Colour in spirit: in the young blue-black, tlic |);i|iilhi' white: in large speci- 

 mens mottled black and white. 



Largest specimen rather over 3- inches long. 



Bay of Bengal, off Madras coast, 145 to 250 fathoms; Andaman Sea, 185 

 fathoms. 



Regd. Nos. 13709, ~, ^. 



The peculiar delicacy of the tissxies and the large goggle eyes [)roclaim this 

 fish to be an inhabitant of the depths. 



HAUMOPHiRUKors nnv. gen. 



Body low and moderately compressed but not elongate, except the snout, 

 which is produced to form a long carved perfectly tubular organ, with the mouth 

 near the end, remarkably like the surgical instrument known as a catheter. 

 Tail short. Skin everywhere covered with small villit'orm and capillary spinelets. 

 No lateral line. 



Mouth small, placed superiorly and transversely, near the end of the tubular 

 snout. A row of miniite conical teeth in each jaw. 



Gills pectinate. Gill-opening a narrow slit in front of the pectorals. 



The spinous dorsal consists of two large spines. The soft dorsal is short 

 and almost opposite the anal. 



Each ventral consists of a huge spine articulating with the pelvic bone. 



The mandibular symphysis is sharp and very prominent beyond the mouth, 

 but there is no barbel. 



This curious fish is uniloubtedly a very close relative of Triacaufhus, but 

 has, at the same time, well-marked affinities with Monaeanthii.s and Anacautlms. 



169. HalimocJilrnrgus coitrlscoides, Alcock. 



Hntu)inchiruriju)i cc7itrif.coides, Alcock. I'mo, Asijitic Soo., Hoiigal, July, 18i*n, p. 7'*^. 



] J.I.U-^TIUTIONS <)(■ THf-; ZooLOGY "K TUK. I N V K•^TU: AT(Ht, KiSHKS, PI., XXXI FIG. .'5. 



I). II. 13. A. 12. P. 11-12. A'. I. ('. 12. 



Greatest bodyrheight not quite half the lenglli of the tubular snout, and 

 a fifth the total length without the caudal. 



Snout tubular with an upward curve, ending in a point formed by the 

 niaudibular symphysis. On its upper surface, a short distance from its end, is 

 t he ti-ansverse mouth, well inside of which are two broad curtains of mucous 

 nunnbrane — -one connected with each jaw — forming an inner valvular oritice. 

 A I'ow of minute distant conical teeth in each jaw. 



Eye large. Nostrils small, in a hollow inuneiliatcly in front of the eye. 

 27 



