DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 



343 



ALEXETERION, Vaillant. 



Alexeterion, Vaillaxt, Exp. Sci. Trayaillewr et Talisman, Poissous, 282. 



Brotulids liaviuji' a sfalele.ss body, head short; lower jaw curved np in front of tlie 

 upper one so that the mouth opens vertically; very fine teeth on the jaws, vomer and pala- 

 tines toothless. Eye rudimentary. No barbel. Gill-opening very wide. Branch iostegal 

 membrane free. Vent very fixr from the throat and nearly in the middle of the length of 

 the flsh. Vertical fins beginning far back, the dorsal origin being over the veut and con- 

 fluent at the tail. Pectorals broad, fan-shaped; ventrals absent. 



ALEXETERION PA.RFAITI, Vaii.i.ant. (Figure 300.) 

 Alexeterion ParfaUi, Vaili.an'T, Exp. Sci. Travaillcnr et T.Tlisman, 283, pi. xxv, Figs. 2, 2a, 26. 



Body elongate, compressed (especially posteriorly), its greatest height being scarcely 

 one sixth of the thickness above the pectorals, and one-eighth of the total length. 



Length of head one-sixth of total length; its globular form gives it a very singular ap- 

 pearance, suggestive of Uranoseopus and Synnnceia. The head appears as if it were truncated 

 iufi'ont; the snout occupies the upper portion of the truncation. The mouth is shaped 

 like a horseshoe and is placed vertically, the lower jaw being entirely outside of the oijeu- 

 ing, while the two niandiltles are strongly (uirvc^d. The intermaxillary is narrow, nearly 

 as long as the inaxillary, which is expanded at its posterior extremity. 



Teeth fine, uniform in size, upon the mandible aud on the anterior portion of the inter- 

 maxillary. No teeth visible upon the vomer or palatines. The eye is rudimentary, very 

 small, its diameter about oue-fifth of the length of the head, so that it looks like a black 

 pigmentary spot, and is scarcely vi.sible iu the fresh specimen, liranchial opening broad. 



Vent near the middle of the body. No trace of scales iu the lateral Hue visible. 



Vertical fins confiuent, the dorsal beginning in the vertical from the vent and nearly 

 opposite the origin of the ventral, the rays being excessively delicate. Pectorals extending 

 to the vertical from the origin of the dorsal. No ventrals. 



Color, roseate white. 



Meaaufenwnts. 



Length , 



Height , 



Tliicknoas , 



Lfugtli of head 



Lengtii of ciudal fin 



Length <tf snout 



Diameter of eye 



Width of interorbital space 



A single siiecimeii was taken at the French station cxxxvii. North Atlantic, at the 

 depth of .5,005 meters. 



BELLOTTIA, Giglioli. 

 BeUoUia. Gicr.ioi.i, Zoologisolior Anzrigpr, vi, 399 (.Inly, 1883.) 



liiotulids with the form and i)roportions of Pteriditim; body covered with smooth, 

 adhesive scales of very small dimension. Eyes small. Vertical tins united, ventrals absent. 

 Lower jaw with a band of small teeth, .sharp ami numerous, intermingled with a few coni- 

 cal ones, somewhat larger; ninier jaw witli a villiform band of very minute teeth; .sharp 

 teeth on the vomer and i>ahite, dispo.sed in a semicircular arch. Jaws equal anteriorly, the 

 upper one expandetl posteriorly as in PtcrUlliim. No barbel. Branchial rays 4. Gills with 

 4 long branchial appendages; branchial aperture large. Air-bladder present. 



