DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIE DISTRIBUTION. 319 



DIPLACANTHOPOM \ BRACHYSOM \. 61 mhi R. 



Diplacanthopoma brachysoma, GOnther, Challenger Report, xxu, 115, PI. xxm, fig. C; Alcock, Ann. and 



Mag. Nat. 1 list ., 1889, 385. 

 Sirembo mura nolepis, \'aii i am. Exp. Soi. Travailleur et Talisman, Poissons, 1888, p. 273, pi. xxm, lij;. I, la. 



(Off Soudan). 



The greatesl depth of the body is below the origiu of the dorsal 11 n, and contained twice 

 and one-third in the distance of the extremity of the snout from the vent. The head is 

 aliout as deep as broad, its Length being equal to the distance of the vent from the root of 

 the ventral tins, and more, than one-half of the Length of the body exclusive of the tail. The 

 vent is nearer to the snout than to the root of the caudal. Eye of moderate size, without 

 orbital fold, as long as thesnout, one-fifth of the Length of the head and equal to tlie width 

 of the flat interorbital space. Mouth of moderate width, the maxillary extending somewhat 

 behind the eye and being slightly dilated behind. All the teeth are in narrow villit'orin 

 bands, that of the vomer being opeu and ^-shaped. The superficial bones of the head are 

 thin, and those of the infraorbital ring and of the mandible dilated for the reception of the 

 wide mucous canals. Of the opercular spines the horizontal is remarkably Long, much 

 Longer than the lower vertical one. 



The vertical lins are completely united, and, owing to the great attenuation of the tail, 

 no caudal portion can be distinguished. The rays are very thin, closely set, and of mod- 

 erate length. Origin of the dorsal tin immediately behind the root of the pectoral, and 

 that of the anal immediately behind the vent. Pectoral tins rather narrow, inserted on a 

 short, broad, and partly free pedicle; they are Longer than the postorbital portion of the 

 head; ventrals half as long as the distance of their root from the vent. 



The scales arc rather small, thin, cycloid, and rather deciduous; if a lateral hue is 

 present, it is confined to the trunk. 



Upper parts of a uniform light brownish color; the lower parts and the tins colorless. 



The type, 1A inches long, was taken by the Challenger off Pernambuco, Brazil (station 

 122), in 350 fathoms. Dr. Alcock has identified with the same species a female 1A inches 

 long with gravid ovaries, taken by the Investigator in the Andaman sea, 7J miles east of 

 North. Cinque Island in 190 fathoms (=D. Alcockii, G. & B. See p. 523, below). 



DICROMITA, GOODE and Bean, n. g. 



Brotulids resembling in form and general appearance Catcetyx and Diaplacanthopoma, 

 having the lateral line obsolete, or interrupted posteriorly; ventrals a pair of simple, tine 

 filaments ; and teeth upon the palatines. It has, however, three or four small spines upon 

 the preoperculum, as well as a sharp spine upon the upper angle of the operculum; and 

 the lateral line, though indistinct, is traceable for half or three fourths the length of the 

 body, which, like the upper part of the head, is covered with small, deciduous scales, the 

 opercular region being apparently scaleless, and the bones of the suborbital region almost 

 uncovered, with conspicuous sinuses, which show through the transparent texture of the 

 surface. The head is oblong, the snout being somewhat produced, depressed and turgid, 

 resembling, though in a less degree, that of Barathrodemus. Eye moderate, conspicuous. 

 Mouth wide; teeth villiform, in bands on the jaws and palatines, and very minute upon the 



v '>'• which has a roughened, knob like enlargement at its angle. Vent premedian. 



Vertical fins continent ; ventrals rooted very dose together, each reduced to a fine, flexi- 

 ble, simple filament, planted somewhat behind the isthmus and below the middle of the 

 operculum, dills 1, with well developed lamina' and rather long, slender gill-rakers. 

 Branchiostegals 8. Pseudobranchise apparently absent. 



DICROMITA AGASSIZH, Goode and Bean, n. s. (Figure 286). 



Body elongate, much compressed, its height about one-fifth of its total length; its 

 width about half its greatest height. The length of the head is slightly greater than the 

 height of the body, ami equal to twice its own width. Mouth very Large, the maxillary, 

 which is curved and much dilated at its extremity, reaching far behind tin' \ci in sal from 



