124 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
subject has been supplied by a correspondent writing from Napier, 
who under date of December 30, 1883, says :—‘“‘ Another torpedo 
was brought me the other day which I skinned: attached to each 
lobe of the liver, and in a fold of the peritoneum were a lot of 
round gelatinous bodies. They did not appear to be in a sac, but 
each ball was attached to the surrounding membrane, and they 
varied in size from a pea to a small marble ; there was no apparent 
connection with the other organs.” 
In a subsequent letter received this month, the same gentleman 
informs me that he had succeeded in tracing the gelatinous bodies 
above-mentioned to their connections, and found them to be eggs. 
I have to record the discovery at this place of a new and 
exceedingly beautiful species of Argonaut. The shell is semi- 
transparent, and much more fragile than either A. zodosa Solander 
or A. gracilis lately described by Mr. T. W. Kirk ; from both of 
these species it also differs in many important particulars. The 
new one will shortly be described and named, and the type 
specimen placed in the Colonial Museum at Wellington. 
Portland Island, 25th March, 1884. C. H. ROBSON. 
EARTHQUAKES.—A sharp shock of earthquake was ex- 
perienced at about 6 50 p.m. on April 11th, over the whole region 
on both sides of Cook’s Strait, and as far south as Christchurch. 
In the absence of more exact information, we give the following 
telegrams which give a general idea of the range of the seismic 
disturbance. All are dated 12th April— 
Wellington.—The sharpest shock of earthquake felt here for 
years occurred at ten minutes to seven last night. It set all the 
firebells ringing. It was preceded for several seconds by a loud 
rumbling noise, with slight vibration. The seismometer at the 
Museum records the following in. regard to the earthquake :—A 
sharp jerk from N.N.E., with two circular movements outward, 
and displacement to the south, at 6.49 p.m.; duration, one second. 
After five seconds interval was longitude E.and W.(szc. undulation 
lasting fifteen seconds, with slight final displacement towards the 
east. 
Greymouth.—A sharp shock of earthquake was felt last 
evening at seven o'clock. The motion seemed to be from north 
to south. 
Masterton.—A. smart shock of earthquake was felt here at ten 
minutes to seven last evening, accompanied by noise. 
Lyell—A smart shock of earthquake was felt here at 6.50 
last evening lasting ten seconds. Direction, S.E. to N.W. 
Fielding. —A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here at 6.53 
last night. 
Nelson.—A very severe shock of earthquake was experienced 
here at ten minutes to seven o’clock last evening. It lasted fully 
ten seconds, the direction being from north to south. It com- 
menced with a violent shake. No damage was occasioned 
excepting that some glassware was broken in a private dwelling 
