MACRURUS CUSPIDATUS. 209 
form bands, in the outer series un the upper jaws a trifle larger. Barbel 
small, slender, one half as long as the eye. Origin of first dorsal above the 
bases of the ventrals, very little backward of that of the pectoral; second 
spine serrate, filamentary at the end, nearly as long as the head, compressed ; 
base of the fin three fifths as long as the orbit, descending rapidly backward. 
Distance from first dorsal to’the second nearly or quite twice the length of 
the base of the former. Second dorsal low, anterior rays weak, Anal 
origin little backward of the base of the first dorsal. Vent near the bases of 
the ventrals. Ventrals small, more than half as long as the head. The 
spinules on.the second spine of the dorsal fin are numerous and closely set. 
Scales of medium size, firm, strong, harsh, with short, sharp, closely appressed 
spines in longitudinal series. On the flank as many as twelve series appear 
onascale. There are seven scales in a row from the lateral line to the base 
of the first dorsal. Over the top and sides of the head and snout the scales 
form an armature quite as rough and heavy as on the body. Lateral line 
distinct, a narrow sharply defined groove. Specimens of ten inches and one 
half are sexually mature. 
Black, in some cases shading to reddish brown on the top of the head and 
on the tail. 
Station. Latitude. Longitude. Depth. Temperature, Bottom. 
3409 0° 18’ 40” N. 90° 34’ W. 327 fathoms 42.3° F. Bk. S. 
3410 0° 19’ N. 90° 34’ W. 331 ss 44,2° F. Bk. 8. 
Macrurus cuspidatus sp. n. 
Bret.cceD, 14a loo; cA 4 2ce Ve Wise Pe 2 
Body and head compressed, depth through the abdomen one seventh of 
the total length, caudal portion long, thin, slender, tapering to a whip-like 
end. Head rather long, pointed at the snout, subtriangular in transsection, 
narrow across the top, two elevenths of the total length. Snout long, sharp, 
hardly as long as the eye, descending in front of the nostrils to the lateral 
angles which are not much pronounced and are situated nearer to the eye 
than to the end of the rostrum, arched from nostril to nostril. Interorbital 
space low, in width equal to three fifths of the orbital length. Eye large, a 
trifle longer than the snout, three tenths as long as the head. Mouth rather 
sinall, reaching backward of the middle of the eye. From the tip of the 
snout to the maxillaries about equal to the length of the eye. Teeth fine, 
in villiform bands, equal in the lower jaws, outer series larger on the upper. 
14 
