MELAMPHAES LUGUBRIS. 63 
Surfaces and linings of the body cavity deep black. 
If not identical, the present specimens represent a species so closely 
allied to Melamphaés mizolepis Giint. that the description of the latter is 
insufficient for purpose of distinction. If identical, the range of IZ. nuzo- 
lepis is much extended. It has been taken south of New Guinea off the 
Arrou Islands, by the “Challenger,” in 800 fathoms, and in the Bay of Ben- 
gal, by the “ Investigator,” in 1310 fathoms, and from the following locali- 
ties by the “ Albatross.” 
Station. Latitude, Longitude. Depth. Temperature, Bottom. 
3388 7261 aN. 79° 48’ W. 1168 fathoms 36.2° F. Gn. glob. oz. 
3356 7° 9' 30’ N. 81° 8/ 30” W. 546 f° 40.1° F. Sft. bl. m. 
3358 6° 30' N. 81° 44” W. 555 Ke 40.2° F. Gn. s. 
3398 or iaaNs 80° 21’ W. 173 £* 36° F. Gn. 02. 
Melamphaés lugubris. 
Melamphaés lugubris Gilbert, 1890, P. U. S. Mus., XIII., 59. 
Breese D. WG Wb=-1G5 AT, 783. Vol 7; PB. 143 Lh 27. 
The form of this fish is moderately stout and compressed ; the outlines 
are similar to those of Melamphats nigrofulvus, Plate D, fig. 2, and the 
agreement in the formule is close except in case of that for the dorsal 
fin, in which the number of rays is much larger for the present species. 
Body cavity more than half of the total length. Head large, two fifths 
of the length without the caudal; its depth is two thirds and its width 
less than one half of its length; the upper and the lower profiles are 
convex; there are moderate ridges at the sides of the parietal region 
and in the suborbital, the opercular, and the submandibular regions. 
The excavations in the bones of the skull for the canals and disks of the 
lateral system are wide and deep; apparently they are continued across 
the aural region of the crown. The short median interorbital ridge is 
of moderate height; the internarial prominence is low. There are one 
or two small spines at each side of the occiput. Snout short, one and 
one half times the length of the eye, ending in a point below the 
symphysis of the lower jaws. Mouth wide, oblique; maxillary more than 
half as long as the head, reaching to a vertical from the hind border of the 
orbit. Teeth small, subequal, in two or more rows on each jaw. Eye 
medium, lateral, one sixth of the length of the head, two thirds of that of 
the snout, less than half of the interorbital width. A couple of short spines 
