350 DEEr-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



of the head. The opercular bones arc somewhat striated. The hitcral line extends from 

 the crest to (he caudal, describing a downward curve in front of the gill opening. The 

 dorsal begins upon tlie top of (he head and in advance of the eyes, and terminates near the 

 caudal, and contains more tlian liOO rays; the lius are very short and very far back. Tlic 

 caiulal is very small. The ])ectorals are moderate, placed near the lower outline of the 

 body. V'eiitrals miinite. 



liadial formula: D. 230; A. 17; C. 17; 1'. 15; V. I, 5. 



Color silvery gray, with rounded sjwts of silver, which are brighter than the body itself; 

 fins a brilliant rose color. 



This species was first described by Prof. Giorna, who brought it belbre the Acad- 

 emy of Tuiln iu 1803. His description was not comi)lete, but Cuvier in 1813 received oue 

 from the Gulf of Genoa, and published a most exact description of it in the Annals of the 

 Paris Academy of Sciences, accompanied by a drawing by Laurillard, of which a facsimile 

 is here presented. The measurements of this specimen were as follows : 



Meters. 



Total length 1. 34 



Height () f l)()(ly 18 



Length of head 17 



Height of holly at branchial opening 185 



Height of body at base of nuchal spine 205 



Specimens have since been taken iu various parts of the Mediterranean. The Florence 

 Museum has a beautiful specimen, taken at or near Elba Island in 18i8. Prof. Giglioli has 

 also seen individuals from Nice, Genoa, and Palermo. 



LOPHOTES CRISTATUS, Jounson. 



Lopliotcs crutatm, Johnson, Proc. Zoiil. Soc., 1863, 38. 



A Lophotcs with elongate, compressed, blade-like body, its height contained ^\ tinu's 

 in its length, its thickness over 30 times. The line of the nuai'med belly is nearly straight. 

 The back curves upwards slightly for the first third of the length of the fish and then slopes 

 gently to the tail. The body clothed with small scales, which are buried in the skin and 

 set obliquely so as to give a reticulate appearance. Scales large and very delicate. 



Eadial formula: D. ca. 255; A. 19; P. 13; C. 15; V. 5. 



Color, uniform silvery gray, without spots. 



This species was obtained by Mr. J. T. Johnson in Madeira, and described by him in 

 1863. The characters pointed out by him seem to indicate that it is specifically distin- 

 guished from L. Cepcdianus, but the material available for study has been so slight that no 

 definite conclusion can now be reached. Since no figure of this .species has been published, 

 the complete descrii)tion is here included : 



The head is short and unarmed; it bears a high fleshy crest, the horizontal line of ^yhich 

 is straight with the back. This crest carries the anterior portion of the dorsal fin, and it 

 projects at an acute angle beyond the vertical of the snout. At the angle rises a single 

 bony ray, which is ecpial in length to one-fimrth of the total length of the fish. A fringe 

 of red nu!nd)rane connects it with the dorsal fin, of which it appears to be the first ray. 

 The edges of the gill covers are simple, the bones radiate-striate. The round eye is large, 

 its diameter benig contained 3 times in the head; the iris is silvery white, the pupil oval. 

 The sjtace intervening between it and the front of the head above the Jaw is much less than 

 a, diameter; but the space between the edge of the capital crest and the sujierior part of 

 tlu^ head is consideraljly more than a diameter. The space between the eye and the snout 

 is reddish and scaleless. The mouth is oblicjue and rather small; the rictus about two- 

 thirds the diameter of the eye, and its width almost equal to a diameter. There are about 

 1 rows of small, conical i)ointed teeth, which curve backwards at the front of the premax- 

 illary; and about 2 rows of similar teeth at the sides of the lower jaw, whilst in front they 

 are crowded 1 or 5 deep. Small teeth, very few in iuunl)er, are planted on the vomer and 

 on the anterior extremities of the palatine bones; but tliere are :u)ne on the tongue. Inside 

 the mouth, above and below, there is stret(!hcd a black membrane from side to side. The 

 nmxillary is toothless and is much dilated below. It covers the jiremaxillary at the sides, 

 and reaches back to the vertical througii the middle of the eye. 



