808 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



444.— HYPSICOMETES Goode. 



(Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1880, 347: type Hypsicometes goMoides Goode.) 



Body elongate, covered with large scales; mouth rather small, hori- 

 zontal, the lower jaw much projecting; 2 or 3 rows of feeble teeth on 

 jaws and vomer; none on j)alatines. Eyes large, superior, near to- 

 gether. No barbel ; no pseudobranchioe. Caudal fin separate ; 2 dor- 

 sal fins, the first of a few long rays, the second with a longer base, 

 entire, and similar to the anal; ventrals well developed, each of G rays. 

 Deep-sea fishes. (S'/'j', in deej) water; zw,a^'r7;<r, dweller.) 



1346. H. g^oMoidcs Goode. 



Color grayish, clouded with darker; belly pale; a large dark blotch 

 at base of upper rays of caudal. Head rather broad and depressed, 

 its width about equal to greatest depth of body; maxillary reaching 

 front of orbit; snout broad, rounded, as long as eye. Caudal truncate; 

 longest rays of first dorsal as long as the snout; ventrals wide apart, 

 with broad bases, inserted far in advance of the pectorals. Head 3 ; 

 depth 8. D. 6-17; A. 16; V. 6; Lat. 1. 58. L. 2 inches. Gulf Stream, 

 off the coast of Ehode Island. {Goode.) 



(Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii, 348, 1880.) 



445.— MERLiUCIUS Rafinesque. 

 Hales. . 



(Rafinesqne, Caratteri di Alcuni Niiovi Gcneri, etc. 1810,26: type Gadus merluciu8'L.\ 

 Body elongate, covered with small deciduous scales. Head slender, 

 conical, the snout long, depressed; a well-defined, oblong, triangular 

 excavation at the forehead, bounded by the ridges on the separated 

 frontal bones; these ridges converge backwards into the low occipital 

 crest; eye rather large; edge of preopercle free; preopercle with a 

 channel behind its crest, crossed by short radiating ridges; mouth 

 large, oblique; maxillaries extending to opposite the eyes; lower jaw 

 longest; no barbels; jaws with slender teeth, of various sizes, in about 

 2 series, those of the inner row longer and movable; vomer with sim- 

 ilar teeth; i)al'atines toothless. Branchiostegals 7. Gill rakers long; 

 gill-membranes not united. Dorsal fins 2, well separated, the first 

 short, the second long, with a deep eraargination : anal emarginate, 

 similar to second dorsal; ventral fins well developed, with about 7 

 rays; vertebrae peculiarly modified, the neural spines well developed 

 and wedged into one another j frontal bone double and the skull oth- 



