165 



Mouth-cleft very oblique ; the maxilla, which is dilated behind, only reaches 

 to the posterior border of the orbit. Villiform teeth are present on the vomer. 



The first dorsal ray is almost midway between the tip of the snout and the 

 adipose fin : the anal begins half a head-length behind the last dorsal ray. The 

 pectorals are as long as the head without the snout, and when unbroken, reach 

 almost to the vent and as far as, or beyond, the tips of the ventrals. 



The posterior margin of each scale is covered with minute spines. 



Under surface with numerous very regular longitudinal series of large 

 luminous organs : beginning with two series at the tip of the isthmus, becoming 

 7 or 8 series on the throat, 5 or 6 series on the belly, 2 series on either side of 

 the anal fin, and 3 series — of which that in the middle line is very small — between 

 the anal and the caudal. 



A large air-bladder is present. 



Mature females are nearly 7^ inches long, mature males are somewhat 

 smaller. 



Andaman Sea, 188 to 220 and 405 fathoms : Arabian Sea, off Travancore 

 coast, 360 fathoms. 



Eegd. Nos. 13124, 13125, if 7 , 1 -f, 3 J2. 



Distribution: West Indies; Madeira and Morocco coast; Arabian and 

 Andaman Seas ; off Kermadec Is. 



In the Indian Museum is also one of the " Challenger " duplicates. 



SCOPELENGTS, Alcock. 

 Scopelengys, Aloock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., October, 1890, p. 303. 



Head and body compressed. Eye small. Mouth very wide ; the maxilla 

 dilated behind. Acute villiform teeth, in bands uncovered by the lips in the jaws, 

 and in the palatines and vomer. Gill-openings very wide ; gill-covers complete. 

 Pseudobranchige rudimentary. Dorsal fin near the middle of the body, short; 

 an adipose dorsal. Anal fin short. Caudal forked. Pectorals well developed. 

 Ventrals with eight rays. [Scales, if present, very deciduous.] No air-bladder. 

 Pyloric caeca present in moderate number. 



"When I described Scopelengys I did not know Neoscopelus by autopsy. I 

 now feel sure, though the specimen is in a very bad state of preservation, that it 

 is very closely related to Neoscopelus. 



Apart from any differences that may exist in the scales, it differs from 

 Neoscopelus in having a smaller eye, rudimentary pseudobranchiae, and no air- 

 bladder. 



