DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 211 



former with 3 or 4, the latter with 2 or 3 spines; ca.ulal deeply forked; ventrals thoracic 

 with one spme and five rays. The jaws with an outer series of stronger tectli ; the tcetli of 

 the pahitine bones and of the vomer are easily lost. Opercles entire. Seven branehios- 

 tegals; an- bladder, none. Pyloric appendages in small number. (Uiinthcr.) 



A very elaborate study of Brama has been completed by Liitken, based upon a lar-c 

 series, chiefly of young specimens. Concerning B. Rait he concludes that it is quite cosmo- 

 politan in its distribution, occurring from the Faroe Islands to the Cape of Cood Hope, 

 and is represented by closely similar, if not identical, forms on the coast of Chili (^l 

 cMlensis and australis) and New Zealand {B. squamosa) and in the waters of Japan. He 

 states that it has not yet been found in the West Indies or off the east coast of North 

 America, overlooking, perhaps, the fact that Brama L'aii was observed at the Bermudas in 

 1880 by Dr. Goode. He considers B. orcini and B. Bussumieri and Taractes asper to be im- 

 mature forms and gives a very doubtftil acceptance to six species, claiming to be distinct 

 from B. Eaii, described from various parts of the Atlantic: 



Brama Jt/assizii, Poey (Mem. Hist. Nat. Cuba, ii, 1856-8, 204). Cuba. 



Brama Brevoorti, Poey {Joe. cit., 206). Cuba. 



Brama Saussurii, Lunel {Revision, etc., 185, pi. ii). Cuba. 



Brama longiphmis, Lowe (Proc. Zoiil. Soc, 1843, 82). Madeira. 



Brama prineeps, Johnson (Proc. Zool. Soc, 1863, 38, pi. vii). Madeira, 



Brama Raschi Esmark (Forh, Vid. Selsk., Christiania, 1801). Fiumark, Iceland. 



Serious discussion of these forms can not well be attempted without a large series o" 

 specimens of all ages. In the meantime, it is most convenient to consider all the Atlantic 

 forms as members of a single species, quite variable in the proportions of the body and the 

 fins. 



B. japoniea, Hilgendorf, has the snout more convex than B. Rati, shorter vertical fins, 

 and smaller paired fins, and the lesser size of the scales in the axils of the pectorals. 



Family DIRETMID^-E. 

 Diretmulve, Gill, MS. 



Scombroideans with a disciform body (suggestive of Priaeanthns) preoperculnm pro- 

 longed downward and separating the operculum from other bones; supramaxillaries wide 

 behind; a long dorsal and anal with simple (1) rays, and ventrals thoracic. {Gill). 



DIRETMUS, Johnson. 



Diretmus, JOHNSON, Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud., 1803, 403. 



Discus, Campbell, Traus. New Zeal. lust., xi, 1S79, 297. 



Gyrinomene, Vaillant (name only), Exp, Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, 1887, 355, 18. 



Body much compressed, short and elevated, covered with small, coarsely spinous scales, 

 on which no lateral line can be traced; abdomen prominent and keeled. Mouth wide, ob- 

 liquely ascending, with projecting lower jaw. The jaws are armed with a very narrow 

 band (which, po.steriorly, becomes a single series) of small fine teeth of unequal size. The 

 vomer and palatine bones are toothless. The maxillaries terminate at their upper and in- 

 ner extremity in a pair of short-pointed processes, which form peculiar fang-like projections 

 in the inside of the mouth in front of the vomer. Bones of the head thin, with wide, mucif- 

 erous cavities, the lower limb of the preoperculum denticulated. Eyes very large. Dor- 

 sal long, without spinous division; anal similar in form and composition; interradial mem- 

 brane very fragile. Pectorals large; ventral fins thoracic, with more than 5 rays (?). 

 Branchiostegals 7; pseudobrauchia>. (GUnther.) 



DIRETMUS ARGENTEUS, Johnson. (Figure 234.) 



Diretmus argenteus, Johnson. I'roc. Zoiil. Soc. London, pi. xxxvi, tiR. 1. — Vaillant, loc. cit., 355. 



The specimen from Madeira, described in detail and well figured by Johii.son. was the 

 only one known until the French expedition obtained another off the coasts of Morocco in 

 1,105 meters. Johnson ascribed to it, although with doubt, 10 ventral rays, but the rays 



