314 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



MELANOSTIGMA GELATINOSTJM, GtlNTHER. (Figure 284.) 



Melanostigma gelatinosum, Gunther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1881, 21, pi. n, fig. A; Challenger Report, 

 xxn, 1887, 82.— Goode and Bean, Bull. Mas. Comp. Zool.. 1883, 209.— Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Amer., 

 1885, 125. 



Body is enveloped in a loose, delicate skin, as in Liparis. Head large, deep, compressed, 

 with obtuse snout. Eye large, two-sevenths of the length of the head and longer than tin- 

 snout. Cleft of the mouth rather oblique, but the lower jaw does not project beyond the 

 upper. Lips not fleshy. Inside of the mouth, gill-openings, and vent black. The gill- 

 opening is reduced to a very narrow foramen above the base of the pectoral fin. The origin 

 of the dorsal fin and the root of the pectoral arc enveloped in the loose skin of the body. 

 The dorsal fin seems to commence above the middle of the pectoral, is low at first, but 

 becomes considerably higher posteriorly. Pectorals very narrow, consisting of a few rays 

 only. Upper parts tinged with a purplish gray; sides marbled with the same color, v> hich 

 toward the end of the tail becomes more intense, almost black. 



Total length of the specimen 5| inches; distance of the snout from the gill-opening 

 seven-eighths inch, from the vent 1; inches. 



The type specimen was obtained on January L6, 1880, by l>r. Coppinger, of II. M. S. 

 Alert, at Tilly bay, in the Straits of Magellan, in 24 fathoms. 



The Blake secured an individual from station cccxxxiv. in 38° 20' 30" X. lat.. 73° 

 26' 40" W. Ion., at a depth of 395 fathoms; and the Albatross obtained specimens from 

 station 2003, in 37° 16' 30" X.lat.. 74" 20' 36" W. Ion., at a depth of 641 fathoms: from station 

 2549, in 39° 51' 30" X. lat.. TIP IT' W. Ion., at a depth of .'.71 fathoms; from station 2540, in 

 39° 53' 30" X. lat.. 7o 17' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 538 fathoms; Cat. Xo. 32007, U. S. N. 

 M., from station 2003, in 37° 10 30 N. hit.. 71 20' 36" W. Ion., at a depth of Oil fathoms; 

 Oat. Xo. 35611, U. 8. X. M., from station 2201, in 39° 39' 45" X. lat., 71° 35' 15" W. Ion., at 

 a depth of 538 fathoms. The Fish ffawlc took additional specimens from station 994, in 39° 

 40' X. lat.. 71- 30' W. Ion., at a depth of .°.0S fathoms; Cat. No. 28762, I'. 8. X. M., from 

 Station 937, in 39° 49' 25" X. lat., 69° 49' W.lon.,at a depth of 010 fathoms: Cat. No.28901, 

 F. S. X. M., from station 995, in 39° 40' 30" X. lat., 71° 31' W. Ion., at a depth of 358 

 fathoms; Cat, Xb. 28813, TT. S. X. M., from station 947, in 39° 53' 30" X. lat,, 71° 13' 30" 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 319 fathoms: Cat. Xo. 28853, U. S. X. M„ from station 952. in 39° 55' 

 X. lat., 70= 28' W. Ion., at a depth of 390 fathoms. 



Family BROTULIDvE. 



Brotulince, Swainson, Nat, Hist. Fish, 1839, n, 188,301. 

 Brotuloidei, Bleeker, Tentamen, 859, xxiv. 

 Brotulidce, Adams, Man. Nat. Hist., 1854, 101. 

 Brotulina, Gunthkr, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mas., iv. 1862, 371. 



Ophidioidea, with body naked or covered with small scales. Dorsal and anal fins confluent 

 with caudal. Ventrals jugular, reduced to one or two rays. Gill-openings wide, the gill- 

 membranes tree, Vent in anterior half of body. Barbel present or absent. Lateral line 

 interrupted, or partially oi completely obsolete. 



ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE GENERA OF BROTCLID.E. 



(Not strictly according to affinities, and for purposes of identification only.) 

 Barbels present on snout and lower jaw. 



I. Ventrals a pair of bifid filaments [Brotula] 



II. Ventrals a pair of simple filaments [Nematobrotola] 



Barbels replaced by cilia or tubercles. 



I. Eye absent or rudimentary. Cave dwellers. 



A. No teeth on palatines; villiform teeth in jaws [LUCIFUGA] 



B. Strong teeth on palatines, and on mandibular edge [Stygicola] 



No barbels, cilia, or tubercles. 



I. Caudal differentiated, with distinct stem. 



A. Ventral filaments single. A fiat opercular spine. 



1. Head scaly [Dinematichthys] 



2. Head naked [Brosmophycis] 



