2506 Bulletin /7, United States National Mtiseum. 



anal rays; origin of anal nearer snout than base of caudal; A-entrals 

 slender, each consisting of a single ray, inserted very near together, under 

 anterior portion of opercle, their length about equaling that of maxillary ; 

 pectorals with about 23 rays, evenly rounded behind, their length If in 

 head. Scales very small, cycloid, regixlarly imbricated, in about 135 

 transverse series; nape and belly scaled, as is also the head, excepting 

 snout, mandible, suborbital, and sometimes iuterorbital areas. Color 

 duskv olive, the veutrals white, the other fins black, at least on distal 

 portions; opercles, gill membranes, sides and top of snout, and posterior 

 portion of abdomen blue black; snout Hushed witli dark ruby red in life; 

 lining membrane of mouth and gill cavity, and peritoneum jet-black. 

 CJlosely related to C. mess'ieri, ditferiug in the shorter, broader snout, the 

 wider preopercle, the more anterior origin of anal, and apparently in the 

 gill rakers and pores on head. Off coast of California. Four specimens 

 known, the longest 4^ inches in length. (Gilbert.) {ruber, red; rostrum, 

 snout.) 



Calontyx rubriro.il vis, Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1890, 111, off coast of California, at 

 Albatross Stations 2909, 2925, and 2936, in 205 to 359 fathoms. (Type, No. 44379.) 



960. DICROMITA, Goode &- Bean. 



Dicrornila, GooDK &. Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, 319, 1896 {agassizii). 



Brotulids resembling in form and general appearance Catcctyx and Diap. 

 lacanthopoma, having the lateral line obsolete, or interrupted posteriorly; 

 ventrals a pair of simple, fine filaments, and with teeth upon the palatines. 

 It has, however, 3 or 4 small spines upon the i)reoperculum, as well as a sharp 

 spine upon the upper angle of the operculum ; and the lateral line, though 

 indistinct, is traceable for ^ or f the length of the body, which, like the 

 upper part of the head, is covered with small, deciduous scales, the oper- 

 cular region being apparently scaleless, and the bones of the suborbital 

 region almost uncovered, with conspicuous sinuses, which show through 

 the transparent texture of the surface. Head oblong; snout somewhat 

 produced, depressed, and turgid, resembling, though in a less degree, that 

 of Baraihrodemns. Eye moderate, conspicuous. Mouth wide; teeth villi- 

 form, in bands on the jaws and palatines, and very minute upon the vomer, 

 which has a roughened, knob-like enlargement at its angle. Vent pre- 

 median. Ventral fins confluent; ventrals rooted very close together, each 

 reduced to a fine, flexible, simple filament, planted somewhat behind the 

 isthmus and below the laiddle of the operculum. Gills 4, with well-devel- 

 oped lamina' and rather long, slender gill rakers. Branchiostegals 8. 

 Pseudobranchiie apparently absent. {Sinpoi, forked; )a'ro5, thread.) 



2878. DICROMITA AGASSIZII, Goode & Bean. 



Body elongate, much compressed, its height about i of its total length, 

 its width about A^ its greatest height; head slightly greater than height of 

 body, about twice its own width ; mouth very large, the maxillary curved 

 aud much dilated at its extremity, reaching far behind the vertical from 

 the posterior margin of orbit; jaws nearly equal, the snout considerably 



