CLASSIFIED RESUME OF ORGANISMS OBSERVED 3 I 3 



the brightness of the tiny, non-serial organs scattered in 

 large numbers over the heads and bodies of these fish. In 

 newly caught specimens these are very inconspicuous in 

 comparison with the much larger serial organs, and usually 

 show no vestige of color. Yet a number of times in the 

 bathysphere I noted Melanostomiatids with these tiny pin- 

 pricks of light glowing with considerable brilliancy. 



The cheek lights seemed under control, and were seen 

 occasionally to blink. Their color, whenever a definite tint 

 could be assigned, was yellow or red. Every time they were 

 rolled down into sight, these organs illumined the fish's eye 

 and most of its head. Why the creature is not momentarily 

 blinded by the light is a question which has always puzzled 

 me. 



Another point I cannot explain is how I could see out- 

 line after outline of the fish when they were in absolutely 

 black water, while their lights had very little reflecting 

 power. Perhaps there was a general coating of luminous 

 mucus, as trawled specimens frequently exude a whitish 

 slime, or a loose epidermal membrane. 



My memory of the Melanostomiatids is of slenderness, 

 and of agile, eel-like, but rather slow twistings in progres- 

 sion. None of them seemed to be affected by the beam. 

 Usually only one of these fishes was seen at a time, but 

 occasionally two or three appeared swimming together. 



Members of the family were observed twenty-six times, 

 between 750 and 2750 feet, and ranged from one Inch to 

 six feet in length. Excluding a few colorless larvae, Melan- 



