314 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



MELANOSTIGMA GELATINOSUM, GiJNTnEU. (Figure 284.) 



Melanostigma <it!atinosum, (ii'NTiw.n, Proo. Zool. Soc. London, 1881, 21, pi. Ii, fig. A; Challenger Report, 

 XXII, 1887, 82. — GOODE and BnAN, Bull. Mus. Coiup. Zool., 1883, 20!). — Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Araer., 

 1885, 125. 



Body is ouvelope.cl in a loose, delicate alvin, a.s in Llparls. Head large, deep, conipres.sed, 

 with obtuse snout. Eye large, two-seveutlis of the length of the head and longer than the 

 snout. Cleft of the mouth rather oblique, but the lower jaw does uot project beyond the 

 njjper. Lips not ileshy. In.side of the mouth, gill-opening.s, and veut black. The gill- 

 opening is reduced to a very narrow foramen above the base of the iiectoral iin. The origin 

 of the dorsal fin and the root of the pectoral are enveloped in the loose skin of tlie body. 

 The dorsal fin seems to commence above the middle of the pectoral, is low at first, but 

 becomes considerably higher posteriorly. Pectorals very narrow, consisting of a few rays 

 only. Upper jtarts tinged with a purplish gray; sides marliled with the same color, wliich 

 toward the end of the tail becomes more intense, almost black. 



Total length of the specimen 5 J inches; distance of the snout Iroin the gill-opening 

 seven-eighths inch, from the vent 1 J inches. 



The type specimen was obtained on January IG, 18S0, by Dr. Coppingcr, of II. M. S. 

 Alert, at Tilly bay, in the Straits of Magellan, in '2i fathoms. 



The Blal-c secured an individual from station cncxxxiv, in .'-.S'^ 20' 30" N. lat., 7^° 

 2G' 40" W. Ion., at a depth of 30.5 fathoms; and the Albatross obtained specimens from 

 station 2003, in 37° 16' 30" N. lat., 74° 20' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 041 ftithoms; from .station 

 2.'J49, in 39° 51' .30" N. lat., 70° 17' W. Ion., at a depth of 571 fathoms; from station 2546, in 

 3!)o .53' 30" N. lat., 70° 17' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 53S fathoms; Cat. Ifo. .32667, U. S. K 

 M.,from station 2003, in 37° 16' 30" N. lat., 74° 20' 36" W. Ion., at a depth of 641 fathoms; 

 Cat. No. .3.5611, U. S. N. M., from station 2201, in 30° 39' 45" N. lat., 71° 35' 15" W. Ion., at 

 a depth of 538 fathoms. Tlie Fish Haul; took additional si>ecimens from station 994, in 39° 

 40' N. lat., 71° 30' W. Ion., at a depth of 368 fathoms; Cat. No. 28762, IT. S. N. M., from 

 station 937, in 39° 49' 25" N. lat., 69° 49' W.lou., at a depth of 616 fathoms; Cat. No. 28901, 

 U. S. N. M., from station 995, in 39° 40' 30" N. lat., 71° 31' W. Ion., at a depth of 358 

 Mhoms; Cat. No. 28813, IT. S. N. M., from station 947, in 39° 53' 30" N. lat., 71° 13' 30" 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 319 fathoms; Cat. No. 288.53, U. S. N. M., from station 952, in .39o 55' 

 N. lat., 70O 28' W. Ion., at a depth of 396 fathoms. 



Family BROTULID^E. 



JlrnlKTmw, Swainson, Nat. Hist. Fish, 1839, ii, 188, 301. 

 Jirotuluidei, Blkeker, Teutamen, 859, xxiv. 

 lirotuUdai, Adams, Man. N.it. Hist., 1854, 104. 

 UroluVtna, GrNTiiER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mns., iv, 18G2, 371. 



Ophidioidea, with body naked or covered with small scales. Dorsal and anal fins confluent 

 with caudal. Veutrals jugular, reduced to one or two rays. Gill openings wide, the gill- 

 membranes free. Vent in anterior half of body. Barbel present or absent. Lateral line 

 interrupted, or partially oi completely obsolete. 



ARTIFICIAL KEY TO THE GENERA OF BROTULID.3S. 



(Not strictly according to affinities, and for purposes of identification only.) 

 Barbels present on snout .and lower jaw. 



I. Ventr.al8 a jiairof bitid fihiments [Brotula] 



II. Ventrals a pair of simple lilaments L^i'"^''^ 'obROTULa] 



B.arbcds replaced hy cilia or tubercles. 



I. Eye absent or rudiment.ary. Cave dwellers. 



A. No teeth on palatines ; villiform teeth in jaws [LrciFrOA] 



B. Strong teeth on palatines, .and on mandibular edge f S lYtiicoi.Al 



No barbels, cili.a, or tubercles. 



I. Caudal diff<!rentiated, with distinct stem. 



A. Ventral filaments single. A flat oi>ercul,ar spine. 



1. 1 lead scaly [DiNEM atichthys] 



2. Head naked [Brosmopiiycis] 



