185 



Seven or eight large pyloric casca in a longitudinal row embracing the ascend- 

 ing limb of the stomach. 



Colours in the fresh state : — body and fins uniformly dark sepia-brown, 

 opercles silvery, throat black. 



Four specimens, the largest 21 inches long. 



Arabian Sea, off the Laccadive Islands, 1000 fathoms ; Gulf of Manar, 675 

 fathoms. 



Regd. Nos. 11541, 12874, 12875, 12876, 12877. 



This species may possibly prove to be identical with H. affinis, Giinther, 

 from Japanese Seas. 



147. Halosaurus mediorostris, Gthr. 



Halosaurus mediorostris, Giinther, Challenger Deep-Sea Fishea, p. 239, pi. lis. fig. C : Alcock, Jonrn. As. Soc. 

 Bengal, Vol. LXI1I pt. 2, 1894, p. 136. 



B. 11. D. 11. P. 8. V. 1/8. 



Head with some scales on the temples and upper part of cheeks ; otherwise 

 naked. 



Length of the snout about 2- in that of the head ; not quite a third its 



extent is pre-oral. 



Eye small, its diameter is less than a fourth the length of the postorbital 

 portion of the head and about two-thirds the width of the interorbital space. 



The maxilla reaches to, or slightly beyond, the anterior border of the 

 eye. 



Pterygoid teeth separated from the palatine teeth by a considerable interval. 



Numerous, close-set, longish gill-rakers on the outer side of the first bran- 

 chial arch. 



Scales deciduous, those of the lateral line enlarged. 



The dorsal fin begins about an eye-length behind the outermost ventral 

 ray. 



The pectorals, which are extremely slender, are not quite equal in length to 

 the postrostral portion of the head. 



Colour light brown, greater part of head blackish. 



Arabian Sea, between the Maldives and Cape Comorin, 719 fathoms. 



Regd. No. 13710. 



Distribution : off Philippines ; Arabian Sea. 

 24 



