466 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



D. XI, 11; A. I, 10; P. 12 + 3; V. I, 5. 



Color, lifvlit biowiiish-yellow on the back, paler beneath; the fi as, except the i)ectoral 

 and veutral, pale. The pectoral has five dark bauds, of wliicli the tliird extends entirely 

 across the fin. 



The type of the description is a^ sins>']e individual VM niilliuK^ters long, taken by the 

 U. S. steamer Blake, at station LXiv.off Barbados, at an uncertain depth, somewhere between 

 100 and 200 fathoms. 



PRIONOTUS STEARNSII, Jordan aud Swain. 



Prionotim SIcanisii, .Jordan aud Swain, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884 (vii), 541. 



A Frio)iofns allied to Frionotus cvolniis, having head 2| in length (.3|^ including caudal); 

 depth. 4 (5);U. viii-12; A. 12. Scales, (transverse series), 77; pores in lateral line about 

 48. Length, 3f inches. 



Body not very slender; narrowed but compressed above, the width of the nape between 

 the occipital spines being about one-fifth the head. Head depressed auij long, its upper 

 profile being a little concave before eye, thence slightly convex or almost straight to front 

 of dorsal. Snout 2J in head, not very broad, rather more than usually rounded anteriorly 

 and scarcely emarginate at tip. Edges of snout without spine and without distinct serra>, 

 the margin merely granular. Surfaces of b(jnes of head comparatively smooth, but rough- 

 ened with small granules, which are arranged in radiating stri;e, much as in P. eruhiHS, but 

 more regularly than in that species. 



Mouth rather wide, tlie maxillary reaching to oi)posite front of the eye, the mandible 

 about to center of eye; maxillary two in head. Bands of palatine teeth narrow. 



Eye smaU, its diameter (in young specimen) 4§ in head. A very small cirrus formed of 

 two or three thickish filaments from a common base on upper part of eye; its length little 

 more than half the pupil. Interorbital area of moderate width, rather deeply concave, its 

 least width 6 J in head. Orbital rim not at all elevated, its bones with entire or granulated 

 edges. No trace of spine or groove behind eye. Occipital spines very weak, the outer pair 

 inconspicuous, not reaching nearly to front of dorsal, the inner pair altogether wanting, no 

 trace of them being seen. No spines, ridges, or evident roughness on temporal region. 

 Preopercle with a single small sjiine, without smaller one at its base. Lower opercular 

 sijine small; upper opercular spine reduced to a blunt point. Humeral spine inconspicu- 

 ous, not extending beyond opercular spine. The head is tHus much less completely armed 

 than in any other of our species of rrionotu.s, the only spinous projections present being 

 the occipital, humeral, opercular and i)re()percular spines, four pairs. These spines may 

 perhaps become more jirominent with age. Membranaceous tlai) of opercle scaly. 



Gill rakers long and very slender, about thirteen developed, the length of the longest 

 about half eye. 



Scales rather large, those on the nai)e and breast little reduced in size; about 10 

 between dorsal and occiiiut. 



Fins all low and small. First dorsal spine rather the highest, its length 2J in head, 

 its anterior margin serrulate. Longest ray of soft dorsal, 2 in head. Caudal, 1;^ in head. 

 Longest anal ray 2 in head. Pectorals very short (perhaps longer in the adult), reaching 

 only to front of second dorsal, IJ in head. Detached rays slender, the uppermost IJ in 

 head. Veutrals, Ij in head. 



Color, in spirits, brown, paler below; scales everywhere, with dark punctulations, these 

 forming a darker shade on the lateral line near the middle of the body; the head plain 

 brown. Spinous dorsal dusky posteriorly. Soft dorsal with two duskj- longitudinal shades. 

 Caudal blackish at tip. Anal witli a black stripe toward the margin. Pectorals black, the 

 detached rays and ventral fins jilain whitish. 



The type of this species (No. .36943, U. S. N. M.),3f inches long, in good conditicm, was 

 taken from the stomach of a Red Snap])e,r, Lutjnnm Blarkfordii, at Pensacohi. 



The Blake secured a specimen at station ccLi, on the Alacrau Shoals, Yucatan, at a 

 depth of 35 fathoms. 



