140 



The dorsal fin commences nearly opposite the commencement of the anal, 

 and is higher than the body below it. The anal ends a short distance in front 

 of the caudal; its anterior portion (about 13 rays) is much the highest. Caudal 

 forked. 



Pectorals narrow, arising near the ventral profile, two-thirds as long as the 

 head, and reaching two-thirds the way to the base of the ventrals. Ventrals 

 narrow, nearly two-thirds as long as the pectorals ; almost, but not quite, reach- 

 ing to the vent. 



The body is covered with a black skin which is scaleless, and is coated in 

 life with thick tenacious mucus. 



Two rows of luminous organs run along each side of the ventral border of 

 the body. 



In the lower series are 4 in front of the pectoral, 10 between the pectoral 

 and ventral, 4 between the ventral and anal, and 22 above the anal fin. 



The upper series, which are much the most conspicuous, consist of twelve 

 organs and extend from the pectoral to the vent. 



In addition, there are small organs in each of the spaces between the bases 

 of the branchiostegal rays ; a large one below each eye, one near the upper end 

 of the preoperculum, one on each side of the mandibular symphysis and a short 

 series on both the dorsal and ventral edges of the caudal peduncle. 



In life, the luminous organs are bright rose-pink, with silvery margins. 



The vent is midway between the root of the caudal fin and the eye. An air- 

 bladder is present, and six large pyloric casca. 



A fine male and a female with ripe ovaries from the Arabian Sea, in the 

 neighbourhood of the Laccadive Islands, 738 and 1200 fathoms. In both the 



length is 7'- inches. 



Distribution : New Guinea and Banda Sea : Arabian Sea : off Atlantic coasts 

 of North America. 



The female, taken off Minnikoy, when the dredge was shot in 1200 fathoms, 

 was alive and active when taken from the dredge, and lived on board for about 

 quarter of an hour afterwards ; so that it is most improbable that it came from 

 any great depth. No display of luminosity was observed, though it was watched 

 for. 



I have described the ovaries, and the microscopic structure of the stomach, 

 in Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist, for November 1892. The ovaries are long narrow 

 tubes in which the developing ova form a closely-pleated band with very little 

 interstitial stroma. 



In the stomach the submucous coat is of remarkable thickness, and consists 

 of a network of connective tissue of great regularity, the meshes of which are 



