346 DEEP-SEA FISHES OP THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Head with imbricated scales extending to forehead; oporcnhx and cheeks moderately 

 compressed, oblong-ovate in profile, with the snout high, projecting forward and obtusely 

 rounded, armed above with a short, nearly concealed spine, directed forward and somewhat 

 downward. Cheeks somewhat inflated. Eyes large, subcircnlar, with comparatively small 

 pupils. Nostrils double; the anterior aperture a short tube directed lorward and next to 

 the groove separating the preorbital from the nostril region; the posterior a longitudinal 

 groove. Opercula unarmed. 



Mouth broader, with the cleft little oblique and moderate; the supermaxillary bones are 

 slender, terminate under the hinder part of the eye, and are almost wholly retractile under 

 the suborbitals. 



Teeth of the jaws villiform, immersed in a mucous membrane, separated by an interval 

 from the longer ones in the outer row, which are pointed and movable. 



Vomer not prominent, armed, as well as the palatine bones, with teeth. 



Branchial aperture ample, arched above by the membrane, which is attached in front 

 of the axil of the pectoral fin. 



Branchiostegal rays seven, the internal two small. 



Dorsal flu commencing less than a head's distance from the nape, rather low and with 

 its rays simply articulated, blending behind, like the anal, with the caudal fin, whos(^ rays 

 are longer than those of the dorsal and anal, and whose margin is ])roduced. 



Pectoral fins small or moderate, obliquely rounded behind. 



Ventral fins bifid and articulated, and much abbreviated. 



This genus is exceedingly distinct from Ophidium, having very few characters in com- 

 mon, excejit such as would be found in the genera of the same subfamily. Its form at once 

 distinguishes it, its comparatively low and moderately compressed body and smaller head 

 contrasting strongly with the much compressed body and head of the true Ophidiida: The 

 imbricated scales and i)eculiar dentition observed on closer examination corroborate the 

 generic distinction indicated by difference of form.' 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF LEPTOPHIDIUM. 



A. Body elongate. 



1. Snout very short, sharp, armed with a spine. 



a. Color brown, with wliito spots I>. CER^^>^UM 



2. Snout shorter than eye. 



a. Color light rufous, the vertical iius margined with hlaek L. i'i!i)FrND0HUM 



B. Body stoutish, anteriorly tapering. 



1. Snout blunt, spineless. 



a. Color yellowish, marbled with brown L. marmouatum 



LEPTOPHIDIUM CERVINUM, Uoodk and I!kan. (Figure SOC; 



Leptophidium cervinum, Goode and Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mils., viii, 1885, 422. 



Body elongate, slender, its greatest height (25 millimeters in specimen examined) lOJ 

 in its total length. 



Head slender, somewhat compressed, its length (40 nullimeters) (ii in total length. 

 Jnterorbital area broad, convex, its width equal to the length of the snout and 5^ in head's 

 length. Snout sharp, conical, armed with a short but sharp spine, and somewhat over- 

 hanging the mouth. Eye circular, its diameter (H) millimeters) 4 in head's length, and 

 much exceeding the length of the snout. Maxilla extending nearly to the vertical through 

 the posterior margin of the orbit, its length (1.5 millimeters) three eighths of head's length. 

 Mandible extending behind the same vertical, its length (IS millimeters) equal to that of 

 head without its postorbital portion. Jaws, vomer, ami i)alatines with narrow bands of vil- 

 liform teeth, sonie of which are noticeably enlarged {not movable). Pseudobranchiie present. 



' It is probable that the Ophidium Vi-ciiharbe, briefly indicated by Cuvicr .and Kanp, belongs to tins 

 genus; by Cuvior it was sim])ly alluded to in a foot-note of tlie Rogue Animal, while by Kanp a short 

 diagnosis was given in tlie "Catalogue of the Apodal Fish." As the notice of ttie species l>y Kanp, like 

 nu)st of the diagnoses bj' that gentleman, is (mly sullieient to distinguish it from species known to him, no 

 clear idea can bo obtained regarding its affinities. Cill. 



