164 DEEP SEA FISHES. 
terorbital space, one ninth as long as the head, or one half of the distance 
from the mouth. Nostrils small, anterior near the end of the snout, with a 
groove containing sensory papillz from the hinder part of its valve down 
and forward to the intermaxillary ; posterior distant from the eye less than 
one diameter from the front of the orbit. Opercular spine large, strong ; 
no other spines on the head. The lower angle of the operculum is spine- 
like, but is not free and is hidden by the skin. Gill membranes united for 
a short distance, free from the isthmus. Gills four, a slit behind the fourth. 
Gill rakers slender, elongate, longest as long as the eye, eight developed on 
the first arch which also bears five or six rudiments at each end of the series. 
Pseudobranchizw very small. Air bladder large. Dorsal origin little back- 
ward of the axil of the pectoral, height in midleneth equal to the length of 
the snout. Snout to anal fin two and one third times the length of the 
head. Vertical fins united, bases thick and covered by scales. Caudal nar- 
row, pointed, nearly half as long as the head. Pectorals as long as the 
head, very flexible, with five or six of the lower rays free for about half of 
their length, resembling in a measure Dicrolene or Pteroidonus, but the free 
extremities are not produced backward of the other rays of the fin. Ven- 
trals small, longer than the snout, less than one diameter of the eye apart, 
below the humeral symphysis; each fin composed of two rays, separated to 
their bases, and varying from somewhat inflated and blunt to acuminate or 
filamentary at the ends. Scales small, thin, flexible, concentrically striate ; 
also with radiating stris2, many of which do not reach the centre of the 
scale, and with the spaces between the strie reticulated. Lateral line ap- 
parently irregular, traced as far as to the origin of the anal. 
Fins, lower parts of head, gill membranes, and linings of mouth and body 
cavity black; muscular portions lighter, possibly tinted with purple in life ; 
top and sides of head whitish. 
Station. Latitude, Longitude. Depth. Teniperature. Bottom. 
3434 25° 29' 30” N. 109° 48’ W. 1588 fathoms 36.4° F. Br. M. bk Sp. 
3374 Dap Ne 838° 53’ W. 1823 s 36.4° F. Gn, Oz. 
3375 9° 34’ N. 82° 29’ W. 1201 36.6° F. Gy. glob. Oz. 
3414 10° 14’ N. 96° 28’ W. 2232 a 35.8° F. Gn. M. 
3415 14° 46’ N. 98° 40’ W. 1879 sf 36° F. Br. M. glob. Oz. 
ERETMICHTHYS gen. n. 
In general appearance resembling Bassozetus. Body compressed, taper- 
ing from the head, elongate and slender in the caudal region. Head higher 
