IHscTJSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DIsTRIHITK )\. 



63 



diagnosis. The mandible has a scries of seven large pores mi its lower surface. There are 



several similar pores under the eye. The nostrils are situated about midway between the 

 eye and the extremity of the snout, small, slit like, the posterior about twice as large as the 

 interior one in each pair. 



The dorsal fin contains 11 rays, and is inserted midway between the tip of the snout 

 and the base of the middle caudal rays. The tin is highest in front, the Length of the rays 

 diminishing rapidly posteriorly. There is apparently no adipose dorsal. 



The anal tin contains 12 rays and is similar in shape to the dorsal, the anterior rays 

 being the longest, and about equal in length to the mandible; its distance from the snout is 

 about o times the length of its longest ray. 



The caudal is forked, its middle rays two-fifths as long as those in the upper caudal 

 lobe; the lower lobe is much prolonged, the lower ray being more than 4 times as long as 

 the middle rays. Its extremity is broken off in our specimen, but apparently it must have 

 been nearly twice as long as the stump which now remains. 



The pectoral fin is normal, composed of 9 rays, and is inserted close to the opercular 

 flap; its length is slightly greater than that of the head (although mutilated), extending 

 beyond the origin of the dorsal. 



The ventral is composed of 7 rays, and its base is entirely in advance of the perpendic- 

 ular from the origin of the dorsal; the inner rays reach to the vent, while its outer ray is 

 enormously prolonged, extending far beyond the extremity of the upper caudal lobe; the 

 length of the prolonged ray is fully 4 times that of the head. The two ventrals are close 

 together. 



Eadial formula: D. 11; A. 12; P. 9; V. 7; B. 11. Scales, 9-53-8 or 9. 



Color brown, the roof of the mouth and inside of the branchiostegal flap black, as well 

 as the operculum and branchiostegal membrane. 



A single specimen, 392 millimeters (15i inches) long to the tips of the prolonged ven- 

 tral rays, was taken by the Blake, at a depth of 1,830 fathoms, at station CLSxrv, in lat. 

 21° 33' N., Ion. 84° 23' W. 



A second example of the same fish, and of nearly the same size, was taken by the steamer 

 Albatross, September 6, 1884, in lat, 39° 3' 13" K and Ion. 70° 50' 45" W., at a depth of 

 1,537 fathoms. This is well preserved, and throws additional light on the external charac- 

 ters of the-species; the fins, especially, are more nearly perfect. Measurements of the two 

 are given below. 



Length to base of middle caudal rays... mm. 



Body.— Greatest height do.. 



Greatest width do.. 



Height at ventrals do. . 



Least height of tail do. . 



Length of caudal peduncle do. . . 



Head. — Greatest length do 



Greatest width do. .. 



Width "f int. n.rbital area do.. 



Length of snout do... 



Length of upper jaw do 



Length of mandible do 



Distance from snout to orbit- - . do 

 Diameter of orbit do 



Dorsal. — Distance from snout do 



Length of base do 



Length of longest ray (first) do 



Length of last ray do 



Anal. — Distance from snout do 



Length of base do 



Length of longest ray (first).. ..do 



Current nnmherof 

 specimens. 



i i \ in. 35651 



Current number of 

 specimens. 



CLXXIV. * 3565] 



Anal.— Length of last ray mm.- 12(?) 



Caudal.— Length of middle rays do... 23 



Length of external rays, upper 



lobe mm.. 



Length of external rays, tower 



lobe mm.. 100+ 



Pectoral. — Distance from snout do... 67 



Length do... 77 + 



\ Mil ri]._ Distance from snout do. .. 103 



Length do... 285+ 



Branchioategals do... 11 



Dorsal do. . . 11 



Anal do... 12 



Pectoral do... 9 



Ventral do... 7 



Number of scales in lateral line T.5 



Number of tra tbovi 



line 9 



Number of transverse rows below lateral 



line 8 or 9 



16 

 19 



50 



221 

 62 

 84 



11 

 13 



7 

 60 



• Blake. 



