6. SCOPELUS. 415 



length (without caudal), the length of the head one-third ; eye of 

 moderate size, one-fifth of the length of the head, and equal to the 

 width of the interorhital space, and to the distance between its 

 posterior margin and the praeopercuiar edge. Snout conical, longer 

 than the eye, with the lower jaw rather prominent. The maxillary 

 reaches only to the vertical from the posterior margin of the eye, 

 and is much dilated behind. The origin of the dorsal fin is before 

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

 the root of the caudal. Pectoral fin long, extending nearly to the 

 vent. The posterior margin of each scale is covered with minute 

 spines, but the margin itself is not serrated. 

 Madeira. 



a. Nine and a half inches long. Type of the species. Presented by 

 J. Y. Johnson, Esq. 



B. The dorsal fin has more rays than the anal. 

 a. Scales of the lateral line considerably larger than the others. 



18. Scopelus gemellarii. 



Nyctophus gemellarii, Cocco, Lett. s. Salmon, p. 26. tab. 3. fig. 9. 

 Myctophum gemellarii, Bonap. Faun. Ital. Pesc. c. fig.* 

 Scopelns gemellari, Cuv. fy Vol. xxii. p. 445. 



D. 17. A. 15. 



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 

 the tail is two-fifths of the height of the body ; depth of the head 

 contained once and two-fifths in its length ; eye of moderate size, 

 one-fourth of the length of the head ; the distance between the 

 posterior margin of the orbit and the prteopercular edge equals the 

 diameter of the eye. Snout short, obtuse, with its upper profile 

 descending in a strong curve. Cleft of the mouth slightly oblique. 

 Maxillary reaching to the angle of the praeoperculum, and not dilated 

 behind. The origin of the dorsal fin is nearer to the extremity of 

 the snout than to the adipose fin, and vertically before the root of 

 the ventral ; its last ray is in the vertical from the origin of the anal. 

 Pectoral and ventral fins equal in length. Scales smooth, those of 

 the lateral line being the largest. (Bonap.) 



Mediterranean. 



b. Scales of the lateral line not much larger than the others. 



19. Scopelus resplendens. 



Lampanyctus resplendens, Richards. Voy. Ereb. Sr Terr. Ichth. p. 42. 



pi. 27. figs. 16-18. 

 Scopelus crocodilus, Cuv. 8c Val. xxii. p. 447 (not Risso). 

 resplendens, Cuv. ty Val. xxii. p. 452. 



* The figure of this fish is marked with the no. 2 ; it ought to be no. 4. 



