472 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



PERISTEDION LONGISPATHA, Goode and Bean. (Figure 386.) 

 Perisledium longispatha, Goode and Bean, Ball. Mas. Comp. Zoiil., xn. No. 5, 166. 



Body high anteriorly, its greatest height (39 millimeters) contained 4J times in total 

 length. The length of the head, without prolongations, is contained 2A times in the total 

 length ; with prolongations, 2 times. The crown of the head is flat, separated from the 

 nuchal plate by a deep furrow, which is convex forward. The interorbital space is deeply 

 concave, the supraorbital margins being swollen; its width (10 millimeters) equal to the 

 long diameter of the orbit. No protuberance on The forehead, which is much depressed, its 

 outline descending abruptly and rapidly in front of the eyes. A ridge, but no spine, 

 beneath the eye. The length of the snout (49 millimeters), including the preorbital exten- 

 sion, is more than half the length of the head; the preorbital extension equals about half 

 the length of the snout. The processes are flat, rounded anteriorly, and covered with 

 minute granulations; they diverge considerably, the distance of the tips apart (3G millime- 

 ters), being nearly twice that at their bases (19 millimeters). A ridge arises at the base of 

 the preorbital process and extends to the angle of the preoperculum, and its width at the 

 angle (8 millimeters) is contained twice in the diameter of the orbit. A narrow inconspicu- 

 ous and interrupted ridge below. A ridge on the operculum, ending in a sharp spine at 

 the angle; its length is equal to the diameter of the eye. 



The jaws arc feeble, toothless; the lower jaw with 2 long, much fringed barbels and 

 14 shorter ones. The length of the long barbels (32 millimeters), twice the diameter of the 

 eye. 



The maxilla does not quite reach the vertical through the anterior margin of the eye. 

 The diameter of the eye (16 millimeters) is contained 4 times in the length of the head 

 without its prolongations. The greatest width of the head over the preopercnlar ridge (01 

 millimeters) is contained three times in the total length. 



The dorsal origin is directly in a Line with the upper angle of the gill opening. The 

 longest spine (18 millimeters), slightly longer than the width of interorbital space. The 

 fin has 8+19 raj s. 



The anal origin is under that of tin' second dorsal. The flu has 19 rays. Caudal 

 small, slightly emarginate; the length of its middle rays (2.3 millimeters) equals H times" 

 the diameter of the eye. 



Ventrals slightly in advance of the pectorals and extending farther back, reaching 

 slightly beyond vent and to vertical through seventh row of scales. 



Pectoral short, extending to vertical from fifth scale of the lateral line, the longest 

 detached ray to the sixth. Twenty-nine rows of scales. 



Color in life, bright roseate; a black blotch uear the tip of the pectoral. Dorsal with 

 narrow dark margin; tip of caudal black. 



The elongation of the preorbital extension is noticeable in the smallest examples. 



This form was taken by the Blake, at stations lviii, off Havana, 242 fathoms (type); 

 Lxn, off Barbados 209 fathoms; i.xm, off Barbados, 209 fathoms; and by the A Ibatross, 

 at stations in the Gulf of Mexico as follows: 2397,280 fathoms; 2370, 324 fathoms; 2358, 222 

 fathoms. 



PERISTEDION IMBERBE, Poet. 



Penstedion imberle, Poet, Rep. Fis. Nat. Cuba, n, 1866,158; 1868, 462; Mem. Hist. Nat. Cuba, n, 367, 389. 

 Peristedion micronemrts, Poet, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York. i\. 321. 

 Peristethus micronema, Gunther, Challenger Report, xxn, 1887, 65. 



Body somewhat slender, its greatest height contained 44 times in the distance between 

 the tip of the snout and the base of the caudal. Length of head, without prolongations, 

 contained 2.1 times in total length; with prolongations, twice. Crown of the head Hat; 

 interorbital space concave, with a depressed groove in its middle, branching posteriorly 

 along the base of the supraorbital crests; its width somewhat greater than the horizontal 

 diameter of the orbit. No protuberances on the forehead or on the snout above, and no 

 ridges or spines beneath the eye. The length of the snout, including the preorbital exten- 



