428 STOMIATID^E. 



opposite the anal, at no great distance from the caudal. Pectorals 

 rudimentary ; ventrals inserted somewhat behind the middle of the 

 length of the body. Gill-openings very wide. Air-bladder none. 

 Atlantic. 



1. Malacosteus niger. 

 Ayres, I. c. pi. 5. 



D. 19. A. 20. P. 5. V. 6. 



The height of the body is one-sixth of the total length, the length 

 of the head rather more than one-fourth ; snout extremely short, 

 convex ; cleft of the mouth extending to behind the root of the pec- 

 toral, the hind limb of the prseoperculum being very oblique. Inter- 

 maxillary teeth small, but considerably larger than those of the 

 maxillary ; anterior half of the mandible with very long canine teeth. 

 Barbel long, slender*. The pectoral rays are coalescent into a thin 

 and long filament ; some of the ventral rays produced into filaments. 

 Black, with a white spot between the maxillary and the eye f. (Ai/res.) 



A single specimen, 8| inches long, is known ; it was picked up at 

 sea, in N. lat. 42° and W. long. 50°. 



* In consequence of laceration of the lower parts of the head, Dr. Ayres did 

 not recognize the barbel, representing it as a connecting band between tongue and 

 symphysis of the mandible. 



t This spot is identical with that of Echiostoma. 



