152 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



NEMICHTHYS SCOLOPACEUS, Richardson. (Figure 170.) 



Nemichthys scolopaceiis, Richardson, Voyiige Samarang, Fishes, 25, PI. x. Figs. 1-3. — Gi-nther, Cat. Fish. 



Brit. Mas., VIII, 210; Challenger Report, xxii, 263.— Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., iii, 1880,485.— 



GooDE iiud Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., x, 1883, 225.— .Jordan and Gilbert, Bui. xvi, U. S. Nat. 



Mus., 366. — Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, Poiss., 93, Pi. vil, Figs. 2, 2a. — Jordan and 



Davis, Rep.U. S. F. C, 1888 (1891) 657. 

 Leptorhynchus Leuchtcnberyii, Lowe, Mem. Sav. Etraugeres, St. Petershurg, vil, 1854, 171. 

 Belonopsis Leuchtenkergii, Brandt, op. cit. , 174, figure. 



Head comparatively stout, its depth one-seventh its greatest length. Eye moderate, 

 less than one-third the length of the head without snout. Length of pectoral fins slightly 

 less than height of the anal, which is less than the height of the body and rattier more than 

 the greatest depth of the head. Pale above, belly and anal fin blackish, the color not 

 abruptly changing, the back somewhat speckled. 



This most remarkable species was first obtained by H. M. S. tSamarang in the South 

 Atlantic in 1846, and a little later by the indefatigable Lowe at Madeira. In 1879, when the 

 Fish Commission had its headquarters at Gloucester, a third specimen was obtained by us 

 from a George's Bank fisherman, who had preserved it in a whisky bottle, and who was 

 induced to part with it in barter for a five-dollar bill. 



In 1881, the Fish Hawk while at work in 25li fathoms off Newport, brought up a small 

 specimen, clinging by its long Jaws to the outside of the trawl net. Since then, the Alba- 

 tross and the Blake have obtained numerous specimens, off the South Atlantic coast in .300 

 to 1,000 fathoms. Vaillant has a magnificent specimen, 650 millimeters long, obtained in 

 1888 meters on the Banc d'Arguin. The Challenger did not obtain a single specimen. 



The following is a list of localities whence this species has been obtained by the Alba- 

 tross : 



No. 35632, U. S. N. M., from station 2235, in 39° 12' N. lat., 72° 03' 30" W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 707 fathoms; No. 32674, U. S. N. M., from station 2002, in 37° 20' 42" N. lat., 74° 17' 36' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 641 fathoms; No. 35401, U. S. N. M., from station 2181, in 39° 29' N. lat., 

 71° 46' W. Ion., at a depth of 693 fathoms; No. 35G17, U. S. N. M., from station 2203, in 39° 

 34' 15" N. lat., 710 41' 15" W. Ion., at a depth of 705 fathoms; No. 32649, U. S. N. M. (4 

 specimens), ti'om station 2001, in 37° 46' 30" N. lat., 74° W. Ion., at a depth of 519 

 fathoms; No. 35402, U. S. N. M., from station 2182, in 39° 25' 30" N. lat., 71° 44' W. Ion., at 

 a depth of 861 fathoms; No. 35459, U. S. N. M., from station 2187, in 39° 49' 30" N. lat., 71° 

 10' W. Ion., at a depth of 420 fathoms; No. 33290, U, S. N. M., from station 2039, in 38° 19' 

 26" N. lat., 68° 20' 20" W. Ion., at a depth of 2,369 fathoms; and from stations 2023, in 37° 48' 

 N. lat., 740 01' 30" W. Ion., at a depth -of 377 fathoms; 2501, in 39° 38' N. lat., 71° 42' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 500 fathoms: 2,5.30, in 40° 53' 30" N. lat., 66° 24' W. Ion., at a depth of 956 

 fathoms; 2.5.33, in 40° 16' 30" N. lat., 67° 26' 15" \V. Ion., at a depth of 828 fathoms; and 

 2528, in 41° 47' N. lat., 65^37' 30" W. Ion., at a de])th of 677 fathoms. 



Specimens were taken by the steamer Fish Ha wk, as follows : No. 29066, U. S. N. M., from 

 station 1048, in 38'= 29' N. lat., 73° 21' W. Ion., at a depth of 435 fatlioms; No. 29073, U. S. 

 N. M., from station 1049, in 38° 28' N. lat., 73° 22' W. Ion., at a depth of 435 fathoms; No. 

 26106, U. S. N. M., from station 880, in 39° 48' 30" N. lat., 70° 54' W. Ion., at a depth of 225 

 fathoms; No. 28767 (2 specimens), IT. S. N. M., from station 938, in 39° 51' N. lat., 69° 4!)' 

 15" W. Ion., at a depth of 317 fathoms; No. 28854, U. S. N. M., from station 952, in 39° 55' 

 N. lat., 70° 28' W. Ion., at a depth of 396 fathoms ; No. 28905, U. S. N. M., from station 1025, 

 in 390 49' N. lat., 71° 25' W. Ion., at a deptli of 216 fathoms; No. 28761, U. S. N. M., from 

 station 937, in 39° 49' 25" N. lat., 69^ 49' W. Ion., at a depth of 616 fathoms; and No. 28897, 

 from station 997, in 39° 42' N. lat., 71° 32' W. Ion., at a depth of 335 fathoms. 



Specimens were also taken by the Blake, from station ccciii, in 41° 34' 30" N. lat., 

 65° 54' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 306 fathcnns; station CCCIX, in 40° 11' 40" N. lat., 68^ 

 22' W. Ion., at a depth of 304 fathoms; station cccvi, in 41° 32' 30" N. lat., 65° 55' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 524 fathoms; station cccxxx, in 31° 41' N. lat., 74° 35' W. Ion., at a depth 



