320 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



the posterior margin of orbit. Jaws uoarly equal, the suout being eoiisi(lera1)ly produced 

 and dilated, its length equal to the diameter of tlie eye and one fourth the length of the 

 head. Teeth very fine, villiform, in bauds on jaws and palatines, aud also present on 

 vomer, though very small, especiahy upon the rounded, globular process at the angle. 

 Lateral line very iudistiuet, interrupted, but extending behind the vent at least one third 

 of the way to the tip of the tail. Dorsal origin nearly in vertical from the axil of tlie pee 

 toral; ventrals very slender, villiform. closely approximate at their roots, and less than half 

 as long as the head. 



Color, brownish. 



A specimen was obtained by the BJnlr, off Granada, station xciii, at a de])th of 291 

 fathoms. This specimen, from which the shaded tigure was made, has evidently had its 

 tail broken off and the damage repaired. The collateral type was obtained by the Albatross 

 at station 2374, in 29'= 11' 30' N. lat., 85° 29' W. Ion., at a depth of 20 fathoms. 



DICROMITA METRIOSTOMA, (Vaillaxt), Goode aud Bean. 



Sircmbo metriostoma, Vaillaxt, Exp. Soi. Travaillcur et Talisman, 270, pi. xxili, figs 3, 3a, 3fi. 



Body elongated, compressed, elevated anteriorly, its height (!qual to one-seventh of its 

 length. Head length about one-fifth that of body. Suout oblong, rounded, its length 

 one-fifth of head. The upper jaw is slightly the longer, and extends back to the verti- 

 cal from the posterior margin of orbit. Teeth in villiform bauds on the jaws, vomer, and 

 palatines. 



Nostrils small, circular, in same horizontal line. Eye circular, its diameter slightly 

 greater than the length of the snout, 4.J times in length of head and equal to width of inter- 

 orbital space. A strong horizontal spine on the operculum, aiid two or three at the angle 

 of the preoperculum, hidden under the skin. 



Vent premedian, separated from the origin of the veutrals by a distance slightly greater 

 than the length of the head. Origin of dorsal slightly behind vertical from base of pectoral. 

 Anal origin near veut. Pectorals half as long as head, simple. Veutrals reduced to a pair 

 of simple filaments which surpass the pectorals. 



Scales small, distinct, uot so deciduous as in many similar forms, a1)out 151 in longi- 

 tudinal and 33 in vertical series. Lateral line obsolete in its posterior half. 



Color, grayish, with blackish belly aud darker edges to the vertical fins. 



The French explorers obtained one specimen from the Banc d'Argiiin (station xcv), 

 1,230 fathoms, two from off the Azores aud from station cxxi, in 1,412 fathoms, aud one trom 

 station cxxvii, in 1,257 fathoms. 



DICEOMITA MICEOPHTHALMA, (Vaillant), Goode and Bean. 



Sirembo microphthalma, Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Tiavaillcur et Talisman. 275, pi. xxiv, fig. 4. 



Body moderately compressed, anguilliform, its height one-thirteenth of its total length. 

 Head elongate, its length one-fifth that of the body. The siuiut is four-elevenths of the 

 head, and somewhat spatulate. The upper jaw extends somewhat beyond the lower one. 

 Mouth inferior, half as long as the head ; the maxillary passes the vertical from the posterior 

 margin of the orbit. Teeth small, in villiform bauds upon the jaws, votner, aiul palatines. 

 Eye very small, uearly hidden in the skiu, but distinct; its diameter about one-twentieth 

 that of the head, while the interorbital space is one-fourth. Branchial opening very wide. 

 Opercular bone indistinct. The preoperculum has four strong s])ines at its angle; the oikt- 

 culum has 1 spine, strong, somewhat curved upward, i)romiuently projecting. Head naked, 

 except upon the cheek and the opercular flap. 



Vent at a distance from the base of the ventrals greater than the length of the head. 

 Scales exceedingly small, scarcely visible to tue naked eye, imbedded in the skin, more dis- 

 tinct in the ventral region than on the rest of the body; lateral line represented by a series 

 of inconspicuous elevations, which are not tioticeablcin the latter half of its length; it is near 

 the dorsal outline. 



