458 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



upon both sides of tlie body; about 127 iu the lateral line, 31 above and 49 below. Dorsal 

 beginning almost over the middle of the upper eye, and extending almost to the base of 

 the candal rays. Caudal rounded, composed of about 10 rays. Pectoral very small, tili- 

 form, with 1 to 3 rays. Ventrals with 4 rays, but slightly developed. 



Radial formula: D. 84; A. (i'J; V. 4. 



Color, reddisii, gray above; dorsal and anal fms black, excepting the lays, which, 

 being covered with scales, are of the same color as the body. The black tint is especially 

 noticeable on the blind side. Extremities of the rays milky white. 



Specimens of this species were obtained by the French explorers at station xxvi, 370 

 meters; LXI, 1,290 meters — both on the coast of Portugal; station xxxii, in the Gulf of 

 Cadiz, 440 meters, and station Lxv, off the coast of Soudan, 250 meters. 



APHORISTIA, Kaup. 



Jphorhtia, Kaup, 'Wiogmann's Archiv. 1858, 106 (type, Achirus ornatus, I^acppfede). — GiiNTJiKR, Oaf. Fish. Brit. 

 Mus., IV, 490. — JoHDAN and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Miis., 842. 



Sinistral jjleuronectoids, having body elongate, lanceolate, rounded forward, tapering 

 behind, much compressed. Mouth small, twisted sinistrally. Teeth minute, dextral only. 

 Snout short, with a hook. One nostril present, before lower eye, with slight barbel. Scales 

 ctenoid, moderate; no lateral line. Vertical fins confluent; pectorals obsolete; ventral only 

 on colored side. Gill openings narrow. 



This genus, hitherto known only from the western Atlantic, has been reported from 

 deep water in the Bay of Bengal, where Alcock recognizes three species: Ajihoristia Wood- 

 ]\[((noni, Alcock, 475-490 fathoms; A. Gilesii, Alcock, 193 fathoms; and A. srptcmntriat(i, 

 Alcock, 188-220 fathoms. 



Aphorktiafdxduta, a shallow water form, is illustrated in pi. OX. (fig. 374) for com])arison 

 with the allied species. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF APHORISTIA. 



I. AVntral ponnato with anal. 



Ventral rays 5. 



Scales moderate, 85-90 rows. 1 ). 95 A. fasciata 



II. Ventral separated from anal. 



A. A^entral rays 5. 



Scales small. 120/50 rows, a single row between the eyes, liody elongate, height 4j ; Head 5J; 



D. 119 A. NEBULOSA 



B. Ventral rays 4. 



1. Scales moderate 80-90/34. Norn- between eyes. Ifody elongate, height 4i ; Head 54; D. 96-100. 



A. MARGINATA 



2. Scales large, rough, 65/:i4. Body short, height 3}; Head4J; D. 90 A. pigra 



3. Scales moderate. SO '35. Candal 1/10 of total. Eye in the same vertical. Body3i; head, 5|. 



A. DIOMEDEANA 



4. Scales modern ti:. 85-90/38, D. 78; .V. 70 A. PUSILLA 



APHOKISTIA NEBULOSA, Goooic and Bea.x. (Figure Tto.) 



Apliorisiia xebtdoso, Goode and Bean, Bull. Mas. Comp. Zoill., x, 1883, 192. — GCnther, Cliailenger Report, 

 XXII, 1887, 167. 



Body is rather slenderer than in other species of the genus; its greatest height (18 

 millimeters) is contained 4§ times in the extreme length. Scales small, rough, about 120 

 in a longitudinal series; about 50 in a transverse serie.s. Jaws and snout scaleless. Length 

 of the bead (15 millimeters) contained 5f times in total length. The length of Ihe snout (3 

 millimeters) is 4^ that of the head. Eyes small and close together, being separated by only 

 a single row of scales; upper eye very slightly in advance of the lower. The tubular nos- 

 tril is directly in front of the lower eye, and a little nearer to it than to the tii) of the snout. 

 The length of the eye (2 millimeters) is contained 7i times in length of head. The angle of 

 the mouth is about in a vertical through the anterior margin of the lower jiupil. Teeth 

 feeble, very slender, and rather closely i)laced, apparently etjually developed on the two sides. 



