REPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA FISHES. 223 



Alepocephalus rostratus. 



AlepocephoUus rostratus, Risso, Mem. Acad. Sci. Torin., xxv., 1820, p. 291, pL x. fi". 4. 

 )> „ Cuv. Val., vol. xix. p. ] 72, pi. dlxvi. 



„ „ Giinth., Fish., vol. vii. p. 477. 



» » Gegenbaur, Morphol. Jahrb., iv., Suppl., p. 1, pis. i.-ii. (skull). 



B. 6. D. 16-17. A. 18-19. P. 13. V. 8. L. lat. 55. Ccec. pyl. 12. 



The height of the body is a little more than one-fifth of the total length (without 

 caudal) ; the length of the head a little less than one-third. Diameter of the eye 

 contained thrice and one-fourth in the length of the head, and longer than the snout. 

 Scales much longer than wide, with the anterior (radical) margin truncated. Origin 

 of the dorsal fin opposite to the vent. Pectoral fin longer than orljit. Distance of 

 ventral fin from the head three-fifths the length of the latter. Uniform deep black. 



Habitat. — Mediterranean. 



Alepocephalus agassizii. 



Alepocephalus agassizii, Goode and Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, vol. x., 1883, p. 218. 

 D. 15. A. 17. P. 11. V. 6 (?). L. lat. 90. L. transv. 10 | 12. 



The height of the body is one-fifth of the total length (without caudal) ; the length 

 of the head one-third. Diameter of the eye two-sevenths of the length of the head, and 

 exceeding that of the snout, which is conically elongate, with the lower jaw slightly 

 produced. Teeth on the intermaxillaries, mandible and palatines. Scales apparently 

 ovate-lanceolate, parchment-like. Origin of the dorsal fin immediately above the vent, 

 that of the anal under the second dorsal ray. Pectoral as long as orbit. Distance of 

 ventral fin from the snout considerably less than twice the length of the head. Colour 

 dark, head and fins nearly black. 



Habitat. — A specimen, lOj inches long, was found by the U.S. steamer " Blake," 

 in 922 fathoms in the Central Atlantic ; lat. 38° 19' N., long. 73° 18' W. 



Alepocephalus productus. 



Alepocephalus produdus, Gill, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. vi., 1884, p. 256. 



A specimen of an Aleioocephahis from 1362 fathoms in the Central Atlantic 

 (lat. 39° 26' N., long. 70° W.) is characterised thus : — " Agrees closely with Alepo- 

 cephalus agassizii, but the eye is considerably smaller, its diameter equalling less 

 than a quarter of the head's length, while the snout is half as long again as in Alepo- 

 cephalus agassizii, and forms little less than a third of the length of the head." The size 

 is not stated. 



