450 Survey of Fishing -Grounds, West Coast of Ireland, 1890-1891. 



Giinther records the capture of a tusk at 530 fathoms in the Faroe Channel. 

 On the coast of Norway it is said by Smitt to be common at 100 to 200 fathoms. 

 Off the coasts of Iceland and the Faroe Islands it is taken at depths of over 100 

 fathoms, and also, according to fishermen, in quite shallow water. 



Fam.— MACRURIDiE. 

 Genus Macrurus, Giinther. 



Head generally with large muciferous cavities. Snout frequently projecting 

 beyond mouth, which may be inferior, or sub-terminal and lateral. Jaws armed 

 with small teeth : no teeth on the palate. A barbel on the mandibular symphysis. 

 Scales cycloid or ctenoid. The second dorsal always less developed than anal, its 

 rays frequently rudimentary in front or throughout. 



Four gills. The slit between gill cover and first branchial arch partly 

 obcluded by a broad fold of the membrane of gill cavity so as to be much 

 narrower than the slits between branchial arches. No pseudo-branchiae. No 

 scaleless fossa on the nape. 



For a fuller discussion of the characters of the genus we would refer readers 

 to the "Challenger" Memoir (pp. 122—124), drawing especial attention to Dr. 

 Giinther's remarks on the development of the adult characters of the scales, and 

 the changes in proportions. Twenty-nine specimens of Macruri were trawled 

 during the Survey, belonging to four species. 



Giinther, in his systematic arrangement of the genus, divides it first of all 

 into three sections, which are again divided into subgenera, and in dealing with 

 our material we propose to follow this arrangement, quoting the characters of 

 the subgenera rejjresented, viz. : Ccelorhynchus, 3Iacrnrus, Coryphcenoides, and 

 Ilalacocejyhahis. Of these the first three belong to Section I., and the last to 

 Section III. We may add that, for general convenience, we have, in our diagnoses 

 of species, adhered as closely as possible to Giinther's descriptions, only altering 

 them in details whereon additional information is furnished by our specimens. 



Section I. — Teeth in villiform bands above and below ; that of the lower jaw 

 always broadest near the symphysis, and sometimes tapering into a series on the 

 side of the jaw. 



A. Scales distinctly imbricate, without enlarged dorsal scales. 



1. Scales spinigerous. 



a. Mouth entirely on the lower side of the head, a longitudinal ridge 

 dividing the infraorbital region into a vertical and sub-horizontal 

 portion. Dorsal spine smooth. 



