418 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



greater thaii the vertical, about one-fourth of the length of the head, and equal to the 

 width of the interorbital space above the center of the orbit. Scales very rough, each 

 with 3 or 4 acute and prominent spines; 4 series between the first dorsal fin and the lateral 

 line; the crests of many of the enlarged dorsal scales are coarsely denticulated. The 

 entire abdomen covered with scales. Distance of vent from the isthmus equal to that of 

 the hind margin of the eye from the extremity of the snout. Barbel very small. Yentrals 

 small, inserted in front of the pectoral tin, with the outer ray produced into a short filament. 

 Anterior branchial arch with 22 very short, styliforin gill-rakers. (Giinther.) 



This form, the Pizzune or Pesci sorici of the Sicilian fisherman, the Ealto of Cornigli- 

 ano, has been found in the vicinity of Nice and Genoa, as well as about Sicily, but not as 

 yet in the Adriatic. Vincigucria states that in the Gulf of Genoa it is more abundant 

 than Ccelorhynchus. With the long line at GOO fathoms, off Genoa, he obtained 10 speci- 

 mens of this form and none of the other. Both are taken at sea, some miles out from 

 Genoa, by the tishermen of Cornigliano, at depths of 300 fathoms or more. The French 

 ships took 01 specimens oil' the South European and African coast in 400 to 1,400 fathoms. 



Canestrini gives a fair figure and Vinciguerra a better one. 



TRACHYRHYNCHUS MURRAYI, Gintiiek. 



Trachyrhynehtts Murrayi, Gi xtiier, Challenger Report, xxn, 1887, 153, pi. xli, Fig. A. 



The large orbit is oval in shape, nearly one-fourth of the length of the head, contained 

 once and two-thirds in the length of the snout, and equal to the width of the interorbital 

 space above the middle of the orbit. Scales almost smooth, having 1, 2, or 3 small spines 

 developed on their hind margin ; they are rather irregularly arranged, in 4 series, between the 

 dorsal fin and the lateral line; crests of the dorsal scales simple, triangular, spines directed 

 backwards, without deuticulation. The abdomen between the vent and the roots of the 

 ventral fins scaleless. The distance of the vent from the isthmus nearly equal to that of 

 the hind margin of the eye from the extremity of the snout. Barbel minute. Ventral fin 

 very small, scarcely in front of the pectoral, with the outer ray produced into a filament, 

 which does not reach the vent. Pectoral as long as the postorbital portion of the head. 

 Anterior branchial arch with 22 very short styliforin gill-rakers. 



Light yellowish (in spirits): vertical lius, ventral filament, interior of the mouth and 

 branchial cavity black. D. 9; P. 23; Y. 7. (Giinther.) 



This species was discovered by the Knight Errant in the Faroe channel, station 4, at a 

 depth of 555 fathoms. 



MACRURONUS, Giinther. 



Macruronua, GUnther, Zool. Record, VIII, 1873. 103; Challenger Report, xxn, 1887, 157. 



1 1 ead and body compressed, covered with cycloid scales; trunk not abbreviated. Bones 

 of the head rather firm, with narrow cavities. Bye large; snout rather pointed ; mouth wide, 

 lateral. Teeth in the upper jaw biserial, those of the outer series and those of the single 

 mandibulary series strong. Gill membrane slightly united in front; 7 branchiostegals; 4 

 gills with the gill-laminae well developed; the first branchial arch free, with long lanceolate 

 gill rakers. Bays of the second dorsal well developed throughout its length. Barbel none. 



This genus includes a single species, Macruronus Nov(e-zelandi<e, (Hector), Giinther. 

 (Figure 350.) (Hector, Trans. New Zealand Inst., in, 130, pi. xvm, fig. 1. — Hutton, Fish. 

 New Zealand, 49. — Giinther, Challenger Beport, xxn, 18S7, 157.) 



Of this fish Dr. Giinther examined specimens from New Zealand, Tasmania, and the 

 Messier Channel, the largest being nearly 2 feet long. "All of them," he writes, "seem to 

 have been caught near the surface and at no great distance from the shore, and it is not 

 probable that it descends to the same great depth as the other Macruri. Like Lepidopus, 

 it seems to live for the greater part of the year at a small depth, and to periodically 

 approach the shore at certain seasons. Hutton says that it is thrown up in large quanti- 

 ties on the shores of Cook Straits after heavy gales." 



