14tJ THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGEK. 



wide, lateral, extending to below the hind margin of the eye ; teeth as in Macrurus 

 leptolepis. Prseoperculum with the hind margin excised and with the lower margin 

 crenulatcd. Scales thin and deciduous, without conspicuous keels ; there are seven 

 scales in a transverse series between the first dorsal and the lateral line. The scales on 

 the sides of the head are quite smooth, but the foremost part of the snout, the lower 

 portion of the infraorbital region, and the limbs of the prajoperculum are perfectly 

 scaleless. The distance between the vent and isthmus is less than the length of the 

 head. Outer ventral ray produced into a long filament. Blackish ; head, abdomen, 

 buccal and branchial cavities deep black. 



Habitat. — Near Yokohama, Japan, Station 237 ; depth, 1875 fathoms. One 

 specimen, 16^ inches long. 



]\Iid-Pacific, Station 246 ; depth, 2050 fathoms. Two specimens, Th inches long. 



Macrurus murrayi (PI. XXXIV. fig. A). 



Conjphxnoiiles murrayi, Giinth., Ann. and Mag. Xat. Hist., 1878, voL ii. p. 26. 

 D. 12. P. 20. V. 12. 



Snout short, but longer than the eye, which is small, its width being much less 

 than that of the interorbital space, and one-fifth of the length of the head. Canthus 

 rostralis obtuse, without median tubercle. The cleft of the mouth is anterior and 

 lateral, and extends to below the middle of the eye. Teeth of the outer series much 

 stronger than the posterior villiform band. Maudibulary teeth uniserial. Barbel longer 

 than the eye. 



Scales with from five to seven crcnulated radiating koels, some of which project 

 beyond the rounded posterior margin of the scale. There are seven or eight scales in a 

 transverse series between the first dorsal fin and the lateral line. Upper and lateral parts 

 of the head, with the exception of the extremity of the snout, covered with small rough 

 scales. Anterior dorsal spine slightly prolonged, armed with numerous distant barbs 

 pointing upwards. The second dorsal fin commences at a considerable distance from the 

 first, which, however, is rather less than the length of the head. The outer ventral ray 

 produced into a filament. Distance between the vent and isthmus rather less than the 

 length of the head. 



Brownish ; lower parts of the head, buccal and branchial cavities black. 



Habitat. — Off New Zealand, Station 168; depth, 1100 fathoms. Five specimens, 

 3.^, 7, and 15 inches long. 



Four young examples, obtained at the same locality, probably belong to a distinct 

 species, but they are too immature for identification ; they seem to have the snout more 

 pointed and longer. Their eye is as small as in the lai-ger specimen. 



