DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 291 



Color, grayish browu: ligliter and yellowisli below. 



Species and genus were based upon a very small specimen, and many of the important 

 characters were not discernible. This specimen (Cat. No. UG0()7, U. S. N. M.) was taken by 

 the Fish Hawk from station 871, in 40o OL!' 5i" N. lat., 70° 23' 40" W. Ion., at a depth of 115 

 fathoms, and was much contracted and distorted from immersion in strong alcohol. Jfumer- 

 ous examples have since been obtained and the descriptions entirely recast. It was taken 

 by the BUtlv from station lvi, off St. Vincent, in 95 fathoms, and from station li, off St. 

 Kitts, in 208 fathoms; also by the Albatross from station 2102, in 28° 36' ISf. hit., 85° 33' 30" 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 111 fathoms; from station 2134, in VJo 56' 06" K lat., 75© 47' 32" W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 254 fathoms; from station 2.398, in 28'= 45' N. lat., 86° 26' W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 227 tiithoms; from station 2403, in 2S° 42' 30" N. lat., 85° 29' W. Ion., at a depth of 88 

 fathoms ; from station 2399, in 28o 44' N. lat., 86° 18' W. Ion., at a depth of 196 fathoms ; from 

 station 2376, in 29° 03' 15" N. lat., 88° 16' W. Ion., at a depth of 324 fathoms; from station 

 2378, in 29° 14' 30" N. lat., 88° 09' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of (iS fathoms; from station 2397, 

 in 28° 42' N. lat., 86° 36' W. Ion., at a depth of 280 fathoms; from station 2377, in 29° 07' 

 30" N. lat., 88° 08' W. Ion., at a depth of 210 fathoms. 



CHAMPSODON, Gunther. 



Champsodon, G'Jxther, Proc. Zool. Soo. Loudon, 1867, 102; Cballeuger Report, I, Part vi ("Shore Fishes), 52. 



Body compressed, elongate, covered with minute granular scales, and with two lateral 

 lines, eaeli provided with lateral vertical branches. Cleft of mouth oblique, very wide, 

 the tip of the maxillary extending very far behind the posterior margin of the orbit. Eye 

 lateral, directed upward, close to the ui>pcr prohle of the head, and comparatively small. 

 Two dorsal fins, the first composed of live rays; the second dorsal and anal similar in 

 shape and height, the anal slightly sliorter than the dorsal, beginning slightly behind it 

 and endiug slightly in advance of its last rays. Caudal peduncle stout, long; caudal 

 furcate. Ventrals jugular, inserted somewhat in advance of the base of the pectoral and 

 extending almost to the vent. Pectoral median, very short. Teeth in jaws in a single 

 series, not closely set, of unequal size, those of the lower jaw longer than the upper ones; 

 vomerine teeth cardiform, in two separate patches; palatine teeth, none. Gill-openings ex- 

 ceedingly wide. Angle of preoperculum armed with a long, lanceolate spine obliquely di- 

 rected u])ward, and with several denticulations on the hind margin of the same bone. 

 Preorbital with 1 or 2 spines. (From descriptions and figures of Giinther.) 



The type of this genus and the only species is C. vorax (Giinther, loc. cit.; Challenger 

 Eeport, VI, PI. XXIII, Fig. A). Itoccurs in the China seas, and was obtained by the Challenger 

 in the Ai-afura Sea, near the Ki Islands, at stiition 192, in 129 fathoms; and near the 

 riiilipi)iues, at station 204, in 115 fathoms; also by the Tnrcslinator in the Bay of Bengal, 

 100 fathoms (Alcock, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1889, Nov., 381). 



Family CHIASMODONTID^E, Gill. 

 Chiasmodontidm, Gill in Joudan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mns., 1882, 964; Century Dictionary, 953. 



Acanthopterygians, with an elongate, subcylindric or slightly tapering form and sub- 

 conic head. Skin naked. Two dorsal fins, the first of slender spines and short, the second 

 dorsal and anal loug; ventrals thoracic and normal (i, 5). Mouth very deeply cleft, reach- 

 ing beyond the eyes, with numerous long, sharp, and (in front) movable teeth. Teeth on 

 palatines. Upper jaw not protractile, covered by an integument in common with the snout 

 anteriorly. Opercular apparatus very oblique and reduced. 



CHIASMODON, Johnson. 



Chiasmodon, Johnson, Proc. Zoiil. Soc. Lomlou, 1863, 408.— Jokd.vn and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mas., 



810. 

 Chiasmodus, Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., v, 435, et alibi. 



Body elongate, compressed, naked; belly pendent, its walls membranaceous, capable of 

 great dilation. Mouth very large; lower jaw longer, no barbel; jaws with two series each 



