410 SCOPELID^. 



ventral fins are midway between the extremity of the snout and the 

 adipose fin ; the last dorsal ray immediately in front of the origin 

 of the anal. Pectoral shorter than ventral. Scales smooth, those 

 of the lateral hne the largest. (Bonap.) 

 Coasts of Sicily. 



10. Scopelus rafinesquii, 



INIyctophus rafinesqiiii, Cocco, Lett. s. Salmon, p. 20. tab. 3. fig. 7 ; 

 Bonap. Faun. Ital. Peso. c. fig.* 



D. 12. A. 11-12, V. 8. L. lat. 32. L. transv. 2/4. 



The height of the body is contained nearly four times in the total 

 length (without caudal), the length of the head twice and three- 

 fourths ; the least depth of the tail is one-half of the height of the 

 body ; the depth of the head is contained once and two-fifths in its 

 length. Eye very large, its diameter being contained twice and one- 

 third in the length of the head ; distance between the posterior 

 margin of the orbit and the prajopercular edge three-fifths of the 

 diameter of the eye. Snout extremely short and obtuse, with its 

 upper profile abruptly bent downwards in front. Cleft of the mouth 

 sljghtly oblique, with the lower jaw received within the upper. The 

 maxiUary reaches to the angle of the pra3operculum, and is not dilated 

 behind. The origin of the dorsal fin is midway between the extre- 

 mity of the snout and the root of the caudal, and above the base of 

 the ventral ; its last ray is a hide before the vertical from the origin 

 of the anal. Pectoral fin short, extending to the ventral, which is 

 much the longer. Scales perfectly smooth, those of the lateral line 

 being elevated. There are six scales between the adipose and caudal 

 fins. No pearl-coloiu-ed spot on the back of the tail, but a similar 

 luminous substance in the hollow of the first infraorbital bone. 



Mediterranean. 



a-c. Two inches long. Mediterranean. 



d~g. One inch and a half long. Messina. Presented by Dr. Riippell. 



11. Scopelus dumerilii. 



Scopelus dumerihi, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Neerl. i. Manado Sf 

 Makassar, p. 66. 



D. 14-15. A. 14-15. V. 9. 

 The height of the body is contained five times and one-third in the 

 total length (with the caudal), the length of the head four times and 

 three-fourths ; head longer than high ; the diameter of the eye is 

 contained thrice or thrice and one-third in the length of the head ; 

 pra:operculum with the posterior margin obhque. The origin of the 

 dorsal fin is above the root of the ventrals, and its end before the 

 vertical from the first anal ray ; pectoral somewhat shorter than 

 ventral. {Bleek.) 

 Manado. 



* It must be remarked that two of the figures on tliis plate are erroueoiisly 

 numbered ; M. rafincsquii ought to bear no. 2, and not no. 4. 



1 



