DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 157 



Family SACCOPHARYNGID^, Gill. 



Saccopharyngoidei, Bleeker, Tentamen, 1859, xxxn; (Family, 169). 

 Saccopharyngina, GOnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mas., via, 22. 



Saocopharyngidw, Gill, Ait. Fata. Fish., is;.'. 21 (No. 205); Nature, xxix, 1X84, 235; Proc. U. S. Nat. 

 Mil-.. \ ii. 1884, 62 3.— Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, r. s. Nat. Mus., 365. 



Lyomeri with the branchio-anal portion much longer than the rostro-branehial ; the 

 tail excessively elongated and attenuated; the cranium unknown; the eyes anterolateral; 

 with the jawbones moderately extended backward (in comparison with the Kuiypharyugicl;r 

 and apparently not closable against each other; with enlarged teeth in one or both jaws; 

 with the dorsal and anal fins feebly developed, and with pectorals small but broad. 



Saccopharynx is considered by Dr. Gunther to consist of "deep-sea congers," but evi- 

 dently it is not at all related to the congers or any other allied fishes. (Gill.) 



SACCOPHARYNX, Mitchill. 



Saccopharynx, Mitchill, Ana. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., i, 1824, 86 (type, Saccopharynx JlageUum, Cuvier). — 



Gi nthkr, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vm, 22; Challenger Report, xxn, 1887, 255.— Gill, op. eit., 46. 

 Ophiognathus, Harwood, Phil. Trans. Royal Soc, 1827, 52. 



Saccopharyngids with the dorsal and anal fins continued backwards and confluent with 

 a slightly developed caudal tin [ .'J, and with the lower jaw toothless. 



Front View of Head of Saccopharynx. 



We unite the various forms of Saccopharynx under one specific name, pending the 

 discovery of new material which may render an intelligent discussion possible. 



SACCOPHARYNX FLAGELLUM, Mitchill. (Figures 178, 179, 180.) 



Saccopharynx, Mitchill, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., New York, I, 1824, 82. 



Saccopharynx flagellant, ("Mi rcHiLL.")— Cuvier, Regue Animal. 2d ed., 1829, n, 355. — Gunther, Cat. Fish. 



Brit. Mus., vm, 22. — JOHNSON, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1862, x, 279. — Gill, loc. oit., 64. 

 Ophiognathus ampullaceus, HARWOOD, Phil. Trans.. 1827, 52, pi. VII, Figs. 1-4. 

 Saccopharynx ampullaceus, RICHARDSON, Fauna Boreali-Americaua, 1836, in, 271. — Gunther, Challenger 



Report, xxn, 1887, 256, pi. lxvi. 



Both jaws are armed with slender, curved, widely set teeth, irregularly uniserial orbiserial, 

 their points being directed inward. The length of the jaws is from one-third to one-seventh 

 of the length of the body; that is, the distance from the vent to the extremity of the snout. 

 The dorsal fin commences a long way behind the head and a short distance in front of the 

 vent; like the anal it may or may not reach the end of the tail, which terminates in an 

 extremely delicate and thin filament. The small pectoral tin with some thirty very thin 

 rays. Gill-opening an elongate slit. A bluish-white line runs on the back along each side 

 of the base of the dorsal fin, and a similar line is sometimes distinct along the anal fin. 

 (Oiinther.) 



Of this genus five specimens have been captured; described by Dr. Gunther as follows. 

 There may, of course, be two species, for it is not certaiu that Mitchill and Harwood both 

 saw the same form. 



