154 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



series between the dorsal fin and the lateral line; crests of the dorsal scales simple, 

 triano-ular, spines directed backwards, u^thout denticulation. The abdomen between the 

 vent and the roots of the ventral fins scaleless. The distance of the vent from the 

 isthmus nearly equal to that of the hind margin of the eye from the extremity of the 

 snout. Barbel minute. Ventral fin very small, scarcely in front of the pectoral, with 

 the outer ray produced into a filament, which does not reach the vent. Pectoral as long 

 as the postorbital portion of the head. Anterior branchial arch with twenty-two very 

 short stylifomi gill-rakers. 



Liorht yellowish (in spirits): vertical fins, ventral filament, interior of the mouth and 

 branchial ca^'ity Ijlack. 



This species was discovered by Mr. John Murray during the cruise of the " Knight 

 El-rant" in the Faroe Channel, at a depth of 555 fathoms (Station 4, August 10, 1880). 

 Four specimens were obtained; the two larger are 14 and 15 inches long, and the two 

 smaller ones 8 and 10 inches. The latter, being the younger, differ from the former, as 

 usual, by a relatively somewhat larger eye and a somewhat shorter abdomen. 



Bathygadus. 



Bathygadus, Gunth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, vol. ii. p. 23. 



Head short, thick. Snout not projecting beyond the mouth; jaws even in front. 

 ]\Iouth wide, anterior and lateral. Eye small. Teeth in both jaws villiform, in narrow 

 bands, which occupy the whole length of the jaws. Barbels present or absent. The two 

 dorsal fins arc almost continuous, and the anterior rays of the second are not shortened, 

 but gradually diminish in length in the narrow posterior portion of the tail. Anal rays 

 feeble. Bones of the head cavernous, soft, without prominent ridges. Scales small, 

 cycloid, deciduous. Three and a half giUs only, there being no slit behind the fourth 

 arch; gill-laminae very short. The first branchial arch quite free, with numerous long, 

 setiform gill-rakers. 



Bathygadus cottoides (PI. XLII. fig. A). 



Bathygadus cottoides, Giinth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, vol. ii. p. 23. 



D. 8. P. 10. V. 8-9. 



The head is large, thick, and in the nui.hal region of considerable depth. Nothing 

 can be said of its integuments, which are lost, leaving the bones and cavities bare. The 

 muciferous channels are of gi-eat width, formed of very thin bone. The eye is small, 

 situated anterior to the middle of the length of the head, about one-sixth of its length, one- 

 half of the length of the snout and of the width of the iuterorbital space. Snout broad, 



