206 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIX. 



7, very small, and present only in the angles, while in the fourth there are about the same 

 number, very inconspicuous. 



The dorsal fin originates above the middle of the operculum, and at a distance from the 

 snout equal to twice the length of the snout. 



The anal tin is composed of about 100 spines and rays. Owing to the mutilation of the 

 specimen it is impossible to determine how many there are of each, but there are supposed 

 to be about 28 rays, normally united by a membrane into a fin. 



The caudal is also imperfect, but the middle rays are seen to be about half as lung as 

 the remnants of the external rays. The flu is supposed to resemble in shape that of Lepi- 

 dopus <■(< tela tits. 



The pectoral originates under the tip of the opercular flap. Its outline is rounded 

 above instead of emarginate, as in Lepidopus eaudatus. Its longest ray equals in length 

 the postorbital part of the head. 



The ventrals originate at a distance from the snout equal to that of the base of the 

 pectorals from the same point. They are rudimentary and represented by minute scutes, 

 the length of which is 3J millimeters in the specimen before us, and about equal to half the 

 interorbital width. 



Eadial formula: D. 1.54: A. 100; P\ 12; V. i. 



Csecal appendages 8, in the specimen examined. Some, however, may have been lost, 

 the abdominal viscera having been partly digested by the halibut in the stomach of which 

 it was found. 



Color, uniform silvery, with traces of dark color upon head and tail. 



The type of this description, a remarkable fish, taken from the stomach of a halibut 

 caughton the western edge of the Grand Bank of Newfoundland in 80 fathoms, was received 

 in 1887 from Oapt. Eoderick Morrison, of the Gloucester fishing schooner Laura Nelson. 



Extreme length of type (No. 29116), 890 millimeters (35£ inches.) 



A specimen was taken by the Albatross at station 2362, at a depth of 25 fathoms, and 

 another by the Blake at station vn, off St. Kitts, in 208 fathoms. 



B. elongatus was first obtained by Mr. Clarke, who thus describes its caoture: 



^77>7>'?y?>?^>^^ 



BENTHODESMUS ELONGATDS. 



Collected by self, Hokitika beach, October 12, 1874, and the only perfect specimen of 

 some eight or ten which have come under my observation. All were in the same proportion 

 as the one above described, and varied but little in size, but were generally much mutilated 

 by attrition on the sand and shingly beach. 



Besides the type of the genus, Benthodesmus elongatus, Clarke, known from New Zealand, 

 there is a Japanese species Benthodesmus tenuis, (Giiuther), from Inosoma, Japan, 1 taken by 

 the Challenger in 345 fathoms, at station 232. 



APHANOPUS, Lowe. 



Aphanopus, LOWE, Proc. Zool. Soc, London, 1839, 79. (Type, A. rarbo, from Madeira . — Guxther, Cat. 

 Fish. Brit. Mus., Ii, 1860, p. 342; Challenger Report, xxn, 1887, 36. 



Body very elongate, band like, scaleless; head long, pointed; cleft of the mouth very 

 wide, jaws armed with strong, lanceolate teeth arranged in single series and in common 



1 Lepidopus tenuis, Gcnther, Annals Magazine of Natural History, Loudon, xx, 1877, 437; Challenger 

 Report, xxn, 1887, 37, pi. vn, fig. B. (Type 24 inches long, from Inosoma, Japan.) 



