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



ventrals. Ventrals composed of stronger rays, horizontally placed and somewhat distant 

 from each other, as is frequently found in fishes habitually moving on the bottom ; they 

 slightly exceed the pectorals in length. 



The scales are large, thin, deciduous, forming only six longitudinal series on each side 

 of the trunk. Lateral line faintly indicated along the middle of the body ; the 

 muciferous channels on the head are also narrow, with small apertures. 



Brown, with colourless fins. Buccal and branchial cavities and the lower side of the 

 head black. 



Habitat. — South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. 



Coast of Brazil, Station 124; depth, 1600 fathoms. One specimen, 4^ inches long. 



Near Tristan da Cunha, Station 133 ; depth, 1900 fathoms. Two specimens, 5\ inches 

 long. 



North of Celebes, Station 198 ; depth, 2150 fathoms. One specimen, 4 inches long. 



Chloroplithalmus, Bonap. 



Eyphalonedrus, Goode, Proc. U.S. Nat Mus., 1881, p. 483. 



The only point in which Dr. Goode's diagnosis apparently difiers from that given by me 

 in Fish., vol. v. p. 403, is that he denies the presence of lingual teeth. However, these 

 teeth are so minute in Chlorophthalmus agassizii as to require a magnifying glass to find 

 them, and therefore may easily be overlooked. But even if a species without these 

 rudimentary structures should be found, their absence could not justify a generic separa- 

 tion. The sheaths in which the scales are lodged show, especially after the loss of 

 the scales, a very conspicuous arrangement of straight parallel oblique lines, very 

 characteristic of the two first species of this genus. The following species are known 

 at present. 



Chlorophthalmus agassizii (PL L. fig. C). 



Chloroplithalmus agassizii, Bonap., Faun. it. Pesc. c. fig. 

 „ „ Giinth., Fish., vol. v. p. 404. 



Hyphalonedrus chalybeius, Gooile, lor,. ciL, p. 484; and BuU. Mus. Comp. Zocil., vol. x., 1883, 



p. 223. 



B. 10. D. 11-12. A. 9. P. 16-18. V. 9. L. lat. 52-53. L. trans. 7 | 6.^ 



The length of the head is contained thrice and three-fourths in the total (without 

 caudal); eye scarcely more than one-third of the length of the head, a little longer 

 than the snout, which is moderately produced, and equal to the postorbital por- 



* Not 4 I 6 as stated by me in Fish., vol. v. p. 404. 



