91 



supraclavicular angle. In addition both edges of a broad mucous channel 

 excavated in the edge of the preoperculum are spinate, and there is an acute 

 spine at the upper angle of the operculum. 



Snout depressed ; its length is a little more than that of the eye and equal 

 to the width of the interorbital space. A large nostril in front of the eye, and 

 a smaller one midway between it and the edge of the snout. 



Diameter of the eye about two-ninths the length of the head. 



The length of the upper jaw is nearly two-thirds that of the head. Teeth 

 in narrow bands in the jaws and palatines ; few and scattered on the vomer. 



About 20 long gill-rakers on the outer side of the first branchial arch. 

 Each pseudobranch consists of two inconspicuous papillae. 



Scales in about 20 rows between the dorsal fin and the vent. No lateral 

 line. 



The rays of the vertical fins are weak : the first anal ray is a little less than 

 a head-length behind the axilla. Pectorals pointed, as long as the post-orbital 

 portion of the head. Each ventral consists of a filament, as long as the post- 

 rostral portion of the head, split into two near its end. 



The intestine is puckered round the junction with the pylorus, but there are 

 no distinct cgeca. 



Colours in spirit : head and belly black, body light brown, fins light grey. 

 An adult female is a little over 7 inches long. 

 Arabian Sea, 1000 and 931 fathoms. 

 Regd. Nos. 12865 : ^. 



This species may probably prove to be identical with the previously de- 

 scribed Porogadus nudus Vaillant (Exp. Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, Poissons, 

 p. 262, pi. xxiv. fig. 2). 



70. Dermatorus melanocephalus, Alcock. 



Dermatorus melanocephalus Alcock, Ann. MagyNat. Hist., July 1891, p. 32: Illustrations of the Zoology 

 of the Investigator, Fishes, pl. XXI. fig. 4. 



Differs from D. trichiurus only in the following particulars : — 



(1) the bones of the head are thin and soft and the spines are all weak and 

 flexible, bending, instead of pricking the hand as they do in D. trichiurus ; there 

 are no spines on the edge of the preoperculum : 



(2) the diameter of the eye is only one-sixth the length of the head and half 

 that of the snout : 



(3^ the long gill-rakers on the outer side of the first branchial arch are less 

 numerous : and there are no pseudobranchias : 



