207 



black skin, the other half appearing on the margin :)f a circular 

 patch of skin devoid of black pigment. Maxillary I'H in length 

 of bodv (rather more than one half in M. Johiisoni, Gi'iiiihcr.) 



Teetii similar to those in .1/. JoJiiisoni and .1/. KnxJii. Fins : 

 The first dorsal (tentacle) is situated in the middle line behind 

 the upper jaw ; it is j of the length of the body. The distance 

 between it" and the second dorsal is equal to the length of the 

 maxillary or the breadth of the body. The first ray of the 

 second dorsal is low (4 mm.) and equals ^ of this distance. 

 The rays gradually increase in length posteriorly to the last, 

 which "is half the" same distance, and is confluent with the 

 caudal rays. 



The pectoral is equal to the length of the tentacle ; its 

 margin, which nearly reaches the dorsal, is wedge shaped. 

 The anal is separated from the caudal and is equal to the 

 length of the pectoral. The caudal is pointed and equals its 

 distance from the gill opening. 



Colour : Black, with the exception of the tins and circular 

 patch at posterior of eye, which are white. The black colour 

 extends a little way on to the bases of the vertical fins.* 



Nearest to M. Kvcchl {Bmiicr, Zool. Anz. B. XXV, 7th April, 

 1902) agreeing with this species in having dorsal and anal 

 confluent, but differing from it in height, being less than the 

 length of body, the pectoral tin much shorter, eye partly hidden 

 under skin, colour of fins, size of eye and shorter tentacle. 



Localitx : One specimen taken by shrimp trawl 36 miles 

 off Cape Point (Cape Point Lighthouse bearing X.E. ^ E. j; 

 depth, 600 fathoms ; bottom, green mud. A specimen of 

 Mdaiwcdus 11 '5 mm. in length (excluding caudal) had been 

 procured by the Picicr Fnitrc some time previously on the 

 Natal coast (Cape Natal bearing N. by E., distant 24 miles) but 

 was apparently an immature form. It diU'ers in some points 

 from that here described, out its determination may be held 

 over till more mature specimens are found. 



Measurements (in millimetres) : Length of body, without 

 caudal, 27, height 25, breadth 17, snout to gill opening 15, 

 length of maxillary 17, tentacle 9, interorbital space 12, 

 diameter of eye 2, length of pectoral 9, longest ray of dorsal 

 and of anal 6, caudal 12. 



With regard to the normal position of this tish when in the 

 water, Brauer remarks : " Die bischer gegebenen zeichnungen 

 von Melanocetus sind unsofern nicht richtig als diese Fische 

 beim schwimmen den hinteren korpe-rtheil nicht horizontal 

 halten sondern in die Hohe." 



This I believe is founded on an observation of tiie living 

 animal in a jar after being brought on board the Valdivia. 



*NoTE. — The black colour 1-ocumcs somewhat hrowii. and the white com- 

 pletely disappears in spirit. 



