242 



DEEP-SEA FISHES OP THE ATLANTIC BASIN, 



PSEUDOPRIACANTHUS, Bleeker. 

 Pseudopriacanthus, Bleeker.— Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Amer., 1887, 86. 



Priacauthids, having the body rather short, compressed, its height more than half its 

 length. Scales comparatively large and rough. Tosterior nasal aperture a curved slit. 

 Angle of preoperculum with strung spine. Dorsal and anal spines striated. Anal rays 

 10-11; dorsal rays 12-13. Other characters included in the family diagnosis. 



PSEUDOPKIACANTHUS ALTUS, Gill. (Figures 239, 240.) 



Priacanthiis alius. Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1862, 132.— Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. 



Mus., 545. 

 Pseudopriacanthua alius, Jordan, Cat. Fi.sh. North America, 1887, 86. 



Body oblong, its length exceeding its height by one-half, compressed and elevated. 

 Head high and short, its length two-fifths that of body. I'lotile very oblique; snout 

 extremely short; gape of month very oblique, maxillary reaching to below orbit. Diameter 

 of orbit about one-half length of head. Spines stout. Scales rough and large, 45 in lateral 

 hne, which runs obli(iUfly upward in front, then abruptly turns downward. Ventrals large, 

 surpassing origin of anal. Preopercles and opercles coarsely serrate at angle and below; 

 angle of preopercle with two spines. Caudal fin rounded. 



Kadial formula: D. x, 11; A. Ill, 9. 



Color, tawny red, the vertical fins dotted with black, and the ventrals black. 



The type was obtained in Narragansett Bay, September, 18G0, evidently an estray from, 

 southern waters. 



A large specimen, 5 inches long, was obtained by the Alb(itro,ss at station 231C, X. lat. 

 2io 2.5' W., Ion. 81° 16' 1.5" in 45 fathoms, and two smaller ones at station 2606, in 25 

 fathoms. (Both of these are illustrated. Fig. 230 is S times natural size; Fig. 236 A, 

 4 times.) The species is not known to be abyssal, and has no claim to a place in this list, 

 except that it has been accidentally included in similar lists before, and should be ac- 

 counted foi'. 



Family POLYMIXIID^E. 



Polymixiid(V, Gill. Arr. Fam. Fish. 1872, name only (No. 99); Johnson's Cyclopasdia, 1323. 



A family of teleocephalous fishes distinguished by the peculiar union of characters. 

 The body is rather elongated and compressed ; the scales are not serrated ; the lateral line 



POLT>nXIA NOBILIS. 



is continuous with the back ; head compressed and with a decnrved profile ; preoperculum 

 serrated; mouth with a lateral and nearly horizontal cleft; teeth villiform, on the jaws as 

 well as palate; branchiostegal apertures large; branchiostegal rays 4; dorsal moderately 

 elongated, with several si)ines, increasing backward; anal ()p]>osite the i)osterior portion of 

 the dorsal, armed with 3 or 4 .spines; pectorals with l>ranched rays; ventral fins thoracic, 

 each with a spine and (i or 7 rays. The skeleton has the vertebne in increased number (29). 

 The family is distinguislied l)y the combination of cliin barl)els, increased number of rays, 

 and small number of branchiostegals. Its affinities are doubtful, but on the whole seem to 

 be rather with the MuJMit. (Gill.) 



