494 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Tliis species has m-ver been fully described, the only existing example being an imper- 

 fect one, 23 inches long, obtained off the coast of Greenland about 1837. 



CORYNOLOPHUS, Gill. 



Corynolophus, Gill, Proc. U. S. Nat Mns., i, 1878, 2'J.l; v, 1883, 551. — (LC'tkex, Vidensk. Medd fra den Natur- 

 hist. Foren., Copenhagen, 1879-'80, <J7, 08.) 



Ceratiids resembling Himantolophus but having the body short-oval; dorsal with '< rays; 

 pectoral with about 7. 



Dr. Gill, replying to certain strictures as to the validity of this genus, made by Lutken, 

 states that the distinction alleged to exist between Himantolophus and Corynolophus are 

 very marked, and quite sufficient to justify two genera. He forcibly remarks that there is 

 no reason except the singularity and greatness, of the differences specified^ for doubting the 

 correctness of Eeinhardt's observations. 



CORYNOLOPHUS REINHARDTII, (Li im:m. Giix. 



Himantolophus Beinhardtii, Lutken, K. Dansk. ViuYnsk. Scl.sk., issii, :!d!i, pis. i, n, ti<;s. 1-1. — GOnther, 



Jordan, loc cit. 

 Corynolophus Beinhardtii, (Jill. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns., i. 1878, 227; \. 1883, 551. 



The body is short oval, its height three-fourths its length. The dorsal fin has 5 rays, 

 the pectoral 17. The cephalic ray is provided with about 8 tentacles. The body armed 

 with prickly scales, sparingly distributed. 



A single specimen, It inches long, is known from the coast of Greenland. 



/EGEONICHTHYS, Clarke. 



^geonichthys, Clarke, Trans. New Zealand Institute, x, 1878, 245.— Gill, Proc. I'. S. Nat. Mns., I, ls78. 227. 



Ceratiids with body and head depressed, mouth with the cleft vertical, or inclined for- 

 ward, and mandibular articulation under, or in advance of snout. (Gill.) 



This is a form closely allied to Himantolophus, and excelling it in grotesqueness. It 

 is represented by a single species, A. Appelii, Clarke [loc. <-it., p. 245, pi. vi), obtained in 

 the deep sea off New Zealand. Giinther gives interesting details about the head of the 

 cephalic spine, which is phosphorescent and a lure for other abyssal animals. (See Chal- 

 lenger Report, xxi l, pp. 51, 52.) 



MELANOCETUS, Gunther. 



Melanocetus, GOnther, Proc Zoiil. Soc. London lsiil.;iol (type, t/. Jnhnsonii, GOnther) Challenger Report; 

 xxu, 56. — Gill, /«•■. cit. 



Ceratiids "with naked skin; with very large mouth, having a subvertical cleft; with no 

 second dorsal spine; with branchial arches unarmed and branchial in 2.\ pairs. 



MELANOCETUS JOHNSONII, GOnther. (Figure i06.) 



Melanocetu* Johnsonii, GOnther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London. 1864, 301, pi. 25. — Study of Fishes, 1880, 473, fig. 

 I'll; Challenger Report, xxu, 57. — Gill, loc. 'it. 



A single specimen, 3.8 inches long, is known. It was obtained by Mr. Johnson at 

 Madeira, and had. it is said, a Scopelus lh inches long and 1 inch high, rolled up in a ball 

 in its stomach. 



" This singular fish," says Gunther, "is distinguished by a greater disproportion of the 

 various parts of its body than is found in the other genera of the family to which it belongs. 

 'fhe head is of tetrahedral form and is the most extensive part of the whole animal. The 

 gape is enormous, and, although the lower jaw is vertical when the mouth is closed, it can 

 be moved downwards at more than a right angle. The lateral extensibility of the mouth 

 is not less than the vertical, so that the prey which can be received within the cavity of 

 the mouth actually may exceed the size of the fish itself. This enormous head is followed 

 by a very small trunk and tail, the length of both being less than the depth of the head. 

 As the trunk would not offer sufficient room for an addouiinal cavity corresponding in size 





