DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIK DISTRIBUTION. 415 



obtuse. Head without prominent lidges, with wide muciferous cavities. Dorsal fiu phmted 

 over origin of iiectorals, its longest spine smooth. Pectorals placed high, opposite upper 

 angle of gill cleft. Scales small, bristly. Lateral line originating at upper angle of gill 

 cleft. 



Malacocfphalus occurs in the northeastern, southeastern, and southwestern Atlantic, 

 the Mediterranean and the Bay of Bengal. 



The Mm-furuK macrochir assigned here by Dr. Gunther does not appear to us to be con- 

 generic with MaJamcephalus Iwriti. We have therefore jiroposed for it a new genus under 

 the name Abyssicola, the diagnostic characters of which are given on page 417. 



MALACOCEPHALUS L^VIS, (Lowe), Guntuer. 



Macrurus Iwvia, Lowe, Proc. ZoiJl. Soc, London, 1843, 92. ' 



Macrurus {MalacocephaJus) Uvvis, Gunther, Challenger Report, xxil, 1887, 148, pi. xxxix, lig. B; Ann. and 



Mag. Nat. Hist., Deo., 1889, 418.— Alcock, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1889, 398. 

 Malacocephalns Iwvis, Gunther. Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus.. iv. 397. — Lutken, Vid. Mcddel. Nat. Foreii., Kjobenhavn, 



1872, 1.— MouE.iU, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Fr.am.-c, iii, 284. 



Head comiiressed, with vertical sides; muciferous cavities wide. Snout obtusely coni- 

 cal, slightly projecting beyond the mouth, the cleft of which is oblique, anterior and lateral, 

 and extending somewhat behind the middle of the eye. Teeth of the upper jaw biserial, 

 those of the outer series much stronger than the inner; mandibulary teeth uniserial. Bar- 

 bel shorter than the eye. The interorbital space fiat, its width being equal to or less than 

 the diameter of the eye, which is large, longer than the snout, and one-third or two-sevenths 

 of the length of tlie head. Scales very small, much deeper than long, covered with short 

 minute bristles. PraeoiDerculum with the posterior margin slightly excised above the angle, 

 and with the lower margin not serrated. The entire head is covered with minute, rough 

 scales. Anterior dorsal spine smooth. Pectoral flu about two-thirds of the length of th(! 

 bead. The vent (Fig. b) is close to the root of the ventrals, which reach beyond it; it lies 

 at the end of an oval scaleless depression, and there is another triangular scaleless space 

 between the roots of the ventrals. Distance between the vent and the isthmus two-thirds 

 of the length of the head. 



Brownish above, sides silveiy; axil, ventrals and the region in front of them black; 

 branchial cavity partly black, inside of the mouth white. {Oiinther.) 



Itadial formula: D. 13-14; P. 17; V. 9. 



The type, 10 inches long, obtained by Lowe at Madeira, is in the British Museum, where 

 it was examined by us in 18S;5. Liitken has found the species on the coast of Denmark, 

 and Giinther records its capture southwest of Ireland in 250 fathoms and in the Medi- 

 terranean. The Challenger obtained a single specimen off the coast of Pernambuco (station 

 122) in 350 fathoms. The Investigator obtained a form supposed by Alcock to be identical 

 with this ill the Andaman Sea in 205 fathoms, and in the Laccadive Sea in 188-220 fathoms. 

 It has not yet been observed in the northwestern Atlantic. 



Giinther's revised diagnosis is given above. 



MALACOCEPHALUS OCCIDENTALIS, Goodo and Bean. (Doubtful species). 

 Malacooeplialm occidentalis, GooDE and Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 598. 



Small specimens, 37330, in imperfect condition were obtained from J //'rtYro.s.s station 

 2310, north latitude 350 44', west longitude 74° 51' (length 154 millimeters and 203 milli- 

 meters), at a depth of 132 fathoms, and from Blake station lxxxiii, off Granada, at a 

 depth of 104 fathoms (length 141 millimeters). They correspond in the main with Giin- 

 ther's full description of Malacocci)halus Iwvis, but differ in the position of the vent, the 

 ventrals, and the anal iin ; the latter commencing at a distance behind the vent equal to 



^Macrurus Iccvis. M. palUdus, griseus, lucidus, L-evigatus llssinis areolato-scaber, inermis; squamis 

 inconspicuis niinutis; capite rostroc|ne acuto abbroviatis, simplicibus (nee cnslatis ncc carinatis); oculia 

 rotundatis; doutibus in maxilla inlerioro validis, uniseriatis; pinntu dorsalxs primw radio primo iuormi. 



1 D. 1-1-9; 2. D. ot. A. 8; P. 15; V. 1+7. 



