214 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



CENTROLOPHUS POMPILUS, (Gmelin), Cuvier and Valenciennes. (Figure 222.) 



Conjphwna pompiliis, Aktedi, Gen. Pise, 16, syu. 29. — Gmelin; Linn., Syst. Nat., 1193.— Risso, Iclith., 



Nice, 180. 

 CenlroU>i)hii« pompilm, CuviEU and Valenciennes, ix, 334, pi. ccLXix. — Guntiier, Cat. Fish. Urit. Mus., 



II, 403. — ! »AV, loc. ei7.— Giglioli, Elenco, 26. 

 Perea iiUjro, Gmelin, loc. cit., 1321. 



Ceiiliolopliiis uiijcr, LACliPiiDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 441, pi. .\, fig. 2. 

 Acenlnih>i>hiis iimciilosus, Naudo, Prod. IcLtb. Adr., sp. 62. 

 Pumpilus lionddctii, LoWE, Proc. Zoiil. Soc, London, 1839, 81. 



A Centrolophus having" height of body 4—5 in total length, and length of head 5. 

 Upper maxillary extending to below anterior margin of orbit. Dorsal origin above first 

 third of pectoral. Scales minnte, forming sheath to basal third of vertical fins. Color, 

 brown, clouded with lighter. 



Eadial formula: D. 38-41; P. 21; V. I, 5; A. 23-25; C. 17. 



The Blackfish occurs in the Mediterranean and along the coasts of Europe from Spain 

 to Yorkshire and Northumberland. Lowe observed it about Madeira. 



A specimen, 9 inches long, was taken off Dennis, Mass., Nov. 23, 1888, l)y the U. S. 

 Fish Commission. 



This form is pelagic, like the pilot fishes, and is believed to be able to descend to con- 

 siderable depths. 



SCHEDOPHILUS, Cocco. 



Schedophilus, CoCCO, Giorn. lunom. Mess. Aun. iii. — GOnther, Cat. Fish P)rit. Mas., ii, 412. 

 Cnim, Valenciennes, iu Webb and Berthelot, lies Canar. Poiss., 45. 



Body compressed, oblong, covered with minute scales; cleft of the mouth of moderate 

 width, with the jaws equal; eye moderate; preopercular margin spiny. One dorsal, com- 

 mencing behind the nape of the neck, formed by flexible spines and branched rays, extend- 

 ing nearly along the whole l)ack; anal similar to the dorsal, but much shorter. Ventrals 

 thoracic (subjugular iu Sch. maculatus), formed by 1 .spine and 5 rays. A series of small 

 teeth in the jaws; palate smooth. Branchiostegals 7. rseudobranchiaj. 



The species of this genus are pelagic; young examples, at least, are frequently captured 

 in the surface net in the open ocean. Some of the species, however, possess structural char- 

 acters which indicate bathybial habits; for instance, a singular want of firmness of the tis- 

 sues, especially of the bones. (Gilntlier.) 



SCHEDOPHILUS MEDUSOPHAGUS, Cocco. (Figure 223.) 



SchedopMlus medusdiihatius, Ci^cco, Giorn. lunom. Mess. Ann., iii, No. 7, 57. — Bonaparte, Fauna Italioa, 

 I'esc, C. fig.— GOntiiek, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ii, 412; Fisch. d. Siidsec, 149; Trans. Zoiil. Soc, London, 

 XI, 1882, 223, pi. LXVii; Challenger Report, xxii, 1887, 46. 



The body is strongly compressed, of an elongate, ovoid shape, its depth being con- 

 tained 2| times in the total length, fins not included. The head is small, as deep as 

 long, and less than one-fourth of the total length (without caudal). Interorbital space con- 

 vex, broader than the diameter of the eye, which is situated immediately below the upper 

 profile of the head, nearly as long as the snout, and one-fourth the length of the head. 

 Snout obtuse, with projecting lower jaw and oblique mouth. Mouth of moderate width, the 

 cleft extending to below the front margin of the eye. Maxillary rather narrow, but 

 widening toward its extremity. Teetli minute, implanted in a single series on the sharp 

 edge of the jaws. The palate is toothless. 



The preopercular margin is armed with short spines, which usually become a little 

 longeron tlu' posterior margin; these longer spines have an obliijue dorsal direction. Also 

 the interoperculum is spinous, the suboi)erculum less so. Operculum membranous; its 

 upper portion shows radiating osseous striiie, which project beyond the margin. 



The gill rakers of the outer branchial arch are long, narrow, and rather widely set. 

 Gill openings very wide. 



