222 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



dorsal equals that between the latter and the front margin of the 

 eye. Teeth in the jaws, on the vomer and palatine bones, in 

 very narrow bands. Pectoral fins rather shorter than the ventral, 

 which extends far beyond the vent, the vent being much nearer 

 to the ventral than to the anal. Silvery, with some very indistinct 

 darker spots on the sides of the body ; top of the dorsal fin and 

 extremity of each caudal lobe black. 



Off Twofold Bay, 120 fathoms. (Challenger.) 



Genus Scopelus, Cuv. 



Body oblong, more or less compressed, covered with large 

 scales, those of the lateral line being generally the largest. 

 Series of phosphorescent spots run along the lower side of the 

 head, body, and tail, and a similar substance occupies the front 

 of the snout and the back of the tail. Head generally compressed, 

 with the bones thin but ossified. Cleft of the mouth very wide. 

 Intermaxillary very long, styliform, tapering ; maxillary well 

 developed. Teeth villiform, in bands, in both jaws, on the 

 palatine and pterygoid bones, and on the tongue ; the vomerine 

 teeth are not visible except in the large specimens. Eye large. 

 Pectoral and ventral fins well developed, the latter are eight- 

 rayed, inserted immediately in front of the dorsal, or below its 

 anterior portion, at some distance behind the base of the pectoral. 

 Dorsal fin in, or nearly in, the middle of the length of the body ; 

 adipose fin small, sometimes fimbriated. Anal fin generally long; 

 caudal forked. Gill opening very wide ; the outer branchial arch 

 extending forward to behind the symphysis of the lower jaw, and 

 beset with very long gill-rakers. Branchiostegals from eight to 

 ten. Pseudobranchise well developed. Air-bladdder small. 

 Pyloric appendages in small number. 



Pelagic Fishes of all Seas. 



834. Scopelus Cuvieri, Casteln. 

 Proc. Zool. Soc. Victoria, Vol. II., p. 10H. 



