446 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



The type specimen (Cat. No. 26003, U. S. N. M.), 69 iiiilliiiicters iu leugtb, was taken 

 by tbe Fish Hawk from station 870, in 40° 02' 36" N. lat., 70° 22' 58' W. U)n., at a dei)Mi 

 of 155 fatboms, and from station 871, in 40o 02' 54" N. lat., 70° 23' 40" W. Ion., at a deptb 

 of 115 fathoms. Tlie Albatross obtained exampb's from station 2318, in 24'= 25' 45" N. lat. 

 81° 46' W. loii., at a depth of 45 fatboms; from station 2401, in 28'= 38' 30" N. lat., 85° 52' 

 30" W. long., at a depth of 142 fathoms; from station 2402, in 28° 36' N. lat., 85° 33' 30" 

 W. Ion., at a depth of HI fatboms; from station 2404, in 28^ 44' N. lat., 85o Ki' W. Jon., 

 at a depth of 60 fatlioms; and from station 2417, in 33° 18' 30" N. lat., 77° 07' W, Ion., at 

 a depth of 95 fathoms. 



CITHARICHTHYS MICROSTOMUS, Gill. 



Citharichthi/s microsiomuK, Gill, Proe. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1864, 223. 



CUharichthys spilopteriis, Jokdan aud Gilbkht, Hull, xvi, IT. S. Nat. Mas., 817 (uot Giinther.) 



The height of the body enters about 2g times (.36-.37) in the extreme length; that of 

 tbe candal x)edunc]e about 11 times. Tbe head forms a tilth of tbe length, is rather 

 abbreviated, scarcely sinuous above the eyes, blunt at tbe snout, which scarcely exceeds a 

 seventh of the head's length, and the rostral area is rlionibic and not higher than long. 

 The eyes are even; the longitudinal diameter contained about 3* times (.05A) in the head's 

 length. The mouth is rather small, the length of tbe upper jaw only equaling one-fourth 

 of tbe length, and that of the lower two fifths of the head's length. The teeth are very 

 small and ck)se together, larger in front. The dorsal commences above tbe front of the 

 orbit and is highest and convergent near the fortieth ray, which equals about one tenth of 

 the total length; the anal is highest at about the twenty fifth ray, and is as high or even 

 higher than the dorsal. The caudal is rounded behind and forms about one-sixth of the 

 length. The pectoral tins are uneipially developed, that of the dark side being prolonged 

 and contained only 6§ times in the total length, while that of the white side only equals 

 one-tenth of the same; the rays are also simple. The ventral fins are also une(iually 

 developed, tlie riglit lieing on the abdominal ridge at its origin, rather in advance of the 

 oijercular margin, and with its longest rays contained about 14 times in the total lengtli; 

 stretched backwards it extends to the second anal ray; the fin on the white side is more 

 advanced, wider, and its rays longer, contained less than 12 times in the length, and 

 extends backward to nearly the third anal ray. 



Eadial formula: D. 81; A. .58; C. 4, 6, 5, 3; P. 10; V. 6. 



The scales are large, angular behind, covered with smaller ones, especially near tbe 

 point of conjunction of contiguous ones, where alone they are developed on the blind side; 

 the scales of tbe eyed side are mostly minutely ciliated behind, unarmed, however, near 

 the lateral line, the scales of which last are quadrate and mostly covered ; the scales of 

 the blind side are less angular behind and unarmed. The lateral line runs through about 

 42 scales, while of longitudinal rows there are 10 above and 14 below the lateral line. 



The color is uniform reddish brown. A single specimen, little more than 3 inches 

 long, Avas first obtained by Prof. Baird at Heeseley's Point. It is especially distinguished 

 from its California relative, 0. sordida, by the shorter snout, small mouth, and large scales, 

 0. sordida having about 58 scales pierced by the lateral line and 18 rows above the lateral 

 line. Notwithstanding this great disparity in the size of tbe scales and mouth C. mkro- 

 stomits appears to agree in most respects with the California fish, as well as generically 

 with Cithariehfhi/s spUoptcrm of Giinther, a species inhabiting the Gulf of INIexico. 



As the name Citharichtln/s was probably introduced a short time before Orthopsettn, pro- 

 posed for the I'sctlichflii/s sordid kk, and was framed for a species related to that type, that 

 name must be adopted if the 0. sordida is not regarded as generically distinct. 



We may here remark that, although I have referred the Platessn qnadrocularis of Storer 

 to the genus Cha'nopsctta (('. obJonfja), it is jjossibk' that it may not truly belong to tiiat 

 genus, as the dorsal and anal tins are represented as increasing backwards till near their 

 ends, and the anterior dorsal rays are free at their ends; but as the species agrees so 



