472 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES 



above the gill-opening and is continued forward on top of head, the two meeting 

 between eyes. A second series runs between eye and upper lip and curves around on 

 middle of chock, running upward to behind eye. One series runs along a fold bor- 

 dering mandiblo, one along preoixsrcular margin, and one on oporcle. In L. fierasfer 

 a few iiores are visible on mandible, aud one or two can frefiuently bo made out on 

 preopercular margins. The skin is very thin aud delicate and the tin rays are very 

 evident through the membrane. The general proportions and the dentition of the 

 type are essentially as iu L. Jierasfer, hut tlie vomerine teeth are longer and hooked 

 backward. 



Head 4f in length; depth If in head: maxillary 2^ in head. Mandible heavier 

 than in L. fierasfer. Eye 5 in head; snout 4. Origin of dorsal vertically above axil 

 of pectorals. Length of head and trunk one-third total length. Teeth in narrow 

 bands in the jaws, a single series on vomer and palatines. Gill-membranes very 

 narrowly joined below and free from the isthmus, as in L. fierasfer. Dorsal 70; anal 

 60; pectorals much longer than in L. fierasfer. 



The general color in spirits is light brownish-yellow, made somewhat dusky by 

 the pigment spots in the skin. The bodj'', and es])ecially the fins, grows darker 

 posteriorly. 



One specimen, 113 mm. long, from station 3162(lat.,N. 37" 54' 10"; long.,W. 123^ 

 30'; depth 552 fathoms). 



79. Melanostigma pammelas sp. nov. (Plate 35.") 



Well distinguished from M. gelafinosum by the wider, blunter head, the smaller, less 

 oblique mouth, the uniform black coloration, and the arrangement of the teeth in the 

 jaws in two series. As in M. gelathwsum, the head and body are enveloped in a 

 loose, thin skin, which is thrown into folds in alcoholic specimens, and entirely con- 

 ceals the anterior portions of the dorsal and anal lins. On dissection the dorsal is 

 seen to have its origin close behind the head, at a point over middle of pectoral fin. 

 The anal begins immediately behind the vent. The rays of both fins are enveloped 

 in a gelatinous subcutaneous tissue. 



The head is broad, with its greatest width equaling its greatest depth. The 

 mouth is broad, somewhat oblique, with equal jaws, the maxillary reaching vertical 

 from front of pupil. Both jaws with the teeth in two distinct series in front, in a 

 single series laterally in lower jaw. The outer teeth in front are enlarged, almost 

 canine-like. Eye large, 3 in head, twice the length of the short, broad snout. Gill- 

 opening a small pore above the base of the pectorals, its diameter about one-half 

 that of the eye. 



Head 8 in total length; depth 12^. Pectoral narrow, its length 2g in head. 



Color intense black on head and abdomen, brownish-black elsewhere. 



The type of the species is a specimen 104 mm. long, from station 3202 (lat., N. 36° 

 46' 10"; long., W. 121° .58' 45"; depth 382 fathoms). Three other specimens are at 

 hand from station 3126 (lat., N. 36° 49' 20"; long., W. 122° 12' 30"; depth 456 

 fathoms). In the smallest, 56 mm. long, the head and abdomen are jet-black, but 

 the rest of body is only slightly dusky. 



Family OPHIDIID^. 



80. Otophidium taylori (Girard). 



Stations 3103, 3136, and 3163; depths 7 to 69 fathoms. The lateral line varies 

 greatly in length. In none of the specimens does it reach the end of the tail. It 

 frecjuently differs widely on two sides of the same fish, and varies in length from 

 one-half to seven-eighths of the total length. 



81. Cataetyx rubrirostris Gilbert. 



Throe specimens, stations 319!) and 3200; depths 233 and 269 fathoms. Head 4t\ to 

 4-^ in length. Distance from snout to origin of dorsal 3 to 3k in length. Distance 

 of dorsal from occiput greater than from latter to tip of snout. Maxillary 2^ in 

 head, Eye longer than snout, 4fl iu head. 



