682 DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN chap. 



which Cetomimus storeri has been taken before, while the other 

 form will probably have to be referred to a new genus. It is 



"? 



Fig. 498. 

 New blind fish, resembling Cetomimus, from Station 64. Nat. size, 6 cm. 



also interesting in this connection to note that the only blind 



squid known was taken 

 during our cruise at 

 Station 82 in 1500 

 metres. Chun has 

 called it CirrotliaiLma 

 mtirrayi and has shown 

 that its eyes are entirely 

 concealed below the 

 skin (see Fig. 499). 



There is conse- 

 quently no doubt that 

 as far as fishes are 

 concerned, there is in 

 the ocean a limit be- 

 in ^ tween an upper region 

 down to 500 metres, 

 where the pelagic fishes 

 have large and well- 

 developed eyes, and a 

 lower region where im- 

 perfect organs of vision 

 are typical. The only 

 exception to this rule I 

 can think of is that a 

 few fishes, mainly be- 

 longing to the genus 



'■rayi. (From Chun.) Melampha'eS 2iX\A\i2.V\n^ 



large eyes, were taken 

 in our deepest hauls beyond 1000 metres. Brauer remarks 

 that in M. mizolepis he has found great variation in the relation 

 of the diameter of the eye to the length of the head (from 



cphl-h. 



oph. 



ophrh.s. 



V ophrh 



Fig. 499. 

 Rudimentary eye of Cirrothauma n 



