370 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



LEPIDION, Swainson. 



Lepidion, Swainson, Nat. Hist. Fishe.s, etc., i, 1838, 318; ii, 1839, 188, 300. 



Haloporphijrus, Guntuku, Cat. FLsh. Brit. Mus., iv, 1862,358. — JonuAX aud Gilbekt, Hull, xvi, V. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 800. 



(liidoids having an elongate, compressed, liakelikc body. Scales very small, covering 

 not only the body but the entire head, even to the gill-membranes. 8nout produced, de- 

 pressed. Mouth rather large, subinferior. Jaws with bands of villiform teeth; vomerine 

 teeth in a small roundish patch; palatines toothless. Dor.sal composed of a very short and 

 a very long division. The anterior ray of tlie first dorsal lilamentous and prodiu'cd. Anal 

 deeply notched. \'entrals narrow, composed of 6 rays, cue of them tilameutous. Caudal 

 truucate. A barbel upou the chin. Branchiostegals 7.* 



LEPIDION KISSOI, Swainson. (Figure 323.) 



Gadiis lepUUon, Risso, Ichth. Nice, 1810, 118, pi. xi, lig. 40. 



Lota hpidiou, Eisso, Hist. Nat. Eur. Muriel., iii, 1826, 218. — Bonatakte, Catiilogo Metodico, 44. 

 Lcjndion Hissoi, Swainson, op. ciL, i, 1838, 319. 

 Ltpidion riibescens, Swainson, oji. cit., ii, 1889, 307. 



Haloporphynis Upidion, Giglioli, Nature, January 1, 1880. — Vincigcerra, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genoa, xviii, .'558, 

 taf. III. — GuNTiiER, Challenger Report, xxii, 91. — Canesthini, Pesci d'ltalia, 157. 



A Lepidion having a broad, thick, tlat head, covered with scales, and witli an 

 occipital keel. The length of the head contained 4.i times in the total length of the Ksli. 

 Snout deiiressed, short, obtuse. Mouth broad, its angle under the anterior jiortiou of the 

 orbit. Upper jaw broad, longer than the mandible. Teeth small, cardiform, on the jaws 

 and vomer. Eye large, round, its diameter contained .3.J times in the length of the head, 

 and nearly equal to the length of the snout. Tip of maxillary extending beyond vertical 

 from the middle of the orbit. Scales veiy small, from 155 to 160 in the lateral line, and 

 about 11 longitudinal rows between the flr.st dorsal and the lateral line, which is a little curved 

 anteriorly, but straight after it passes the vertical from the oi'igin of the anal. The tirst 

 dorsal placed far forward, in vertical from the in.sertion of the pectorals; it is composed of 

 only 4 rays, the first of which is much prolonged; its length two-fifths the total length of 

 the fish. The second dorsal with a very long base. The median rays of the anal are much 

 shorter than the others, giving it a cresceutic cinarginate outline. Caudal long, roniuled. 

 Ventrals very long, their tips reaching the anus, but rarely extending beyond those of the 

 pectoral rays. 



Eadial formula : D. 1+52; A. 40-18; V. (1. 



Color, grayish-brown with a reddish tint. Tiie second dorsal blue, edged witli black; 

 the other fins more or less brown in alcoholic sxjecimeus. The caudal and anal blackish, 

 as are the opercles. 



This species, originally described from Nice in 1810, was said by Kisso to be very rare, 

 and only taken at considerable depths in the inontli of August. It has never been seen 

 elsewhere than at Nice, where Giglioli obtained specimens in September, 1879. 



The Madeiran form identified with this by Giinther before he had liad the opportunity 

 of examining a specimen, has since been determined to be distinct, and was renamed by 

 Giglioli, Haloporphyrus Giintheri. 



LEPIDION Gi'NTHEEI, (Giglioli), Goode .aiul Bkan. 



Haloporphyrua Ivpidiun, Gi'-nther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iv, 358. — Johnson, Ann. aud Mag. Nat. Hist., 1862, 



X, 166. 

 Haloporphyrus GUnlhcri, Giglioli, Nature, January 1, 1880. — Vinciguerra, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genoa, xviii, 



558.— GcNTiiER, Challenger Report, xxil, 90, pi. xviii, fig. A. 



'According to Dr. Giinther (v. 4, p. 3.58), "the generic name Lepidion is ])rc(iccupicd," but it is not stated 

 in what way. Wheu it isremenibered that Dariijiopus was said to )»• preoccnpiid because Meyer had named 

 a group of extinct reptiles Daili/Iojxxhi. It will be understood why as no record of an earlier use of L( iiidiun 

 than 1X3S appears in the nouieuclators, we must a(loi)t it till further information i.s given as to the natnre of 

 the supposed preoccupation. Savigny had given tlu^ name Lepidin to a genus of worms in 1817, and Lepellctier 

 had uamcd ic^jisia a genus of beetles in 1825, but those are suflicieiitly distinct from the Swainsouiau name. 

 — Gill. 



