VALENCIENNELLUS STELLATUS. 239 
the abdomen, four in the ventral series, eleven in the row at the side of the 
anal, four in the subeaudal group, three above the base of the pectoral — 
the anterior nearest the fin, the second close by and the uppermostehigher 
on the side behind the middle of the operculum, one near the middle of the 
flank, three above and near the hinder ones of the abdominal series, one 
above and near the foremost of the ventral series, and three above the 
space between the ventral and the anal series. 
Flanks and sides of head silvery ; snout white, freckled with black; a 
transverse blotch of white behind the interorbital space ; dorsum black, the 
pigment descending farther upon the side below the dorsal blade ; lanterns 
edged with black; sides of body and base of the caudal with irregular 
specks of black ; lower fourth of iris silvery, remainder black. 
The specimen described was secured by the U. 8. steamer ‘ Blake,” 
dredge number 280, off Barbados in 221 fathoms. Through some error it 
was returned with the identification Argyropelecus Olfersi. The specimens 
identified as Argyropelecus hemigymnus do not belong to that species, so 
that its occurrence in the western Atlantic is still doubtful. One of the 
“Blake” individuals, marked as having been figured, apparently is the 
original of number 148a of Plate XX XIX. in the Oceanic Ichthyology. 
Valenciennellus stellatus sp. n. 
Plate LIL. fig. 2. 
Bryry OED Zi. AL 23 3 Ven) sey la. 
In a general way the outlines given by Liitken, 1892, in his work on 
the Scopelini for MWuurolicus tripunctulatus Esm., Plate I. fig. 6, resemble 
those of the present species ; the latter differs in possessing a shorter dorsal 
that ends much farther forward, and in having only four groups of the small 
circular light facets below the caudal section, while Esmark’s species has a 
long dorsal and five of the subeaudal groups. A further peculiarity of the 
species V. s/ellatus consists in a lateral silvery area on each of the black 
organs or blotches in the lower edges of which, surrounded by the black and 
facing downward, the very small, round facets of the groups are situated. 
Seen from the side the facets of the groups are hardly visible, but viewed 
from below it is the lateral silvered area that is unnoticeable while the 
short group or series below it is very distinct. 
Moderately elongate, much compressed, in greatest depth of body or in 
