FTi^HKS OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 667 



Color uniform black, less intense on side of tail, and on snout and top of hoad, which are jiartly 

 translucent; as in other species of the genus, a strip along each side of throat (concealed by th(^ gill- 

 flap) and an area extending above and l)ehind base iif pectorals is silvery, crossed by very fine jiarallel 

 black lines, hardly to be made out without a lens; owing to deposition of black pigment, these striated 

 areas are difficult of detection in some specimens of this species; another generic mark consists in the 

 presence of 2 small opaque lens-like prominences on niidventral line, one on middle of breast in front 

 of ventral fins, the other immediately in advance of anal opening; the 2 are connected by a raised 

 strand, evident on inner abdominal wall. 



The largest specimen taken is 18-5 mm. long, with the very slender tail \uiinjured; the head is 83 

 mm., the greatest depth 27 mm. In different specimens the interspace between dorsals varies from 

 2.h to 1.5 times the base of the first. 



The species was taken at the following stations: Nos. 3892, off the north coast of Molokai, 328 

 to 414 fathoms; :!904, off the north coast of ]Molokai, 295 fathoms; 3985, vicinity of Kauai, 430 to 477 

 fathoms; 3989, vicinity of Kauai, 385 to 500 fathoms; 3997, vicinity of Kauai, 418 to 429 fathoms; 

 4019, vicinity of Kauai, 409 to 550 fathoms; 4109, Kaiwi Channel, 442 to 449 fathoms; 4137, vicinity of 

 Kauai, 411 to 476 fathoms; 4139, vicinity of Kauai, 339 to 512 fathoms; 4160, vicinity of Bird Island, 

 293 to 800 fathoms; 4180, vicinity of Niihau, 417 to 426 fathoms. 



Macrourus ectenes Gilbert & Cramer. 



This .species was not obtained by the expedition of 1902; only the type is known, a young indi- 

 vidual 5i inches long. It is well distinguished from other Hawaiian species. 

 Macrourus ectenes Gilbert & Cramer. Proe. U. S. Nat. Miis.. XIX. 1S9T, A-a. pi. 44. fig. 1. 



Macrourus propinquus ( Hlbert & Cramer. 



Numerous si>ecimens were secured and form the basis for the following notes, which include some 

 corrections anil adtlitions to the description of the type. 



Head rather small, compre.ssed; snout short and high, its length, its depth, and the width between 

 the nostrils all equal; median tubercle at tip of snout but slightly above middle of jmpil; lower ante- 

 rior profile of snout very oblique, or almost vertical; front of premaxillaries slightly in advance of 

 nostrils; transver.se width of mouth slightly less than its length; gill-mend:>ranes rather narrowly 

 united across isthmus, with a rather wide free fold posteriorly. 



Serne of second dorsal spine coarse, widely spaced, and evenly distributed along its entire length, 

 about 9 in number in the young, becoming smaller and more numerous (about 15) in adults; the 

 •spine becomes filamentous toward its tip, its total length about equaling that of head; the interspace 

 between doi-sals varies between three-fourths and four-thirds the length of the base of first dorsal. 



Two specimens in the present collection, 23 and 27 cm. long, are much larger than the type, and 

 have the scales provided with more numerous series of spines. Those on the middle of the sides 

 above lateral line have 7 to 11 parallel series of rather long a])pressed spines, which rise independently 

 from the scale, and are not connected by ridges; scales on head and nape are similar, but smaller and 

 more crowded, with the series of sjjines parallel or slightly <liverging; on the breast the spines are 

 much shorter than elsewhere, the series parallel or slightly diverging; basal half of first dorsal whitish, 

 contrasting strongly with the black distal half. 



The pyloric ca^ca in four specimens nund)er 22, 26, 30, 32. The specimens taken June 21 at 

 station 4021 had been feeding exclusively on small eggs, with which the stomachs of all were distended. 

 At this date the male and female reproductive glands had reached a very moderate development. On 

 August 1, at station 4137, a single specimen was taken, larger than any other obtained, and at a greater 

 depth. In this the eggs were mature, being extruded from the body by the jiressure incidfiil on 

 rising to the surface. The stomach was empty and strongly contracted. 



The species was taken at the following stations: Nos. 4021, off the east coast of Kauai, 2S() to ;?99 

 fathoms; 4022, off the east coast of Kauai, 37(> to 399 fathoms; 4137, off the east coast of Kauai, 411 to 

 476 fathoms. 



Macrourus propinqutLS, Gilbert vfc CriinuT, rnte. V. S. Nut. Mus.. XIX. lsi)7, 424, pi. XI. ll, fi.i;. 'i. 



