1 1 2 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



similar to tbose upon the maxillaries, and are 14 in number on eitber side; the first two, 

 separated irom thi; foUowinsi' by an interval, are the strongest; the third, sixth, tenth, and 

 eleventh are also eonspicnons; the others, although shorter, are very robust; no teeth 

 upon the palatines; tiings upon the tongue as strong as those in the jaws, 1 in fiont and 



2 or 3 behind it. Diameter of the eye 11 times in the length of the head, interorbital 

 space slightly less; length of barbel twice that of head, cylindrical, fringed at each end 

 with 7 long threads, at the end of each of which is a small ball. Branchial opening broad ; 

 branchiostegal membrane supported by short rays, between which are luminous dots; a 

 small Inmincms body, conspicuous on account of its light color, under the eye. Body abso- 

 lutely scaleless, with numerous little, white, luminous dots in double series on each side (»f 

 the belly; vent far back, distance frcm the snout equal to seven-tenths of length of body. 



Dorsal and anal extend nearly to the base of the caudal; the length of the anal is one- 

 third that of the body ; it is inserted immediately behind the vent; length of the dorsal is 

 scarcely half that of the anal; caudal very short, its length one-twentieth of that of the 

 body; pectoral composed of 3 slender rays; ventrals inserted well behind the middle of 

 the body, separated in two parts, the upper composed of 3 short rays, the lower of 4 rays, 

 at least 4 times as long as the upper ones. Color, velvety black; iris, silvery white. 



Eadial formula: D. 21; A. 35; P. 3; V. 7. 



A single specimen from a depth of 2,792 meters, near the Azores. 



PHOTONECTES, GCnther. 



Lucifer, D5DERLEIN, Wiegm. Archiv f. Naturgeschioh., 1882, 26. (Preocupied in Carcinology.) 



rhotonectea, Gunther, Challenger Report, xxii, 1887, 212 (Type, Lucifer albipinnin, Dijtlerlein, from Inosima). 



Body compressed, rather long, scaleless; vent far behind the middle of the length. 

 Head compressed, with short snout and exceedingly wide mouth. Teeth in the jaws small, 

 unequal in size, in single series; vomer and palatine with a small group of teeth on each 

 side. Eye small. Opercular portion of the head very narrow. A long hyoid barl)cl. The 

 dorsal fin opposite the anal, which commences behind the vent. Pectorals none. Ventrals 

 inserted behind the middle of the length. A small suborbital phosphorescent organ, and 

 two series of luminous dots along the lower part of the sides, with numerous rudimentary 

 similar organs scattered over the skin of the body. (Giinther.) 



Fhotonectes {=Lncifer, Diiderlein) has been known heretofore from a single species, P. 

 albipinnis, taken at Inosima, Japan. 



PHOTONECTES GRACILIS, Goode and Bean, n. a. (Figure 137.) 



A species much more slender than P. alhipimiis. The type of this description is in 

 very poor condition ; the hyoid barbel is remarkably short and is probably imperfect. The 

 fins, also, are incomplete, and the luminous dots along the sides are so indistinct as to be 

 made out only with great difliculty. Its length, without including caudal, is 170 milli- 

 meters. The greatest height of the body (11 millimeters) is contained 15J times in the 

 length without caudal. The least height of the tail (2 millimeters) is nearly one-fifth of the 

 height of the body. The greatest depth of the head (12 millimeters) equals the length of 

 its postorbital portion. The snout is very short, nearly one-half as long as the eye. The 

 posterior nostril is immediately in front of the eye, and the anterior is near the end of the 

 snout and a- little below the level of the posterior. Both are subcircular or oblong in shape, 

 and the posteiior has a sjnall, narrow flap. The diameter of the eye (5 millimeters) is 

 one-fourth the length of the head (20 millimeters). Below and behind the eye there is a 

 luminous body, which is nearly as long as the eye and somewhat club-shaped. At the mar- 

 gin of the operculum there is a small, roundish, luminous dot. The maxilla is a very thin 

 and narrow bone extending backward almost to the end of the head; it is very slightly 

 curved and forms a very obtuse angle with the short intermaxilla. The mandible is very 

 strongly curved upward, resembling a sled runner; its length (22 millimeters) equals twice 

 the greatest height of the body. Both jaws are armed with numerous fine teeth of unequal 



