414 SCOPELID^. 



pi. 27. figs. 1-5) is extremely similar to this species, but it is de- 

 scribed as having the scales very irregularly and sparingly toothed 

 on the free edge, and the back of the tail, behind the adipose fin, 

 covered by sLv convex scales. From the Southern Atlantic and the 

 Australian Oceans. The typical specimens appear to be lost. 



Valenciennes (p. 456) identifies the Muctoplium hians, Eichards., 

 with Scojjelii^ notatus, Lesueur. I do not know whether this is 

 correct, as I am unable to find the original description of the latter 

 in the journal quoted by Valenciennes, viz. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Philad. tom. i. 



j3. Scales smooth, subequal in size. 



16. Scopelus bonapartii. 



Nyctophus bonapartii, Cocco, Lett. s. Salmon, p. 29. tab. 3. fig. 10. 

 Lampanyctus bonapartii, lionap. Faun. Ital. Peso. c. fig. 

 Scopehis rafinesquii, Cuv. Sf J'al. xxii. p. 444. 



D. 13. A. 15. V. 8. L. lat. 32. L. transv. 3/4. 



The height of the body is one-fifth of the total length (without 

 caudal), the length of the head two-sevenths ; the least depth of 

 the tail is more than one-half of the height of the body ; the depth 

 of the head is three-fifths of its length ; eye of moderate size, one- 

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

 margin of the orbit and the praeopercular edge is more than the 

 diameter of the eye. Posterior margin of the praeoperculum obliquely 

 descending backwards. Snout obtusely conical, with the lower jaw 

 rather the longer. Cleft of the mouth slightly oblique. The max- 

 illary reaches to the angle of the prseoperculum, and is scarcely 

 dilated behind. The origin of the dorsal fin is midway between the 

 extremity of the snout and the root of the caudal, and above the 

 base of the inner ventral rays ; its last ray is above the fourth or 

 fifth of the anal fin. Pectoral fin very long, extending nearly to the 

 middle of the anal. Scales perfectly smooth, those of the lateral line 

 scai'cely larger than the others. 



Mediterranean. 



a. One inch and three-quarters long. Mediterranean. 



It appears that Valenciennes has described this species under the 

 name of Scopelus rcifinesquii ; and this supposition becomes almost 

 a certainty when we find that the description given by him for 

 Scopelus bonapartii does not agree in the least with the species so 

 called by Cocco. 



y. Scales covered with minute spines. 



1 7. Scopelus macrolepidotus. 



Neoscopelus macrolepidotus, Johnson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 44. pi. 7. 

 B. 9. D. 13. A. 13. V. 8. L. lat. 30. L. transv. 3/5. 

 The height of the body is a little more than one-fourth of the total 



