192 



The abdominal cavity extends at least halfway along the tail. The siphonal 

 stomach, which has its pyloric end long, tapering, and much constricted, leads 

 into a widely expanded duodenum, which, in the single specimen dissected, is 

 furnished with a small diverticulum near the pylorus. The vent is about a snout 

 length behind the gill-opening. 



Colour uniform black, with a silvery sheen on the head. 



The largest specimen is about 14- inches long. 



Bay of Bengal, off the Andamans and Nicobars, 1045 and 869 to 913 

 fathoms ; Arabian Sea, off the Laccadives, 1045 fathoms ; Gulf of Manar 902 

 fathoms. 



Regd. Nos. 11662, 13201, 25, 



This species is perhaps identical with Nemicldhys infans Vaillant (nee 

 Giinther), described and figured in Exped. Sci. du ' Travailleur ' et du ' Talis- 

 man,' Poiss. pp. 93 and 94, pi. vii. fig. 1, and there only doubtfully referred to 

 Dr. Giinther' s type. 



Dysommina. 

 Dysomma, Alcock. 



Vysomma, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Dec. 1889, p. 459. 



The branchial openings into the pharynx are wide slits. The heart is situa- 

 ted between the gills. The tail is exceedingly long, the vent being situated 

 immediately behind the gill-opening and between the bases of the pectoral 

 fins. 



Tail tapering. Snout short but projecting beyond the mouth and lower 

 jaw. Eyes very small, subcutaneous. Nostrils large, lateral, those on the same 

 side distant from each other. Cleft of the mouth wide. Small sharp teeth in a 

 single row or extremely narrow band in each jaw : a short row of large teeth on 

 the vomer. Tongue not free. 



Gill-openings rather small, well separated. No scales. Lateral line of 

 minute pores. Pectorals and vertical fins well developed, the dorsal beginning 

 immediately behind the gill-opening, the anal immediately behind the vent. 



153. Dysomma bucephalus, Alcock. 



Dysomma bucephalus, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Dec. 1889, p. 459 : Illustrations of the Zoology of the 

 Investigator, Fishes, pl. VI. fig. 1 : Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Aug. 1891, p. 137, fig. 5. 



Length of the head, measured to the gill-opening, between a fourth and a 

 fifth of the total. Vent situated with the abdominal pore on a large round fleshy 

 " clitellum," immediately behind the gill-opening. 



