DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 



343 



ALEXETERION, Vaillant. 

 Alexelcrion, Vaillast, Exp. Sci. Tnivailleiiv et Talisman, I'oi.ssoiis, 282. 



Brotulids having a .scaleless body, head short; lower jaw curved up in front of the 

 upper one so that the mouth opens vertically; very fine teeth on the Jaws, vomer and pala- 

 tines toothless. Eye rudimentary. No barlx'l. Gilloiiening very wide. IJrancliiosteual 

 membrane free. Vent very far from the thmat and nearly in tlie middle of the length of 

 the fish. Vertical fins beginning fiir back, the dorsal origin being over the vent and con- 

 flueut at the tail. Pectorals broad, fan-shaped; veutrals abseut. 



ALEXETERION PAUFMTI, Vaii.lant. {Vignvi- :!0(1.) 



AUxcicrion rarfaiti, Vaillant, Exp. Sci. Travaillciir et Talisman, 28.'!, pi. xxv, Figs. 2, 2(i(, 2I>. 



IJody elongate, compressed (especially posteriorly), its greatest height being scarcely 

 one-sixth of the thickness above the pectorals, and one-eighth of the total Icngtli. 



Length of head one-sixth of total length; its globular tonu gives it a very singular aj)- 

 pearauce, suggestive of [rnaioscopiis and SijiiKiiccia. The liead ai)pears as if it were truncated 

 iu front; the snout occupies the ui)per i)oition of the truncation. The mouth is shaped 

 like a horseshoe and is placed vertically, the lower Juav being entirely outside of the open- 

 ing, while tiie two mandibles are strongly curved. The intermaxillary is narrow, nearly 

 as long as the maxillary, which is exi)an(led at its ]>()sterior extremity. 



Teeth line, uniform iu size, upon the mandible aiul on the anteiior portion of the inter- 

 maxillary. No teeth visible upon the vomer or i)alMtiues. The eye is rudimentary, very 

 small, its diameter about one-tilth of the length of the head, so that it looks like a black 

 pigmentaiy spot, and is scarcely visible in the fresh specimen. IJrauchial opening broad. 



Vent near the middle of the body. No trace of scales in the lateral line visible. 



Vertical tins confluent, the doi'sal beginning in the vertical from the vent and nearly 

 opposite the origin of the ventral, tlieiays being excessively delicate. Pectorals extending 

 to the vertical from the origin of the dorsal. No veutrals. 



Color, roseate white. 



MeaKiiremeiifs. 



Length 



Height 



Thickness 



Li-ngth uf Lead 



Lengtii of eaud.il tin 



Lengt h of snout 



Diameter of eye 



Width of iutororbit.al sp.ieo 



A single specimen was taken at the French station cxxxvii. North Atlantic, at the 

 depth of 5,005 meters. 



BELLOTTIA, Giglioli. 



Bellollia, Giglioli, Zoologiacbor Anzpiger, vi, :i99 (.Inly, 188:i.) 



lirotulids with the foiin and proportions of FtrrUVum ; body covered with smooth, 

 adhesive scales of very small dimension. Eyes small. Vertical tins united, vent rals absent. 

 Lower jaw with a baud of small teeth, sharp and numeidus. intcrniingled with a few coni- 

 cal ones, somewhat larger; u]i]ier jaw with a villilbrm band of very minute teeth; sharp 

 teeth on the vomer and palate, disposed in a, scmiciicnlar arch. Jaws c(|ual anteriorly, the 

 upper one expanded posteriorly as in Ptcriil'nDn. No barbel. P)ianchial rays J. Gills with 

 4 long branchial appendages; branchial aiu'rture large. Air bladder present. 



