DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIE DISTRIBUTION. 207 



intermaxilla is \c\\ protractile, but may be almosl entirely concealed under the preorbitals. 

 The intermaxilla reaches to the fronl of the orbit. The maxilla is a roundish, slender bone, 

 extending backward to the end of the intermaxilla. The mandible is about as Long as the 

 eye; it extends in the vertical through the front of the pupil. Teeth in villi form hands mi 

 the intermaxillary and mandible. The interorbital spare is \crv narrow, less than a fourth 

 of the length of the eye, which is l.\ times as long as the snout and nearly one eighth of the 

 total wit liout caudal. The length of the head to the gill-opening is two-sevenths of the total 

 without caudal. There is a strong bifurcated spine at the angle of the preoperculum ex- 

 tending backward slightly beyond the gill-opening; the length of this spine at its upper 

 articulation is two thirds the length of the eye. The gill-opening is reduced to a small slit, 

 placed at a distance behind the eye about equal to the length of the eye and above the median 

 line of the body. Skin naked. The lateral line is abruptly arched over the gill-opening 

 and is connected across the nape with its fellow of the opposite side. 



The spinous dorsal is somewhat elevated in front; the first spine is nearly twice as 

 long as the last, its length being about one-fifth of the total length without caudal. The 

 sixth and seventh rays are the longest, their length nearly equaling that of the base of the 

 fin. The caudal consists of four simple and eight divided rays. Of the divided rays in 

 the specimen described the fifth and sixth are the longest, the lower portion of the tilth 

 and the upper portion of the sixth being produced into a filament, making these rays as long 

 as the distance from the tip of the intermaxillary to the fourth anal ray. It is worthy of 

 remark that in another example of the same species and of about the same size as the type 

 the sixth of the divided rays alone contributes to form the filament; and in a young exam 

 pic. one about one-third as large as the type, the first dorsal spine when laid back reaches 

 to the cud of the soft dorsal. Some of the numerous examples of this species have none of 

 the caudal rays much produced, even in large individuals. The anal fin begins directly 

 under the third ray of the soft dorsal; its rays increase in length to the sixth, which is the 

 longest and twice as long as the first, its length being contained five and two-thirds times 

 in the total without caudal. All the rays are simple except the last, which is divided. The 

 pectoral begins under the middle of the spinous dorsal and extends to below the fifth ray of 

 the soft dorsal; its rays are all simple. The ventral base overlaps the lower extremity of 

 the pectoral base/ its origin is under the gill-opening. The fourth and longest ray equals 

 one-fifth of the total length without caudal. There is a small but distinct anal papilla. 



Radial formula: D. iv, 8; A. 8; P. 19; V. I, 5. 



Color, generally light brown, the back with numerous narrow streaks and blotches of 

 slightly darker brown. A dark blotch on the membrane between the third and fourth dor- 

 sal spines, in some cases occupying nearly all of the membrane; in other eases more limited 

 and nearly elliptical in shape. Anal with a broad subvertieal dark band, the tips of the 

 rays and a small area of the membrane behind each ray pale. The lower caudal lobe with 

 a narrow submarginal dark bind. Ventral with two indistinct narrow dark bands on its 

 outer half. 



Specimens of this species were obtained by the Blake from station XXX, off Barbadoes, 

 at a depth of 209 fathoms; station CLXXX, in 24° 17' 30" N. Int., 82° 09' W. Ion., at a 

 depth of l.">7 fathoms; station xxxiii, off Santa Cruz, at a depth of 115 fathoms; station 

 ccxvi, in 20o 31' X. Int., 85° 03' \V. Ion., at a depth of 119 fathoms, and station CCXXX, 

 in 23° 13' N. lat.. 89 10' W. Ion., at a depth of SI fathoms. 



Additional specimens were secured by the Albatross from the following 1 .calities: Sta- 

 tion 2359, in 20° 19' 10" X. lat., 87° 03' 30" \V. Ion., at a depth of 231 fathoms; station 

 2404, in 28 44' K lat., 85° 16' W. Ion., at a depth of 60 fathoms; station 2314, in 32° 43' 

 N. lat.. 77 51' W. Ion., at a depth of 159 fathoms; station 2402, in 28 c 3(1' X. lat., 85° 33' 

 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 111 fathoms, and station 2400, in 28° 40' N. lat., 84° 49' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 26 fathoms. 



