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



specimens, so that its exact length is doubtful. In B what remains of it is equal 

 in length to the post-orbital part of the skull, but only the distal third is serrated. 

 The serrations in all our specimens are confined to the distal portion, though in 

 young examples they extend to the base of the ray. The upper part of the fin 

 is black. 



The pectoral fins have nineteen rays, with the exception of the left pectoral 

 of B, which has only seventeen. The pelvic fins have eight rays, the outer 

 produced into a filament, but in the two specimens there is only one perfect 

 filament (in the left fin of B) ; it measures 86 cm. A furrow is observable in the 

 dorsum at about twice the length of the head from the snout (in B, rather less 

 in A), and probably represents the commencement of the second dorsal fin, but 

 no rays are observable for some distance back. There is no membrane to this 

 fin. The rays of the anal fin are rather long and slender ; the membrane extends 

 to the tips. The false caudal fin of specimen A has already been alluded to. 



Lateral line. — Parallel to the dorsum in the posterior region. Anteriorly, from 

 a point about two head-lengths from the snout, it rises in a very gentle curve, the 





Fig. D. 



summit of the curve being about opposite the anus in A, and the centre of the 

 first dorsal fin in B, and in the specimen figured. The curve is not the same 

 on both sides of B. 



Colours. — The black of the branchiostegal membrane, distal part of the first 

 dorsal, and of the Electoral, pelvic, and anal fins, is a brownish black, as opposed 

 to the bluish black met with in M. cequalis. 



Visceral Anatomy. — On opening the abdominal cavity the peritoneum is seen 

 to be thickly speckled with black pigment- cells giving a grey colour to the 

 membrane. The specimen figured was found to be a nearly ripe female, 28^ 

 inches in length. The ovaries are situated immediately above the vent, closely 

 applied to each other by flattened inner surfaces, joined together inferiorly before 

 the commencement of the single oviduct. Each ovary is rounded and bulging on 



