DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIK DISTRIBUTION. 291 



Color, grayish brown: lighter and yellowish below. 



Species and genus were based Q] a very small specimen, and many of the importanl 



characters were not discernible. This specimen (Cat. No. 26007, U. S.N. M.) was taken by 

 the FishHawk from station 871, in 40 02 54' NT. lat., 70 23' 40" W. Ion., at a depth of 115 

 fathoms, and was much contracted and distorted from immersion in strong alcohol. Numer- 

 ous examples have since been obtained and the descriptions entirelj recast. II was taken 

 by the Blake from station lvi, off St. Vincent, in 95 fathoms, and from station li. off St. 

 Kins, in 208 fathoms; also by the Albatross from station 2402, in 28° 36' N. lat., 85 33 30 

 W. Ion., at a depth of HI fathoms; from station 2134, in L9 56' 06" N. lat.. 7.". 17 32 W. 

 Ion., al a depth of 254 fathoms; from station Z398, in 28 45' S. lat.,86 26' W. Ion. .at a depth 

 of 227 fathoms; from station 2403, in 28° 42' 30" X. lat., 85 c 29' W. Ion., at a depth of 88 

 fathoms; from station 2399,in 28"= 11' N. lat., 86° 18' W. Ion., at a depth of 196 fathoms; from 

 station 2376, in 29° 03' 15" N. lat.. 88 16' W. Ion., at a depth of 324 fathoms: from station 

 2378, in 29 1 1 30" ]S T . lat., 88° Oil' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of (is fathoms: from station 2397, 

 in 28 1- N. hit.. 86 36' W. Ion., at a depth of 280 fathoms; from station L'.'!77,iu 29° 07' 

 ;j0" H". lat., SS° 08' W. Ion., at a depth of 210 fathoms. 



CHAMPSODON, Gunther. 



Champsodon, GSnther, Proc. Zool. Soc. Loudon, 1867, 102; Challenger Report, i, Tart vi (Shore Fishes), 52. 



Body compressed, elongate, covered with minute granular scales, and with two lateral 

 lines, each provided with lateral vertical branches. Cleft of mouth oblique, very wide, 

 the tii> of the maxillary extending very far behind the posterior margin id' the orbit. Eye 

 lateral, directed upward, (dose to the upper profile of the head, and comparatively small. 

 Two dorsal tins, the first composed of five rays; the second dorsal and anal similar in 

 shape and height, the anal slightly shorter than the dorsal, beginning slightly behind if 

 and ending slightly iu advance of its last rays. Caudal peduncle stout, long; caudal 

 furcate. Ventrals jugular, inserted somewhat in advance of the base of the pectoral and 

 extending almost to the vent. Pectoral median, very short. Teeth in jaws in a single 

 series, not closely set, of unequal size, those of the lower jaw longer than the upper ones; 

 vomerine teeth cardiform, iu two separate patches; palatine teeth, none. Gill-openings ex- 

 ceedingly wide. Angle of preoperculum armed with a long, lanceolate spine obliquely di- 

 rected upward, and with several denticulations on the hind margin of the same bone. 

 Preorbital with 1 or 2 spines. (From descriptions and figures of Gunther.) 



The type of this genus and the only species is C. vorax (Gunther, loc. cit.; Challenger 

 Report, VI, PI. xxm, Fig. A . It occurs iu the China seas, and was obtained by the Challenger 

 in the Arafura Sea, near the Ki Islands, at station 192, in 12!) fathoms: and near the 

 Philippines, at station 204, iu 115 fathoms; also by the Investigator in the Pay of Bengal, 

 100 fathoms (Alcock, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1889, Nov., 381). 



Family CHI ASMODONTID^E. Gill. 

 ChiasmodonHdoe, Gill in Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, II. S. Nat. Mus., tsSi', mil ; Century Dictionary, 953. 



Acanthopterygians, with an elongate, subeyliudric or slightly tapering form and sub- 

 conic head. Skin naked. Two dorsal tins, tin- firs! of slender spines and short, the second 

 dorsal and anal long: ventrals thoracic and normal (I, 5). Mouth very deeply cleft, reach- 

 ing beyond the eyes, with numerous long, sharp, and (in front) movable teeth. Teeth on 

 palatines. Upper jaw not protractile, covered by an integument in common with the snout 

 anteriorly. Opercular apparatus very oblique and reduced. 



CHIASMODON, Johnson. 



motion, Johnson, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1863, 408. — Jordan and Gilbert, Hull. xvi. U. S. Nat. Mas., 

 810. 

 Chiasmodus, GUNTHER, Cat. Pish, llrit. Mas., v, [35, et alibi. 



Body elongate, compressed, naked: belly pendent, its walls membranaceous, capable of 

 great dilation. .Mouth very large; lower jaw longer, no barbel: jaws with two series each 



