1885.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 597 



First dorsal comparatively low, coinpospd of 2 spines, the first rudi- 

 mentary, the second elongate, smooth, and 8-9 rays. Its insertion is 

 immediately over that of the pectoral ; its distance from the snout (3G™™) 

 equals 1^ times the length of the head; its length of base (7"'") equal 

 to length of snout. Its longest spine, when laid backward, reaches 

 beyond origin of second dorsal, its length (15™™) one-half to two thirds 

 that of the head. 



Second dorsal very low; its distance from first dorsal equal to one- 

 third length of head; in the type about one-fourth. 



Anal much higher than second dorsal, yet very low, its longest ray 

 equal in length to diameter of eye ; its distance from snout (51™™) 4| 

 times in total length, its origin being nearly under that of the second 

 dorsal. 



Pectoral inserted under origin of first dorsal, its length about ^ that 

 of head. 



Ventral inserted behind the vertical from the end of the base of the 

 first dorsal in the type. In the mutilated larger specimen it appears to 

 be under the posterior ray of the first dorsal. The ventral extends to 

 the origin of the anal, its length (10™™) equaling diameter of eye; in 

 large specimen 1^ diameter of eye. Vent about midway between origin 

 of ventrals and anal. 



Eadial formula: D. II, 8-9; A. 120; V. 7; P. 13. 



In a distance equal to length of head 32 rays were counted in the 

 dorsal fin ; in the anal fin 22. 



Colot brown, abdomen and lower part of head in young blackish. 



Malacocephalus occidentalis, u. s. 



Small specimens, 37336, in imperfect condition were obtained from 

 Albatross Station 2310, north latitude 35° 44', west longitude 74° 51' 

 (length 154™^ and 203™™), at a depth of 132 fathoms, and from Blake 

 station LXXXIII, off Granada, at a depth of 1C4 fathoms (length 

 141™™). They correspond in the main with Giinther's full description 

 of Malacocephalus Iwvis, but differ in the position of the vent, the ven- 

 trals, and the anal fin; the latter commencing at a distance behind the 

 vent equal to the length of the snout, its distance from the origin of the 

 ventrals being less than the distance from the origin of the anal, which 

 is distinctly behind the vertical through the posterior end of the first 

 dorsal. The ventrals originate under the middle of the first dorsal, and 

 the pectorals under its origin. The ventral extends to, or slightly be- 

 yond, the anal origin. The pectoral is as long as the head without its 

 postorbital part. The diameter of the eye is contained 2^ times in the 

 length of the head. The barbel is slightly longer than the eye. The 

 snout is ^ as long as the head and equal to the interorbital space. 



It differs also in the serrature of the second dorsal spine, and its 

 length, which is nearly equal to, if not longer than, the head. In our 

 mutilated specimens the first branched ray is nearly as long as the head. 



