316 PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



occurs by the upper border overriding the lower one. The eye begins to close im- 

 mediately if a light is flashed on it at night, and a high degree of contraction is 

 attained within 3 seconds. W. H. L. 



The collection contains 17 specimens, 38 to 85 mm. long. In each of 2 speci- 

 mens counted, the dorsal had 6 rays, the anal 4, and the pectoral 16. The "wrist" 

 of the pectoral is not free, being wholly adnate to the body by skin. The gill 

 opening is near the base of the attached wrist. Though the body spines or prickles 

 are rather stout on the upper surface, the ventral surface is perfectly smooth. 



In preserved specimens the ground color is grayish above and white under- 

 neath; upper surface dotted with white, some specimens being more profusely 

 spotted and dotted than others; body spines generally surrounded by white, 

 forming the larger spots, and smaller pale dots not surrounding spines, variously 

 distributed; more or less definite short brown streaks present, running in various 

 directions, forming reticulations or even rings, quadrilaterals, hexagonals, and 

 other figures in some specimens; pectoral with an indefinite brown band at base 

 and a broad dark bar at mid-length, the rest of the fin being pale; caudal pale, 

 with three indefinite brown crossbars; ventrals white like the ventral surface of 

 the fish. 



West Indies, the Bahamas, and Florida. S. F. H. 



Dibranchus atlanticus Peters 



Dr. Longley's field data report the capture of 91 individuals, ranging in length 

 (which is not given for all the fish caught) from 40 to 150 mm., taken at depths 

 of 135 to 430 fathoms. The collection contains 6 specimens, 42 to 93 mm. long. 



This species is readily distinguished from Halieutichthys aculeatus by the feel, 

 as the ventral surface is rough, being beset with numerous tubercles, whereas 

 that surface is perfectly smooth in the other species named. The "disk" also is 

 more angulate, but that difference is not great enough to distinguish the two 

 species readily, without having them together for direct comparison. In Di- 

 branchus atlanticus the "wrist" is largely free, whereas it is attached to the body 

 in H. aculeatus, as pointed out elsewhere. The gill opening is on the inner side 

 of the wrist and near its base. The roof of the mouth bears no teeth. In each of 2 

 specimens examined, the dorsal has 6 rays, the anal 4, and the pectoral 13. 



Apparently occurring in rather deep water on both sides of the tropical 

 Atlantic. S. F. H. 



