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



Subgenus Nematonurus. 



'^to^ 



Macrurus armatiis (PI. XL. fig. A). • 



Macrurus armatiis. Hector, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1875, vol. xv. p. 81. 

 Caryi'ihxnoides variabilis, Giinth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, vol. ii. p. 27. 



D. 11. P. 18-20. V. 9-10.1 



Snout obtusely conical, projecting beyond the mouth, the cleft of which extends 

 behind the middle of the eye. Teeth of both jaws in a single series. Barbel nearly as 

 long as the eye. The interorbital space is fiat, its width being much more than the 

 diameter of the eye, which is comparatively small, and in specimens 1 1 to 20 inches long- 

 shorter than the snout, and contained five and a half times in the length of the head. 



The scales are provided with five ridges, each ridge composed of several spines, and 

 the central ridge being the strongest. There are eight scales in a transverse series 

 between the first dorsal fin and the lateral line. Lower limb of the prseoperculum scaleless. 

 Second dorsal spine armed with barbs in front, which are rather distantly set. The 

 second dorsal fin commences at a distance from the first, which is less than the lenerth of 

 the head. The distance between the vent and isthmus is equal to, or more than, the 

 length of the head. The outer ventral ray produced into a long filament. 



Habitat. — Midway between the Cape of Good Hope and Kerguelen Island, Station 

 147 ; depth, 1600 fathoms. Three specimens, 5, 10-|^, and 22 inches long. 



South Pacific, Station 146 ; depth, 1375 fathoms. Six specimens, 10 inches long. 



South Pacific, Station 157 ; depth, 1950 fathoms. One specimen, 10 inches long. 



South Pacific, Station 158 ; depth, 1800 fathoms. Eleven specimens, 5 to 18 inches 

 long. 



Mid-Pacific, Station 246; depth, 2050 fathoms. Three specimens, 7 and 17 inches 

 long. 



Mid-Pacific, Station 271 ; depth, 2425 fathoms. One specimen, 15 inches long. 



Two hundred miles east of Cape Farewell ; depth, 400 fathoms. One specimen, 

 8f inches long. Type of Macrurus armatus. 



This species has a wide range in the southern hemisphere, and is subject to some 

 variation, the variation occurring in individuals from the same locality, and afi'ectiug the 

 form of the head, length of dorsal spine, &c. The most striking deviation from the 

 typical form is a kind of albino, not quite white, but of a much lighter colour than the 

 ordinary specimens. In these albinos the scales (fig. a') are much thinner, the ridges 

 sometimes scarcely visible, and if developed, they are merely keels without spines. The 

 spines are in some specimens more projecting than in others; the specimen from 

 Station 271 having them most prominent. 



' Not seven as stated by Hector. 



