408 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



This species belongs in the subgenus Xewafmntrus of Giinther. It resembles Macrurus 

 affinis, from -which it differs in its smaller eye (one- fifth as long as the head), and in having 

 the head contained 5§ times in the total length, instead of 5 times as in affinis. 



The Blake secured specimens from station cccvin, in 41° 25' 45" K lat., 05° 35 30" W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 1,242 fathoms; from station cccix, in 40° 11' 40" N. lat., 08° 22' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 304 fathoms; and from station lxxvi, off Havana, at a depth of 154 fathoms. 

 The Albatross also obtained examples from station 25G4, in 39° 22' N. lat.. 71° 23' 30" W. 

 Ion., at a depth 1,390 fathoms; from station 2563, in 39° 18' 30" N. lat., 71° 23' 30" W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 1.422 fathoms; from station 2534, in 40° 01' N. lat., 67° 29' 15" W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 1,234 fathoms; from station 2562, in 39° 15' 30" K lat., 71° 25' W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 1,434 fathoms; Cat. No. 33392, U. S. K M., from station 2074, in 41° 43' N. lat., 65° 21' 

 50" W. Ion., at a depth of 1,309 fathoms; Cat, Xos. 33274 and 33276, IT. S. K M.,from sta- 

 tion 2035, in 39° 26' 16" N. lat., 70° 02' 37" W. Ion., at a depth of 1,309 fathoms; Cat. No. 

 33302, U. S. N. M., from station 2041. in 39 22' 50" N. lat., 68° 25' W. Ion., at a depth of 

 1,608 fathoms. 



HYMENOCEPHALUS CAVERNOSls. Goon* and Bean. (Figure 341.) 



Bathygndus cavernosus, Goode and Bean, Ptoc. I". 8. Nat. Mus., L885, ">!is. — GOnther, Challenger Report, 

 xxii. 1887, 156. 



Body stoutish, its greatest height (23 millimeters) contained 7 times in total length. 



The scales are moderate, deciduous, cycloid, with no visible armature, about 8 rows 

 under the base of the first dorsal. 



Length of head (28 millimeters) about 6 in total length. The bones of the head are 

 very soft and cavernous, in many places without muscular covering, spongy. Interorbital 

 area doubly concave with a spinous medial ridge; its greatest width (10 millimeters) about 

 2| in the length of the head. 



Postorbital portion of head (13 millimeters) about half its length, 1£ as long as eye. 

 which is circular, its diameter (10 millimeters) contained 2i times in the length of the head. 



Snout broad, very obtuse, its width at nostril nearly equal to interorbital width, its 

 length (6 millimeters) 4§ times in that of the head. Nostrils normal. 



Teeth in both jaws in villifbrm bands, very small; a naked space at the symphysis of 

 of the intermaxillary'; vomer and palatine toothless. Gill-rakers very short, minute, and 

 rather numerous; about 18 below the angle of the anterior arch. Pseudobrauchia- absent. 

 Barbel two fifths as long as the eye. 



First dorsal composed of 2 spines, the first of which is minute, inserted at a distance 

 from the snout (2S millimeters) equal to the length of the head; the second as long as the 

 head without the snout, and 10 branched rays: its base (111 millimeters) equal to diameter 

 of eye. Second dorsal almost rudimentary, its rays remarkably short, about 133 in num- 

 ber; its distance from the first dorsal half the length of head. 



Anal much higher than second dorsal, its distance from the snout (46 millimeters) con- 

 tained about 3 A times in the total length. About 27 rays in a space equal to length of 

 head. Anterior rays longest, in length about three fourths of the diameter of the eye. 



Pectoral inserted under the first branched ray of the first dorsal, its length (20 milli 

 meters) equal to twice that of the eye and about two-thirds length of head. 



Ventral slightly behind the pectoral, its first ray filamentous, reaching to the base of 

 the tenth anal ray; it consists of 11 rays. 



Color, gray, with silvery tints on sides: the abdomen and lips dark. 



Dr. Bean has reexamined the types of Bothy gadus cavernosus^ and is convinced that 

 Dr. Giinther is probably- right in his statement that it belongs to the subgenus Mysta- 

 conurus, but since the specimens are all young and have more rays in the ventral fin 

 than the described species, it can not be referred to M. longifilis, and must be called for the 

 present Hymenocephalus cavernosus. 



The following revised data are presented: D. n, 10, 133; A. 27 rays in space equal to 



