PISCES 241 
Family URANOSCOPIDA. 
The three genera of this family, known from New Zealand, 
may be recognised by the following characters :-— 
a. A strong forwardly directed spine in front 
of each ventral fin i, a Kathetostoma. 
aa. No forwardly directed spines in front of 
the ventral fins. 
b. Lower Jaw normal ; Gemagnus. 
bb. Lower jaw with a pair of dilated 
processes which meet in front of the 
elim © ; . aS oe a Gnathagnus. 
KATHETOSTOMA Giinther, 1860. 
KATHETOSTOMA GIGANTEUM Haast. 
Kathetostoma gigantewm Haast, T.N.Z.I. v., 1873, p. 274, 
pr xvis, fig. 2 , 
Stations 39, 47, 48, 49, 50, 67, 68, 83, 91. 
Dalse ee. 1S Ve oe Pt 2s ©. AT. 
The head is measured from the chin to the opercular margin, 
and its length is one-fourth the total, depth of body 5.2 and length 
of caudal 4.3 in the length. Diameter of eye 5.4, interorbital 
space 2.7 and length of snout 6.1 in the head. 
The head is very broad and flat, its breadth greater than its 
length, or about one-third the total: the bony armature consists 
generally of raised ridges which radiate from several centres, 
the most conspicuous is a pair placed at the inner hinder margin 
of the eyes and another pair on the occiput; the former 
embraces the inner and hinder edges of the eyes, while the 
hinder rays of the occipital pair are truncated and form a 
straight line; another plate is placed before the eye, and there 
are less regular patches in a series from below the eye to the 
preopercle and opercle; a final series occurs between the eye 
and the humeral spine; the latter is very strong, and is curved 
outwards and backwards. Mouth large and vertical, lower lip 
incised in the middle to receive a protuberance of the upper one: 
maxilla broad, its distal end wider than the eye; chin with 
numerous transverse ridges which posteriorly become distinct 
folds with fringed edges: five blunt spines on the lower pre- 
opercular edge, the first two lying below the maxilla; two strong 
spines in front of the ventral fins, directed forwards. 
