VOL. XIV, 

 18'Jl. 



] PROCKEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 563 



Mouth wholly inferior, U-sliuited, ovcipiisscii by tlir snout by :i C.'m- 

 tiiiicc contuined ;}[ in head. JJurbcl slender, short, less than one-Iifih 

 diameter of orbit. Teeth finely villiforni, in very broad bands in both 

 jaws, none of tlicni enlar^jed. Maxillary reaching to or almost to ver- 

 tieal from hiiider margin of orbit, 3^ in head. Operclc very small, tri- 

 angular, its length behind preopercular margin scareely more than iialf 

 diameter of orbit. Outer arch not adnato to the opercle, its lower limb 

 with seventeen short gill rakers, which are not tubercular. 



Distance of dorsal lin from nape 3). in head; the two dorsal lins 

 closely ai)proximated. Second dorsal ray not spinelilce, soft and llcxi- 

 ble, and not longer than the succeeding rays, its length two-thirds the 

 diameter of orbit. 



Vent located immediately in front of origin of anal lin, its distance 

 from ventrals contained lA times in length of head. 



Ventrals short, inserted well in advance of base of pectorals, the 

 outer ray little produced, its length 1^ in diameter of orbit. 



Scales all with their margins embedded, and therefore appearing non- 

 imbricated j the central portion of each projecting tubercle-like, and 

 bearing a single strong central spine, with sometimes two or three 

 smaller ones. Belly and breast sometimes covered with much smaller 

 scales similarly armed. No naked area between bases of ventrals. 

 Eidarged i)late8 along bases of dorsals and anal bearing each a strong 

 compressed backwardlycurved spine, usually without distinct serra- 

 tions; from the base of the central spine, radiate lines of short si)inous 

 l)()ints. The dorsal series of plates are continued forwards to the nape, 

 the predorsal portion of the included groove covered with scales. The 

 ventral series scarcely extend beyond vent, but extend farther i)osteri- 

 orly than do the dorsal plates. Scales on top of head with a median 

 serrated ridge. Temporal fossa" small but evident, naked. 



Head 3 A in total ; depth 7. D. 11. 



Color apparently dark brown ; gill cavity and peritoneum black. 



A single s{)ecimen, 18 inches long, from Station li818, in deep water 

 olV the coast of Central America. 



31. Macrurus ( Malacocephalus ) pectoralia .sjt. nov. 



Moutli wide, lateral, the short snout projecting beyond premaxil- 

 liuies for a distance about eijualing one half diameter of orbit. Sub- 

 orbital ridge and lateral ridgo on snout inconspicuous. A strong 

 median ridge on snout, and .i i)air of parallel ridges forwanls fiom 

 above nostrils. JNIaxillary reaching well behind vertical from posterior 

 margin of orbit, 2.\ in head. Teeth in two somrwhat irregular series 

 in front of premaxillaries, tlie outer series eidarged, the inner diicctcd 

 obli(iuely inwards, tlu' two series merging into one laterally. Mandil)le 

 with a single row, similar to inner series of ui)per Jaw. Uarbei short, 

 three-tifths to two sevenths diameter of orbit. Eye moderate, Ij in 

 suout, 4 A to 5 in head. xVugle of preopercle bluntly rounded, not pro- 



