DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 45 



cave between the orbits, with a convexity above the snout. Width of the [nterorbital space 

 about equal to the diameter of the eye. The length of the snout contained 3jj times in thai 

 of the bead. Eye large, a little longer than deep, contained l' r ; times in the length of the 

 head and L\ times in the length of the snout. Infraorbital ring very narrow. The maxil- 

 lary is broad, large, and conspicuously dilated at the extremity, its greatest width at this 

 point being more than two thirds the diameter of the eye. Cleft of the mouth wide. Den- 

 tition feeble: no traces of teeth upon either vomer or palatine. 1 Branchiostegals 5, long 

 and slender. Gills 4. Gill laminae short, especially on the convex portion of the arches. 

 Gill rakers long, strong, broad at the base; (J+ 17 on the outer arch. 



Vent placed equidistant from root of caudal and root of pectoral. The origin of the dorsal 

 over the vent; slightly in advance of that of the anal. Dorsal tin longer than high, its 

 anterior rays increasing in length to tlie middle of the tin. the longest ray contained 3§ in 

 length of head, and about equal to the longest ray of the anal. Caudal tin deeply emargi- 

 natc. Pectoral inserted far below the middle of the body. It has a narrow base, and its 

 length in a perfect specimen is probably not greater than the diameter of the eye. Yentrals 

 close together, remote from the vent, the root being nearly midway between the root of the 

 caudal and the tip of the snout, and equidistant from the root of the anal and the base of 

 the pectoral. 



Scales deciduous, cycloid, 45 or 48 in the lateral line, the lateral line beginning from a 

 point on a level with the top of the eye, and ascending in a broad curve to a point over the 

 ventrals, and thence in a straight line to the root of the caudal. Color, bluish black. 



Radial formula: B. 5 (?); 1). 22; A. 21; V. 7; P. 8. 



A single specimen, 14J inches in length, was obtained by the Fish Commission steamer 

 Albatross, from station L'7!>3, Lat. 01° 03' N., Ion. 80° 15' W., in 741 fathoms. 



BATHYTROCTES ATTRITUS, Vaillant. 



Bathytroctes attritus, Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, Poissons, 1888, 158, pi. XII, fig. 2 (struc- 

 tural details). 



This name was given by Vaillant to certain mutilated fishes obtained from the Azores, 

 Cape Verde, and Banc d'Arguin, at 1,550 to 3,655 metres If they belong to Bathytroctes at 

 all, they appear to resemble most closely B. melanocephalus. Until fresh material shall be 

 obtained, it seems doubtful whether B. attritus is a valid species. 



NARCETES, Alcock. 



Narcetes, Alcock. Ann. aid Mag. Nat. Hist., 1890, n, 305, vn, 1891, i, 10. 



Body, as in Bathytroctes, rather elongate, compressed, covered with scales of moderate 

 size. Eye rather small. Cleft of mouth wide, the maxillary extending beyond the vertical 

 through the middle of the eye. Teeth in premaxillary and mandible fine, pluriseria I; line 

 teeth on maxillary, palatines and vomer; no teeth on tongue. Dorsal and anal fins rather 

 short, the. former beginning in vertical from origin of ventral. No adipose dorsal. Caudal 

 symmetrically forked, dill openings wide. Pseudobranehia? present. Gill rakers com- 

 plete; 7 branchiostegals; 4 gills, with narrow lamina?. Gill rakers long. Pyloric append- 

 ages in moderate number. 



The type of this genus is Narcetes eremilas, Alcock (1. c), obtained by the Investigator 

 in the Arabian Sea (station 105) at a depth of 740 fathoms. The description is based upon 

 two female specimens, measuring 13A and 94 inches respectively. 



PLATYTROCTES, Gunther. 



I'latytroetes, Gunthkr, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, II, 249; Challenger Report, XXII, 229. 



Body rather abbreviated, much compressed, and covered with small keeled scales. 

 Mouth of moderate width; the maxillary and intermaxillary and mandible armed with a 

 single series oi small teeth. Palate smooth. Eye rather large. The dorsal and anal fins 



1 This may lie due to tin- condition of the specimen. Should it he a good character it may necessitate the 

 formation of another subgenus. 



