64 



Edge of the frontal bridge flush -with the chin, not projecting. 



The rostral tentacle ends in a pair of fleshy lobes, surmounted by a third, 

 median, foliaceous fimbriated lobe. 



Eyes between a sixth and a seventh the length of the disk, somewhat more 

 than two diameters apart. 



Dorsal surface closely covered with spines which have a stelliform base and 

 a flexible, almost setaceous, shaft ; on the tail they are almost rigid : ventral 

 surface with similar but smaller bristle-like spines. 



Dorsal fin close behind the gill-opening, anal fin not entirely behind the 

 dorsal. 



Caudal fin 4- to 4- in the total length, equal to the pectorals. Ventrals 

 very small, not a third the length of the pectorals. 



Colour in life, uniform blue black. 



The largest specimen is not quite 3 inches long. 



Bay of Bengal, off Vizagapatam coast, 240 fathoms ; Andaman Sea, 370 to 

 419 and 405 fathoms ; off Travancore coast, 406 fathoms. 



Regd. Nos. 13029, 13030, 14120, y' y • 



Malthopsis, Alcock. 



Malthopsis, Aleock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., July 1891, p. 26. 



Head and anterior part of body forming a large depressed sub-triangular 

 disk. Bones of the snout produced to form a sharp projecting spine, overhanging 

 a cavity above the mouth, in which a retractile tentacle is lodged. 



Skin more or less beset with large conical striated tubercles. 



Mouth-cleft rather narrow, horizontal. Villiform teeth on the jaws vomer 

 and palatines. 



Soft dorsal and anal short. 



Two gills (on the 2nd and 3rd branchial arches). No pseudobranchia?. 



No air-bladder : no pyloric appendages. 



Distribution : Indian Seas, Mid Pacific. At moderate depths. 



44. Malthopsis lutea, Alcock. 



Malthnpsis lutea, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., July 1891, p. 26, pi. viii. figg. 2, 2a : Illustrations of tub 

 Zoology of the Investigator, Fishes, pl. XIX. fig. 4. 



B. 5. D. 5. A. 4. C. 9. P. 11. V. 1.5. 

 Disk not quite as long as the tail (caudal included), its cranial part moder- 

 ately elevated. Snout projecting horizontally or obliquely upwards as a stout 

 striated spine. 



