204 



distance from the tip of the snout ; the posterior in front of the middle of the 

 eye. 



Cleft of mouth wide, extending an eye-length behind the posterior border 

 of the orbit ; the upper jaw overlapping the lower. Tongue free, bicylindrical, 

 truncated. In maxillge and mandibles a single row of close-set, equal, acute 

 teeth of moderate size ; also in the maxilla? an inner very incomplete series of 

 similar teeth, and in the mandibles near their symphysis three pairs of canine 

 teeth, the middle of which are very large and fit when the mouth is closed into 

 a notch between the maxillaries and premaxillaries ; four large equal canines 

 in a row in the vomer ; premaxillae with three smaller canines, which project 

 when the mouth is closed. 



Gill-openings wide, extending obliquely from the upper border of the base 

 of the pectoral fins to near the middle line of the abdomen ; a broad flap of skin 

 connects their anterior margin with the base of the pectoral fin ; gill-laminae 

 broad. 



Integument thin, without scales. The lateral line follows the dorsal curve 

 and ends in the posterior half of the tail. 



Vertical fins, especially the anal, feebly developed, confluent ; the dorsal 

 begins considerably in advance of the gill-opening, the anal behind a very large 

 abdominal pore. Pectorals longer than the snout. 



Colours : chocolate above, whitish or silvery below ; vertical fins whitish, 

 pectorals dark brown edged with grey. 



The ripe female is 14 inches long. 



Bay of Bengal, 193 and 145 to 250 fathoms. 



Eegd. Nos. 11672, 13648, 13703. 



Xenomystax, Gilbert. 



Xenomystax, Gilbert, Proo. Unitod States Nat. Mus. XIV., 1891, p. 348 : Goode and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, 

 p. 146 : Jordan and Evermann, Fishes of N. Amer., p. 360. 



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

 situated between the gills. The tail is very much longer than the combined 

 head and trunk. The gill-openings are wide and are separated by a narrow 

 space. The posterior nostril is superior. The tongue is not free. The end of 

 the tail is surrounded by the fin. Pectorals present. No scales. 



Snout long. Eyes large. Mouth-cleft very wide, extending behind the 

 eye, the upper jaw projecting much beyond the lower. 



Teeth conical slender and sharp, mostly depressible, those in the jaws in 

 broad bands. Maxillary with a broad longitudinal groove, running the whole 



