" DISCUSSION OP SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 115 



PHOTOSTOMIAS GUERNEI, CoLLETT. (Figure 140.) 

 Photostomias Guerni, Collett, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1889, 291. 



The greatest height of the body, beliiud thcventrals, is inchided eight and a half times 

 in its total length ; the length of the head tive and a half in total length. Eye moderate, 

 its diameter contained five and a half times in the length of the head. Mouth slightly 

 oblique, very large. Intermaxillary teeth about eight in number, those of the upper jaw 

 very small and serrated. The dorsal and anal are very far back, opposite. Veutrals 

 elongate, villiform, extending behind the vent. Caudal much furcate. 



The anterior luminous organ above the maxiUary is rudimentary. 



Eadial formula: D, 24; A. 27; P.O.; V. 15; C. 27. 



Color, dull black, this color extending even into the inside of the mouth. 



The type of this species, a single specimen, a female containing eggs nearly mature, 

 was taken on the 30th of June, 1887, by the Hirondelle, at a depth of 1,138 meters, oti 

 the Azores, in 38^ 31' ao" N. Lat., 30^ 13' 30" W. Long. The species is named in honor of 

 Baron Jules de Guerne, of Paris, who accompanied Prince Albert of Monaco on the 

 Hirondelle, in the capacity of zoologist. 



THAUMASTOMIAS, Alcock. (Figure 141.) 

 Thaumastomias, Alcock, Ami. .and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1890, ii, 220, pi. viil, (ig. 7. 



A genus allied to Photostomias, from which it is distinguished by the presence of teeth 

 upon the palatines. Body elongate, compressed, scalcless, with the vent not far distant 

 from the caudal fin. Ilead compressed, with the cranium small, the snout short, and the 

 cleft of the mouth exceedingly wide. A long, elastic muscular band passing from the hyoid 

 bone to the inner aspect of the mandibular symphysis. Teeth acute, unequal, in single 

 series in premaxillii;, mandibles, and palatines; none on the tongue. Eye moderate. Gill- 

 covers rudimentary. One dorsal fin opposite to the anal, situated in the posterior fourth 

 of the body near the caudal. No pectoral tins. Ventral fins situated in the anterior half 

 of the body. Gill-openings very wide. No air-bladder. 



The type of this genus, T. atrox, Alcock, was taken off the coast of Madras, at a depth 

 of 1,310 fathoms, by the Investigator, station 97, 



Family ALEPISAURID^^. 



Alephlosnurina, GirNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., v, 1864 (group third iu family Scopelidw). 



Aleplsaurouki, Bleeker, Eniim. Sp. Pise. Arch. Ind., xxii, 1859, 22. 



AlepidosauridfE, Bonapaute, Cat. Metod., 1846, 8 ; Conspectus, 1850. — Adams, Man. Nat. Hist., 1854, 99. — Gill, 



Arrangement Families of Fishes, 1862, 16 (Family No. 161). — Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. 



Mus., 274. 

 AlepUloxauroulm, Gill, Proo. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., xvi, 1864, 187. 

 AlcpimurUlcv, Gill, Science, in, 620, 1884. 

 Sphyrmtidce, gen., Lowe, Trans. Zoill. Soc. London, 1835, 123. 



Malacopterygians with the mesocoracoid wanting or atrophied. Post-tenqioral imping- 

 ing upon occiput. Vertebrre and interspinous processes normal. Photojjhores and barbel 

 absent. 



Body elongate, compressed, scaleless. Snout produced, the mouth cleft very wide. 

 Premaxillary very long and slender, not protractile, forming entire margin of upper jaw. 

 Maxillary thin, long, immovable. 



Teeth very unequal, immovable; a series of small teeth occupying entire length of pre- 

 maxillary; those in front sometimes larger and curved. Palatine teeth triangular, pointed. 

 Teeth on lower jaw like tho.se on palatines. Tongue toothless. 



Gill membranes not united, free from isthmus. Gill rakers short, spine-like. Brau- 

 chiostegals 5-7. Pseudobranchire large. Opercular bones thin, membranaceous. Dorsal 

 Jin very long, occiqnjing ncarli/ the ichole of the back; adipose fin present; anal fin moderate; 

 caudal forked. Air bladder none. 



