408 Surueij of Fishing-Gromids, West Coast of Ireland, 1890-1891. 



Colour. — Both specimens evidently belong to the pale variety mentioned by 

 Lowe. In the fresh condition, the body was of an uniform pale slate-grey, the 

 liead similar, except on the gill cover, which was rather darker, with purplish 

 " reflets," and might well be de.scribed by Valenciennes' expression " gorge du 

 pigeon." The membranous folds of the jaw apparatus and the branchiostegal 

 membranes were black; the fins dark grey. The action of alcohol has changed 

 the general colour to a dark purplish grey. 



In the fresh condition the eye appeared like a hemisphere of bright green 

 glass, a condition common to the eyes of many abysmal species. No trace of 

 internal structure, such as has inadvertently been shown in the drawing, was 

 visible at the time of capture. 



Grenus Polyprion, Cuvier. 



Polyprion cernium, Valenciennes. The Wreck-fish. (Deep-sea.) 



Polyprion cernium, .... Lowe, " Fish Maderia.," p. 183. 

 .... Day, " Fish. Gt. Brit.," i., p. 17. 



No examples were met with during the Survey. The fish has a very wide 

 range, and has occurred off the south-west coast of Ireland, and more frequently 

 off the south coast of England. Such specimens appear to have been usually, 

 if not always, found in the neighbourhood of floating wreckage, and were 

 all of comparatively small size. This is intelligible from Lowe's observation 

 that the young live near the surface, while the largest are taken (at Madeira) at 

 depths of 300 to 400 fathoms. 



Genus Scorpsena, Giinther.* 



Head large, slightly compressed, usually with a naked groove in the occiput, 

 armed with spines, and generally with skinny flaps ; body covered with scales of 

 moderate or rather large size, generally with skinny appendages. One dorsal, 

 more or less deeply notched. Pelvics, thoracic ; pectorals large, rounded, 

 inferior rays frequently thickened ; no pectoral appendage. Villiform teeth 

 in the jaws, on the vomer, and generally on the palatine bones. Seven 

 branchiostegals ; not more than 25 vertebrae. No air-bladder. Pyloric coeca 

 in moderate numbers. 



* We have endeavoured to remodel the generic diagnosis in accordance with Dr. Giinthcr's remarks? in 

 "Fisch. d. Siidsee," p. 74. 



