324 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



The muciferous channel upon the infraorbital ring shows in its course several wide sub- 

 circular sinuses, closely ai)proxiin;ite(l; a similar row upr)u the posterior edge of the pre- 

 operculum and continued forward upon the under surface of the mandible; the vertex also 

 has a semicircle of similar sinuses. To the chain-like appearance of these rows of ducts 

 the specific name has reference. (Tlie appearance of a spine over the eye, as shown in tlie 

 drawing', is due simply to the sliriuking of the jxirons adjacent regions.) 



The maxilla extends beyond the vertical through the posterior margin of orbit, its 

 length equal to that of postorbital part of head. Mandible two tliirds as long as head and 

 equal iu length to height of body. Jaws, vomer, and palate with bauds of villiform teeth j 

 the vomerine band V-shaped. 



Nostrils in front of the middle of the e3'e, separated by a slight interspace, the anterior 

 nearer to its mate than to the tip of tlie snout. 



Branch iostegals 8. Pseudobrauchia; absent. 



Gill-rakers long and numerous, the longest slightly exceeding in length the diameter of 

 eye; 15 developed below the angle of the lirst arch, besides several rudiments. 



The dorsal origin is slightly behind that of the pectoral, its distance from the tip of 

 the snout (32 millimeters) about 7^ in total; rays well developed; in the anterior third of 

 the fin, in a space equal to the length of the head, were counted 20 rays, the longest of 

 which is two-fifths as long as the head. 



The anal origin is under the twenty-first dorsal ray; its rays are shorter than those of 

 the dorsal. The iiectoral extends to the vertical from the eighteenth ray of the dorsal. It 

 is four-fifths as long as tlie head. 



The ventrals arc composed each of a simple filament, the origin slightly in advance of 

 the vertical through the pectoral origin, the length two thirds that of the head. They do 

 not reach near to the vent, the distance of which from the origin of the ventrals (30 milli 

 meters) is slightly greater than the lengtli of the head. 



Color, brownish yellow. Head and abdomen blackish. 



The types (No. 37341) are from Alhafross station 2379, N. lat. 28^ 00' 1.5", W. Ion. 

 87° 42', 1,407 fathoms. The length of the longest is 237 mdlimeters, of the other 227 milli- 

 meters. 



GLYPTOPHIDIUM, Alcock. 



Olyptophidium, Alcock, Aun. and Maff. Nat Hist., 1889, 390; Bathybial Fishes of the Bay of Bengal, 17. 



Head large, body compressed, with a long, tapering tail. Scales deciduous and very 

 thin. Bones of head soft and cavernous, with prominent outstanding crests. Operculum 

 small, with one feeble spine. Snout obtuse. Jaws equal in front. Mouth wide. Villiform 

 teeth in narrow bands in the jaws, palatines, and vomer. No barbel. Eyes large. Caudal 

 free. Ventrals simple filaments. Gills four, with short laminte. Branchiostegals eight. 

 Pseudobrauchia;. Pyloric appendages small. 



The genus, which is separated from Bassozetus chiefly by the crests on the head ("in 

 spirit, frdl like, membranous, longitudinal"), is known from a single specimen of the species 

 G. argenteuiii, taken by the Iriccntigatur iu the Andaman Sea, off lloss Island, in 271 fath- 

 oms. (Alcock, loc. eit.) 



DERMATORUS, Alcock. 

 Dermatorm, Alcock, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (0th sor.), vi, 1890 (Oct.), 298. 



Body compressed, with long, tapering tail. Head with well-developed nuuiferous cavi- 

 ties and numerous spiuiferous bones. Snout compressed, with jaws coterminous in front. 

 Eye of moderate size. Mouth very wide; villiform teeth in bands ou the jaws and pala- 

 tines, and few and scattered en the vomer. Gill-openings very wide. Branchiostegals, 8. 

 Gills, 4. Gill-rakers well developed. PseudobranchiiB quite rudimentary. Scales small, 

 deciduous; lateral line undistinguishable. Ventral fins contiguous, each of a single sim- 

 l)le filament. No pyloric cieca. No barbel. (Alcock.) 



