474 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



that of the eye. The pectoral is short, reaching to below the eighth scute of the lateral 

 line; tlie longest detached ray reaches to below the ninth scnte of the lateral line; its leugtli 

 (24: millimeters) equals one-half the length of the head. Thirty scutes in the lateral line. 



Eadial formula: B. 7-8; D. vill, 20; A. I, IS; P. 11 + 2; V. I, 5. 



Color (of alcoholic specimen) very light yellow, a broad jwarly band along the sides, 

 back stippled with light brownish; pectorals with dark mottlings. 



The type of the species is a specimin 5 inches long, taken at station 2401, steamer 

 Alhatroiin, N. hit. 28° 38' 30," AV. Ion. 85° 52' 30", from 142 fathoms. This locality is in 

 the Gulf of Mexico. 



PERISTEDION PLATYCEPHALUM, Goodk and Bean. (Figure .388, A, B.) 



Periatedium platycephaliim, Goode and Bean, Bull. Mus. Couij). Zoiil., xii, No. 5. ji. KiT. 



A Pt'ristedion with body much depressed, its greatest height (23 millimeters), OJ in 

 body length, G'^ in total. 



Length of head without prolongations (47 millimeters), twice the height of body, 3J 

 in its length ; with prolongations, 2i in body length. Interorbital space deeply <-oncave, the 

 supraorbital margin being swollen, its width (14 millimeters) equal to the long diameter of 

 the eye. No protuberance on the forehead, which is much depressed, its outline descend- 

 ing abruptly and rapidly in front of the eyes. A ridge below tlie eye, 7iot armed; a small 

 vertical spine behind each nostril. Stout spines upon operculum and several ui)on the 

 vertex. The length of snout with its extensions (29 millimeters) is half the length of the 

 head, its processes (10 millimeters) about 3 in its own length. The jjrocesses are flat, 

 triangular, diverging slightly, the distance apart of their tips 2-2i that at their bases. A 

 ridge extends backwards from the base of each process along the lower edge of the preo- 

 perculum, ending behind in a sharp, flat spine; the greatest width of the expanded jiortion, 

 on the preoperculum, only one-fourth as wide as the eye. Beneath this is another Icsscon- 

 spicuous ridge with minutely serrated edge, which is doable in front and single behind, the 

 two portions separated by a slight notch. 



Jaws normal, the two tentacles much fringed, their length (16 millimeters) not mucli 

 exceeding the diameter of the eye; between them, and placed about e(iuidistant from each 

 other, are two bunches of short tentacles, about 4 in each. Chin with numerous short ten- 

 tacles, some of them as long as the eye, arranged for the most part in bunches of 4. The 

 maxilla does not reach to the anterior margin of orbit. Diameter of eye (13 millimeters) 

 nearly 4 in greatest length of head, and exactly half total length of snout. Greatest width 

 of head, over the preopercular ridges (43 millime ters), nearly equal to its own length with- 

 out the processes. 



Dorsal origin over the upper angle of gill-opening. The length of the longest spine 

 (18 millimeters) is equal to that of postorbital portion of head. 



Anal origin slightly behind origin of second dorsal and vertical through seventh lateral 

 scute. 



Caudal small, slightly emarginate, with tips slightly produced, the length <>1' the mid- 

 dle rays (18 millimeters) equal to that of the dorsal. 



Ventral origin in advance of the axil of the pectorals; the fin extends slightly beyond 

 the vent, but not quite to the origin of the anal; its length (3r) millimeters) about twice 

 the length of the dorsal. 



Pectoral rather long, extending to tln^ ninth scute of the lateral line and past the 

 vertical through the origin of the anal. 



Radial formula: D. viii, 17; A. i,,17; V. i, 5; L. lat. 2!t. 



Color, red; body and lins mottled and blotched with darker. 



Types from Blalie, stations lx, off Barbados, 123 fathoms; Lix, off" Barbados, 288 

 fathoms. 



