DISCUSSION OF SPECIES ANIi THEIIi DISTRIBUTIOX. 327 



NEOBYTIIITES CRASSIIS, (Vaill.vnt), Gooi.k and I'.kax. 

 Bythites cransua, Vaillaxt. Exp. Sci. Travuillcur ot Talisman, 27!t, pi. xxv, Fij;. 1. 



In general form resembling B>/tliitcxf uncus. The height of the body a little more than 

 one-fifth of its lengtli, and its thidiness one ninth; tlie kMigtli of the head is about two 

 eleven tlis of the length of tlic body; it is tliick, with an inflated snout. Montli moderately 

 wide, the maxillary extending slightly beyond the vertical from the posterior limb of the 

 orbit. Fine villiform teeth on the two Jaws, t\w, i)alatines and the vomer, and a few teeth 

 upon the tongue. Eye small, its diameter about one-eighth the length of the head; inter 

 orbital space much greater, contained about two and three-fourths times in the length of 

 the head. Branchial openings very wide. Braiudiiostegal nieinbnines free from the isth- 

 mus. Opercnla enveloped in thick skin, which obscures their outlines. Opercular spine 

 distinct, strong, flattened; preoperculum probably obtusely denticulated, though hidden 

 in the integument. Scales small, denticulate, extending upon the bases of the vertical flns 

 and even of those of the pectorals, about !')(> ( ?) '» longitudinal series and 70 in vertical 

 series. A lateral line parallel with the back about one-third of the distance from the 

 dorsal to the ventral outline, indistinct posteriorly. 



Origin of doi'sal behind base of pectorals: the fin is low, its height hardly one-third 

 that of the body, its base buried in the skin. The anal is similar to the dorsal, and begins 

 immediately behind the vent. The caudal is confluent with the vertical fins. Pectoral 

 short, about half as long as the head; rounded. Ventrals each of two rays, closely united 

 at their base; the length of the inner one exceeds half the height of the body, the outer one 

 three-fifths of the same. 



Color, reddish-brown, deeper upon the flns. ( y'tiillitut.) 



A single specimen was obtained by the French expedition at station cxxxvi, at a 

 depth of 4,2o.j meters. 



BENTHOCOMETES, Goode and Bean, n. g. 



Brotulids, similar in appearance and strm^ture to Xeobi/thitrs ;md /jV(s.so_(/(V/«,s-, distin- 

 guished by two short, flat spines upon tlie anterior portion of the operculum, placed at 

 some distance from each other, and by the absence of spines upon the preoperculum. The 

 lateral line is complete, and extends witliont interruption to the posterior fourth of the 

 body, where it becomes obsolete. The vomerine teeth are bunched in a circular patch 

 instead of being arranged in triangular form. The head is comparatively short, with the 

 jaws in front nearly equal; the snout not produced, but obtuse, rounded, and almost 

 declivous in its outline. 



Two species have been assigned to this genu.s — Xcobytliitcs rohusfus, Goode and Bean, 

 and Sirembo mitrcvnolepis, Vaillant. The latter is not, as Vaillant supposed, related to 

 Biplacunthoponia, which, though it has two spines n))on the preoperculum, anil is very sim- 

 ilar in general appearance, has the ventrals single rather than double. 



BENTHOCOMETES ROBtJSTUS, GoonEaiuI Bean. (Fisnrc 28S.) 



Neohythites rohusfus, Goode and Bean, Bull. llus. Comp. Zool., xn, 101. 



Body rather short and deep, its greatest height (IC millimeters) nearly +5 in total length 

 and about equal to length of head. The iuterorbital area is convex; its width (6 milli- 

 meters) is greater than the diameter of the circular eye (.j millimeters) and 1.1 times the 

 length of smmt (4 millimeters). Tlie length of the head (19 millimeters) is about 4 times 

 the diameter of the eye. The mouth is moderate, the maxilla extending to the vertical 

 through the posterior margin of the eye, the mandible a little beyond, its length (10 mil- 

 limeters) equal to that of postorbital part of head. Teeth in villiform bands in the jaws 

 and on the palatines. Vomerine teeth bunched in a circular patch. Gill-rakers moderate, 

 the longest a little more than twice in diameter of eye, 4 above angle of first arch, 1 1 below. 

 Pseudobranchia; rudimentary. Gill-opening wide, the mendu'aiRi deeply cleft, behind free 

 from the isthmus. A pair of short flat spines upon the anterior portion of the operculum. 



