183 



In spirit the colour is purple, the contracted opaline epidermis forming a 

 sort of "bloom." 



Length 8- inches. 



Bay of Bengal, off Kistna coast, 753 fathoms. 



Regd. No. 13197. 



This species seems to differ from Leptoderma macrops, Vaillant, in having 

 the body less elongate, the lateral line very distinct, and the rays of the dorsal 

 and anal fins more numerous. It agrees fairly well with the figure but not with 

 the description of that species, and is probably identical with it. 



Family Halosauridce. 



Body elongate, tapering, covered with cycloid scales : head either 

 scaly or almost naked. Margin of the upper jaw formed by the premax- 

 illse mesially and the maxillae laterally. Opercles incomplete. The short 

 dorsal belongs to the abdominal portion of the backbone. No adipose 

 dorsal. Anal exceedingly long. Stomach with a caecal sack. Pyloric 

 appendages in moderate number. Gill-openings wide. No pseudobran- 

 chiae. Air-bladder large, simple. 



Halosaueus, Johnson. 



Halosaurus, Johnson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 406 : Giinther, Cat. Fishes, VII. p. 482, and Challenger Deep- 

 Sea Fishes, p. 232. 



Halosaurichthys, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Dec. 1889, p. 454. 



Halosaurus, Aldrovandia and Halosaurichthys, Goode and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, pp. 129, 132, 136. 



Halosaurus and Aldrovandia, Jordan and Bvermann, Fishes of N. Amer., pp. 607, 608. 



Body elongate, compressed ; terminating in an exceedingly long, tapering, 

 lash-like tail ; abdomen rounded. Snout much projecting beyond the mouth, 

 which is inferior and of moderate width. Facial bones with large muciferous 

 channels ; a series of luminous organs generally developed in connexion with 

 the mucous canal system. 



Suboperculum large, preoperculum rudimentary, interoperculum mem- 

 branous. Gill-openings wide, gill-membranes entirely separate. Branchiostegals 

 numerous. No pseudobranchia?. 



Eye large or moderate. Villiform teeth in compact bands in the jaws, 

 rudimentary palatines, and pterygoids : none on the vomer. A band of hyoid 

 teeth. Dorsal fin short, above the space between the ventrals and the vent. 

 Anal fin exceedingly long, occupying the entire length of the tail. No caudal fin. 



Lateral line running near the ventral profile, composed of scales which are 

 usually enlarged and bear the luminous organs. 



Distribution : N. & S. Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. 



