120 DEEP SEA FISHES. 
caudal long, acuminate. The caudal section becomes very slender at some 
distance in front of the base of the fin. Pectorals broad without a gap at 
the bases of the rays, but with a notch in the lower half caused by shorter 
rays; ends of rays prolonged as filaments. No ventrals; dissection exposes 
a rudimentary pelvis immediately behind the humeral symphysis. These 
pelvic elements are short and deep, as shown on Plate XXIX., fig. 3. 
Very likely the movements effected by the strong bands of muscle from 
the nape over the top of the head are those of rooting or grubbing with 
the snout; the soft filaments of the pectorals again indicate a probability 
that the field of operations was in mud or ooze where a ventral disk 
would be ineffectual. All things considered, it appears most probable 
that the species of Paraliparis dwell on the softest portions of the sea 
bottom ; such a dwelling place will most reasonably explain the loss of 
the ventral disk. 
Head and belly black ; fins blackish ; body over the muscular portions 
lighter, somewhat greyish. 
Total length four and one half inches. 
Station. Latitude. Longitude, Depth. Temperature. Bottom. 
3394 7° 21' N. 79° 35! W. 511 fathoms 41.8° F. Dark green mud 
Paraliparis latifrons sp. n. 
Plates XX VIL, XXVIII, figs. 2-2f. 
Br. r.6; D. 55; A. 47-49; V. 0, pelvis rudimentary ; P. 18, 1, 1, 4 to 5. 
Body much compressed, greatest depth near one fifth of the total length, 
tapering rapidly from the nape, where it descends somewhat abruptly, and 
becoming slender behind the middle of the length, Head comparatively 
large, nearly one sixth of the total length, deep at the occiput, high at the 
nape, broad and convex on the forehead, wide at and behind the eyes, one 
third longer than wide, sides vertical. Snout short, massive, very broad, 
thick, rounded, little produced beyond the mouth. Mouth large; maxil- 
lary reaching below the hind margin of the orbit. Teeth small, simple, 
acute, in villiform bands of few rows. Eye large, one and one half times as 
long as the snout, three tenths of the length of the head, one and one third 
times the width of the skull between the eyes. Bones of the head very 
thin and fragile ; top of skull descending forward, nearly plane, but top of 
head rendered quite convex by the strong bands of muscle from the nape 
