424 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Scales small, (Iccidiious,' as nearly as can be counted 25 rows in an o1)li(iue line from 

 the veut to the dorsal lin, 24 from the upper angle of operculum to tlie \ertical tlirougli the 

 origin of the anal. 



Length of head (.")5 millimeters) contained 5| times in total length. Interorbital area 

 nearly flat, its width contained 4 times in length of head. Postorbital part of head (20 milli- 

 meters) somewhat longer than diameter of eye, which is nearly round, its length (20 milli- 

 meters) contained 2.3 times in lengtli of head. Snout broad, obtuse, its length (11 millimeters) 

 contained 5 times in that of the head. Nostrils close to the eye, tlie posterior nearly twice 

 as large as the anterior one. The maxilla extends to the vertical through posterior margin 

 of orbit, its lengtli (30 millimeters) equal to that of head without its postorbital portion. 

 Length of mandible (34 millimeters) equals 3 times that of the snout. Intermaxillaries and 

 mandible provided with narrow bands of villiform teeth, those in the mandible much 

 shorter. 



A minute barbel, about one-third as long as snout. Vomer and palate toothless. 



Gill-rakers lanceolate, elongate, 26 on first arch, 7 above the angle, the longest one- 

 seventh as long as the head. Pseudobranchi;e absent. The first dorsal consists of 2 short 

 spines and 8 branched rays, its distance from snout ((i2 millimeters) contained nearly H times 

 in the total length. The second or longest ray in the typical specimen twice the length of 

 snout. The second dorsal, which contains about 125 rays, is almost continuous with the 

 first, its anterior rays the longest, about 4 times in length of head. 



The anal is inserted under the fourteenth ray of second dorsal. Its rays are all very 

 short. In a distance equal to length of head, counting back from insertion, there are 33 rays. 



The pectoral is inserted under the first branched ray of the first dorsal; its length in 

 the most nearly perfect specimens equals the length of the head without the snout. 



The ventral origin very slightly behind origin of pectoral under the third branched ray of 

 the dorsal, reaching nearly to the vent when laid back. Its length (35 millimeters) equaling 

 three times that of snout. Rays S. Branchiostegals 7. 



(Joloi', yellowish gray, lighter below. 



The type specimen (Cat. No. 37339, U. S. N. M.), 305 millimeters in length, was taken 

 by the .4 Ibatrosti from station 23!)fl, in 28° 34' N. lat., 80° 48' W. Ion., at a depth of 335 fathoms. 

 The Albatross also obtained exam])les from station 2395, in 28'^ 3G' 15" N. lat., 8(;o r,0' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 347 fathoms ; and from station 2376, in 29° 03' 1 5" N. lat., 88° 16' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 324 fathoms. The Blair captured a single individual at station cclvi, in 28° 

 42' N. lat., 88° 40' W. lon.^ at a depth of 321 fathoms. 



BATHYGADUS MELANOBRANCHUS, Vaili.ant. 

 Bathygadus melanohranchus, Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Travaillenr et Talisman, 1888, 20G, pi. xviii, fig. 1. 



Body compressed, its greatest height (at ventrals) one-seventh of its lengtli; its thick- 

 ness one-eleventh of same. Length of head one-flftli of total. Snout blunt, its length one- 

 fourth that of head. Mouth large, the maxillary extending to or beyond vertical from 

 center of eye. Eye large, as long as snout ; interorbital space very slightly less. No barbel. 



Scales cycloid, unarmed, in about 24 horizontal and 140 transverse rows. 



Distance of first dorsal from snout less than five times in the length of the specimen. 

 Length of its second ray nearly twice that of snout. Second dorsal with 102 rays, nearly 

 continuous with the first. 



Anal inserted under the nintli ray of second dorsal (in 7>. macyops under the fourteenth). 

 Its rays are short (one-half diameter of eye), rather far apart; in a space equal to the length 

 of the head, counting backward from the insertion, there are 26 (33 in P>. ntacmps). 



Pectoral inserted under the first branched ray of the dorsal; its length (-(jual to dis- 

 tance from center of eye to gill cleft. 



Ventral base entirely in advance of vertical from origin of dorsal, and so far in advance 



' Not one of our specimens has scales, so their character can not bo made imt, nor can the lateral line be 

 described. 



