338 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Alcock states that in young individuals the lower (free) rays are very much less clearly 

 separated from the rest of the flu and from each other than in the adults. (Aim. and Mag. 

 Nat. Hist., 1872, 348.) 



Another species, D. nigricaudis, was obtained from the Andaman Sea, Investigator 

 station 115, in 188 and 120 fathoms. (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1891, July 31.) 



Alcock has also identified a third species, taken in the Laccadive Sea, with the form 

 described and figured by Vaillant as Dicrolene intronigra, Goode and Beau, proposing for 

 it the name Paradicrolene Vaillantii. (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1890 (Oct.), 297). We are 

 of the opinion that Vaillant's fish and ours are conspecitic. 



The erroneous printing of " P for "8" in our description of the branchiostegals of 

 D icrolene has •unfortunately misled Mr. Alcock. 



DICROLENE INTEONIGRA, Goode and Bean. (Figure 207, 207 A, B.) 



Dicrolene intronigra, Goods and Bean, Bull. Mus. Coinp. Zool., x, 1883, 202. — Gunther, Challenger Report, 

 xxii, 1887, 107.— Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, 1888, 258, pi. xxin, fig. 2. 



Body moderately compressed, its dorsal and aual outlines approaching at an equal angle 

 the horizontal axis, and tapering to a narrow point, which forms the base of the caudal fin. 

 Scales small, about 110 rows between the branchial opening and the tail, and about 27 trans- 

 verse rows counting upward and forward obliquely from the origin of the anal. The lateral 

 line rudimentary, running near the base of the dorsal tin at a distance from it less than the 

 diameter of the eye, and apparently becoming obsolete on the posterior third of the body. 

 Body height one-sixth of standard length. 



Head somewhat compressed, with ilattish upper surface, which is encroached upon by 

 the upper margins of the orbit. At the posterior upper margin of each orbit is a strong 

 spine pointing backward and upward; a long sharp spine at the upper angle of the opercu- 

 lum, its exposed portion as li »ng as half the diameter of the eye. Preoperculum, on its lower 

 posterior border, with three equidistant spines, much weaker than that of the operculum. 

 Large muciferous cavities in the bones of the head; a row of large cavities extending back 

 ward from the upper angle of the orbit, and continuous with those on the lateral line. Mouth 

 large, its cleft considerably longer than half the length of the head, and the maxillary 

 extending behind the vertical from the posterior margin of the orbit. The posterior portion 

 of the maxillary much expanded, its width at the end equal to three-fourths the diameter 

 of the eye. Upon its expanded tip are scales. Eye large, one-fourth as long as head, and 

 as wide as the interorbital space. Length of head one -fifth standard length. 



Dorsal fin inserted at a distance from the snout equal to two-ninths the length of the 

 body. 



Anal inserted under the vertical from the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth dorsal ray. The 

 height of the dorsal and aual fins is about equal to the diameter of the eye. Their bases 

 extend almost to the insertion of the caudal. 



The caudal is composed of or 7 rays; its length equal to half the distance from the 

 snout to the insertion of the dorsal. 



The ventrals inserted almost under, but slightly posterior to, the posterior limb of the 

 preoperculum, in length about equaling the upper jaw. 



Pectorals inserted close to the branchial aperture; the eight lower rays being free and 

 much prolonged, the longest and most anterior being nearly one-third as long as the body, 

 and more than three times as long as the contiguous posterior ray of the normally con- 

 structed portion of the fin, which is, however, about equal to the last of the free rays. The 

 free portion of the pectoral being longer and composed of fewer rays than the normal portion, 

 the fish has the appearance of bearing two pectoral fins of the same general shape, the 

 lower of which is the longer. The length of the normal portion of the fin is contained 

 about four times in the length of the body. 



Radial formula: D. 100; A. about 85; C. G or 7; V. |; P. 19+7 or 8. L. lat. 110-120. 



The Talisman obtained it off the coast of Soudan, from stations lxxx, lxxix, and lxxix, 

 bis, at depths of 1,139, 1,232, and 1,250 meters, respectively, and on the Banc d'Arguin, from 



