DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 95 



Family MAUROLICID^E. 



Cocciina, GOnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mas., v, 18G1, 387 (group under Slernoj>tychid<r). 

 Maurolicidw, Gill (MS.). 



Body soinewliat elongate, oomiu-essed, scalcle.ss. Barbels none. Margin of the upper 

 jaw formed by tlie niaxillury and intermaxillary, both of wiiich are provided witb teetli. 

 Opercular apparatus iueomplete. Gill opening very wide, the outer branchial arch extend- 

 ing forward to behind the symphysis of the lower jaw. Pseudobranchiaj present. Air 

 bladder none. Adipose fin rudimentary. Series of luminous phosphorescent spots along 

 the lower side of the head, tail, and body. A single dorsal fin, without spinous rays. The 

 remarkable form Ojiistlioproctm, Vaillant (fig. 112), perhaps belongs here. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



I. Gill ralcers very short, dorsal fin nearly in miiliUo of length of body Ichthyococccs 



II. Gill rakers very long, dorsal fiu on hinder half of body Maurolicus 



ICHTHYOCOCCUS, Bonaparte. 



Ichthyococeut, BokaPARTE, Fann. Ital., Pesci, Fnsc. xxvii, 1840. 

 Coccia, GiJNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., v, 1864, 387. 



Body compressed, naked, silvery; phosphorescent bodies upon the lower parts. Mouth 

 moderate. Maxillary b<mes dilated, forming nearly the entire margin of the upper jaw; 

 intern laxillaries small; lower jaw included. Teeth inconspicuous, a few near the symphysis 

 of the lower jaw, while the edge of the maxillary is finely serrated. Eyes moderate in size, 

 separated by a very narrow iiiterorbital area. Pectorals placed very low. Ventrals pres- 

 ent. Dorsal nearly median. Adipose fin rudimentary. Anal moderate. Caudal forked. 

 Gill opening extensive, outer branchial arch reaching to behind the symphysis of the lower 

 jaw, with numerous short gill rakers. 



The recent tendencies of opinion among American zoologists are not in accord with the 

 action of Dr, Giinther in substituting Coccia for Ichthyococcus. 



ICHTHYOCOCCUS OVATUS (Cocco), Bonaparte. (Figuie 113.) 



Gonostomvi ovatue, Cocco, Lett, sn Salmoni, 9, pi. i, fig. 3. 



IcUhyococcm ovatus, Bonaparte, Faun. Ital., Pesci, Fase. xxvii, 1840, figure.— Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Trav.iil- 



leur et T.ilismau, 104, pi. xiv, fig. 2, 2a. 

 Scopehis ovatus. Cuvier and Valencienne8, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 453. 

 Coccia otata, GOntiier, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., v, 388. 



This form, known since the days of Bonaparte, from the Mediterranean, was obtained 

 by the French explorers in 1882 off the coast of Portugal at '.t.50 meters, and ofl" Morocco at 

 2,030 meters. It has not yet been found in the western Atlantic. 



MAUROLICUS, Cocco. 



Maurolicus, Cocco, Lett. B. Salmoni, 32 (type, Manrolicus amethyatino-pviictattts, Cocco).— GCnther, Cat. 

 Fish. Brit. Mus., v, 388. 



Body oblong, compressed, naked, covered with silvery pigment; pliosphorescent spots 

 along the lower parts. Head compressed, with bones thin, but ossified. Cleft of mouth 

 wide, oblique, lower jaw slightly prominent. Maxillary large, broad, much produced back- 

 wards, receiving the slender premaxillary in the upper concave i)art of its margin. P.oth 

 jaws with minute teeth. Gill opening very wide. Gill rakers very long. Pectorals ami 

 ventrals developed. Dorsal on hinder half of body, but before anal. Adii)<)se fin rudi- 

 mentary. Anal fin long, in two portions, the posterior half with its rays hidden beneath the 

 skin. Branchiostegals, 8 or 9. (Abridged from Giinther.) 



