72 KECOEDS OF THE ATJSTEALIAN MTJSETIM. 



which are behind the middle of the fin, not erectile into a vertical 

 position ; the rays are slender and fragile : the anal commences 

 a little behind* the middle of the length of the fish, and beneath 

 the twenty thiixl dorsal ray, and ends a little nearer to the base 

 of the caudal than does the dorsal ; there is no distinct spinuous 

 portion to either the dorsal or the anal fin : ventral rather small 

 and close together, inserted in advance of the base of the pectoral, 

 its length (in the figure) two fifths of that of the head; pectoral 

 with a broad base, the upper rays longer than the lower, its 

 length fiti the figure) two thirds of that of the head : caudal fin 

 rounded, rather shorter than the head ; the least height of the 

 caudal peduncle about equal to its length. Scales minute, eyelid ; 

 on the head apparently present on the cheeks only. Lateral line 

 curved to beneath the anterior third of the dorsal fin, thence 

 straight. 



Colors. — Pale greenish olive marbled with darker, the markings 

 being in the form of spots on the upper and of irregular longitudinal 

 bands on the lower half of the body : vertical fins spotted with 

 blackish. Irides nearly white ; a ring of small white pores en- 

 circling the eye. 



This species has been obtained in the Mediterranean, the Mid- 

 Atlantic, the Pacific near Samoa, on the east coast of Spain, and 

 on the north-east coast of Ireland, the writer having the good 

 fortune to secure the last-mentioiied example immediately after 

 its capture. 



Length to nine inches and a half. 



In Dr. Steindachner's description, the dorsal rays are said to 

 vary between thirty five and forty seven, which, unless the smaller 

 number should prove to be a printer's error for fox'ty five, is a 

 most unusual variation in such a species, and, taken in conjunction 

 with the fact that some examples were found to have six, others 

 seven, branchiostegal rays, would go far towards suggesting the 

 possibility that two species have been confounded together under 

 the name Schedophilus medusophagus. 



SCHEDOPHILUS ENIGMATICUS. 



Icosteusjf (snigniaticus, Lockingt. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxii. p. 

 63, 1881 ; Jordan & Gilbert, Synops. Fish. N. Am. p. 620, 

 1882; Steindachn. SB. Ak. Wien, Ixxxvi. p. 82, 1882; Gnth. 

 Voy. Challenger, xxii. p. 46, pi. xliv. 1887. 



* A little before in Gunther's figure in the Transactions (g.v.) 



+ Derived from etKw, to yield, and oa-jiov, a bone; alluding to the 

 soft and flexible nature of the bones. 



