REPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA FISHES. 69 



Two specimens were obtamed, of wliicli the larger is 7 inches long, by the U.S. 

 Fish Commission, off the coast of New England, in 487 fathoms. 



There are certain discrepancies between the description of this species and of the 

 European specimens of the genus which made me long hesitate before referring them to the 

 same genus. Goode says that pseudobranchiee are present ; Collett denies this, and in our 

 specimen of Paralipans hathyhius they are certainly absent. The teeth are pointed in 

 Paraliparis hathi/hius, and described as paved in Paraliparis liparinus. Finally, Goode 

 does not remark upon the isolation of the lower pectoral rays which is so conspicuous in 

 our specimen, although it should be remembered that Collett believes that he noticed 

 intermediate rays in his example, which, without doubt, is of the same species as the 

 one figured in this work. On the other hand, the agreement in the majority of the other 

 essential points is great, so that I prefer at present to leave the fishes in the same genus. 

 Probably the statement so distinctly made by Collett, viz., that the ventral fins had been 

 accidentally lost, as well as the black colour wliich gives to the European species a verj^ 

 difierent appearance, has prevented Goode from comparing his specimens with 

 Pai^aliparis. 



Paraliparis membranaceus, n. sp. (PI. XII. fig. D). 



D. ca 70. A. ca 70. 



The specimen from which the following description is taken is only 60 mm. long, and 

 therefore presumaljly young ; and it is uncertain whether it represents a species in which 

 certain embryonic characters are persistent, or merely an early stage of development. 



Its head is large, compressed, about as high as long, with the upper profile 

 descending in a parabolic curve. The abdominal cavity, black and transparent 

 through the integuments, is excessively short ; the tail compressed and gradually 

 tapering into a fine point. The whole of the integuments are colourless ; with minute 

 scattered points of pigment. A broad median dorsal fold rises from the top of the snout 

 and is continued to the extremity of the tail, gradually disappearing as it approaches the 

 caudal fin, which is represented by two or three extremely fine and rather long terminal 

 filaments. The fold is highest above the posterior portion of the abdomen ; there also 

 fin-rays commence to be developed, wliich on the anterior half of the tail are distinct enough, 

 but become more crowded posteriorly and almost indistinguishable. The anal has a 

 similar structure ; it also starts as a fold from the vent, which is far advanced, opposite to 

 the hind margin of the orbit; rays are developed from the posterior end of the abdominal 

 cavity, whence the fin is continued in the same manner as the dorsal. 



Pectoral fin very large, with a very broad base, extending from the upper end of the 

 gill-opening forward nearly to the hyoid bone ; its principal portion consists of an 



