210 



DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



origin under the pectorals less farther backward than in C. equisetis, is one of the best means 

 of separating the young of the two forms, and corresponds also to one of the best distinc- 

 tive characters of the adult. The small individuals of both species uot only have the 

 preoperculuni provided with spines, but also a scapular spine and supraorbital spine on 

 each side. The larger specimens have the body very elongate, but are at the same time 

 less thick, without being compressed, as they are in advanced age. The dorsal is rela- 

 tively as low as in C. equisetis: in the adult, its origin at a point scarcely behind the anterior 

 margin of the eye; in the young, above the posterior margin of the preoperculuni j in those 

 still younger, between the preoperculuni aud the opening of the gills; in ('. hippurus, adult, 

 above the posterior margin of the pupil; in the younger specimens of the same species, 

 above the branchial opening, and so ou. The system of coloration is a marked character 

 in the different ages. 



Family BRAMID^E. 



Bromides, Lowe, Piac. Syn. Maderensium, etc. (1834); Trans. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 1*36, 197. — Gill, Arrauge- 

 ment Families of Fislies, 1*72, !»; Century Dictionary, 659. — Jordax aud Gilbert, Bull, xvi, IT. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 1883, 455 (in part). 



Bramini, Bonaparte, Catalogo Metodico, 1*46, 76 (Subfam. 132). 



Bramosformes, Bleeker, Tentamen, 1859, xxn. 



Scombroids with short, oblong, compressed body. Head rounded; snout, obtuse, con- 

 vex; mouth wide, oblique. Vertical fins, long, elevated, anteriorly continuous, with but 

 few spinous rays. Ventrals thoracic. Teeth on vomer and palatines. An exterior row of 

 strong teeth in the jaws. Premaxillaries protractile. Branchiostegals 7. Pseudobranchiie 

 present. 



the POHFBET (Tiramft f!aii.) 



A single genus Brama, of which Taractes (without spinous portion to dorsal and anal) 

 is the young. 



They are strictly pelagic, and it would seem probable that they descend to considerable 

 depth. 



BRAMA, Schneider. 



Brama, Schneider, Bloch's Systema Ichthologia>, 1801, I. 98 (type, B. alropos Schn.). — Risso, Hist. Nat.Enr. 



M6rid. in, 433. — Ccvier and Valexciexxes. Hist. Nat. Poiss., vn, L'81. — GPxther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., 



II, 408. — Jordax and Gilbert, Bull. xvi, U.S. N. M., 455. 

 Taractes, Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, 82.— Poey, Ah. Soc. Esp., v, 148. — Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., 



n, 410. 

 Pteryconibus, Fries, Vet.Akad. Handl., 1837. 



Body compressed and more or less elevated, covered with rather small scales; cleft of 

 the mouth very oblique, with the lower jaw longest. Dorsal and anal fins elongate, the 



