366 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



enlarged at tlie occipital region. ISTo scales. Lateral line obsolete. 

 Head resembling that of Belone, the head proper small, short, and rather 

 broad, with flat top and vertical sides. Xostrils large close together in 

 front of the eye, without tube or flap. Jaws excessively prolonged, 

 almost needle-like, the upper the longer and somewhat recurved. Teeth 

 in both jaws small, very numerous, close-set, retrorse. Gill-openings 

 rather large, running downward and forward, separated hj a narrow 

 isthmus. Pectorals well developed. Vent close behind pectorals, the 

 abdominal cavity extending far behind it. Anal fin beginning near the 

 vent, higher than the dorsal, becoming obsolete on the caudal filaments 

 Dorsal beginning close behind occiput, its anterior rays soft, succeeded 

 by a long series of very low spines, which are slightly connected by 

 membrane, their height rather less than the length of the interspaces ; 

 on the tail, the spines again give place to soft rays. The soft rays of 

 the fins are connected by thin membrane instead of being imbedded in 

 thick skin, as in eels generally. Color translucent, the lower parts 

 dark, the back pale. Stomach not distensible. Muscular and osseous 

 systems well develoi^ed. Abdominal cavity extending far behind the 

 vent. One genus known, with three species ; singular inhabitants of 

 the deep seas. The position of this family among the Apodes is perhaps 

 open to question. A second genus, Cyema Gthr., with shorter, soft body, 

 posterior vent, and shorter vertical fins surrounding the tail, perhaps 

 belongs to this family. 



(Miiranidce, group Kemichthyina Giintlier, viii, 21.) 



178.— WEMICIITIIYS Richardson. 

 (Leptorhynclius Lowe : Belonojjsis Brandt.) 

 (Richardson, Voyage Saraarang, 1848, 10: typo N'cmiclithys scolopaeeus Rich.) 

 Characters of i\\Q genus included above, (vi^^/ia, threadj ty_Ovq^ fish.) 



592. N. scoBopaceias Rich. 



Head comparatively stout, its depth one-seventh its greatest length. 

 Eye moderate, less than one-third the length of the head without snout. 

 Length of pectoral fins slightly less than height of the anal, which is 

 less than the height of the body and rather more than the greatest depth 

 of the head. Pale above,^ belly and anal fin blackish, the color not 

 abruptly changing, the back somewhat speckled. L. 36 inches. At- 

 lantic Ocean, in deep water,- many specimens lately taken with the 

 beam-trawl off the New England coast. 



(Richardson, Voyage Samaraug, 10; Giinther, viii, 21: LeptorJiynclms Jcnclitenleryi 

 Lowe = ZJefoKopsis leuchterihcrgi Brandt, M^m. Ac. St. Petersb. Sav. Strang. 1854, 

 171-174.) 



