8R THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGEE. 



Physiculus dalwigkii 



Phydadiis dalwigkii, Kaup, in Wiegm. Arch., 1858, p. 88. 

 ,, „ Giinth., Fish., vol. iv. p. 348. 



„ „ Jordan and Gilbert, Synopsis, p. 801. ^ 



I have three specimens before me, from Madeira, all of which have an exceedingly 

 narrow base to the ventral fin, which is composed of five rays only. The largest of these 

 specimens is only 10 inches long, and it is not known at what depth they were caught. 



Physiculus haupi (PL XVII. fig. A). 



Physicidm kaiqn, Poey, Report Cub., 1865, p. 186. 



,, japonicus, Hilgendorf, Sitzungsb. naturf. Freunde Berlin, 1879, p. 80. 



This species has constantly (as far as is shown by our specimens) a broader base to 

 the ventral fins than Physiculus dalwigkii, and they are formed of seven rays, of which 

 the longest may or may not reach the anal fin. The fin rays vary within proportionate 

 limits; they are D. 9-10 | 60-66. A. 60-70. There are thirteen series of scales between 

 the anterior dorsal and ■ the lateral line. The peduncle of the tail is shorter and less 

 slender than in the Madeiran form, but otherwise the two species are so similar as to 

 .scarcely deserve specific separation. 



Habitat. — Poey obtained a specimen at Cuba, and Melliss two at St. Helena. These 

 differ in no respect from five examples found by the Challenger off Inosima in 345 

 fathoms, and 11 to 16 inches long.' 



Physiculus peregrimis. 



PgeiidopliTjcis peregrinus, Gtinth., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1871, p. 669. 



With three rays in the ventral fins. 



Since the discovery of the typical examjjle at Manado no other specimens have been 

 found. It has so much the characteristic appearance of a deep-sea fish that I cannot 

 hesitate to admit it here. 



Phycis, Cuv. 



All the species of this genus seem to descend habitually beyond the hundred fathom 

 line ; at any rate, the following have been recorded from deep water. 



' See, with regard to this reference, .Jordan, Cat., p. 130. 



2 Hilgendorf states as one of the characteristics of the Japanese form, that the leni,'th of the head is one-fifth of the 

 total length. This is not the case in our examples, in which the head forms nearly one -fourth of the total, as in 

 Physiculus dalwigkii. 



