Bd. V: 6) THE FISHES OF THE SWEDISH SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION. 59 



distance from the origin of the dorsal fin to the root of the caudal. Diameter of 

 eye S'/s times in length of head and 2 times in the interorbital breadth. Length of 

 snout fully 3V2 times in length of head. Bones of head thin, excavated and fragile. 

 On either side of the parietal region a lamellar crest and above either orbit an ob- 

 lique crest converging in a forward direction with the continuation of the parietal 

 crest. On the steep anterior surface of the snout a pair of lower lamellar ridges on 

 the median side of either nostril; short similar but longitudinal ridges behind the 

 orbit and in the interspace between the parietal and orbital crests, and also in front 

 and below the orbit, and in the middle of the snout. Some of the ridges seem to 

 be finely crenulated. Opening of the mouth moderate, extending to the vertical 

 through the middle of the eye. Length of the pectoral contained 1V4 times in length 

 of head. Ventrals short, not reaching vent. Anal spine short and weak. Origin of 

 anal below the last ray of dorsal. 



The exact dimensions of the single specimen obtained are as follows: 



Total length without caudal 76 mm. 



Length of head 26 > 



Greatest depth at the occiput 20 » 



Depth of body at the origin of the dorsal 18 » 



Least depth of caudal peduncle 7 ' 



Length ' • 24.3 > 



Distance from snout to origin of dorsal 33 » 



Î " origin of dorsal to root of caudal 44 » 



Length of pectoral 21 » 



Diameter of eye 5 ' 



Interorbital space 10 » 



Length of snout 7 ' 



The colour in spirit is brownish black with lighter centres to the scales. Branchios- 

 tegal membrane deep black. 



This new species appears to have a smaller number of dorsal rays than any 

 other of the same genus with which the present author has become acquainted 

 through the, to him, available littérature. From the species with comparatively few 

 dorsal rays it may be distinguished in the following way. M. robiistus Gthr 

 (D. II, 11), obtained by the "Challenger" in the Mid-Atlantic SW. from Sierra 

 Leone, has much smaller eyes, '/s of the length of head, a larger mouth and the 

 origin of the dorsal midway between the snout and the root of the caudal etc 

 M. beanii Gthr (D. II, 11) found in the Atlantic off the coast of the United States 

 has, in addition to the different dorsal, a larger mouth, reaching beyond the eye which 

 also is larger, and the, pectoral as long as the head, lat. lin. 25. M. tnizolepis (Gthr) 

 (D. Ill, 10), which appears to have a wide distribution as specimens referred to this 

 species have been caught S. of New Guinea off the Arrou Islands by the "Challen- 



