26 

 Brephostoma, Alcock. 



Brephostoma, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Nov., 1889, p. 383, and September, 1890, p. 201. 



Head-bones and opercles unarmed; preoperculum with a double edge. 

 Mouth edentulous. Eyes large. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with five 

 spines. Anal fin with one spine and similar to second dorsal. Scales large, 

 adherent, ctenoid. Seven branchiostegals. Pseudobranchia? present. Pyloric 

 caeca in moderate number. No air-bladder. 



Its nearest relative is Pomatomus. 



12. Brephostoma Carjpentcvi, Alcock. 



Brephostoma carpenteri, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Nov. 1889, p. 383, and Sept. 1890, p. 201, pi. ix. fig. 4: 

 Illustrations op the Zoology op the R. I. M. S. Investigatoe, Fishes, pl. XVIII. fig. 2. 



2 



B. 7. D. V. I. 10. A. I. 9. L. lat. 32-36. L. tr. T. 



9 



Body elongate, compressed, its greatest height slightly over one-fourth the 

 total length without the caudal. 



Head one-third the total length without the caudal, for the most part 

 covered with somewhat deciduous scales. 



Snout broadish and somewhat depressed, its tip formed by the symphysis 

 of the lower jaw : its length, including the mandibular element, is about two- 

 thirds the major diameter of the eye. 



Eyes large, their major diameter more than a third the length of the head 

 and about twice the breadth of the inter-orbital space : supra-orbital margin in 

 the dorsal profile. 



Mouth oblique ; the upper jaw, which is much concealed by the extensive 

 pre-orbitals, hardly reaching to the pupil ; the lower jaw, the rami of which are 

 very broad, closes inside the upper jaw except at the symphysis. No teeth. 

 Tongue free, broad. 



Gill-opening very wide, the bones of the gill-cover, like those of the face 

 and jaws, thin and weak — almost membranous, quite unarmed ; the preopercu- 

 lum with a double edge. Gill-rakers of the outer side of the first arch long, 

 close-set, — the longest being nearly half the length of the eye. Pseudobranchiae 

 large. 



Scales strong, thick, very adherent, imbricate, the exposed surface studded 

 with spines as in most species of Macrurus. The scales of the head, though 

 otherwise similar to those on the body, are somewhat deciduous. Lateral line 

 in the form of simple tubes with large round patent orifice : it extends half-way 

 along the caudal fin. 



