59 



The great cuboidal head is at least half the total length without the caudal, 

 and its greatest height, behind the eyes, is from a third to two-fifths the same 

 measure. 



Byes large, subcutaneous, lateral although placed high up near the dorsal 

 profile. 



Snout short, squarish, underhung by the massive square-cut lower jaw. 

 Nostrils two tiny pores situated near the edge of the snout. On the top of the 

 snout, folding backwards on to a shallow smooth depression of the skin, is a 

 tentacle, about half as long as the eye, ending in a leaf-like tassel : this repre- 

 sents the first dorsal fin. 



Mouth-cleft wide, the length of the maxilla being two-ninths the total 

 without the caudal. 



Skin extremely loose, covered with minute granules or prickles which are 

 finest on the throat and belly, traversed by chain-like rows of mucous pores as 

 follows : — 



(1) one extending, on each side, from the snout over the eye, and then 

 curving downwards to run along the ventral surface of the tail and on to the base 

 of the caudal : 



(2) one extending from the tip of the chin, on each side, along the lower 

 border of the head, to near the gill-opening : 



(3) one across the head (" like a headstall ") behind the level of the eyes 

 from (2) to (2) : 



(4) one on each side from the snout, in continuation of (1), round and across 

 the cheek, to (3) : 



(5) one across the chin from (2) to (2). 



Pectorals fairly broad, ventrals small and narrow. 



Colours in spirit, either uniform light yellow, or light yellow with large 

 faint-brown spots ; throat white. 



In the Indian Museum are numerous specimens from the Bay of Bengal 

 193, 272 and 145 to 250 fathoms, and two from off Colombo 14*2 to 400 fathoms 

 and 480 fathoms. 



Regd. Nos. 11687, 11690, 11693-11695, 11719, 11720, 13468, 13183-13492, 



528 



T • 



Distribution : West Indies and neighbouring Atlantic coasts of America, 

 Madeira, C. Verde and neighbouring coasts of Africa : Arabian Sea, Bay of 

 Bengal : Fiji, Japan : at moderate depths, 130 to about 400 fathoms. 



