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Show 544 PROF. W. B. BENHAM AND MR. W. J. DUNBAR ON [May 15, 3. On the Skull of a Young Specimen of the Ribbon-fish, Regalecus. By W . B. B e n h a m , D.Sc., M.A., F.Z.S., Professor of Biology in the University of Otago, and W. J. D u n b a r . [Received April 2, 1906.] (Plates XXXYIII. & XXXIX.*) I . I n tr o d uc t io n . Whether the small Ribbon-fish described by me (1) as Regalecus parkeri be a distinct species, or, as seems probable, merely a young stage of the Great Ribbon-fisli, R. glesne, it seemed desirable to have the skull described and figured for comparison with the detailed account of the latter fish published by Professor Parker in the ‘ Transactions ' of the Society +. The correct name for the Ribbon-fishes of the New Zealand as of other coasts is somewhat doubtful. Sjoecimens have been described and named by Yon Haast (2) as R. pac ficus, and by Parker (3 & 4) as R. argenteus, while Forbes (5) inclined to the opinion that the specimen which came into his hands was identical with R. grillii of Lindrotli. This matter of the synonymy was treated at some length by Parker, and after a comparison of the measurements and of other external features given by various naturalists for different specimens studied here and in the Northern hemisphere he came to the conclusion (3) that the specimens obtained in the neighbourhood of Dunedin belonged to a new species, R. av'genteus : and under this title he described the skeleton in the Society's ‘ Transactions' (9), but in an " Addendum" to his second article (4) (inserted at the commencement of the volume, immediately following the titlepage) he expressed a doubt as to whether, after all, he was justified in this step. He wrote : " 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' original name glesne." To the same effect wrote Goode & Bean in 1895 in describing the Ribbon-fishes of the North Atlantic (6). On p. 481 of 1 Oceanic Ichthyology ' they write :-" It is not certain that there is more than one species of Regalecus, although various names have been suggested in connection with the comparatively few individuals which, during the past century and a half, have been captured in the North Atlantic." Consequently, they register these fishes under the name R. glesne. If this be the case, we have an interesting instance of a practically cosmopolitan deep-water fish. * For explanation of the Plates, see p. 556. f For this purpose I handed the skull to my pupil W . J. Dunbar, who to my great regret was drowned just after the paper was completed in MS. I have retained his name as co-author, as he contributed the description and figures of this skull and the notes comparing it with Parker's account.- W. B. Benham. |
