42 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



on the upper edge of the bone. The vomerine teeth are reduced to a pair of very small 

 teeth in the middle of the bone. Palatine teeth none, or reduced to a single tooth-like pro- 

 jection. 



Branchiostegals long, narrow, slender. Gills as in JUithytroctcsmacrolepis. Gill rakers 

 long, lanceolate, closely set, 20+7 on the outer branchial arch. 



Vent nearer to the gill opening than to the root of the caudal. Origin of the dorsal 

 fin somewhat in advance of the vent; it is much longer than high, the length of the ante- 

 rior rays incieasing to the sixth or seventh ray. Origin of the anal tin below the anterior 

 half of the dorsal, which it resembles in shape. Caudal fin deeply emarginate. I'ectoral 

 iuserted a short way above the lower profile, rather short and broad, about as long as the 

 eye. Ventrals broad, extending to the vent, their root being rather nearer to the base of 

 the caudal than to the extremity of the snout. 



Scales simple, cycloid, in about 12 longitudinal series above and below the lateral line, 

 between the dorsal and ventral fins. Lateral line straight, running fi-om the upper end 

 of the gill opening along the middle ot the tail, with rather small mucous apertures. 



Color, uniform black. 



Eadial formula: D. 20; A. 17; V. 9; P. 16; L. lat. ca. 100. 



A specimen 6^ inches long was taken by the Ghallmger off Pernambuco, station cxx; 

 depth, 675 fathoms. 



A very snuill, pointed, osseous projection in fiout of the clavicular symphysis reminds us 

 of a similar peculiarity iu the following genvis Flatytroctes. 



BATHYTROCTES MICEOLEPIS, GiiNTHER. 



Bathytroctes niia-olepis, Gf'NTHER, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, ii, 249; Challenger Report, xxii, 1887, 226, 

 pi. LVii, fig. A. — Alcock, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1889, 451. 



The maxillary extends to below the posterior third of the orbit. Height of the body 

 5J in total length (without caudal), the head 3f. Bones of head thin (as iu Batlujtrovtes 

 macrolejm). Head rather compressed, moderately deep, its depth at the occiput being two- 

 thirds of its length; its upper .surfiice is concave, the width of the interorbital space being 

 one-half of the longitudinal diameter of the eye. Eye very large, rather longer than deep, 

 one-third of the length of the head, and considerably longer than snout. Infraorbital ring 

 rather narrow, the broad maxillary separated from the orbit by a very uarrow strip of bone. 

 Snout somewhat wedge-shaped, with upper profile declivous, with jaws equal iu fi-ont and 

 with maxillary extending to posterior third of the orbit. Dentition feeble; all the teeth 

 equally minute and uniserial; intermaxillary and maxillary toothed throughout; vomerine 

 series transverse and straight, slightly interrupted in middle; palatine series nearly as long 

 as vomerine. Branchiostegals slender, rod-shaped. Gills four, that of fourth arch being 

 short and reduced to a horizontal series of lamina', which is only one third of the horizon- 

 tal series of the outer branchial arch. Gill lamina very short, especially on the convex 

 portion of the arches; gill rakers long, lanceolate, closely set, 24-4-11 on theouter branchial 

 arch. 



Vent considerably nearer to root of caudal fin than to gill opening, whilst origin of 

 the dorsal flu is somewhat nearer to latter. Dorsal flu longer than high, its anterior rays 

 increasing in length to fifth or sixth ray. Origin of anal behind vertical from middle of 

 dorsal fin. Caudal fin deeply emarginate. Pectoral inserted a short way above lower 

 profile; it has a moderately broad ba.se, is three-fifths of the length of the head, and does 

 not extend to ventral. Ventrals close together, scarcely extending to vent, their root being 

 midway between root of caudal and anterior margin of orbit. 



Scales decidu(ms, cycloid, with numerous fine concentric and radiating stria-; there 

 were probal)ly 9 scales in a transverse series between the lateral line ami the origin of the 

 dorsal fin and between the lateral line and the ventral fin. Lateral line straight, running 

 from the upper end of the gill opening along the middle of the tail, with rather narrow 

 mucous apertures. Color, uniform black, {(iiinther.) 



