440 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



SCIANECTES, Alcock. (Figmr 371.) 



Scianectes, Alcock, Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal, l.viii (ii), 1889, 284; .\iiii. and Mai;. Nat. Ilist., 1800 

 (Nov.), 398, 1890 (ii), 216; Bathybial Fisbea, Bay of Bengal, 27. 



Cleft of mouth narrow, the maxillary less than a third the length of the head, denti- 

 tion more developed on blind side. Dor.sal lin commencing before the eye, on the snout. 

 Body pyriform and delicate. Vomerine teeth. Eyes on tlie left side and dose tDgetlicr. 

 All the rays of the vertical fins simple, elongated, wejik, and hlamciitous. Scales minute, 

 membranous, and very decidous. Lateral line with a curve above the pecttoral. Gill mem- 

 branes united at the throat. Gill i;ikeis distant and sliort. 



Represented by two species, S. lophoptera, Alcock, month of Devi River, 68 fathoms 

 {loc. cit), and >S. macropththahnus, Alcock, from Bay of Bengal, 40 miles south west of 

 Akyab, in about 100 fathoms of water [loc. cit., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1890, ii, 21G), 

 and from station, 90, 98-102 fathoms. 



TRICHOPSETTA, Gill. 



IVichopsetta, Gill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1888, 603. 



Psettinea with the body oblong, rhombo-oval, covered \yitli udlierent ctenoid scales; 

 lateral line with an arch differentiated in front on eyed side, obscure but rectilinear on 

 blind side; ])iotile incurved or rectilinear; moiitli large; snprninaxillaiy bones oblifpiely 

 trnucnted l)eliin(]; teeth small, somewhat enlarged and hooked in front, niiiserial; dorsal 

 and anal .symmetrical behind, dorsal commencing on snont and deflected towards right 

 no.stril; caudal snbsessile and convex; pectorals very nncf|n;d. the left obtuse, the right 

 ■with the second and tiiird rays extended and tilif'oiin; veiitrals both free, very unecpuil; the 

 left flu on the abdominal ridge with a moderately broad base and 6 rays, the last of which 

 is attached by membrane to the ridge; tlie right fin with a narrower base (and in the males 

 with the inner 4 rays setifonn, but in the female nearly similar to the left lin); inter- 

 branchial membrane imperforate; gill rakers slender and unarmed. 



TRICHOPSETTA VENTRALIS, (CiooDE and Bkan), Gill. (Figure 372.) 



Citharirhlhyn renlnilis, GoooR and Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., viii, 1885, .592. 

 Trichopsetta ventrnlis, Gill, loc. cit. 



Extreme length of specimen described, 117 millimeters. No. 37343, Gulf of Mexico, 

 Albatross station 2386, 60 fathoms. 



The height of the body (.^0 inillim<'ters) is about 2!^ times in its total length (without 

 caudal), and is equal to about 4i times the height of the tail (11) and aliont 9 times its 

 thickness (5i). 



The scales are ovate, strongly ctenoid, the largest about 3 millimeters in diameter; the 

 diameter less than half that of the eye. The scales are fiindy fixed ; tliere are 66 scales in 

 the lateral line (on the colored side), 19-21 ol these in the curved portion, which is bold and 

 sharj)ly defined; and 19 above and 23 below the lateral line at broadest part of body. 



The length of the head (29 millimeters) is one-fourth that of the body, and 3f, times the 

 diameter of the eye (8); the interorbital space is very narrow, scaleless, its width equal to 

 one-eighth diameter of eye. The length of mandible (16 millimeters) is twice tlie diameter 

 of the eye; the length of maxillary (1.'5 millimeters) less than half that of head. 



The dorsal fin begins upon the .snout, u])on tlie blind side, and in advance of the eyes; 

 its greatest height about equal to length of ma.idible. It is composed of 93 simple rays. 

 The anal begins under the axil of the pectoral, its longest ray (equal to longest in dorsal) 

 equals or slightly exceeds half the distance of its anterior ray from the snont. It is c(uu- 

 posed of 73 simple rays. 



The caudal is subsessile, compo.sed of 17 rays, itslengtli (24 inillimeteis) a little less 

 than half the height of liody, and equal to lengtli of bead witliont snont. 



The pectorals are inserted considerably below the oiigin of the lateral line, close to the 



