DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 327 



NEOBYTHITES CRASSUS, (Vaillaxt), Goode aud Bean. 

 Bi/ihites orassiis, Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Tr.availleur ct Talisman, 279, pi. xxv, Fig. 1. 



In general form resembling Bythites fuscus. The height of tlie body a little more than 

 one-fifth of it.s length, and its thickness one-ninth; the length of the head is about two- 

 elevenths of the length of the body; it is thick, with an intiated'siiout. 'Mouth moderately 

 wide, the maxillary extending slightly beyond the vertical from the posterior limb of the 

 orbit. Fine villiform teeth on the two jaws, the palatines and the vomer, and a few teeth 

 upon tlie tongue. Bye small, its diameter about one-eighth the length of the head; inter- 

 orbital space much greater, contained about two and three-fourths times in the length of 

 the head. Branchial openings very wide. Brauchiostegal membranes free from the isth- 

 mus. Opercula enveloped in thick skin, which obscures their outlines. Opercular spine 

 distinct, strong, flattened; preoperculum probably obtusely denticulated, though hidden 

 in the integument. Scales small, denticulate, extending upon the bases of the vertical fins 

 and even of those of the pectorals, about 1TA\ ( :') in longitudinal series and 70 in vertical 

 series. A lateral line parallel with the back about one-third of the distance from the 

 dorsal to the ventral outline, indistinct posteriorly. 



Origin of dorsal behind base of iiectorals : tlie fin is low, its lieight hardly one-third 

 that of the body, its base buried in the skin. The anal is similar to the dorsal, and begins 

 immediately behind the vent. The caudal is confluent with the vertical fins. Pectoral 

 sliort, about half as long as the head; rounded. Ventrals each of two rays, closely united 

 at their base; the length of the inner one exceeds half the height of the body, tlu> outer one 

 three-fifths of the same. 



Color, reddish-brown, deeper upon the fins. ( Vaillant.) 



A single specimen was obtained by the French expedition at station cxxxvi, at a 

 depth of 4.255 meters. 



BENTHOCOMETES, Goode and Bean, n. g. 



Brotulids, similar in appearance and structure to Neohythiten and Bassoffigas, distin- 

 guished by two short, flat spines upon the anterior portion of the operculum, placed at 

 some distance from each other, and by the absence of spines upon the preoperculum. The 

 lateral line is complete, and extends without interruption to tlie posterior fourth of the 

 body, wlicre it becomes obsolete. Tlie vomerine teeth are bundled in a circular patch 

 instead of being arranged in triangular form. The head is comparatively short, with the 

 jaws in front nearly equal; the snout not produced, but obtuse, rounded, and almost 

 declivous in its oiitline. 



Two species have been assigned to this geuus — XvohythiU-s rohustus, Goode and Bean, 

 and Sirembo mitrwnolepis, Vaillant. The latter is not, as Vaillant supposed, related to 

 Diplaranthopoma, which, though it has two spines upon the preoperculum, and is very sim- 

 ilar in general appearance, has the ventrals single rather than double. 



BENTHOCOMETES ROBUSTUS, Gooi>e and Bean. (Figure 2SK.) 

 Ncohythilcs rohiislus, Goode and Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. Znol., xii, 161. 



Body rather short and deep, its greatest height (IG millimeters) nearly •I'g in total length 

 and iibout equal to length of head. The iuterorbital area is convex; its width (G milli- 

 meters) is greater than the diameter of the circular eye (5 millimeters) and li times the 

 length of snout (-i millimeters). The length of the head (1!) millimeters) is about 4 times 

 the diameter of the eye. The mouth is moderate, the maxilla extending to the vertical 

 through the posterior margin of the eye, the mandible a little beyond, its length (10 mil- 

 limeters) e(iual to that of postorbital part of head. Teeth in villiform bands in the jaws 

 and on the palatines. Vomerine teeth bunched in a circular patch. Gill-rakers moderate, 

 the longest a little more than twice in diameter of eye, 4 above angle of first arch, 1 1 below. 

 Pseudobranchite rudimentary. Gill-opeaing wide, the membrane deeply cleft, behind free 

 from the isthmus. A pair of short flat spines upon the anterior portion of the operculum. 



