646 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.59. 



very narrow, reaching angle of preopercle; each jaw with a band of 

 small, sharp, even teeth; two patches of similar teeth on vomer; 

 palate with two broad bands of similar teeth, the outer much the 

 broader; no canines. Preorbital very narrow; propercle very oblique; 

 cheeks longer than deep; opercle rather short, oblique; scales large, 

 smooth, caducous, lateral line well developed; its scales not enlarged; 

 some photophores on its course and on belly, but these are mostly 

 destroyed, hence not shown in the drawing. A moderate photophore 

 in front of eye and a large triangular luminous patch just below and 

 behind eye. Pectoral placed rather high, narrow, long, as long as 

 head, the lower rays short. Ventrals nearly reaching front of anal, 

 more than half head. Dorsal inserted in front of middle of body, 

 just behind ventrals, the first rays high, two-thirds head, adipose fin 

 small (shriveled) ; anal similar to dorsal, but lower, inserted under its 

 last rays. Caudal broken, apparently lunate. Color uniform jet 

 black, the fins whitish, especially the pectoral. 



This species must be placed in the genus Lampanyctus Bonaparte, 

 as at present defined, differing from most of the other species in the 

 sharper snout and slenderer body. But the type of Lampanyctus, L. 

 crocodilus (Risso), has the scales along the lateral line considerably 

 enlarged. Further material is necessary to decide how many of the 

 species now placed in Lampanyctus and having the lateral scales not 

 deepened should be assigned to Nyctimaster. The genus Nannobra- 

 chium, also with enlarged lateral scales, differs in having the pec- 

 torals very small. 



Family STERNOPTYCHIDAE. 



POLYIPNUS NUTTINGI Gilbert. 



A very small example, 1{ inches long. Black area along the back 

 continuous to base of caudal and not extending down behind the 

 scapular region. Scales mostly lost. Spine at front of dorsal rel- 

 atively high, the anterior spine much lower. This specimen diverges 

 somewhat from the account given by Gilbert, being very young and 

 badly shriveled. The species is, however, probably the same. 



Family SERRANIDAE. 



RHYACANTHIAS, new genus. 



Subfamily Anthiinse, allied to Leptanthias Tanaka, from Japan. 



Body much elongated; caudal lobes extremely attenuate in the 



adult; lateral line not angulated; head closely scaled; vertical fins 



scaleless; teeth small, no true canines, the base of the lower jaw with 



an elevated angular lobe with stronger teeth; dorsal and anal rays 



ather few. (D. IX, 7; A. Ill, 7.) 



Type of the genus. — Rhyacanthias carlsmithi, new species. 



