466 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



D. XI, 11; A. I, 10; P. 12 + 3; V. i. 5. 



Color, light brownish-yellow on the back, paler beneath; the fins, except the pectoral 

 and ventral, pale. The pectoral has five dark bauds, of which the third extends entirely 

 across the flu. 



The type of the description is a single individual 137 millimeters long, taken by the 

 U.S. steamer Btakr, at station LXiv,off Barbados, at an uncertain depth, somewhere between 

 100 and 200 fathoms. 



PRIONOTtS STEARNSII, JORDAN and Swain. 

 Prionotus Stearnsii, Jordan ami Swain, Proc. 1'. S. Nat. Mus., 1884 (vni. 541. 



A Prionotus allied to Prionotus evolans, having head 2§ in length (3J including caudal); 

 depth. 4 (5); D. vm-12; A. 12. Scales, (transverse series), 77; pores in lateral line about 

 4$. Length, 3§ inches. 



Body not very slender; narrowed but compressed above, the width of the nape between 

 the occipital spines being about one fifth the head. Head depressed and long, its upper 

 profile being a little concave before eye. thence slightly convex or almost straight to front 

 of dorsal. Snout 2J in head, not very broad, rather more than usually rounded anteriorly 

 anil scarcely emarginate at tip. Edges of snout without spine and without distinct seme, 

 the margin merely granular. Surfaces of bones of head comparatively smooth, but rough- 

 ened with small granules, which are arranged in radiating striae, much as in P. evolans, but 

 more regularly than in that species. 



Mouth rather wide, the maxillary reaching to opposite front of the eye, the mandible 

 about to center of eye ; maxillary two in head. Bands of palatine teeth narrow. 



K,\ e small, its diameter (in young specimen | 4§ in head. A very small cirrus formed of 

 two or three thickish filaments from a common base on upper part of eye; its length little 

 more than half the pupil. Interorbital area of moderate width, rather deeply concave, its 

 least width Oi in head. Orbital rim not at all elevated, its bones with entire or granulated 

 edges. No trace of spine or groove behind eye. < Occipital spines very weak, the outer pair 

 inconspicuous, not reaching nearly to front of dorsal, the inner pair altogether wanting, no 

 trace of them being seen. No spines, ridges, or evident roughness on temporal region. 

 Preopercle with a single small spine, without smaller one at its base. Lower opercular 

 spine small; upper opercular spine reduced to a blunt point. Humeral spine inconspicu- 

 ous, not extending beyond opercular spine. The head is thus much less completely armed 

 than in any other of our species of Prionotus, the only spinous projections present being 

 the occipital, humeral, opercular and preopercular spines, four pairs. These spines may 

 perhaps become more prominent with age. Membranaceous flap of opercle scaly. 



Gill rakers long and very slender, about thirteen developed, the length of the longest 

 about half eye. 



Scales rather large, those on the nape and breast little reduced in size; about 10 

 between dorsal and occiput. 



Fins all low and small. First dorsal spine rather the highest, its length 2^ in head, 

 its anterior margin serrulate. Longest ray of soft dorsal, 2 in head. Caudal, 1£ in head. 

 Longest anal ray 2 in head. Pectorals very short (perhaps longer in the adult), reaching 

 only to front of second dorsal, 1^ in head. Detached rays slender, the uppermost 1| in 

 head. Yeutrals, 1±- in head. 



Color, in spirits, brown, paler below; scales everywhere, with dark punctulations, these 

 formiug a darker shade on the lateral line near the middle of the body; the head plain 

 brown. Spinous dorsal dusky posteriorly. Soft dorsal with two dusky longitudinal shades. 

 Caudal blackish at tip. Anal witli a black stripe toward the margin. Pectorals black, the' 

 detached rays and ventral fins plain whitish. 



The type of this species (No. 36943, U. S. N. M.), 3§ inches long, in good condition, was 

 taken from the stomach of a Bed Snapper. Lutjanus Blackfordii, at Pensacola. 



The Blake secured a specimen at station ecu, on the Alacran Shoals, Yucatan, at a 

 depth of 35 fathoms. 





