6. SCOPELUS. 411 



/3. Scales denticulated. 

 12. Scopelus asper. 



Mvctophum asperum, Richards. Voy. Ereb. fy Terr. Ichth. p. 41 . pi. 27. 



figs. 13-15. 

 Scopelus asper, Cuv. 8f Vol. xxii. p. 454. 



D. 13. A. 20. V. 8. L. lat. 37. L. transv. 2/3. 



The height of the body is one-fourth of the total length (without' 

 caudal), the length of the head two-sevenths ; the least depth of 

 thp tail is one-third of the height of the body ; the depth of the head 

 contained once and one-third in its length. Eye very large, two- 

 fifths of the length of the head ; distance between the posterior 

 margin of the orbit and the praeopercular edge one-third of the 

 diameter of the eye ; postei-ior margin of the prseoperculum vertical. 

 Snout extremely short and obtuse, with its upper profile abruptly 

 bent downwards. Cleft of the mouth nearly horizontal, with the 

 lower jaw received within the upper. The maxillary reaches nearly 

 to the angle of the praeoperculum, and is gradually and slightly 

 dilated behind. The origin of the dorsal fin is considerably nearer 

 to the extremity of the snout than to the root of the caudal, and 

 immediately behind the base of the ventral ; its last ray is a little 

 before the origin of the anal. The pectoral extends to the middle of 

 the ventral, which is the shorter. Scales with the margins strongly 

 serrated ; those of the lateral line are much larger than the others. 

 Some of the adult specimens have a pearl-coloured matter imbedded 

 in the substance of the scales on the back of the tail. 



Gulf of Guinea ; New Ireland. 



a-b. From one to two inches long. Types of the species. From the 



Haslar Collection. 

 c—e. Three inches long. Gulf of Guinea. 



13. Scopelus subasper. 

 D. 14. A. 21. Y. 8. L. lat. 39. L. transv. 2/4. 

 The height of the body is contained four times in the total length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head thrice and two-thirds ; the 

 least depth of the tail is one-third of the height of the body ; head 

 but little longer than high. Eye very large, its diameter being more 

 than the width of the interorbital space, and contained twice and 

 one-third in the length of the head. The posterior margin of the 

 orbit and the praeopercular edge are separated by a groove only; 

 posterior margin of the praeoperculum subvertical. Snout extremely 

 short and obtuse, with the upper profile abruptly bent downwards. 

 The maxillary is comparatively short, three-fifths of the length of 

 the head ; it terminates in a triangular dilatation behind, and reaches 

 to the angle of the praeoperculum. The origin of the dorsal fin is 

 nearer to the extremity of the snout than to the root of the caudal, 

 and behind the base of the ventrals ; its last ray is vertically above 

 the fourth or fifth of the anal. The pectoral does not extend quite 

 as far backwards as the ventral, which is considerably the shorter. 

 Scales coarsely denticulated, each having only from two to four 



