322 DEEP-SEA FISUES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Biiiucliiostegal.s, 8. Gills, 4; i;ill lamiu.T sliort ; gill-rakers long and stiff on the first 

 brancliial arrii. I'seiulohraiu-liiiu, uoue. Pyloric appendages, none. 



Bassozetus glatimmis (Alcock), Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1889, ii, 211, was taken by 

 tlie Inrcstlyator at station 93, in tlie Bay of Bengal, at a depth of 1,310 fathoms. 



BASSOZETUS NOKMALIS, Gill. (Figure 287.) 



Baasozetus nomialis, Gill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1883, 259. 



Body nmch compressed, its width in the region of the vent not more than one-third of 

 its height, which at the same point is about one-]iiuth of the total length. The greatest 

 height of the body, over the origin of the pectorals, is about two-thirds the distance from 

 the base of the ]>ectorals to the vent, the vent being about twice as distant from the base 

 of the caudal rays as from the snout. Head moderately compressed, tiat above; with snout 

 obtuse, rounded, turgid; lower jaw considerably included. The length of the head con- 

 tained nearly six times in the total length. 



The bones of the head not completely ossified, very cavernous in the alcoholic speci- 

 men, the head showing many deep sinuosities and depressions. Eye very small, its diame- 

 ter about one-fourth the length of the snout, and situated about midway between the tip of 

 the snout and the vertical from the i)osterior end of maxillary. Teeth all small and short, 

 densely set, forming narrow, villiform bands; vomerine band open V-shaped. The dorsal 

 fin begins far in advance of the origin of the pectoral and above the upjier angle of the gill- 

 opening; the rays are longest in the region over the vent. The anal begins immediately 

 behind the vent; its rays are not quite so long as those of the dorsal. Pectoral ^ith broad 

 base, short, not extending much more than half way to the vertical from the vent, its length 

 considerably less than that of the postorbital portion of the head. Ventral rays very slen- 

 der, villiform, reaching almost to the veut, far beyond the pectoral; their length almost 

 equal to that of the head. Scales moderate, very deciduous, extending upon the cheeks 

 and on the top of the head almost to the tip of the snout. No evidence of a lateral line. 



Eadialfornuda: D. 116; A. 9(i. 



Color light, the head and abdomen blackish; the inside of the mouth i)arplish-brown. 



The jBirt Ac secured specimens from station cciv, in 24° 33' N. lat.,840 23' W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 1,920 fathoms; and from station Lxxxiv, off Dominica, in 1,131 fatlioms. The Albatross 

 also obtained examples, (Jat. No. 49116, U. S. N. M., from station 2380, in 28-^ 02' 30" N. lat., 

 87° 43' 45" W. Ion., at a depth of 1,430 fathoms; Cat. No. 33306, U. S. N. M., from station 

 2042, in 39° 33' N. lat., 68° 26' 45" W. Ion., at a depth of 1,555 fathoms. 



BASSOZETUS COMPEESSUS, (GCnthek), Ooodb aiul Bean. 



Bathyncctcs comprcssiis, GOntiier, Ann. and Man;. Nat. Hist., ii, 1878, 20. 

 Bathijonus comprisstia, Gunther, Challenger Kei)i)rt, xxii, 1887, xxii, Fig. A. 



The greatest depth of the body is above the end of the giU-cover and about one-half of 

 the length of the trunk, the vent being twice as distant from the extremity of the tail as 

 from the snout; consequently, the tail is but moderately attenuated. Head compressed 

 like the body, and about two-thirds of the length of the trunk ; the superficial bones form 

 large muciferous cavities, which, when full, must give to the head a much more evenly 

 rounded appearance than in the preserved state, when the supporting bony ridges project 

 more or less from under the skin. The snout is sliglitly swollen, but the jaws are nearly 

 even in fr'ont, the wide month slightly ascending forwards. Tiie maxillary has the form 

 usual in these Gadoid fishes, is dilated behind, and extends far behind the eye. 



The eye is very smaU, one half of the length of the snout, and about one-eleventh of 

 that of the head; it is placed up on the side, and docs not possess an orbital fold of the 

 integument. The interorbital space ratlier convex, and e(j[ual in width to three diameters 

 of the eye. 



All the teeth are very small and short, densely set, and form villiform bands. The 

 broadest is that of the maxillary boue, and it is quite uncovered on the sides, no lal)ial folds 



