234 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



POMATOMICHTHYS, Giglioli. 

 Pomatomichthys, Giglioli, Elenco e Catalogo degli Amfibie edei Pesci Italiani, 1880, 20. 



Similar to Apogon, but with 4 branchiostegal rays. Scales large, deciduous. Two 

 dorsal fins. Teeth in bauds, rudimentary on the jaws, wanting on the tongue and pala- 

 tines. Eyes enormous. Tail forked. 



This genus is known only from a single species from the Straits of Messina. 



POMATOMICHTHYS CONSTANCES, Giglioli. 

 romatomichthye Constancin*, Giglioli, loc. cit. 



A Pomatomichthys with body whose height is contained 5 times in its length (tail 

 included), and the depth of the head 3 J. Diameter of the eye 2\ in the length of the 

 head. Preoperculum with a single spine, but without serrated ridges. Dorsal with 7 

 spines in its first division, and 1 spine and 9 rays in the second. Anal with 2 spines and 

 9 rays. Pectoral fins short. Ventrals longer, extending to the vent. Lateral line entire. 

 Scales upon caudal fin. Color brownish-yellow above, silvery below and on the operculum. 



The type of this species is a single specimen, 14 centimeters in length, found at the 

 Straits of Messina, September 28, 1878, after a strong gale, which brought to the surface 

 in immense abundance the rarest species of Sternoptychidce and Seopelidce. 



MICROICHTHYS. Ruppell. 



Microichthys, Ri'rpPELL, Verzeieh. Mus. Senckenbergianum Anfgestell. Samnil. Fisehe, 1852, 1. 



Apogonids, said to resemble in form and position of the fins Ambassis; lower jaw 

 somewhat the longer; teeth villiform, without canines, on the jaws and perhaps on pala- 

 tines and tongue. An acute ridge over the eye extending backwards over the opercles. 

 Scales large, deciduous, opercles naked. Lateral line commencing uuder the origin of the 

 second dorsal fin. 



This genus is represented by a small specimen, obtained in the waters near Sicily; 

 and by another, in the Florence Museum, which we have examined, and which has the 

 general appearance of a deep-sea fish. Its scarcity would appear to point to the same idea. 

 This form was described by Ruppell under the name Microichthys Coccoi. 



BREPHOSTOMA, Aleock. 

 Brephostoma, Alcock, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., VI, 201, September, 1890. 



A (Jhilodcpterid with body low, rather elongate, and with delicate tissues characteristic 

 of abyssal fishes. Head large, without keels or spines; preoperculum with a double edge. 

 Mouth small, oblique, weak, and without teeth. Eyes large, lateral. Two separate dorsal 

 fins, the first less developed, with 5 spines. Anal tin similar to second dorsal, with 1 

 spine. Ventrals thoracic, with 1 spine and 5 rays. (Jill opening very wide. Scales, large, 

 ctenoid, adherent. Branchiostegals 7. Pseudobrauehia; present. No air-bladder. Pylo- 

 ric caeca long and in moderate number. (Alcock.) 



This genus is represented by a single species, Brephostoma Carpenter!, obtained by the 

 Investigator in the bay of Bengal, in 16° 18' N. hit., 90° 40' E. Ion., at depths of 1,370 to 

 1,520 fathoms.* 



Family ACROPOMID^E. 



Acropomidce, Gill, MS. 



Pereoidea, with a body somewhat elevated and a large head, forward vent, and teeth 

 villiform in the jaws, vomer and palatines. (Gill.) 



' Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., November, 1889, 383; September, 1890, 201, PI. ix, Fig. 4. 



