768 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [XoV-; 



slender, smooth, and united to floor of mouth by membrane, only 

 tip free. Nostrils small, far apart. Anterior circular, high on side 

 of snout, and about 4 of an eye-diameter before front rim of orbit. 

 Posterior a small vertical slit in last third of space between anterior 

 and front rim of orbit. Interorbital space a little broad and somewhat 

 convex. 



Gill-opening large. Rakers rather few small irregular obsolete 

 pricks. Filaments about f of orbital diameter. Pseudobranchise 

 well developed, but smaller. Pharyngeal teeth in elongated series 

 and thorn-like. 



Narrow thin elongate small scales only evident on caudal peduncle 

 and base of caudal. Lateral line double, and originating opposite base 

 of first dorsal spine. Upper branch extends high along back till oppo- 

 site anterior elongated dorsal rays, where it suddenly becomes incom- 

 plete. Lower branch, till it becomes median, along side well behind 

 pectoral, then continuing straight to base of caudal. 



Origin of spinous dorsal about an eye-diameter, or possibly a trifle 

 more, in advance of that of pectoral, and base of fin about equal to ^ 

 of total length of specimen. Spines placed rather far apart, slender, 

 longest about f to f of depth of body, and margin of fin not notched, 

 membranes forming an entire edge. Posteriorly spines become 

 shorter, so that soft dorsal is distinct. Entire fin depressable in a 

 groove. Soft dorsal inserted near last f of total length, elevated 

 anteriorly, and rays graduated from second simple one which is longest. 

 Finlets slender, rather high, and posterior margin of each adnate to 

 back by a membrane. A small rudimentary spine a short distance in 

 front of soft anal. Soft anal inserted opposite and similar to soft 

 dorsal. Caudal forked, rudimentary rays strong, and with a slight 

 elevation laterally on base at terminus of lateral line. Pectoral small, 

 falcate, and upper rays much longer than others. \^entral rudimentary, 

 inserted a little behind base of pectoral, and spine strong though short. 



Color in alcohol brown with traces of leaden-silvery, and l^ack appar- 

 ently brown. Top of head brown. Dorsal brown, caudal brownish, 

 and anal pale brown. Pectoral brownisli, a little darker basally. 

 Iris dull slaty. Peritoneimi pale brownish. 



Length 31f inches. 



One example from San Domingo, West Indies. Prof. W. ^\. Gabb. 

 This rare species is only known, since originally described, from the 

 accounts by Pocy and Liitken. The Polynesian form, Gempylus colu- 

 ber Cuvier,^^ considered identical by Dr. Giinther,-^ needs comparison. 



'^Hist. Nat. Poiss., VIII, 1831, p. 155, PL 221. 



" Journ. Mus. Godef. (Fische der Siidsee), IV, 1S75, p. 106, PL 68, fig. B. 



