216 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



with siiiiiU spiniilos; a scries along cacli ray, diviiliug as tli(^ ray branches: dorsal fm eom- 

 niciiciug above the axil of the pectoral, composed of 50 to (50 rays, whicli are all soft and 

 flexible, some of the anterior unbranched; the fin low in front, iucreasing in height behind ; 

 none of the rays more than once forked ; anal shoi'terthan the dorsal, similar to it, of 35 to 40 

 rays; some of the anterior apparently undivided; caudal lin elongate, fau-sliapcd, the 

 middle rays produced ; accessory rays numerous, procurrent ; pectorals with a fleshy base, 

 fan si aped, the middle rays longest; ventrals thoracic, inserted just behind the pectorals, 

 narrow, consisting of 1 short subspinous ray and 4 long soft rays. Air bladder large. Ver- 

 tebrie numerous, the vertebral colu'nn extremely flexible and soft. Cranial bones tolerably 

 linn; bones of the face and opercles very flexible. The entire body is characterized by a 

 want of firmness, as it can be doubled up as readily as a piece of soft, thick rag. (Jordan 

 and Gilbert.) 



This genus is represented by a single species. I. enigmaticus, Lockington {^cliedopMlus 

 emgmatieu.s, Griiiither, Challenger Report, XXii, 4(5, PI. XLIV). The exact source of the types is 

 not known. They were bouglit in the San Francisco market iu 1878, and the fishmongers 

 said that they were deep-sea fish. Lockington reports a small sj^ecimen in the museum of 

 the University of California, found off the coast of Washington. The fact that they have 

 not since been seen shows how unusual they are, and proves that they live at great dejiths 

 — if any proof other than their remarkable structure were required. Steindachner also 

 had a specimen. 



SCHEDOPHILOPSIS, Steindachner. (Figure 416). 



Schedophilopsi$, Steindaciinter, Sitzb. Ak. Wiss. Wieii. lxxxiii, 1X81, 3;>(3; Irlitii. Beitriige, xi, 4. 



Acanthopterygians having the form of the body and thc^ dentition as in SchedopMlits. 

 Body scaleless, with the exception of the lateral line. Dorsal and anal fins long, the former 

 beginning on the nape. Branchio.stegals 6; pseudobranchi;e present. The fin-rays thickly 

 covered with sharp, nettle-like sj)ines, visible to the naked eye. 



The type of this genus is SrhcdopMlopnis .spinosiis, Steindachner [he. clt.), obtained 

 by him at considerable deptlis off the coast of California, near San Francisco. The National 

 Museum possesses a .specimen (Cat. No. 37327) obtained by Dr. August C. Elinney, at Astoria, 

 Oregon. 



ICICHTHYS, Jordan and Gilbert. (Figure 226.) 

 Icichlhys, .Iordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mu.s., in, 1880, 305; Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mu.s., 621. 



Body elongate, not elevated, not compressed at the bases of the vertical fins. Head 

 moderate. Byes lateral. Mouth terminal, little oblique, with small sharp teeth in one 

 series in the jaws only. Premaxillaries lutt protractile. Gill membranes separate, free 

 from isthmus; gill-rakers long. PseudobranchiiB present. Brauchiostegals 7. Body 

 covered with small cycloid scales. Lateral line continuous, unarmed. Bases of fins with- 

 out si)inules; dorsal and anal fins long and low, composed of soft rays only; pectoral fins 

 moderate, their bases fleshy, as iu Icosteus; ventral fins small, thoracic, I, 5. Pyloric; cteca 

 about 6, large. Bones all very flexible, cartilaginous. (Jordan it Gilbert.) 



Represented by a single specimen obtained at the same time and under the same cir- 

 cumstances as leosteus eniyitiaticiis. This was described by Jordan & Gilbert under the 

 name Icichthys Lochingtonii. Dr. Giinther's catalogues it under Schedophilus (Challenger 

 Report, XXXI, 4G). This form is but doubtfully related to tho.se which immediately precede. 



Family ACROTID.^. 



Jcrotidw, Gill, MS. 



Acanthopterygians with a long, compressed body, naked skin, long low dorsal and 

 anal, large caudal on slender peduncle, no ventrals, no palatal or pharyngeal teeth, and 

 numerous (about 70) vertebra;. (Gill.) 



