DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 



63 



diagnosis. The mandible has a series of seven large pores on its lower surface. There are 

 several similar pores under the eye. Tlie nostrils are situated about midway between the 

 eye and the extremity of the snout, small, slit-like, the i)Osterior about twice as large as the 

 anterior one in each pair. 



The dorsal fin contains 11 rays, and is inserted midway between the tip of the snout 

 and the base of the middle caudal rays. The flu is highest in front, the length of the rays 

 diminishing rapidly posteriorly. There is apparently no adipose dorsal. 



The anal fin contains 12 rays and is similar in shape to the dorsal, the anterior rays 

 being the longest, and about ei[ual in length to the mandible; its distance from the snout is 

 about 3 times the length of its longest ray. 



The caudal is forked, its middle rays two-fifths as long as those in the upper caudal 

 lobe; the lower lobe is much prolonged, the lower ray being more than -i times as long as 

 the middle rays. Its extremity is broken off in our specimen, but apparently it must have 

 been nearly twice as long as the stump which now remains. 



The pectoral fin is normal, composed of 9 rays, and is inserted close to the opercular 

 flap; its length is slightly greater than that of the head (although mutilated), extending 

 beyond the origin of the dorsal. 



The ventral is composed of 7 rays, and its base is entirely in advance of the perpendic- 

 ular from the origin of the dorsal; the inner rays reach to the vent, while its outer ray is 

 enormously prolonged, extending far beyond the extremity of the upper caudal lobe; the 

 length of the prolonged ray is fully 4 times that of the head. The two ventrals are close 

 together. 



Eadial formula: D. 11; A. 12; P. 9; V. 7; B. 11. Scales, 9-55-8 or 9. 



Color brown, the roof of the mouth and inside of the branchiostegal flap black, as well 

 as the operculum and branchiostegal membrane. 



A single specimen, 392 millimeters (15.J inches) long to the tips of the prolonged ven- 

 tral rays, was taken by the BlaTce, at a depth of 1,850 fathoms, at station CLXXiv, in lat. 

 240 33' N., Ion. 840 23' W. 



A second example of the same fish, and of nearly the same size, was taken by the steamer 

 Albatross, September 6, 1884, in lat. 39o3'15" N. and Ion. 70° 50' 45" W., at a depth of 

 1,537 fathoms. This is well preserved, and throws additional light on the extei-nal charac- 

 ters of the-species ; the iius, especially, are more nearly i^erfect. Measurements of the two 

 are given below. 



Length to base of middle caudal rays. . .mm 

 Body,— Greatest height do. 



Greatest width do. 



Height at ventrals do. 



Least height of tail do. 



Length of caudal pedtincle do. 



Head Greatest length do. 



Greatest width do. 



Width of interorbital area do. . . 



Length of snout do. . . 



Length of upper jaw do. .. 



Length of mandible do. . 



Distance from snout to orbit do. . 



Diameter of orbit do. . 



Dorsal. — Distance from snout do.. 



Length of base do. . 



Length of longest ray (iirst) do. . 



Length of last ray do. . 



Anal. — Distance from snout. . . .do. . 



Length of base do - . 



Length of longest ray <firat).. ..do.. 



Anal.— Length of last ray mm. . 



Caudal.— Lens til "f niiddlfl rays do. . . 



Length of external rays, upper 



lobe mm.. 



Length of external rays, lower 



lobe mm . . 



Pectoral. — Distance from snout do. . . 



Length do... 



Ventral.— Distance from snout do... 



Length do... 



Branchiostegal 3 do. . . 



Dorsal do . . . 



Anal do. . . 



Pectoral do. . , 



Ventral do.., 



Number of scales in lateral lino 



Number of tranaverso rowa above lateral 



line 



Number of transverse rows below lateral 

 line 



Current number of 

 specimens. 



12(?) 

 23 



35651. 



16 

 19 



SO 



* Blake. 



