426 stomiatdxe. 



Second Group. STOMIATINA. 

 2. STOMIAS. 



Stomias, Cuv. Rhgne Anim. 



Body elongate, compressed, covered with exceedingly fine and de- 

 ciduous scales, which are scarcely imbricate, lying in subhexagonal 

 impressions ; vent situated at no great distance from the caudal fin. 

 Head compressed, with the snout very short and with the cleft of the 

 mouth very wide. Teeth pointed, unequal in size, those of the inter- 

 maxillaries and of the mandible being the longest ; maxillary finely 

 denticulated ; vomer with a pair of fangs ; palatine bones and tongue 

 with smaller pointed teeth. Eye of moderate size. Opercular por- 

 tion of the head narrow. A fleshy barbel in the centre of the hyoid 

 region. Dorsal opposite the anal, close to the caudal ; pectoral and 

 ventral fins feeble, the latter inserted behind the middle of the length 

 of the body. Series of phosphorescent dots run along the lower side 

 of the head, body, and tail. Gill-opening very wide. (Air-bladder 

 present ?) Pyloric appendages none. 



Mediterranean, Atlantic. 



1. Stomias boa. 



Esox boa, Risso, Ichth. Nice, p. 330. pi. 10. fig. 34 (barbel omitted). 

 Stomias boa, Risso, Eur. Mind. iii. p. 440. fig. 40 (bad) ; Cuv. Regne 

 Anim. ; Cuv. ty Vol. xviii. p. 368. fig. 545. 



B. 17. D. 18. A. 19. P. 6. V.5. 



The height of the body is about one-twelfth of the total length, 

 the length of the head one-eighth ; barbel shorter than the head, and 

 fringed at its extremity ; ventrals rather long. 



Mediterranean. 



2. Stomias barbatus. 



? Stomias barbatus, Cuv. Regne Anim. 2nd edit. p. 283. 

 Stomias barbatus, Bonap. Faun. Ital. Pec. c. fig. 



D. 9. A. 13. P. 6. V. 6. 



The height of the body is about one-eleventh of the total length, 

 the length of the head one-ninth ; barbel twice as long as the head, 

 and fringed at its extremity. "Ventrals very small. (Bonap.) 



Mediterranean. 



3. Stomias ferox. 



Bernhardt, Vidensk. SelsJc. Naturv. og Math. Afhandl. x. p. lxxviii ; 

 Kroger, Naturh. Tidssk. 1846, ii. p. 253, and in Gaimard, Vog. Scand. 

 Atl. Pciss. pi. 16 B. fig. 1. 



D. 17. A. 21. P. 6. V. 6. 



The height of the body is about one-twelfth of the total length, 

 the length of the head one-tenth. The barbel is longer than the 

 head,, tapering, and not fringed at its extremity. Neither the pec- 

 torals nor the ventrals are produced ; caudal rounded. Black. 



Greenland. 



