mSCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 32!) 



separated by a space greater than the diameter of the eye. I'reopenndiim with a square, 

 rouuded angle; no armature; opercuhmi with a strong, sharp spine above, the tip of which 

 projects shghtly beyond tlie opercuhu' flap. Distance of the vent from tlie root of tiie ]m:- 

 toral shghtly more than the length of the head; as fVir removed from this point as is tlie 

 anterior nostril. 



Scales moderate, covering the entire head. Lateral line somewhat conspicuous, obso- 

 lete in its posterior third. 



The dorsal and anal flns enveloped in thick, scaly skin. The origin of the dorsal is in 

 advance of the middle of the pectoral, rectornls )ounded, broad, and very short; less than 

 half as long as the head, and extending about half the distance from their origin to the ver- 

 tical from the vent. Ventrals inserted somewhat behind the angle of the preoperculum, 

 and extending to the vertical from the axil of the pectoral, and about one-fourth of the dis- 

 tance from their origins to the vent; each ventral lilameut is bihd, the inner part In-ing 

 the longer. 



Eadial formula: Vertical fins, 83+C+fi7. 



Color, uniform grayish-brown; fins darker. 



The type was obtained by the AUxttross from station 2084, off' Cape nenlopen, Dela- 

 ware, in 39° 35' N. lat., 7()o 54' AV. Ion., at a depth of 1,100 fathoms. 



This form resembles so closely the figure of N'eohyfhifes f/rniHlh; Giinther, (Chall. Iic)i. 

 XXII, 1()(», pi. XXI, fig. A), that the species was provisionally ii'?ntified as the same, but a 

 more careful study shows that it differs in certain particulars, especially in the more distinct 

 lateral line, the rather shorter body, and the fact that the vent is considerably farther back 

 (more than twice the length of the pectoral from the gill opening), while the ventrals do not 

 reach more than one-fourth of the way to the Acnt. The rays in the vertical fins will prob 

 ably be found to be fewer, though Giinther has not enumerated those in his type. 



ALCOCKIA, Goode and Bean, n. g. 



Brotulids resembling Neobythitcs in the general form of the body, with no continuous 

 lateral line, though traces can be distinguished at various parts of the body, and with a 

 head and snout siuular in appearance to those of Bassozctus, though the former is peculiarly 

 shaped. Bones of the head rather thin, with large, somewhat conspicuous sinuses. Sharp, 

 well-developed spines upon the operculum and preoperculum (which has a crennlatcd 

 margin), behind the eye, upon the su]icrciliary crest, and behind the posterior nostril, 

 which is seiDarated from the orbit by a short, spinous projection, as in Bathyhrotuht. Mu- 

 ciferous channels ample, that of the frontal bone opening in front by a wide ai)erture on 

 each side of the rostral projection, and each maudibulary canal opening in front immedi- 

 ately behind the symphysis by a slit in the skin. The mucous membrane of the nasal cavity 

 in two folds, forming together a longitudinal pad with a linear base. Teeth in villiform 

 bands on jaws, vomer, and palatines; the vomerines open V-shaped and nmch narrower 

 than the palatine band. Pectorals narrow and feeble. Ventrals each composed of two 

 filaments, short, very feeble and close together, inserted on isthmus, some distaiu'e from 

 symidiysis. Scales cycloid, persistent, irregular. Gill-laminte short; gill-rakers stifl", far 

 apart, and but few in number. Branchiostegals 8. rseudobrauchite represented by two or 

 three small lobes. 



This genus is provisionally proposed for the Porogtuhis rosfrafus of Giinther (Challenger 

 Report, XXII, 1SS7, 113, jd. xxiv, fig. B) obtained by the VhaUaKjer from station 1!)S, north 

 of Celebes, at a depth of 2,15(t fathoms. 



The genus is named in honor of A. Alcock, M. B., surgeon naturalist to the II. M. 

 Indian marine survey steamer Inrcstifiator, who has nurde so many important additions to 

 our knowledge of the bathybial fauna of the Indian Ocean. 



CELEMA, Goode and Bean, n. g. 



Brotulids closely resendding in a](pearance Mahht, though with the rays of the 

 vertical tins apparently less abbreviated on the posterior i)art of the caudal finlet, and 

 without the short row of specialized large scales beginning above the angle of the gill- 



