ICHTHYOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS OP^ THE ALBATROSS. 395 



Family HEPTATREMIDiE. The Borers. 



1. Polistotrema stouti (Lockiiigton). 



Nuineronsly reproseiited from stations 3343 (soutli of Cape Flattery, AVashington, 

 516 fathoms) , 3318 aud 3350 (near Point Arena, Cal. ; 455 and 75 fathoms). The species 

 was not taken in Alaska. 



Family PETROMYZONIDiE. The Lampreys. 



2. Entospheniis tridentatus (Gairdner). 



A specimen, 11 inches long, presented by the Alaska Commercial Company, had 

 been taken in one of the small streams of Unalaska Island. It appears not to differ 

 from specimens taken in Monterey Bay, California, with which we have compared it. 



Family RAJIDiE. The Skates. 



3. Raja parmifera Beau. 



The most abundant of the live species which were taken in Alaskan waters. 

 Eleven specimens in all were secured, distributed among 10 dredging stations in 

 Bristol Bay (3252, 3259, 3267, 3270, 3272, 3281, 3282, 3292, 3293, 3310, and 3313), the depth 

 ranging from 16 to 68 fathoms. 



The specimen from station 3270, a female, showed the following characters: 

 Uniform dark olive-brown above, without distinct lighter areas; lower side white, 

 the posterior nuirgins of the disk blackish. 



Width of mouth 1,| times in its distance from tip of snout ; the latter distance half 

 greatest rostral width. Teeth, 30-24. A series of 30 large spines (24, 28, 28 in three 

 other specimens) on median line of back, the anterior one over middle of branchial 

 region, two of the series occupying the space between the dorsal tins. A single 

 strong spine on each shoulder (two of these in most specimens). Prickles on disk 

 comparatively very coarse, with conspicuously stellate bases, not crowded, arranged 

 in somewhat delinite areas. A scattered group on terminal half of snout (in other 

 individuals not always recognizable) ; a patch on anterior and one on posterior por- 

 tion of orbital rim connected by a line of smaller prickles ; a band along the anterior 

 and one along the posterior borders of pectoral iins, the two usually not continuous 

 at the angles; ventral fins with smaller prickles. A well-defined band along each 

 side of median line, continued backwards as conspicuous lateral bands on tail, along 

 the middle. of which they increase in size, becoming spines. Both dorsals prickly. 

 A small patch of minute prickles on under side of snout (not present in all speci- 

 mens). The disk is otherwise smooth. 



In the male specimen from station 3282, the armature is essentially as described 

 above, the prickles being smaller, and the lateral series on tail scarcely enlarged. 

 A band of prickles covers all of the angle of pectorals inside the band of bucklers. 

 The snout is naked, except a marginal band, and a patch on tip which extends back- 

 wards a short distance on median line. A definite patch of stronger prickles on 

 anterior and one on posterior portion of orbital rim, connected as before by a single 

 series. These patches of orbital prickles are very different from the single series of 

 definitely placed orbital spines, characteristic of it. rhhia, li. hhioculata, and 7i'. inor- 

 vaia. A series of 25 strong spines along median line, a single spine on each shoulder. 

 Bucklers arranged in 22 series, with 5 in the widest series. The dorsal bands of 

 prickles do not reach the shoulder. Color, light brown, a single pale spot as large 

 as eye at base of each pectoral fin, without definite margins, and not ocellated. 



A young female, 205 mm. long, from station 3313, is brown, with scattered, ill- 

 defined black spots, of which two are larger and occupy the position at base of pec- 

 torals in which the ocellated spots of other species are found. A pair of round wliite 

 spots, without darker border on base of pectorals more posteriorly ; a pair of smaller 

 light spots on tail at end of basal fourth. Prickles coarse, covering all of disk and 

 tail, except a roundish area on each side of median line, above the branchial region. 



