254 BULLETIN 10 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



bital 2, greater than space between spiracles. Gill openings equidis- 

 tant, last before pectoral. Spiracle large, superior, behind eye. 



Scales as small, single, scattered prickles, not on preoral, small on 

 lower abdominal surface. 



First dorsal inserted opposite hind depressed pectoral end, fin 

 length V/^ in head; second dorsal origin opposite first fourth in 

 ventral, spine 1% in head, fin length I14 ; caudal 3 in rest of body, 

 front subcaudal edge 2 in caudal length; least depth of caudal pe- 

 duncle 4% in head; pectoral 1%, width ll^ its length; ventral length 

 1% in head. 



Uniform dark gray-brown, blackish below. In front fins all more 

 or less broadly whitish. Length, 406 mm. (Jordan and Fowler.) 



Japan. The type in Stanford University. 



Subgenus Paracentroscyllium Alcock 



CENTROSCYLLIUM ORNATUM (Alcock) 



Paracentroscyllkim omatum Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, vol. 4, p. 379, 

 1889 (type locality: Swatch of No-ground, in Bay of Bengal, 405-485 

 fathoms). 



Centroscylliiim ornatuni Alcock, Jouru. Asiatic Soe. Bengal, vol. 65, pp. 308, 

 310, 1896 (Arabian Sea, 620-690 fathoms) ; Cat. deep-sea fishes, Indian 

 Mus., p. 14, 1899 (Bengal Bay; Arabian Sea); lUustr. Zool. Investigator, 

 pt. 7, pi. 35, fig. la-b, 1900.— Regan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 2, 

 p. 41, 1908 (type).— Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 36, p. 233, 1913 

 (Bengal Bay and Arabian Sea, 285-690 fathoms). 



Depth 7% to subcaudal origin; head 3%, width ll^. Snout in 

 profile 3% in head; orbit 3%, slightly greater than snout, 1% in 

 interorbital ; mouth crescentic, large, width equals or slightly exceeds 

 preoral length, which 2 in head; teeth minute and tricuspid in both 

 jaws; nostrils large, on ventral surface of edge of snout about last % 

 its length; interorbital 2 in head in profile, flat, depressed. Gill 

 openings subequal, slightly over half of orbit, gradually closer to 

 last, which before pectoral base. Spiracle rather small, about i/^ of 

 orbit, behind and about % orbital diameter above. 



Scales minute, extremely deciduous, each with stelliform base. 



First dorsal origin opposite hind depressed pectoral edge, spine 

 114 in orbit, fin length II/2 in head; second dorsal origin opposite 

 hind basal ventral edge, spine 2% in head, fin length 1% ; caudal 2% 

 in rest of body, front subcaudal edge 2 in caudal length ; least depth 

 of caudal peduncle 4% in head ; pectoral 1% ; ventral 1%. 



Uniform jet black, integument very deciduous. In young deep 

 violet black, lighter between eyes. Head with minute white spots 

 arranged in shape of lute. Ventral tips pale. Length, 173 mm. 

 (Alcock.) 



Arabian Sea, Bengal Bay, to 690 fathoms. 



