320 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



the posterior margin of orbit. Jaws nearly equal, the snout being considerably produced 

 and dilated, its length equal to the diameter of the eye and one fourth the length of the 

 head. Teeth very fine, villifurni, in l)ands on jaws and palatines, and also present on 

 vomer, though very small, espcciahy uiton the rounded, globular process at the angle. 

 Lateral line very indistinct, interrupted, but e.vtending behind the vent at least one-third 

 of the way to the tip of the tail. Dorsal origin nearly in vertical from the axil of the poe 

 toral; ventrals very slender, villiform, closely ai)proximate at their roots, and less than half 

 as long as the head. 



Color, brownish. 



A specimen was obtained by the Blalce, off Granada, station xciii, at a depth of 291 

 fathoms. This specimen, from which the shaded figure was made, has evidently had its 

 tail broken oft' and the damage repaired. The collateral type was obtained by the Albatross 

 at station 2374, in 29° 11' 30' N. lat., 85° 29' W. Ion., at a depth of 2(3 fathoms. 



DICROMITA METEIOSTOMA, (Vaillant), Goode and Bean. 



Sirembo metriostoma, Vaillaxt, Exp. Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, 270, pi. xxiii, figs 3, 3a, 36. 



Body elongated, compressed, elevated anteriorly, its height equal to one-seventh of its 

 length. Head length about one-fifth that of body. Snout oblong, rounded, its length 

 one-fifth of head. The upper jaw is slightly the longer, and extends back to the verti- 

 cal from the posterior margin of orbit. Teeth in villiform bauds on the jaws, vomer, and 

 palatines. 



Nostrils small, circular, in same horizontal line. Eye circular, its diameter slightly 

 greater than the length of the snout, 4J times in length of head and equal to width of inter- 

 orbital space. A strong horizontal spine on the operculum, and two or three at the angle 

 of the preoperculum, hidden under the skin. 



Vent premedian, separated fi-om the origin of the ventrals by a distance slightly greater 

 than the length of the head. Origin of dorsal slightly behind vertical from base of pectoral. 

 Anal origin near vent. Pectorals half as long as head, simple. Ventrals reduced to a pair 

 of simple filaments which surpass the pectorals. 



Scales small, distinct, not so deciduous as in many similar forms, about 151 in longi- 

 tudinal and 33 in vertical scries. Lateral line obsolete in its posterior half. 



Color, grayish, with blackish belly and darker edges to the vertical fins. 



The French explorers obtained one specimen from the Banc d'Arguin (station xcv), 

 1,230 fathoms, two from off the Azores and from station cxxi, in 1,112 fathoms, and one tiom 

 station cxxvii, in 1,257 fathoms. 



DICROMITA MICROPHTHALMA, (Vaillaxt), Goode aud Bean. 



Siremho microphthalma, Vaillaxt, Exp. Sci. Tiavailleur et Talisman. 275, pi. xxiv, fig. 4. 



Body moderately compressed, anguilliforra, its height one-thirteenth of its total length. 

 Head elongate, its length one-fifth that of the body. The snout is four-elevenths of the 

 head, and somewhat spatulate. The ui)per jaw extends somewhat beyond the lower one. 

 Mouth inferior, half as long as the head; the maxillary passes the vertical from the posterior 

 margin of the orbit. Teeth small, in villiform bands upon the jaws, vomer, aud palatines. 

 Eye very small, nearly hidden in the skin, but distinct; its diameter about one-twentieth 

 that of the head, while the interorbital space is one-fourth. Branchial opening very Avide. 

 Opercular bone indistinct. The preojierculum has four strong spines at its angle; the oper- 

 culum has 1 spine, strong, somewhat curved upward, prominently projecting, llead naked, 

 except upon the cheek and the opercular tiap. 



Vent at a distance from the base of the ventrals greater than the length of the head. 

 Scales exceedingly small, scarcely \isibl(' to tlie naked eye, imbedded in the skin, more dis- 

 tinct in the ventral region than on the rest of the body; lateral line represented by a series 

 of inconspicuous elevations, which are not noticeable in the latter half of its length ; it is near 

 the dorsal outline. 



