276 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



it, nuder tbe name of Plagyodiis, left by liim in manuscript, was after- 

 wards quoted by Pallas, without indorsement. Steller wrote before 

 Linn reus, and apparently used the name Plarjyodus as a mononomial 

 designation for his particular specimen or species, and not in the sense 

 of a Linnteau genus. It seems to us, at present, best to retain the name 

 Alepidosminis. («, privative; ;.;-'(?, scale; ^aD/^o?, Saurus = Sy nodus.) 



* Ventral rays 9 or 10. (Alejyidosaurus.) 

 4158. A. fei'OX Lowe. — Lancet-fish. 



The length of the head is twice the height of the body, and rather less 

 than one-sixth of the total. Eye median, 6 in head, as wide as the 

 interorbital space. Dorsal fin much elevated; pectorals elongated, but 

 not reaching nearly to ventrals; first ray of dorsal, pectoral, and ventral 

 serrated. Upper caudal lobe produced into a long filament. D. 41-44; 

 A. 14-17; P. 14-15; Y. 9-10. {Giinther.) Deep waters of the Atlantic; 

 lately obtained off the coast of Massachusetts by the United States 

 Fish Commission. A specimen of this or some closely-related species 

 has been procured by Dr. Bean in Alaska. 



(Alepisauriis fcrox Lowe, Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. i, 395; Giintlier, v, 421.) 



**Ventral rays 13. (Canlopits Gill.*) 

 4f5f>. A. fo08'ea.Bas Gill. — Ilandsaiv-fish. 



Dorsal fin with about 34 rays, the first of which is rather stout, and 

 anteriorly has a j^rominent compressed ridge, which is crenulated in 

 front. Ventral fins at least as long as the head. V. 13; B. 5. Mon- 

 terey to Alaska ; occasionally cast on shore. 



(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 128: Alepidosanrus borealis Giinther, v, 423: 

 Caulopus serra Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 18(32, 131, from Monterey; known by 

 a mutilated specimen only, which "diflfers from C. horealis by the oblong operculum, 

 the nearly equal triangular shape of the coalescent infraopercular bone above the 

 dividing ridge, but with an oblique excavation at its base, which describes nearly 

 the third of a circle, as well as the sculpture of the portion below the dividing 

 ridge".) 



Family XLI.— PARALEPIDIDiE. 



[The Paralcpids.) 



Body elongate, somewhat compressed, formed much as in a Barracuda, 

 covered with cycloid scales of moderate or rather large size. Head long, 

 usually scaly on the sides. Mouth very large, lower jaw projecting. 

 Premaxillary not projectile, very long and slender, forming the entire 

 margin of the upper jaw. Maxillary long and slender, closely adherent 



*Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 128: type Alepisaurus altivelis Poey, from 

 Cuba. {navXai, stem; TTovi, foot; i. e., ventral fins of many stems or rays.) 



