278 PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



side. Adults are gallstone yellow above, lighter below, with darker punctulations 

 but no outstanding markings. 



The sexes differ profoundly in their genitalia. The genital aperture in the 

 female is flanked on either side by a slight papilla. The male has a long intro- 

 mittent organ protrusible under pressure. This is flanked on either side by a pair 

 of spatulate plates, convex on the outer face and concave within. Mediad to each 

 is a second plate with an anterior and a posterior lobe, of which the former is 

 the broader and stouter. No part of the mechanism is spinose, and it is a mis- 

 nomer, I think, to call any of the plates claspers. From the position they assume 

 when turned far forward, their function seems that of copulatory guides. 



I have not seen the type of Brosmophycis verrillii, but have examined 4 speci- 

 mens of D. cayorum from Bermuda. For the 4 the dorsal rays are 69, 71, 72, and 

 73, the corresponding anal rays 52, 49, 55, and 54, suggesting a range of variation 

 like that in material from Florida. 



The fin formulas given by Garman (see citation above) for verrillii (D. 70; 

 A. 50) are not distinctive. The streaked color pattern he mentions is satisfactorily 

 explained by bands of connective tissue showing through rather slightly pig- 

 mented skin. W. H. L. 



The collection contains many specimens, ranging from recently born young, 

 about 10 mm. long, to adults, 46 mm. long. 

 Florida and Bermuda. S. F. H. 



Dicromita agassizii Goode and Bean 



The collection contains 4 specimens, about 69 mm. (caudal broken) to 150 

 mm. long, without locality label or identification tag. No field notes that seem to 

 refer to this species were found. It may perhaps be assumed that they were taken 

 in deep water south of Tortugas. 



The specimens have been compared with 1 of the 2 type specimens (from the 

 Gulf of Mexico), on which the only description and figure known to the writer 

 were based. It is possible to make a few additions and corrections to the original 

 description and drawing. First, the body tapers more gradually posteriorly than 

 Goode and Bean's artist indicated, both in the type and in the Tortugas material. 

 Second, the caudal fin is much longer and more distinct than shown. "Vertical 

 fins confluent" seems to be approximately true of the dorsal and caudal, but 

 scarcely of the anal. Even now the exact situation is not clear because the mem- 

 branes are broken. Third, the original description mentions "three or four spines 

 upon preoperculum," whereas the artist has correctly indicated 2 flat points. The 

 only other spine on the head is the rather large and sharp one near upper angle 

 of opercle. Fourth, I cannot be certain from any of the 5 specimens before me 

 that a lateral line actually is present. Each fish has four longitudinal grooves 

 along the side anteriorly. The second from above is situated where the lateral 

 line might be expected to lie, and it ends in advance of the other grooves. It seems 

 probable that Goode and Bean considered this groove a lateral line, or thought 

 that the lateral line lay in it. Fifth, the head is quite fully scaled, only the margins 

 of the jaws being naked. Certainly it is as fully scaled as in Neobythites. There- 



