Etlieridgei, Ogl., caught in a small pool on the 

 largest of the Admiralty Islets ; and a red Sucking-fish, Piplocrepis costatus, 

 Ogl., found for the first time at Lord Howe. 



Passing to the Mursenidoe, it is interesting to note the occurrence of the 

 common eel, Anguilla australis, Eich. It is tolerably common in many of 

 the dark deep pools in the gullies both of the North Eidge and the southern 

 hills, more especially the Deep Creek. Here our specimen was obtained by 

 the guide, W. Nicholls, following a most exciting chase by the whole party 

 after more than one fish. Individuals are obtained up to 5 and lb. weight. 

 Lender blocks on the Coral-reef arc found the beautiful striped eel, Murccna 

 nclulosa, Ahl., which afibrded equally good sport, whilst endeavouring to 

 secure it in a " billy." The common green eel, 31. afra, was also caught on 

 the reef, although it usually frequents holes and crevices in the rocks. 



The Selerodermi are very plentifully represented by Ostracion diaplianus 

 BL, the Box or Coffer-fish, their bony envelopes strewing the sandy beach 

 of the Lagoon in quantities. We were not successful in obtaining any 

 Gymnodont fish, but Mr. Eobin presented a new Globe-fish or Sea Hedge- 

 hog, Tetrodon callisternus, Ogl. 



I h.ave omitted to mention that sharks of a large si/.e sometimes visit the 

 lagoons. During the visit of Mr. A. H. Taylor, of the Department of Mines, 

 to Lord Howe in March, 1886, a Tiger Shark, said to bo Galeocerdo Eayncri, 

 M'D. &B., was seen in the Lagoon, and would have attacked some bathers 

 had not timely warning been given. 



* Since these pages have been in type we have had to deplore the deatli of tliis highly 

 accomplished gentleman. 



t A remarkable fish from Lord Howe Island. I'roc. Linn. Soc, Now South Wales. 

 1886, X, pt. 4, p. 718. 



X Note on Cicnodax WiUdnsoni, loc. cU., xi, pt. 2, p. 511. 



