MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 479 
Torpedo hebetans (Ginther, Cat. of Fishes. VIII, p. 449), of which the 
author thinks it will probably turn out to be a variety. As, how 
ever, it differs from that species in at least one character con- 
sidered by Ginther to be of specific value, itis proposed to name 
it provisionally T. fusca. The fact that the spiracles are not 
fringed separates it from all Giinther’s species except T. hebetans 
and I. mavce. Among the synonyms of TI. hebetans, a query is 
placed by 'Giinther against T. emarginata of McCoy, which is ap- 
parently known only from the description in the ‘‘ Annals and 
Magazine of Natural History” for 1841. Since the publication 
of the ‘‘ Catalogue of Fishes,” only one new species of Torpedo has 
been recorded (Zool. Record, 1881), namely T. fawchildi, Hutton, 
from the North Island of New Zealand. There are thus three 
species and a doubtful fourth with unfringed spiracles, from which 
the specimen in question differs in the following characters :— 
(1) From T. hebetans, (a) in the position of the first dorsal fin ; 
(0b) inthe presence of well-marked emarginations separating the 
pectoral fins from the head; and ¢) inthe colour. Judging from 
Ginther’s descriptions, the first of these characters is the only one 
of specific importance. 
> .4(2.) From T. narce, (2) in the comparative size of the first and 
second dorsal fins; (b) in the absence ofa well-marked longi- 
tudinal pit at the angle of the mouth ; and (c) in the colour. 
(3.) From T. emarginata, (a) in the anterior boundary of the 
head being curved instead of straight ; (5) in the breadth of the 
disc being greater than the length ; (c) in the tail being shorter 
than the disc ; (d)in the absence of tubercles on the dorsal surface ; 
and (e) in the position of the first dorsal fin. 
(4.) From T. faivchild:, (a) in the more rounded form of the disc ; 
(6) in the distance between the emarginations being fully six 
times the distance between the eyes, instead of the two distances. 
being about equal; (c) in the position of the first dorsal fin; and 
(d) in the relative size ot the two dorsals. 
The characters of the specimen described are as follows :— 
Torpedo fusca, ? n. sp.—Spiracles not fringed, their distance 
from the eyes little more than their own diameter; the greatest 
length of the first dorsal fin is to that of the second as 13 is to 8: 
line of attachment and vertical height of first dorsal almost exactly 
twice that of second; posterior end of line of attachment a 
pelvic fin nearly opposite the middle of that of the first dorsal ; 
distinct longitudinalipit at angle of mouth, but several ae 
folds; length of band of mandibular teeth has same proportions to 
width of gape as in T. mavce. Dark brown colour, mottled with ir- 
regular lighter patches; greyish-brown beneath. 
Total length, 26 inches; length of disc 16.5 in., breadth of same 
14 in.; length of electric organ 7.5 in., average breath of same 2.5 
in.; about 70 columns to the square inch in the anterior part of 
the organ, about 40 in its posterior part. 
Prof. Parker exhibited some embryos of the Elephant Fish 
(Callorhynchus antarcticus) which had lately been obtained for him by 
a fisherman in Wickliffe Bay. The eggs were found buried in the 
sand a little below low-water mark, a position which would seem 
to cast some doubt on the generally accepted theory which.ac- 
counts for the peculiar form of the egg-shell by supposing it to have 
acquired a protective resemblance to kelp. The cavity for the 
