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Show 232 DR. J. VON HAAST ON ZIPHIUS NOViE-ZEALANDIiE. [Apr. 6, The characteristic genus of the Beluchistan fish-fauna would seem to be Scaphiodon or Barbus ; but, if I may judge from the number of examples sent of each, the former is the most common. The genus Barbus is found generally distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa ; consequently the existence of some forms in Beluchistan was to be anticipated; but out of the three obtained, two seem to be common to India. Scaphiodon extends from the rivers of Syria and Western Asia, along Beluchistan, to the summit of the range of hills ; then passing over into Sind, one form is found to be present even in the Salt range of the Punjab. Then we find they are absent until we reach the Western Ghauts, where they are present as far south as the Neilgherry hills and rivers along their bases. This genus is entirely absent from the Himalayas and the plains of India. The fishes of the fresh waters of the Meckran coast appear to be similar to those of the higher regions of Kelat and Quetta, and would seem to be distinct from those of the deltas of the Helmund and the Cabul river. What exists along the Suliemans is as yet an unsolved problem. 2. On Ziphius novce-zealandice. By Prof. JULIUS VON HAAST, Ph.D., F.R.S., C.M.Z.S., Director of the Canterbury M u s e u m , Christchurch, N e w Zealand. [Eeceived February 18, 1880.] (Plate XXIII.) In the 'Proceedings' of this Society for 1876, p. 466, I gave a description of the skeleton of this interesting southern Ziphioid Whale. I there gave, on the authority of the late Mr. F. Fuller, Taxidermist of the Canterbury Museum (who went to secure the skeleton of that specimen, stranded in Lyttelton Harbour), some details about the characteristic form and colour of the skin of the animal in question. When my informant arrived where the fishermen were at work, he found that the blubber had nearly all been taken off; so that he could only partially obtain the required measurements. From the observations I am about to offer to the Society, on two more specimens stranded since then on our sea-beach, it will be seen that some of the statements were far from being correct; in fact, the animal was so much cut about that its lower part was taken for the upper, and vice versa; and consequently no dorsal fin could be found where it was looked for. The first of the specimens now under review was stranded on Sunday, November 17, 1878, near N e w Brighton. There were numerous visitors at the time, who observed another whale (according to other lookers-on two whales) in the offing, by which the animal was driven into the surf, where soon it became helpless. Gradually it was drifted upon the low sandy beach, where it died only after a long struggle. |