REPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA FISHES. 227 



interorbital space being one-half of the longitudinal diameter of the eye. Eye very large, 

 rather longer than deep, one-third of the length of the head and considerably longer than 

 the snout. Infraorbital ring very narrow, the broad maxillary being separated from the 

 orbit by a very narrow strip of bone. Snout somewhat wedge-shaped, with the upper 

 profile declivous, with the jaws equal in front and with the maxillary extending to the 

 posterior third of the orbit. Dentition feeble ; all the teeth being equally minute and 

 uniserial ; the intermaxillary and maxillary are toothed throughout their whole extent ; 

 vomerine series transverse and straight, slightly interrupted in the middle ; palatine series 

 nearly as long as vomerine series. 



Branchiostegals slender, rod-shaped. Gills four ; that of the fourth arch being short 

 and reduced to a horizontal series of laminae, which is only one-thii-d of the horizontal series 

 of the outer branchial arch. Gill-laminse very short, especially on the convex portion of 

 the arches ; gill-rakers long, lanceolate, closely set, 24 4-11 on the outer branchial arch. 



Vent considerably nearer to the root of the caudal fin than to the gill-opening, whilst 

 the origin of the dorsal fin is somewhat nearer to the latter point. Dorsal fin longer 

 than high, its anterior rays increasing in length to the fifth or sixth ray. Origin of the 

 anal behind the vertical from the middle of the dorsal fin, which this fin resembles in 

 shape. Caudal fin deeply emarginate. Pectoral inserted a short way above the lower 

 profile ; it has a moderately broad base, is three-fifths of the length of the head, and does 

 not extend to the ventral. Vcntrals close together, scarcely extending to the vent, their 

 root being midway between the root of the caudal and the anterior margin of the orbit. 



Scales deciduous, cycloid, with numerous fine concentric and radiating striae ; there 

 were probably nine scales in a transverse series between the lateral line and the origin of 

 the dorsal fin, and twelve between the lateral line and ventral fin. Lateral line straight, 

 running from the upper end of the gill-opening along the middle of the tail, Mvith rather 

 narrow mucous apertures. 



Colour, uniform black. 



Stomach with a short ccecal sac. Thii'teen short pyloric appendages fringe the 

 intestine behind the pylorus. Intestine short,, scarcely convoluted. The ovaries, which 

 are laminated and open on their costal surface, contain an immense number of minute 

 immature eggs, between which a few larger ones of the size of millet seed are embedded. 



Bathytroctes rostratus (PL LVIII. fig. B). 



Batlujtroetes rostratus, Gunth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, vol. ii. p. 250. 

 D. 20. A. 17. V. 9. P. 16. L. lat. ca. 100. 

 The maxillary reaches to below the hind margin of the orbit; intermaxillary 

 terminating in front in a short projection. 



