SYMPHURUS ATRAMENTATUS. 229 
below the fifteenth ray of the dorsal; caudal pointed ; ventral not covered 
by the gill membranes, of four rays. 
Light brown, thickly freckled with brown and with whitish, in part 
forming transversely elongated spots. Dorsal and anal with small blotches 
of blackish, fading forward, black on the base of the caudal and at each side 
of it. On some individuals a series of small spots near the bases of dorsal 
and of anal are opposed to the spots on the fins. One specimen has a 
brown spot near the midlength reaching down toward the lateral line 
opposite another reaching upward from below. 
Station. Latitude. Longitude. Depth. Temperature. Bottom, 
3367 5° 31’ 30” N. 86° 52’ 30” W. 100 fathoms 57.1° BF. Rky. 
3378 3208) 20 Ne 81° 36’ W. 112 se 55.9° F. Brk. Sh. 
3379 3° 59’ 40’ N. 81 35 W. 52 ce Rks. 
Symphurus atramentatus. 
Symphurus atramentatus J. B., 1889, P. U.S. Mus., 177. 
D. 94; A. 79; V.4; Ll. 94-100; Ltr. 48. 
Body sinistral, moderately elongate, depth five eighteenths and length 
of the head five twenty-fourths of the total length on specimens of a length 
of six and one half inches, or depth two sevenths and length of head three 
fourteenths of the total on specimens four and one quarter inches in length. 
Greatest depth near the nape, whence the taper to the candal is somewhat 
regular. Snout short, about one and one half times as long as the eye, 
subtruncate, villous on the lower surface. Mouth small, nearly twice as 
long as the eye, asymmetrical, strongly curved. Teeth in villiform bands, 
more numerous and stronger on the right side. The tubular nostril of the 
left side is above the midlength of the mouth and close to the lip; that of 
the right side is farther forward and not so near to the mouth. Eyes small, 
very close together, without a bony interorbital ridge, about one sixth as 
long as the head, upper slightly in advance. The gill rakers in front of 
the first arch are reduced to three short tubercles on the lower section. 
Dorsal and anal rather low, the greater number of the rays protruding 
as a fringe ; dorsal origin above the middle of the eye; anal origin below 
the fourteenth ray of the dorsal. Ventral one third as long as the head, 
of four rays, below the opercle. Caudal pointed, with ten to twelve 
rays. 
Scales small, ctenoid. 
