DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTKIBUTION. 349 



The typical spec-ies, Ateleopun jajtonicHs, Selilegel, is known from two speciiueus. One 9 

 inches loug, taken at Ooniiua, to Japan, and another sent to the British Museum by the 



ATELEOPCS JAPOXICUS. 



Tokio Museum. The Japanese call this fish SJats/uri, and consider it extremely rare. 

 They believe it to bo venomous, and to have electric powers. A iiuticus, Alcock, Ann. & 

 Mag. Nat. Hist., 1891, 123, was obtained by the Investigator in the Indian Ocean, iu 188 to 

 220 fathoms. 



Family LOPHOTID^-E. 



Lophoteoidei, Bleeker, Syst. Nat. Pise. Tentamen, 3859, xxvi. 



Lophotido-, GUNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iii, 1861,312; Challeuger Report, xxii, 70. 



Body elongate, compressed, blade-like, -without scales, and with vent near the tip of 

 the tail. Head elevated in a high triangular crest upon which is a very long and strong 

 spine, followed by a series of flexible rays, supporting the dorsal fm, which extends the 

 entire length of the back to the base of the caudal. Anal very short and very far back. 

 Veutrals thoracic. Caudal minute. Snout short. Feeble teeth, iu jaws, on vomer, and pala- 

 tines. Gill openings wide. Branchiostegals G. rseudobranchia^ prescTit. 



Giinther is of the opinion that the "Lophotas" are deep-sea tishes like the Eibbon 

 fishes, but that they do not descend to the greatest depths, their bony and soft parts being 

 firm and coherent. 



LOPHOTES, Giorna. 



Lophotes, Giorna, Mom. Acead. Torino, ix, 1803. 17.— Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., x, 405.— 

 GuNTUER, Cat. Fisli. Brit. Mus., iii, 312. 



Loi)hotids with the head elevated in a high crest, surmounted with a long spine, which 

 is followed by a very elongate dorsal fin. Vent near the extremity of the tail, with a small 

 anal fin behind it; pectorals moderate; veutrals thoracic, very small, with 1 or 5 rays; 

 caudal very small. Mouth not protractile, subvertical ; with teeth pointed and feeble in 

 the jaws, on vomer and palatines. Eye very large. The abdominal cavity extends nearly 

 the whole length of the body. Air bladder present. Gills 4. Pscudobrauchi;c present. 



LOPHOTES CEPEDIANUS, Giorna. (Figure 389.) 



Lophotes CepedkniKS, Giorna, Mem. Poiss. Esp. Nav., ete. (Read Sept. 20, 1803). — Mem. Accad. Imp. Sei. 

 Torino, xvi (1809), 19, pi. II, ilg. 1. — Cuvier and Valencienne.s, Hist. Nat. I'oiss, x, 405, pi. ccci. — 

 Bonaparte, Catalogo Metodico,71(i. — Gunther, Cat. Fisli. Brit. Mus., iii, 312; Challenger Report, xxil, 

 76.— Canestrini, Fauna Italica, Pescl. 195. — Giglioli, Elenco, 32. — Moreau, Hist., Nat. Poias., France, 

 II, 250. 



La Lophote Laciprdc, Cuvier, Ann. Mus(5e, xx, 1813, 393, pi. xvil; Rogue Animal,ed. 1, 1817, II, 2433. 



Lopkoius Lac^pcde, Risso, Hist. Nat. Europe Mra-idionale, 1829, 293. 



A Lophotes with the height of the body contained 7 times in its total length: its thick- 

 ness 21 times. The skin, which is naked, is roughened by very minute furrows. The 

 vent is very far back, near the extremity of the body. The head is very singular in its form, 

 being elevated in front in a triangular crest, exceedingly sharp, and .surmounted by a long, 

 compressed spine, which corresponds to the first ray of the dorsal. Snout short; mouth 

 small, not protractile, subvertical. Teeth cardiform upon the jaws, tlie vomer and pala- 

 tines being also dentigerous. Eyes very large, their diameter about one-third of the length 



