■ REPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA FISHES. 43 



narrower than the orbit. An angular projection of the parietals above the front margin 

 of the orbit. Prseopercular margin gently convex; the opercular pieces very short 

 in the longitudinal axis of the head. The lower ridges of the mandible, prse- and sub- 

 operculum finely serrate. Teeth in the jaws very minute, forming extremely naiTow 

 bands; palate toothless. 



The first dorsal spine is short, the second very strong, compressed, scythe-shaped, as 

 long as the orbit ; the other spines are much more feeble, and gradually decrease in 

 length. The rayed dorsal is only about half as high as the longest spine. The two 

 anal spines are separate from the soft portion, the anterior and longer being one-third 

 the length of the longest dorsal spine ; the soft anal fin is similar to the opposite dorsal. 

 Caurlal fin as long as the orbit, truncated. The pectorals are inserted below the middle 

 of the depth of the body, and are broad and much shorter than the ventrals. Ventrals 

 with a strong, straight, compressed spine, shorter than the dorsal spine, the fins extending 

 to the soft anal. The distance between the root of the ventrals and the anal spine 

 is less than that between ventrals and pectorals, the vent occupying the middle. The 

 projecting first interhsemal renders the short space between vent and anal trenchant, 

 whilst the pelvic region is rather flattened, and there exists no groove for the reception 

 of the ventrals. 



The scales (fig. B') leave the nape of the neck and a narrow strip below the dorsal 

 profile naked. Those covering the side of the body are much deeper than long, the free 

 portion, which shows the entire margin of a cycloid scale, and only a few concentric 

 striae, being less deep than the radical portion, which is more deeply striated, the striae 

 (all of which run parallel to the hind-margin of the scale) being more numerous. Along 

 the base of the dorsal and anal fins a series of harder scales is firmly embedded in the 

 skin, each being armed with a series of small spines. The lateral line follows the dorsal 

 outline. 



Silvery, with a blackish crescent behind the pectoral. Total length, 3 inches. 



One specimen was obtained two hundred miles ofi" Cape Farewell, in 400 fathoms. 

 It is now in the British Museum. 



Fig. B^ of PL X. represents a scale from the middle of the side, much magnified ; the 

 free portion being on the left, and the radical on the right hand side of the reader. 



