DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 233 



"Its chief characteristics," he continues, "are its globular eyes of extraordinary dimen- 

 sions, its large and strong fins, the powers of rapid swimming, and a generally vigorous 

 and active constitution. All these characteristics are necessary for its defense against the 

 oceanic animals which frequent the marine abj'sses in which it customarily lives." 



It has since been taken about Nice, Genoa, and Naples, and also at Messina. Canes- 

 trini says that it spawns in the spring. 



EPIGONUS OCCIDENTALIS, Goode aud Buan, ii. s. (Figure 236.) 



The greatest height of the body at the ventrals (17 millimeters in the type specimen) is 

 contained a little over seven times in the length without caudal. The least height of the 

 tail (7 millimeters) equals the width of the intei'orbital space measured on the bone. The 

 length of the head (39 millimeters) is nearly one-third of the total without caudal. The 

 greatest width of the head (20 millimeters) is about one-half its length. The long diame- 

 ter of the eye (17 millimeters) is contained seven times in the standard length and is nearly 

 one half the length of the head. The length of the snout (9 millimeters) is about one-halt 

 that of the eye. The maxilla reaches somewhat beyond the anterior margin of the orbit ; 

 its length (14 millimeters) equals one-half the length of the head without the snout. The 

 iutermaxilla is short and thin, its length (9 millimeters) about equal to that of the snout; 

 its connection with the tip of the maxilla is ligamentous. The mandible reaches nearly to 

 below the middle of the eye; its length (18 millimeters) about equal to that of the eye. 

 The posterior nostril is very slightly in advance of the front of the eye; the anterior nostril 

 is a little nearer to the eye than to the tip of the snout. Both pairs of nostrils are superior 

 rather than lateral. The groove for the intermaxillary process is naked, narrow; its length 

 (5 millimeters) equal to twice its width. A weak spine on the operculum. The pseudo- 

 branchi;E are well developed. Sixteen gill rakers below the angle; the longest (5 milli- 

 meters) about one-third the length of the maxilla. Weak villiform teeth in very narrow 

 bauds on the intermaxilliary and mandible. Vomer aud palatines toothless. 



The dorsal begins over the eighth i-ow of scales; its first spine is minute; its length 

 only about one-eighth the length of the second spine, which is nearly as long as the base of 

 the fin ; the third spine is a little longer than the second and fourth, and the last is two- 

 thirds as long ajS the fourth. The interspace between the dorsals is as long as the last 

 spine. The base of the soft dorsal is one third as long as the head; the longest ray is 

 slightly longer than the base of the flu. The distance from the soft dorsal to the beginning 

 of the caudal is about twice the greatest height of the body. The caudal is imperfect; the 

 middle raj's appear to be about two-thirds as long as the outer and a little more than one- 

 third as long as the head. The anal originates under the seventh ray of the soft dorsal and 

 under the twenty-ninth scale of the lateral line; the length of its base ecjuals one-third of 

 its distance from the caudal; its first s])ine is very short, scarcely one third as long as the 

 second, the length of which (7 millimeters) is one-half that of the maxilla. The longest ray 

 is as long as the base of the soft dorsal. The vent is under the twenty-third scale of the 

 lateral line and under the interspace between the spinous and soft dorsals. The ventral 

 origin is behind that of the pectoral and in advance of the spinous dorsal origin; it is also 

 under the sixth scale of the lateral line. The spine is a little more than one-half as long as 

 the first ray. The length of the fin is one-third that of the head. 



The type of the description is the oidy specimen obtained ; it was secured by the steamer 

 7j /«/.(', off Barbados, in l!37 fathoms.- The species is very readily distinguished from the 

 Mediterranean species {iJ. telescopus) by its more slender form and its large number of 

 rows of scales. The length ot the s])ecimen to the base of the caudal is 120 millimeters, the 

 total length 137 millimeters. The caudal is somewhat inq)erfect. 



Radial formula: D. vii, 9; A. ii. 9; V. i, 5; P. 19; B. 7. Scales 4/55/8. 



Colors of the alcoholic specimen: Upper parts dark brown, lower parts light brown; 

 inside of mouth pale. At present tliere is an appearance of a dark band beginning on the 

 snout and continued behind the eye along the lateral line to the tail. 



