198 DEKl'-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Length of liead in total ^. Eye below the dorsal outline, its diameter contained 9i times 

 iu the lengtii of tlie head; the interorbital space -slightly greater than the diameter of the 

 eye. Length of snout 4| times the diameter of the eye; snout terminated by a large, coni- 

 cal, cartilaginous process, projecting far beyond the jaw. Mandible with a similar but 

 longer (cartilaginous process, these projections giving to the head somewhat the aspect of 

 Sphynvna. Mouth large. Dorsal fla inserted in advance of the base of the pectorals, rising 

 from a groove; its spines weak, distant and grooved, but not tuberculated; higher behind 

 than in front. The second dorsal is separated fnjm the first dorsal by a distance equal to 

 about one-fifth of the length of the head; the second dorsal is high,subtriangular in frcmt, 

 its fourth and lifth rays the longest; the last 4 or 5 rays are short and much branched, the 

 last being elongated. Anal preceded by a stout, broad, two-edged spine, placed opposite, 

 similar in shape to the second dorsal. Pectorals pointed, inserted in the median line of the 

 body. Ventrals thoracic, close together, slightly behind pectorals; small, composed of a 

 spine and 4 soft rays, the length of the first and longest ray one-eleventh that of the head. 

 Caudal well developed, furcate^ very broad below. The lateral line descends from the 

 shoulder to the middle of the body, thence straight to the caudal. Color, plumbeous, with 

 black fins; peritoneum black. 



Radial formula: I). XX, 21, li; A. i,22; P. 13; V. 14; B. VII. 



A single specimen, 36i inches in length, was taken in April, 1802, off the coast of 

 Portugal. It was again taken by Capello off Lisbon and Setubal in October, 1877. Capello 

 says that though very rare it is known to the Portuguese fishermen, wlio do not distin- 

 guish it from Aphanopus carho, calling them both by the common name, Peixe espado preto. 



KPINNULA, Poey. 



Epimmla, Poey, Mem. Hist. Nat. Cuba, I, 1854, 369, 371.— Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ii, 349.— Gill. 

 Pioc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1862, 126. 



IJody fusiform and moderately elongated. First dorsal with less than 25 spines. 

 Spinous dorsal continuous with the soft. Pectorals equidistant from the back and breast, 

 or nearer the latter. Tail not keeled. Ventrals, i, 5. No flulets. Lateral line present, 

 double. 



EPINNIILA MAGISTEALIS, Poey. ^Figure 211.) 



Epinnula magistralis, Poey', Mem. Hist. Nat. Cuba, i, 1854, 369, pi. xxxii, figs. 3, 4 ; Syu. Pise. Cubensium, 

 364: Euumeratio Pise. Cubens, 75. — Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., Ii, 349. — Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. 

 Sci., Phila., 1862, 126. 



A Scombroid with body subfusiform, somewhat compressed. Scales minute, delicate, 

 deciduous. Vertical fins scaleless. Ventral fins behind the pectorals. [Jpper maxillary 

 extends to below the middle of the orbit. Operculum with an obtuse angle. Dorsal and 

 anal nearly equal in length, but the anal somewhat the shorter. Caudal furcate, the lower 

 lobe the smaller. Ventral under the lower angle of the pectoral. Coloration bluish, lighter 

 on sides and belly, fins reddish brown, dorsal opalescent, iris white. 



Radial formula: D. xv, I, 16; A. m, 13. V. i, 5; P. 1-14; C. 8 + 7; B. Vd; Pyloric 

 cu'ca, 10. 



Poey's Epimutia mMjixtralis was known from a single specimen, !t8(l millimeters long, 

 obtained at Havana in September, 1853. It was not known to the fishermen, and nearly 

 forty years have elapsed since its capture. Everj'thing would seem to indicate that it is a 

 dweller in th<', depths of ocean adjacent to thiba. 



The Albatross obtained a specimen (U. S. N. M., No. 37238), in the Caribbean Sea in 

 1885. 



NEALOTUS, Johnson. 

 Healulus, .Johnson, Proi^ Zoijl. Soe., Loudon, 1865, 4.S4 (type, N. fnpes, .Johnson). 



Body elongate, much compressed, incompletely covered with delicate scales. Cleft of 

 the mouth deep. Small teeth iu (lie jaws and on the palatine bones; none on flie \()mei'. 



