140 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Head blunt, roiiiulod, bulldog-like in aspect; angle of raoutb midway between the tip 

 of snout and anterior edge of eye. Body stout, its depth at origin of dorsal about equal to 

 length of head. Dorsal origin a head's length behind gill openings; diameter of eye half 

 the length of tlie snout or a little more; length of i^ectoral two-lifths that of head; length 

 of body ten or eleven times that of the head; tail a head's length longer than head and 

 trunk. Color brown, uniform. 



This very remarkable form was first known from a few specimens brought to Glouces- 

 ter in 1879 by the fishing vessels. It burrows in the nuiscles of living halibut and other 

 large fishes, after the manner of Myxine, and excavates large cavities in the thickest pai-ts 

 of their bodies. These first examples were from depths of 200 to 300 fathoms. Subse- 

 quently the Albatross obtained it from various bottom localities at depths of from 200 to 

 904 fathoms. 



This fish has occasionally been found embedded in the flesh of larger fishes, but has 

 also been obtained in the trawl net by the Albatross at the following stations: 



N0.35G62, U. S. N. M., was from station 2238, in 39° 06' N.lat., 72° 10' W. Ion., in 904 fathoms; 

 No. 35558, U. S. N. M., from station 2204, in 39° 30' 30" N. lat., 71° 44' 30" W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 728 fathoms; and from station 2553, in 39° 48' N. lat., 70° 30' W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 551 fathoms, and station 2540, in 39° 53' 30" N. lat., 70o 17' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 

 538 fathoms. Also by the Fish Hawli, as follows : No. 29070, U. S. N. M,, fi'om station 1049, 

 in 380 28' N. lat., 73° 22' W. Ion., at a depth of 435 fathoms; No. 20172, U. S. N. M., from 

 station 892, in 39° 46' N. lat., 11° 05' W. Ion., at a depth of 487 fathoms; and No. 28758, U. 

 S. N. M., from station 937, in 39° 49' 25" N. lat., 69° 49' W. Ion., at a depth of 610 fathoms. 

 Also by the Gloucester fishing fleet, as follows: No. 21009, U. S. N. M. (179), Banquereau; 

 No. 21073, U. S. N. M. (220), near Sable Island Bank; No. 22791, U. S. N. M. (234), in lat. 

 420 47' N., Ion. 63° 10' W., at a depth of 375 fathoms; No. 24207, U. S. N. M. (353), in lat. 

 440 28' N., Ion. 50° 24' W., at a depth of 200 fathoms; No. 24724, U. S. N. M. (440), in lat. 

 420 33' K, Ion. 04° 20' W., at a depth of 300 fathoms; No. 24267, U. S. N. M. (513), in lat. 

 420 46' N., Ion. 65° 18' W., at a depth of 200 fathoms; No. 24264, U. S. N. M. (519), in lat. 

 430 48' N., Ion. 590 00' W., at a depth of 250 fathoms; No. 24266, U. S. N. M. (542), Ban- 

 quereau, at a depth of 200 tathoms; No. 24413, U. S. N. M. (484), in lat. 43° 42' N., Ion. 59° 

 10' W., at a depth of 300 fathoms; No. 24265, U. S. N. M. (526), in lat. 43° 52' N., Ion. 59° 

 09' W., at a depth of 200 fathoms. 



In 1889 numerous examjiles of an anguilliform fish were taken in nets at the Azores 

 Islands at dejjths varying from 844 to 2,000 meters by the yacht Hirondelle, under the aus- 

 pices of the Prince of Monaco. These were subsequently determined to belong to a peculiar 

 form called by Dr. Eobert Gollett Conchognatlms Grimaldii. A comparison of the description 

 given indicates plainly that the supposed new generic type is identical with Sinienchelys. It 

 has the same scaly skin, short, truncated head, small mouth, acrodont teeth, inferior branchial 

 slits, and large " conchiform" lower jaw, reference to which is conveyed in the generic name. 



The (juestion naturally arises, says Gill, whether the Simenehelys parasiticus and 

 Conchognathus Grimaldii are distinct. So far as can be judged from the description of Dr. 

 Gollett this question must be answered in the negative. The measurements of two speci- 

 mens of nearly the same size correspond closely enough for specific purjjoses, except as to 

 height. That measurement for the Conrliognatliiis (irimuldii has evidently been obtained 

 from a specimen with a very full belly,* and not at the pectoral or anal region. The meas- 

 urements from an American specimen are subjoined for comparison with measurement of an 

 Azori'an one given by Dr. Gollett : 



*Le corps est comprim^; leniuseau est tronqu^; le ventre un peu pendant, tres dilatable. — CoUett, op. 

 cit., p. 124. 



