156 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



is now in the Otago Museum, while the ninth was taken in Nelson 

 Harbour on the 23rd September, 1890. Of the fewer than twenty 

 specimens captured in England, eleven are referable, the same author 

 observes, to a single species (Regalecus banksii), while one is assigned 

 to Regalecus grillii. The specimen captured in May, 1878, between 

 Victoria and Tasmania has been identified by Sir Fred. McCoy as 

 Regalecus banksii. Taking as our guide, however, the key to the 

 species of Regalecus given by Professor Parker in vol. xvi. of the 

 "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute," it ought, it would 

 appear, to bear the name of 7?. grillii, on account of the number of 

 its dorsal fin rays. This specimen has been described and figured by 

 Sir Frederick in the fifteenth decade of the Prodromus of the Zoology 

 of Victoria. After a careful comparison of the descriptions and figures 

 of the species of Regalecus known to me, I have come to the conclusion 

 that the species that has been exhibited during the past week in Christ- 

 church is identical with that taken off the Australian coast, viz., to 

 the species described by Lindroth, under the name of Regalecus grillii. 

 In an addendum to his paper in the twentieth volume of the 

 " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute," Professor Parker, who 

 while writing his excellent monograph on R. argenteus, gave the 

 literature of the subject his careful attention, writes : — " Everything 

 seems to lead to the conclusion that most of the supposed species of 

 Regalecus are identical, and that the more recent specific names 

 (including argenteus) will have to give way, probably in favour of 

 Ascanius's original name glesne." The synonomy of the species is 

 rather involved, and the works necessary to its elucidation are not 

 within my attainment here. Professor Parker's opinion, however, is 

 entitled to very great weight, and the observations on the present 

 specimen tend to support it. This new specimen, therefore, ought 

 strictly to be denominated R. glesne; but for the present I shall 

 speak of it under the name R. grillii, to indicate that in my opinion it 

 belongs to the same species as Lindroth described. 



This fish had been exhibited in Lyttelton, I believe, before being- 

 brought to Christchurch, and had unfortunately, in its various 

 transports, and perhaps also in its capture — for it was still alive 

 when caught — suffered to some extent. It had lost much of its 

 brilliant colouring, and most of the singular rays of its crest, as well 

 as received damage to the long rays of the ventral fins. With 

 these exceptions, however, the specimen was a particularly fine and 

 complete one. The Regaled being deep sea denizens are generally 

 found to have suffered on approaching the surface, from the expansion 

 of their internal gases, consequent on the diminution of pressure; 

 but the specimen under description showed no signs of any "loosening 

 or tearing of its ligaments and tissues," by its ascent to the surface of 

 the sea. 



The name Regalecus means Ring of the Herrings, because one of 

 the earliest specimens taken on the British coast was first seen on the 

 " herring ground," and being of a silvery hue, as is also the herring, 

 the fishermen imagined they had discovered a mighty herring. 



It has been supposed that the Sea Serpents so often observed, 

 but never caught, may probably be specimens of great oar-fishes 



