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



are most nearly with Merluciidse, he ventures to assign it temporarily to a position in this 

 family," and proceeds to characterise it thus : — 



In general form closely resembling Merlucius, but with the elongate body covered 

 with (comparatively) large scales. Mouth rather small. A separate caudal. Two dorsal 

 fins, the first composed of a few long rays, the second with longer base. One elongate 

 anal. Ventrals well developed, with broad base, composed of six rays. Teeth on the 

 vomer and in the jaws in two or three rows, rather feeble. Eyes large, near together, 

 looking upwards. No barbel. 



Hypsicometes gobioides. 



Hijpsicometes gobioides, Goodc, lor. cit., p. 3-lS. 



D. 6 I 17. A. 16. V. 6. L. lat. 58. 



The general appearance suggestive of a Gobius. Ventrals far apart, and far in 

 advance of the pectorals. A large black blotch on the base of the upper caudal rays. 



A single specimen, 2 inches long, was obtained by the U.S. Fish Commission, off" the 

 coast of Rhode Island, in 1 1 5 fathoms. 



Lotella, Kaup.^ 

 Lotella marginata (PI. XIV. fig. A). 



Lotella marginata, Giinth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, vol. ii. p. 19. 

 B. 7. D. 7-8 I 65. A. 62. V. 5. 



Head of moderate length, two-ninths of the total, the caudal fin not included. 

 Eye very large, more than one-third of the length of the head, and equal to that 

 of the postorbital portion ; consequently the snout is short, though its length 

 much exceeds the width of the interorbital space. The maxillary extends only to 

 below the middle of the eye ; jaws with an outer series of distinctly larger teeth. 

 Barbel small. 



Scales very small, about twelve or fourteen in a transverse series between the first 

 dorsal fin and the lateral line. 



The first dorsal commences above the root of the pectoral, and has none of the rays 

 prolonged. The second dorsal and especially the anal is depressed in height along 

 the middle of its length. Pectoral shorter than the head, without snout, directed 

 upwards. The two outer ventral rays prolonged, the second (which is the longer) 



^ Under tlie name of "Lotella maxillaris, n. s.," Dr. Bean described a specimen, 2§ inches long, obtained in 396 

 fathoms by the U.S. Fish Commission. It is an immature specimen, of which not even the genus or subgenus could 

 be determined with certainty {Proc. U.S. Nat. Mm., 1885, p. 241). 



