DISCUSSION OP SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 131 



Height, 14|^ ia total leugtb. Head, 7J. Eye, 2 in snout, 5 in head, reaching to profile. 

 Interorbital space less than long diameter of eye. Snout scaleless. Mouth moderate, not 

 nearly reaching tip of snout. Dorsal flu over the space between ventral fins and vent. 

 Longest dorsal rays (second and third) twice as long as tlie base of tlic fin. Pectorals scale- 

 less, longer than ventrals. Ventrals scaly. Vent in anterior half of total length. No anal 

 papilla. Base of anal scaly. Caudal consists of two hair-like rays. Lateral lino very low- 

 down and disappearing posteriorly. 



Eadial formula: B. U; D. 11; A. 191; P. 11; V. 10; scales, 14-ca. 170-(i. 



The fii'st individual obtained was caught in February. It Mas a female with eggs, 

 which were in two masses lying side by side, 5J inches long, not covered with a sac. Pyloric 

 cteca 12, small. Air bladder 5 inches long and with a delicate silvery coat. Intestine 

 straight. Peritoneum black anteriorly, posteriorly with patches of black lines on a pale 

 ground. (Johnson.) Two siiecimens (No. 34418, U. S. N. M.), one 16i inches and the other 

 21 inches in length, were obtained by the Albatross at station 2181, in 39° 29' N. lat., 71° 40' 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 693 fathoms. 



Others were obtained by the Blalce at stations Lxvii, 128-240 fathoms, and LXViii, 

 243-458 fathoms, off Guadeloupe and Santa Lucia. 



HALOSAURUS JOHNSONIANUS, Vaillant. (Figure 153.) 

 Ralosaurui Johnsonianus, Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, 181, pi, xv, fig. 2, 2°, 2\ 2"^, 2\ 



This Halosaurm is very similar to the preceding, but does not appear to reach so large 

 a size. The form is more slender, the height not exceeding one twenty-fifth of the total 

 length; the body is cylindrical, but it should be remarked that we have not obtained a sin- 

 gle example in a state of preservation comparable to that of certain individuals of the pre- 

 ceding species (Halosaurus Oiceni). 



The form of the head, the proportions of the muzzle, those of the eye and the inter- 

 orbital space, the arrangement of the gill cover offer nothing distinctive. Moreover, if we 

 may be able to judge, this last is not scaled ; but on the temples and the upper part of the 

 head scales are i^resent without doubt. 



The vent is very little behind the anterior third of the body and is distant from the 

 end of the snout only 3 times the length of the head. 



The origin of the dorsal is at a distance from the end of the snout equal to twice the 

 length of the head. The pectorals do not reach nearly to the insertion of the ventrals, 

 which is at a distance from the end of the snout less than twice the length of the head; 

 the ventral is wholly in advance of the dorsal. 



Tlie coloration, although approiiching that oi Halosmirus Oimii, Johnson, shows certain 

 differences. Each scale shows at its free extremity a black spot, forming a reticulation in 

 check pattern. The dark scales of the lateral line form a pronounced band ; finally, as in the 

 following pages, the dark color of the branchial cavity is more extended on the scapular 

 regions, extends across the gill covers and on the whole head. These characters, together 

 with the accessory characters, are sufficient to distinguish this species from the preceding, 

 to which it is nearly related. 



Itadial formula: B.12; D.1,10; A. 18fi(!); V. 1, 8. 



Total length of tj^e (millimeters), 390. Height, 15.04. Thickness, 12.03. Head, 47.12. 

 Snout, 22.47. Diameter of eye, 7.15. Interorbital space, 4.08.— Vaillant. 



Ninety-six individuals are tabulated by Vaillant; the localities are off the Morocco 

 coast, the Canaries, Soudan, and on Arguin Bank, the depths ranging from 834 to 2,115 

 meters. 



HALOSAURUS GflNTHERI, Goode and Bkan, n. s. 



Vertex scaly. Snout produced, its preoral portion contained 2;^ times in its length. 

 Eye large, its leuffth equal to half that of the snout, half that of postocular portion of the 

 head, and much wider than the width of the interorbital space, and contained 5 times in 

 the length of the head. Maxillary reaching nearly to front margin of the eye. Length of 



