286
287
298
Notes Comments
couple of photographs. The shark was probably Eulamia melanopterus, see H.K.N. I, p. 81. Length 6 feet 6 inches, weight 186 lbs. It was caught on a hand line made of hemp with a half-pound snapper as bait on a large iron hook. The fisherman was definitely trying to catch a shark and had a large bait and strong tackle on purpose. The sea was choppy, a fresh N.E. wind was blowing and few small fish were about. The previous week a number of shark were about off Kowloon Docks and on 25th September Mr. Gillard tells me that at least 50 snapper were lost through shark taking them before they had been pulled up to the surface. This particular fish was played 20 minutes, pulled in to within 2 feet of the surface and then harpoon- ed. It was not pulled on board but was lashed to the side of the sam pan. Market value about $7.00.
A few days later another shark was caught by the same fisherman and brought to the University, the principal measurements were taken and are given below. The shark was a female and contained two well developed embryoes each some 9 inches in length. Tip of snout to tip of tail 1,724 mm. (about 46 inches).
Tip of snout to anterior border of ist dorsal fin Tip of snout to anterior border of 2nd dorsal fin Tip of snout to anterior border of Caudal fin Tip of snout to anterior border of Pectoral fin Tip of snout to anterior border of Pelvic fin Tip of snout to anterior border of Anal fin
11
495 mm.
1,067 mm.
1,293 mm.
399 mm.
959 mm.
1,182 mm.
In Fishes of Oceania H. W. Fowler, p. 20, gives an account of this species which we quote below as being, perhaps, of general interest.
In describing the habits of this species in Palmyra, C. Montague Cooke, Jr., gave me the following information:
Very abundant in the lagoon at Palmyra in 1913. Sometimes as many as six to eight would be swimming around us as we waded in the lagoon, in about 6 to 18 inches of water. Most of these sharks were from
two to four feet in length. I think the reason we excited their curiosity was the stirring up of the mud. On two occasions we had them follow us as we were walking on the shore line. As we waded in the water they continually circled about us, the circles gradually growing smaller. On several occasions they came close enough for us to step on their heads, when they would rush away. We caught six on lines one evening in our bathing pool on fishbait. The only specimen in the museum was a small one taken in a scoop-net, when it approached us.
Ball reports four scen at Fanning Island in July, 1922. They were called "lagoon shark and used as food by the natives. The largest scen were perhaps six feet long, ranging down to three feet long. One from Guam, head 90 mm. long and parts of fins, obtained in 1923, in the Bishop Museum.
This species differs from all other sharks of Occania in having black bordered fins."
The Hong Kong Naturalist.
*
Notes&Comments
289
Other accounts and photographs of this or a closely related species of shark have appeared in H.K.N. I, p. 194 and plate opposite and II plate facing p. 220.
HERPETOLOGY.
VARANUS SALVATOR, Laur.
LL
G. A. C. H,
In Volume I of the Hong Kong Naturalist, the monitor lizard Varanus was called E (Gob kuci shae, this is the general Kwang- tung name for the great Tree-Gecko, Gecko gecko (L). common in the Canton game" shops as food or medicine). Varanus, known to me as far north as Tsingyuen (23.4° n.l.) is a rare creature and as far as my experience goes is without a special name. My Chinese reptile-collectors called it tULLE (Kamm koei shae=Toad-Lizard), but I believe that this was an improvisa- tion of the moment.
R. MELL,
Berlin,
(This Monitor Lizard is known in the Hong Kong Restaurants as E, Ng chau kum lung sehr, Five-clawed golden dragon snake.)
Ed.
BOTANY.
STERCULIA LANCEOLATA, Cav.
The common name given in H.K.N. III, 1, p. 24, is that used by the Punti in Kwangtung. From the Hakka on the East-river (Poklo-district), (Gu loeng hai-Little ladies shoes), in reference to the red and black colour of the open fruit,
I heard the tree called
PLATANTHERA SUSANNAE, Lindl.
R. MELL,
Berlin,
Is known to me only from the Indo-Chinese coast-region of Kwang- tung and not north of the Tropics. It seems to be quite local. I found it in a dry grassy place on the White Cloud mountains near Canton on the way from Pakwantsi to the Sogatsi about 250 m. above sea-level, 10 plants near one another; and a second group of plants near Suliugun in the Lofao mountains about 550 m. above the sea. Flowers I have seen between 28th of June and 22nd of July. In spite of its moderate size (about 0.40 m. high) Platanthera Susannae is a striking plant because of its large white flowers, relatively speaking gigantic spurs and its strong sweet scent. Any- one who is familiar with the European flora recognizes at once its close re- lationship with P. bifolia; the smell reminds me somewhat of the European Gymnadenia.
December 1932.
R. MELL,
Berlin.
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