162 THE FAUNA OF THE DEEP SEA 



become one with the result of the total obliteration 

 of the eye.' 



Most of the species of the genus Scopelus are 

 undoubtedly pelagic in habit, descending during the 

 day to depths of semi-darkness but rising at night 

 to the surface waters. It is not certain how many 

 of the known species occasionally or habitually dwell 

 in very deep water, but there seems to be no doubt 

 that two species at least S. macrolepidotus and 

 8. glacialis belong to the abysmal zone. Both 

 of these species were found in dredges that had been 

 at work in depths of over 1,000 fathoms and showed 

 signs when examined of having been brought from 

 the abyss. 



The Stomiatidse are almost entirely confined 

 to water from 450 to nearly 2,000 fathoms in 

 depth. They may be distinguished from the 

 Scopelidse by the long hyoid barbel close to the 

 symphysis of the lower jaw, but like many of the 

 genera of that family they have wide gaping mouths 

 armed with a profusion of vicious looking teeth and 

 a series of luminous spots on the sides of the head 

 and body. (See Frontispiece.) 



In Eustomias obscurus, found in depths of over 

 1,000 fathoms in the Atlantic by the ' Talisman,' the 



