56 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF 'I'lIR ATLANTIC BASIN. 



ward than in Ji. atlantiens, tbe length of the postanal portion of the body being greater 

 tlian that of the head, and contained 3i times in the total without eaudal. The ventral liu.s 

 are phu^ed opposite the i)osterior ])ortion of th(^ base of the dorsal. 



Although the scales have all disappeared, it would seem that there had been about .'?li 

 longitudinal rows; and their size may be judged of by the fact that there were 7 rows 

 between the base of the pectoral and the vertical from the origin of the ventral. Adipose 

 tin slender and long, its length e(inal to one-half of the diameter of the eye. 



Kadial formula: ]).9; A. 19; V. 9; P. 10. 



Several specimens have been obtained by the Fish Commission steamer Albatross: One 

 (No. 3;?51(), IT. S. N. M.), r.3 inches in length, from station 12094, in 39O44'.30"]Sr. lat., 71° 04' 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 10i.'2 fathoms; another, 5i| inches in length, from station 2711, in 

 38° 59' N. lat., 70° 07' W. Ion., at a tlepth of 1344 fathoms; a third specimen (No. 39480, U. S. 

 N.M.), about 4J inches in length, from station 2572, in 40° 29' N. lat., GCPOi'W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 1769 tathoms. 



This species is named in honor of Mr. J. H. Benedict, of the U. S. National Museum, 

 for several j^ears the resident naturalist of the Albatross. 



Family SYNODONTID.^. 

 Synodontidw, Gill, Arr. Fam. Fishes, 1872, 16.— .Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A., 1885, 39. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical, or somewhat compressed, covered with cycloid or ctenoid 

 scales. Mouth wide, the entire margins of the upper jaw formed by the slender elongate 

 premaxillaries, to which are adherent the slender maxillaries, which are sometimes rudi- 

 mentary or absent. Teeth in jaws usually in cardiform bands, with larger teeth, usually 

 depressible, among them; teeth usually also on palatines and on tongue (absent in iia^Ai/- 

 synodus, and in some of the species of Ghlorophthalmus). No barbels. Gill membranes sep- 

 arate, free. Adipose tin present (except sometimes in Bathysaiirus). Dorsal tin short, of 

 soft rays. Anal moderate. Pectorals and veutrals present. Caudal forked. A tendency 

 to erratic«developmeut in the fln rays. Air bladder small or absent. No photophores. 



KEY TO THE GENERA OF S\TSIODONTID^. 



I. Maxillary narrow bcliiml. Bciily subcylindrical, rather elong.ate. Mouth very wide. I )()rsal median. 



A. Snovit conical ; tectli not barbed. 



1. Tongue with teeth. Ventrals close behind pcctor.als. Dorsals with IS rays or less. 



a. Palatiue teeth in single band on each side SYNonrs 



b. Piil.atiue teeth in double bands [Saurida] 



2. Tongue toothless. Veutrals far bcbind jjoctorals. Dorsal with 20 rays Bathylaco 



B. Snout l)road, dojiressed. Teeth barbed; fang-like. 



1. Tongue toothed. Ventrahs close to pectoriiJs. Dorsal with 18 rays Bathysaurus 



II. Maxillary rudimentary or .absent. Body elongate, ratlier compressed. Mouth extremely wide. 

 A. Snout short. Head thick. Teeth cardiform, unequal, the largest in the lower jaw barbed. 

 1. Touguc small, with teeth. Pectoral small, very high. Ventrals very far from ]>ectoral. 



Haupodon 



SYNODUS, (Groiiov.), Scopoli. 



Synodits, Gronov. Scopoli, Int. Nat. Hist., 1777, 210.— Sciineidkr, Bloeh's Syst. Ichth., 1801, 39f> (type, 

 Eaoi mjnodus, Gron.). — .Jordan .and Giluert, Bull, xvi, l'. S. N. M., 279. 



Saurits, CuviER, Regno Animal, 1st ed., 1817, 16!); 2d ed.,ii, ;)13(type, Sulmo sanrux, L.). — C'uviERam! Valen- 

 ciennes, Hist. Nat. I'oiss., xxil, 457. — GiiNTiiER, Gat. Fish. Brit. Miis., v, 394. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical. Head dei)rcsse(l, the snout triangular, rather pointed. 

 Interorbital region transversely concave. ISIonth very w'ide; i)remaxillary not protractile, 

 long and strong, more than half length of the head; maxillary closely connected with it, 

 very small or obsolete Premaxillary with one or two series of large conii)ressed knife- 

 shaped teeth, the inner and larger depressible. Pahitine teeth similar, smaller, in a single 

 broad band. Lower jaw with a band of rather large teeth, tbe inner and larger teeth 

 depressible; a patch of strong, depressible teeth on the tongue in front, and a long row along 



