THE LANTERN FISHES. 225 



Snout very short, comparatively wide, bluntly rounded ; maxillary nearly 

 horizontal, extending beyond orbit a distance nearly equaling half diameter 

 of orbit, its posterior portion not widened ; preopercular margin nearly 

 vertical. 



Pectorals slender, of 12 rays, broken in all our specimens, but probably 

 not reaching the ventrals ; ventrals inserted slightly behind origin of dorsal, 

 reaching vertical from front of anal ; origin of dorsal slightly in advance of 

 middle of body ; origin of anal just behind last dorsal ray, the adipose dorsal 

 over last anal rays. 



Scales all fallen, but those of lateral line apparently not enlarged. 



Preocular photophore small, circular, scarcely equaling half diameter of 

 pupil, occupying a pit immediately above nostrils, the two organs narrowly 

 separated mesially by the ethmoidal ridge. They are placed on the anterior 

 aspect of the snout, directed forwards, scarcely visible from the side. Sub- 

 ocular organ short and narrow, below the anterior half of the pupil or a 

 little farther forwards, a minute detached point behind it often to be made 

 out with difficulty. Supra-pectoral spot below opercular angle, its di.stance 

 from pectoral base scarcely more than half its distance from lateral line ; a 

 very narrow white luminous body below it, often scarcely visible. Upper 

 infra-pectoral at base of lower pectoral ray.s, in a straight line with lower 

 infra-pectoral and first thoracic. Second thoracics only .slightly nearer first 

 than fifth pairs, the second and third pairs closely approximated, the elevated 

 fourth pair a little higher on sides than the middle pectoral rays, vertically 

 over interspace between third and fourth thoracics. Supra-ventrals half way 

 between lateral line and the base of ventrals. Ventral organs typically 

 arranged, the first three equally spaced, in an oblique line, the fourth and 

 fifth near median ventral line. Supra-anals forming an angulated line, the 

 upper one on lower margin of the eighteenth scale of lateral line, the middle 

 one half way between the upper and the vent, the lower one in advance of 

 and slightly below the middle spot, the interspace between the two upper 

 spot-i nearly twice that between the two lower; lower supra-anal very near 

 the fifth ventral a little above the line connecting fifth ventral and the 

 middle supra-anal. Antero-anals 5, in a wide curve, the first distinctly 

 elevated, forming with the second a very oblique line pa.ssing above the 



10 



