1885.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. fjH!) 



It is worthy of iioiice tliat M. plumosa aud this variety Y.PaJinen, 

 differ from all other known fresh-water sponges by the presence iu them 

 of a compound or substellate dermal spicule. The spicuhe of the der- 

 mis throughout the group ar-e generally minute, spined acerates; iu 

 M. Everetti, Mills, we find them as minute birotulates. In this species 

 the two forms seem to be combined; the spines have become central 

 and prolonged, while their capitate extremities suggest the rotules of 

 the last-named species. 



Of the six sponge masses from the above locality, sent by the Smith- 

 sonian Institution for examination, the smallest was somewhat fusiform 

 in shape and proved to belong to a different species — Meyenia crateri- 

 forma, Potts — heretofore found along the eastern border of the United 

 States. In it alone the mass was not darkened by the presence of some 

 pervading vegetable parasite. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW FISHES OBTAINED BY THE UNITED 

 STATES FISH COMMISSION MAINLY FROM DEEP WATER OFF 

 THE ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS. 



By a. SROWJS GOODE: and TARLiDTON H. BEAIV. 



A preliminary study of the Collections of deep-sea fishes made under 

 Government auspices has brought to light many new forms, some of 

 which are here described in advance of their consideration iu a final 

 report now in preparation upon the extensive materials brought together 

 by the combined efforts of the U. S. Fish Commission and the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology. Only the species secured by Fish Commis- 

 sion vessels are at present referred to, the rest being reserved for future 

 discussion. 



Aphoristia diomedeana, n. s. 



The species is described from a specimen (No. 37347) from Albatross 

 station 2414 (latitude 25° 04' 30" N., longitude 83° 21' 15" W.; depth, 

 24 fathoms). Its length is 140 millimeters to base of caudal. The body 

 is somewhat slender, its greatest height (43™™) contained 3^ times in its 

 length without caudal. 



Scales moderate, somewhat loosely fixed, j)ectinated ; about 85 in a 

 longitudinal, 35 in a transverse, series. Jaws and snout covered with 

 small thin scales. 



Length of head contained 5| times in the standard length. Length 

 of snout 5 times in that of head. Eyes moderate, equal, very close to- 

 gether, without intervening scales ; the upper eye is directly above the 

 lower one, and is distant from the dorsal outline an interval equal to 

 its own least diameter ; diameter of eye in length of head G times. 



Mouth oblique, curved, its angle in the vertical through the front 

 margin of the eyes ; length of gape equal to that of snout, and con- 



