MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 163 



The caudal consists of about 8 or 9 rays very closely placed ; its length is 

 contained about 10^ times in the total length. 



The pectoral is placed as in N. robustus ; its length about equal to 2^ times 

 that of the head, extending to vertical througn the vent. 



The ventral, a bifid ray inserted in advance of .base of pectoral, not reaching 

 to the vent ; its length (14 mm.) considerably less than the height of body. 

 The distance from its origin to the vent (19 mm.) slightly more than the 

 height of the body. 



Color light yellowish brown, an obscure narrow band of darker brown com- 

 mencing on the snout, interrupted by the eye, and extending backward f of 

 the distance to the tail, another beginning on the snout, extending ove.' the eye 

 and back as far as the first described, interrupted posteriorly. Dorsal fin milky 

 white at base in its anterior third, above this a blackish band extending the 

 whole length of the fin. A narrow white margin above. 



Aphyonus mollis, n. sp. 



The type is a specimen obtained at " Blake " Station ccxxi., Lat. 24" 36' N., 

 Long. 84° 5' W., at a depth of 955 fathoms. 85 + x mm. 



This species is closely allied to Aphyonus gelatinosus, Gthr., obtained by 

 H. M. S. " Challenger." 



The body is much compressed, its greatest height (14 mm.), 6 in its total 

 length. Head thicker than body, its height (15 mm.) slightly greater. Length 

 of head (20 mm.) about 4j in total ; width (11 mm.) over half its length. 

 Snout, 3J in length of head. Eye not externally visible. Diameter of orbit, as 

 seen through the skin, about ^ length of head. Maxilla extends to vertical 

 through posterior margin of orbit, the mandible somewhat farther back, its 

 length (13 mm.) nearly equal to height of body. A few weak teeth on vomer 

 and palatines, mandible, and very rudimentary ones in maxillary ; not visible 

 to the eye, but appreciable to the touch. Gill-laminse on the fourth and rudi- 

 mentary gill-rakers, 8 rudiments and 4 developed below the angle. Dorsal 

 origin almost over posterior edge of operculum, its distance from the snout J of 

 total length ; fin-rays, more than 110 well developed, the longest 3 in head. 

 Anal origin slightly nearer base of caudal than to tip of snout, its rays shorter 

 than those in the dorsal. Pectoral with a fleshy base ; its origin somewhat 

 behind that of the dorsal, its length equal to width of head. Ventral origin in 

 advance of that of pectoral, close to humeral symphysis ; the fin is a single 

 simple ray, whose length (11 ram.) equals that of the pectoral : its tip does 

 not reach the vent, by a space equal to height of head. 



Skin not loose. Texture of body rather firm, not transparent, whitish. 



