186 



This species is distinguished from H. anguilliformis by the short pre-oral 

 portion of the snout and the numerous close-set gill-rakers on the outer side of 

 the first branchial arch. 



148. Halosaurus parvipennis, Alcock. 



Halosaurus parvipennis, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Nov. 1892, p. 362 : Illustrations of the Zoology of 



THE INVBSTIGATOR, FlSHES, PL. XXXIII. FIG. 1. 



B. 12-13. D. 9-10. P. 12-13. V. 1/9. L. tr. 14-15. 

 Head and snout scaly. 



Length of head about an eighth of the total, and less than the distance be- 

 tween the gill-opening and the base of the ventral fin. 



Length of the snout a little over a third that of the head, half its extent is 

 preoral. 



The major diameter of the eye is much more than twice the width of the 

 interorbital space, is from a fifth to two-elevenths the length of the head, and 

 nearly half the length of the postorbital portion of the head. 



The maxilla does not quite reach the vertical through the anterior margin 

 of the orbit. 



The pterygoid band of teeth is short and narrow and is hardly separated 

 from the palatine band. 



The gill-rakers on the outer side of the first branchial arch are short and 



distant. 



Scales adherent, especially on the lateral line. Those of the lateral line are 

 but slightly enlarged, especially at the anterior end of the line, and number 

 between 50 and 60 from the gill-opening to the vent, beyond which they are 

 separated from the anal fin, at first by two, and then by one series of scales. 

 An irregular series of scales in the middle line behind the dorsal fin are consi- 

 derably enlarged and elongated. 



The dorsal fin begins about an eye-length behind the insertion of the outer- 

 most ventral ray. The very narrow pectorals are about as long as the post- 

 orbital portion of the head. 



About eight extremely short and inconspicuous pyloric caaca. 

 Colours : sepia-brown, opercles silvery : throat, etc., black. 

 The largest specimen (adult) is about 15r inches. 

 Arabian Sea, off Malabar coast, 459, 636, and 865 to 880 fathoms. 

 Eegd. Nos. 13198, 14005, ^ 9 , ^. 



