THE LANCET FISHES. 



55 



principally the former. The supply is never equal to the 

 demand for this excellent fish. 



It is spread out over the greater portion of the New 

 South Wales coast, and is also known to occur on the coast 

 of Western Australia. Most probably it also is to be found 

 in suitable localities along portions of the coastline of Vic- 

 toria, South Australia and Tasmania, but authentic records 

 are wanting for these States. 



Some of the Scopeloids which live in the ocean depths, 

 notably those of the genus Scopelits, are remarkable for the 

 presence of a series of phosphorescent spots known as 

 Jhotophorcs along the body; and, in some species, also on 

 the head ; where they may form large patches on the snout. 



One species known as Bathypterois longipes, in which 

 one of the rays of the pectoral fin on each side is tremen- 

 dously elongated, exists at a depth of over 3 miles. 



THE LANCET FISHES. 



(Family : Alcpidosauridcp.} 



FOUR or five species of this family are known to exist, and 

 one of them, Alepidosauriis fero.v, has been found off the 

 coasts of New South Wales and Tasmania. It is a most 

 ferocious-looking fish and is, perhaps, one of the largest 



Fig. 19. LANCET-FISH (Alcviilvsaunis fcro.r). 



and most formidable of the fishes of the deep-sea, as it 

 possesses a most fearful-looking "mouthful of teeth" and 

 attains a length of about 6 feet. 



