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



Family C o K y p H .E N i D .E. 



Schedophilus, Cocco. 



The species of this genus are pelagic ; young examples, at least, are frequently 

 captured in the surface-net in the open ocean. Some of the species, however, possess 

 structural characters which indicate bathybial habits, for instance, a singular want of 

 firmness of the tissues, especially of the bones. 



Schedophilus medusophagus. 



Schedophilus medusoj>har/us, Cocco in Giorn. Inuom. Mess. Ann., iii. No. 7, p. 57; Bonap. Faun. 



it. Pesc. c. fig. 

 ,, ,, Giiiith., Fish., vol. ii. p. 412 ; Fisoli. d. Siidsee, p. 149 ; Trans. Zool. 



Soc. Lond., vol. xi., 1882, p. 223, pi. 47. 



Adult specimens have been obtained in the Mediterranean, one on the coast of 

 Ireland, and another in the South-Sea near Samoa. Young examples are frequently 

 observed on the surface of the Mid-Atlantic. 



Schedophilus lockingtonii. 



Icichthys locldngtonii, Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. ii., 1881, p. 305 ; and 

 Synopsis, jj. G21. 



D. 40. A. 28. Y. 1 



Lateral line composed of a hundred and twenty smooth scales. More slender than 

 the typical Schedoj)hilus, the depth of the body being one-fourth of the total length. 

 Eye one-fourth the length of the head. 



One specimen, 7^ inches long, was obtained from deep water off San Francisco, 

 The fish is described as possessing very soft and flexible bones, and being without an 

 air-bladder. But I fail to find in the description characters which would warrant a generic 

 separation from Schedophilus, or the creation of a distinct family " Icosteida^." 



Schedop)Mlus enigmaticus {Vl.'K.LlY.). a~^ 



Icosteus enigmaticus, Lockington, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol.iii., 1881, p.-^. -' 



„ ,, Jordan and Gilbert, Synopsis, p. 620. 



„ „ Steindacbner, Sitzungsb. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Ixxxvi., 1882, p. 82. 



Schedophilopsis spinosus, Steindachner, loc. cit., Ixxxiii., 1881, p. 396. 



B. 6. D. 52-55. A. 37-40. Y. \. 



The greatest depth of the hoAj is above the vent, and one-half of the total length, 

 the head and caudal fin not included. The length of the head is contained four times. 



