56 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



ward than in B. atlantints, the length of the postanal portion of the body being greater 

 than that of the head, and contained 3i times in the total without caudal. The ventral iins 

 are placed opposite the posterior portion of the base of the dorsal. 



Although the scales have all disappeared, it would seem that there had been about 32 

 longitudinal rows; and their size may be judged of by tlie fact tliat there were 7 rows 

 between the base of the pectoral and the vertical from the origin of the ventral. Adipose 

 tin slender and Inng, its length equal to one-half of the diameter of the eye. 



Eadialfonnula: D. 9; A. 19; V. 9; P. 10. 



Several specimens have been obtained by the Fish Commission steamer Albatross: One 

 (No. 33510, U. S. N. M.), 5^ inches in length, from station I'OOl, in 39° 44' 30" N. hit., 71"= 04' 

 W. Ion., at a^ depth of 1022 fathoms; another, 5!^ inches in length, from station 2711, in 

 380 59' N. lat., 70° 07' W. Ion., at a depth of 1344 fathoms; a third specimen (No. 39480, U. S. 

 N.M.), about 4J inches in length, from station 2572, in 40° 29' N. lat., 66^04'W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 1769 fatlioms. 



This species is named in honor of Mr. J. H. Benedict, of the U. S. National Museum, 

 for several years the resident naturalist of the Albatmss. 



Family SYNODONTIDv^. 

 Synodontidcp, Gill, Arr. Fam. Fishes, 1872, 16.— Jordan, Cat. Fisli. N. A., 1885, 39. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical, or somewhat compressed, covered with cycloid or ctenoid 

 scales. Mouth wide, the entire margins of the upper jaw formed by the slender elongate 

 premaxillaries, to which are adherent the slender maxillaries, which are sometimes rudi- 

 mentary or absent. Teeth in jaws usually in cardiform bands, with larger teeth, usually 

 depressible, among them : teeth usually also on palatines and on tongue (absent in liatlnj- 

 synodus, and in some of the si»ecies of Chlorophthahnus). No barbels. Gill membranes seiJ- 

 arate, free. Adipose tin present (except sometimes in ButhysidtruH). Dorsal tin siiort, of 

 soft rays. Anal moderate. Pectorals and ventrals present. Caudal forked. A tendency 

 to erratic«development in the fin rays. Air bladder small or absent. No photophores. 



KEY TO THE GENERA OF SYNODONTID^. 



I. Maxillary narrow behind. Body subcyliudrical, rather elongate. Mouth very wide. Dorsal iindiau. 



A. Snout conical; teeth not barbed. 



1. Tongue with teeth. Ventrals close behind pectorals. Dorsals with 13 rays or less. 



a. Palatine teeth in single b.md on each side Synodus 



b. Palatine teeth in double bands [Saukida] 



2. Tongue toothless. Ventrals I'ar behind pectorals. Dorsal witli 20 rays B.vtiiylaco 



B. Snout broad, depressed. Teeth barbed; fang-like. 



1. Tongue toothed. Ventrals close to pectorals. Dorsal with 18 rays Bathysaurus 



II. Maxillary rudimentary or absent. Body elongate, rather compressed. Mouth extremely wide. 

 A. Snout short. Hca<l tliick. Teeth cardiform, unequal, the largest in the lower jaw barbed. 

 1. Tongue small, with teeth. Pectoral small, very high. Ventrals very far from pectoral. 



Harpodo.v 



SYNODUS, (Gronov.), Scopoli. 



Synodus, Gronov. Scopoli, Int. Nat. Hist., 1777, 246.— ScnNEn)i:u, Bloch's Syst. Iditli., 1801, 3!16 (tyiie, 



Ksox synodus, Gron.).— Jordan and Gilhert, Bull, xvi, V. S. N. M., 279. 

 Saurus, Cuvier, Eegne Animal, Isted., 1817, 169; 2d ed., ii, 313 (typo, Salmo aaurus, L.).— Cuvier and Vai.i:.\- 



ciENNES, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xxii, 457. — Gunther, Cat. Fi.sh. Brit. Mas., v, 394. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical. Head depressed, the snout triangular, rather pointed. 

 Interorbital region transversely concave. Mouth very wide; premaxillary not protractile, 

 long and strung, more than half length of the head; maxillary closely connected with it, 

 very small or obsolete. Premaxillary with one or two series of large compressed knife- 

 .shaped teeth, the inner and larger depressible. Palatine teeth similar, smaller, in a single 

 broad band. Lower jaw with a band of rather large teeth, the innci' and larger teeth 

 depressible; a patch of strong, depressible teeth on the tongue in front, and a long row along 



