34 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Polymixia, Lowe. 



The fishes of this genus have about the same bathymetrieal and horizontal distribu- 

 tion as Beryx. 



Polymixia nohilis (PI. I. fig. B). 



Polymixia nolilia, Lowe, Cambr. PhiL Trans., 1838, vol. vi. p. 198. 



„ „ Giinth., Fish., i. p. 17. 



Nemohrama webii, Valenc. in Webb and Berthel. Iclitbyol. lies Canar., p. 41, pi. viii. 

 Polymixia lowei, Giinth., Fisb., i. p. 17. 



„ „ Poey, Eeport Cub., ii. p. 158. 



Dinemus venustus, Poey, Mem. Cub., 18G0, pp. 161, 352, pi. xiv. fig. 1. 

 Polymixia japonica, Giinth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1877, vol. xx. p. 436. 



„ „ Steindachner, Denkscbr. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Wien, 1883, xlvii. p. 261, 



tab. iv. fig. 2 (barbels ?). 



Specimens of this genus have been obtained at rare intervals in various parts of the 

 tropical and subtropical Atlantic, namely, near Madeira, the Canary Islands, St. Helena 

 and Cuba. The Challenger Expedition brought home specimens from the Sea of Japan, 

 where they were captured ofi" Inosima, at a depth of 345 fathoms ; and quite recently I 

 have received a specimen from the Mauritius, my correspondent informing me that it was 

 the first specimen of its kind which the fishermen remembered to have seen. This deep- 

 sea form has therefore a wide geographical range, although it probably does not descend 

 to very great depth or extend beyond the tropical or subtropical zones. From comparison 

 of all these materials I have also convinced myself that the difi"erences on which I for- 

 merly separated individuals from distant localities are without specific importance. The 

 specimen figured is one of the Challenger specimens from Inosima. 



Habitat. — Ofli" Inosima, Japan, Station 232 ; depth, 345 fathoms. Three specimens, 

 6^ and 7^ inches long. 



Poromitra. 



Poromitra, Goode and Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. ZoiJl., vol. x. No. 5, 1883, p. 214. 



Body short, compressed, scopeliform, covered wdth thin cycloid scales. Head 'very 

 large, nearly half the entire length of the fish to base of caudal, with scales upon cheeks, 

 suboperculum, and probably elsewhere. No barbel. Mouth very large, the lower jaw 

 projecting. Margin of upper jaw composed of a short intermaxillary and a long maxiUary. 

 Teeth cardiform, numerous, very small on the intermaxillaries and mandibles. None 

 discovered on maxillaries, palatines or vomer. Opercular apparatus complete. Ventrals 

 very small, inserted in advance of the pectoral. Dorsal fin in the middle of the body, its 



