DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 441 



gill Oldening. That on the colored side is composed of 11 rays, its length (19 millimeters) 

 nearly one-sixth of the total length; that of the blind side composed of 7 or S rays, the 

 largest (28 millimeters), almost as long as head. 



Kadial formula: D. 93; A. 73; 1'. 11, 7 ov S; V. G; L. lat. (i(!. 



Color, light brownish gray, a dark blotch as long as the eye on the anterior rays of the 

 anal; a few obscure ones on diftereut parts of lighter hue at the junction of the curved and 

 straight portions of the lateral line. 



PLATOPHRYS, Swainson. 



riatophnjs, Swainson., Nat. Hist. Fishes, etc., 18:i9, ii, 302. 



RhomboidicklhiiK, Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. lado-Nedere. i Mauad. and Makass., 67. — GiiNTHER, Cat. Fish Brit. 

 Mus., IV, 431. 



Moutii of moderate width, or simdl, the length of the maxillary being one-third, or less 

 than one third, of that of tiie head. Teeth minute, of etpial size, in a single or doui)hi se- 

 ries; vomerine and palatine teeth none. Eyes separated by a concave more or less broad 

 space. The dorsal commences on the snout; dorsal and iinal rays sim]de. Scales ciliiited, 

 of moderate size (L. lat. 40) and decidmms; lateral line with a strong curve anteriorly. 

 Byes on the left side. (Gimfhcr.) 



PLATOPHRYS NEBULARIS, .Iordan and fiiLBEUx. 



f'hilnphri/K iirliiihii-ia, Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. IT. S. Nat. Mns., vii, 31, Jnnn 3, 1S81. 



Body ovate, deep anteriorly, the profile descending steeply, rendered abruptly concave 

 in front of interorbital sjiace by the conspicuously ])rqjccting, short snout. Mouth very 

 small and oldinue, the ma.xillary reaching vertical from front of lower eye, 3a in head; tip 

 of lower jaw entering the profile. Teeth fine, conical, in two series in the upper jaw, one 

 in the lower; those of the outer row in a])i)er jaw larger and more widely separated than 

 those of the inner series. 



Snout very .short, about one-fifth head, equaling interorbital widtii. Interorbital space 

 narrow, deei)ly concave, <'losely scaled. Eyes large, the lower in advance of upper, its 

 diameter S?^ in head, ttill rakers obsolete, 7 rudiments on horizontal branch of anterior 

 arch. 



Scales moderate, not extending on tlie lins, those on colored side ctenoid, those on 

 blind side smooth. Arch of lateral line short and high, its base ccmtained 4J to 5 times in 

 the straight porti(m. 



Dorsal i)eginning opposite anterior nostril, the rays nearly uniform in length, the long- 

 est about half head. Pectoral of colored side 4| in length. Ventral of colored side 

 beginning under middle of lower eye, with rays; the right vential witli ti rays. 



Head 4 in length; depth l.J. 



Radial formula: D. 85; A. G4; L. lat. 75 (pores). 



Color, in life, light grayish with reddi.sh tinge, covered with small round spots of darker 

 gray and with lighter rings inclosing spaces of the ground color. Verti<'al tins sirnihirly 

 colored, with a small black spot near base of each ninth or tenth ray. Two black spots on 

 median line of body divide the length into nearly e(iual thirds; some other small black 

 si>ots scattered over colored side, [./orilan and Gilbrrf.) 



The specimens before us agree in all jiarticulars with Jordan and Gilbert's (lescrii)tion, 

 save in trifling variations in number of fin rays and in the fact that in large specimens the 

 ciliations of the scales are absent. In three specimens of medium size, the first ray of the 

 pectoral of the colored side is elongated, in one considerably so. 



Specinu^ns were taken by the Jilahe from station ccxLiii, in 24° 43' N. lat., 83° 25' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 37 fathoms; also by the AlhatroHn from station 2318, in 24° 25' 48" N. 

 lat., 81° 40' W. Ion., at a deiith of 4.") fathoms; from station 24(r), in 28"^ 45' N^. lat., 85° 02' 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 30 fathoms; from station 2400, in 28° 40' :N'. lat., 84° 49' W. Ion., at 



