DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 



63 



diagnosis. The mandible has a series of seven hirge pores on its lower snrface. There are 

 several similar i)ores under the eye. The nostrils are situated about midway between the 

 eye and the extremity of the snout, small, slit-like, the posterior about twice as large as the 

 anterior one in each pair. 



The dorsal fin contains 11 rays, and is inserted midway between the tip of the snout 

 and the base of the middle caudal rays. Tlie fin is highest in front, the length of tlie lays 

 diminishing rapidly posteriorly. Thei-e is apparently no adipose dorsal. 



The anal fin contains 12 rays and is similar in sha[)e to the dorsal, the auterior rays 

 being the longest, and about equal in length to the mandible; its distance from the snout is 

 about 3 times the length of its lougest ray. 



The candal is forked, its middle rays two-fifths as long as those in the upper caudal 

 lobe; the lower lobe is much prolonged, the lower ray being more than 4 times as long as 

 the middle rays. Its extremity is broken off in our specimen, but apparently it umst have 

 been nearly twice as long as the stamp which now remains. 



The pectoral fin is normal, composed of 9 rays, and is inserted close to the opercular 

 flap; its length is slightly greater than that of the head (although mutilated), extending 

 beyond the origin of the dorsal. 



The ventral is composed of 7 rays, and its base is entirely in advance of the perpendic- 

 ular from the origin of the dorsal; the inner rays reach to the vent, while its outer ray is 

 enormously prolonged, extending far beyond the extremity of the upper caudal lobe; the 

 length of the prolonged ray is fully 4 times that of the head. The two veutrals are close 

 together. 



Eadial formula: D. 11; A. 12; P. 9; Y. 7; B. 11. Scales, 9-5.5-8 or 0. 



Color brown, the roof of the mouth and inside of the branchiostegal flap black, as well 

 as the operculum and branchiostegal membrane. 



A single specimen, 392 millimeters (15i inches) long to the tips of the prolonged ven- 

 tral rays, was taken by the lSJ(dr, at a depth of 1,850 fathoms, at station CLXxiv, in lat. 

 24° 33' N., Ion. 84° 23' W. 



A second example of the same fish, and of nearly the same size, was taken by the steamer 

 Albatross, September 0, 1884, in lat. 39-= 3' 15" N. and Ion. 70^50' 45" W., at a depth of 

 1,537 fathoms. This is well preserved, and throws additional light on the external charac- 

 ters of the-species ; the fins, esiiecially, are more nearly perfect. Measurements of the two 

 are given below. 



Length to base of middle caud.al rays. . .ram. 

 Body.— Greatest height '!'>.• 



Greatest width do.. 



Heigiit at ventrals do. . 



Least height of tail do . . 



Length of oandal petluncle do. . 



Head.— Greatest length do . . 



Greatest width do. • 



Width of iiiterorbital area do. . 



Length of snout do.. 



Length of upper jaw do. . 



Length of mandihle do. . 



Distance from snout to orbit do. . 



Diameter of orbit do.. 



Dorsal. — Distance from snout do. . 



Length of base do. . 



Length of longest ray (first) do. . 



Length of last ray do. . 



Anal. — Distance from snout do. . 



Length of base do - . 



Length of longest ray (first).. ..do.. 



Current number of 

 specimens. 



Anal.— Length of last ray mm., 



Cauflal.— Lenstli of middle rays do. . , 



Length of external rays, upper 



lube nim . . 



Length of external rays, Inwer 



lobe nini . . 



Pectoral. — Distance from suoiit do. . . 



Lungth do. . . 



Veutral. — Distance from suoiit do... 



Length do. - . 



Rranchiostegala do . - , 



Dorsal do ., 



Anal do. . 



Pectoral do. . 



Ventral do... 



Number of scales in lateral linn , 



Number of transverse rows above lateral 



line 



Number of transverse rows below lateral 

 line 



Current number of 

 specimens. 



12(?) 

 23 



35651. 



16 



19 



' Blake. 



