180 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



toi'iil is equal in length to the head, and more than twice as long as the ventral, and its 

 tip does not extend quite to the vent. The scales are large, there being about 25 rows in 

 the longitudinal series. 



Itadial formula: D. II, 11-12; A. I, 8-9; V. I, 8; P. 15. 



Color, nearly black; the fins somewhat lighter at the margins. 



The type specimen (Cat. No. 33553, U. S. N. M.) was obtained by the Albatross from sta- 

 ti«u 2099, in 37° 12' 20" N. lat., 69° 39' W. Ion., at a depth of 2,949 fathoms, and is conse- 

 quently remarkable as coming from the greatest depth explored by the Albatross, and the 

 greatest depth from which any fish has ever been obtained. Its length is 48 millimeters, 

 and it is very badly preserved. Other specimens were obtained by the Albatross as follows : 

 Cat. No. 33378, U. S. N. M., from station 2075, in 41^ 40' .30" N. lat., 65° 35' W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 855 fathoms; Cat. No. 33509, U. S. N. M., from station 2094, in 39° 44' 30" N. lat., 

 71° 04' W. Ion., at a depth of 1022 fathoms; Cat. No. 34835, U. S. N. M., from station 2106, 

 in 37° 41' 20" N. lat., 73° 03' 20" W. Ion., at a depth of 1,497 fathoms; Cat. No. 35009, IT. 

 S. N. M., from station 2209, in 39° 34' 45" N. lat., 71° 31' 30" W. hm., at a depth of 1,080 

 fathoms; Cat. No. 35522 U. S. N. M., from station 2215, in 39° 49' 15" N. lat., 20° 31' 45" 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 578 tiithoms; Cat. No. 35412, U. S. N. M., from station 2182, in 39° 

 25' 30" N. lat., 71° 44' W. Ion., at a depth of 801 fathoms; Cat. No. 35533, U. S. N. M., 

 from station 2208, in 39° 33' N. lat., 71° 16' 15" W. Ion., at a depth of 1,178 fathoms; and 

 fi-om station 2428, in 42° 48' N. lat., 50° 55' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 826 fathoms; station 

 2550, in 39° 44' 30" N. lat., 70° 30' 45" W. h)n., at a depth of 1,081 fathoms; station 2572, in 

 40° 29' N. lat, 66o 04' W. Ion., at a depth of 1,769 fathoms. 



PLECTROMUS ROBUSTUS, (GPnther), Goode and Bean. 

 Melamphacs robustiis, GOnther, ChaUenyer Report, xxii, 1887, 29. 



The height of the body is two-sevenths of the total length (without caudal) ; the length 

 of the head a little less than two-fifths; the least depth of the tail is two-fifths of its free 

 portion. Head thick, with the usual muciferous cavities; snout short; eye very small, about 

 one-eighth of the length of the head and one-half of that of the snout. Posterior margin 

 of the preoperculum subvertieal; lower jaw slightly prominent; cleft of the mouth rather 

 oblique, wide, extending beyond the eye. Maxillary dilated behind. Origin of the dorsal 

 fin midway between the end of the snout and the root of the caudal, somewhat behind the 

 base of the ventrals, which are distinctly thoracic. The last dorsal ray is opposite to the 

 first of the anal. Upper pectoral rays elongate and reaching to the vent; ventrals rather 

 short. 



Radial formula: D. ii (?), 11; A.i, 9; V. I, 7; L. lat. 33, 



Color, uniform black. 



TABLE OF MEASUnEMENTS. 



Millimetere. 



Total length 53 



Depth of the body 12^ 



Length of the head 17 



Diameter of tlie orbit 2 



Length of the caudal fin 8 



The Challenger obtained several specimens of this species, one from the mid- Atlantic, 

 sonthwest of Sierra Leone, station 106, at a depth of 1,850 fathoms; another from midway 

 between the Cape of Cood Hope and Kerguelen Island, station 140, at a depth of 1,375 

 fathoms; and another north of New Guinea, station 220, at a depth of 1,100 fathoms. The 

 New Cuinea specimen is 2a inches long; the one from station 146, 6f inches. 



PLECTROMUS CRASSICEPS, (Gunther), Goode .and Bean. (Figure 200(i.) 



Scopehts craseicepK, Gunthkr, Ann. and Mag., Nat. Hist., ii, 1878, 185. 

 Melamphaes crassicepa, Gt5NTHER, Challenger Report, xxii, 28, pi. viii, fig. b. 



The height of tlie body is one-fourth of the total length (without caudal); the length 

 of th(! head, one-thiid; the least depth of the tail is two-fifths of its free portion. Head 

 very thick with short snout. Eyes, small, one-seventh of the length of the head, and one- 



