DISCUSSION OF srECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 177 



"The fishermen affirm correctly that this superior degree of « triteness when first c;i|. 

 fined is constant in this species, their Alfonsin d casta cumprida, as compared with /;. 

 deeadactylus, Cuv., their Alfonsin a casta larga, which is from the first more generally 

 scarlet or high colored. It is also remarkable that the pale-colored month is characteristic 

 of the outwardly richer colored species; while, in the paler, B. splendens, the mouth inter- 

 nally is full bright red." 



Radial formula: D. iv, 13-15. A. iv, 25-29. V. i, 7 +. 



This species, originally described by Lowe in 1833, was, as has already been stated, 

 erroneously represented in the t 'ambridge Philosophical Transactions, by a figure of the other 

 species. In Madeiran waters it is equallj abundant with Jl. deeadactylus, bul it has not been 

 identified from the Lusitanian coast. A single specimen was obtained by the steamer 

 Albatross at a depth of 424 fathoms from station 2415, in 35° 49' 30'' N. lat., 74° 34' 45" \V. 

 Ion., and the British Museum has lately secured specimens from Japan. 



Lowe records the following singular observations: "One singular distinction which 

 exists between this fish and /.'. deeadactylus, Cuv., is the comparatively rapid decomposition 

 of the viscera. I have repeatedly had individuals of both sorts brought for examination, 

 which had been caught together, and while the whole contents of the abdomen in />. deea- 

 dactylus have been in the most perfect preservation, those of B. splendens, though in other 

 respects the fishes were quite fresh, have proved entirely decomposed. And 1 have only 

 been able to overcome this difficulty by going out in the fishing boats aud being present at 

 the actual capture of this latter species, the Alfonsin d casta cumprida of the fishermen; 

 which begins to be met with of small size at tin' depth of 150 or 200 fathoms, but is scarcely 

 taken in full size and plenty except with its congener. /.'. deeadactylus, Cuv., the Alfonsin 

 a casta larga, at the enormous depth of from 300 to 400 fathoms, and from 1 to 2 leagues 

 from the shore." 



MELAMPHAES, Gunther. 



Metopiaa, Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. Londou, 1843, 90 (type, M. typhlops). (Name preoccupied by a genus of 



Coleoptera.) 

 Melamphaes, GOnthbr, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., v, 433; Challenger Report, xxn, 26. 



Beryeine fishes, with a large and thick head, the superficial bones of which are largely 

 modified by the presence of wide, muciferous channels. Cleft of mouth large, very oblique; 

 lower jaw slightly protruding. Teeth villiform, in a single narrow baud iu each jaw ; palatine 

 toothless. Scales large, cycloid, somewhat irregular. A single dorsal with six spines aud 

 eleven rays (in type species). Vent far behind tlieend of the dorsal, and the anal fin occu- 

 pying a space midway between the vertical from the end of the dorsal ami the origin of the 

 caudal, having two spines and six rays. Brauchiostegals, viti; pseudobrancbise present. 

 Opereles not armed. 



MELAMPHAES TYPHLOPS, (Lowe), Gunther. (Figure 198. i 



Metopius typhlops, Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1813, 90; 1850, p. 251. 



Melamphaes typhlops, Guntiii.i;, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. v, 433; Challenger Report, XXII, 27, pi. v, tig. K. 



The greatest depth of the body below the origin of the dorsal fin equals the depth below 

 the occiput, and is rather more than one fourth of the total length (without caudal), the 

 length of the head being one-third. The head is but little compressed, but higher than 

 broad, aud longer than high; the snout is very obtuse, with the lower jaw scarcely project- 

 ing beyond the upper: maxillary extending to behind the vertical from the posterior mar- 

 gin of the eye; eye small, its diameter being one-sixth of the length of the head, and two 

 thirds of that of the snout; crown of the head very convex', divided by ridges (which 

 are angularly bent) into a central rhomboid portion and into a pair of lateral ones: the 

 skiu, extending from ridge to ridge and covering the muciferous channels, is finely and lon- 

 gitudinally plaited, and pierced at regular intervals by very small pores. The operculum 

 has a membranaceous margin; the gill membrane perfectly free from the isthmus, and not 

 united with that of the other side; there are four perfect gills, but the pseudobranchise arc 

 small. Head entirely SCaleleSS. 

 19808— No. 2 12 



