408 SCOPELID^. 



6. Scopelus boops. 



Mvctophum boops, liichards. Zool. Ereh. iy Terr. Fish. p. 39. pi. 27. 



'figs. 6-12. 

 Scopelus boops, Cuv. Sf Val. xxii. p. 451. 



Very similar to S. humboldti, but with fewer scales in tlie lateral 

 line. 



D. 14. A. 20-22. V. 8. L. lat. 37-39. L. transv. 3/5. 



The height of the body is one-fifth or a little more than one-fifth 

 of the total length (without caudal), the length of the head two- 

 sevenths ; the least depth of the tail is two-fifths of the height of 

 the body ; the depth of the head is contained once and three-fifths 

 in its length ; the diameter of the eye is a little less than one-third 

 of the length of the head ; distance between the posterior margin 

 of the orbit and the prseopercular edge one-half of the diameter 

 of the eye. Snout short, obtuse, with its upper profile descending 

 in a strong curve, and with the jaws equal anteriorly. The maxil- 

 lary reaches nearly to the angle of the praeoperciilum, and is slightly 

 and gi-adually dilated behind. Cleft of the mouth very slightly 

 obliqiie. Tlie origin of the dorsal fin is considerably nearer to the 

 end of the snout than to the root of the caudal, above the root of the 

 inner ventral rays ; its last ray is before the vertical from the origin 

 of the anal fin. The pectoral extends to the vent. Scales smooth, 

 thin, and deciduous. 



Pacific. 

 a. Foiu- and a half inches long. Type of the species. Presented by 



Sir J. Richardson. 

 h. Four inches long. Vancouver Islands. 



7. Scopelus macrochir. 

 D. 13. A. 21. V. 8. L. lat. 31. 

 The height of the body is contained foirr times in the total length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head thrice and one-third ; the 

 least depth of the tail is two-fifths of the height of the body ; the 

 depth of the head is- two-thirds of its length. Eye very large, its 

 diameter being nearly twice the width of the interorbital space, and 

 rather more than one-third of the length of the head ; the distance 

 between the posterior margin of the orbit and the prasopercular edge 

 is one-third of the diameter of the eye. Posterior margin of the 

 prffioperculum subvertical. Snout short, obtusely conical, its upper 

 and lower profiles being nearly equally curved. Cleft of the mouth 

 oblique, with the lower jaw somewhat projecting beyond the upper. 

 The maxillary reaches to below the posterior margin of the orbit, 

 and terminates in a triangular dilatation, resting upon the angle of 

 the pra3operculum. The origin of the dorsal fin is somewhat nearer 

 to the extremity of the snout than to the root of the caudal, imme- 

 diately behind the base of the ventral ; its last ray is just before the 

 vertical from the origin of the anal fin. Pectoral very long, extending 

 to the anal. Scales smooth, those of the lateral line somewhat larger 



