REPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA FISHES. 251 



root of the pectoral, the last behind the middle of the length of the tail. The anal 

 spines commence immediately behind the vent, and very gradually and but sHghtly 

 increase in length behind, passing finally into flexible rays of varying and indefinite 

 number. The pectoral is inserted at some distance behind the gill-opening, and has a 

 very narrow base. Ventrals close to, but not extending to the vent, entirely separate. 

 Colour uniform light brown, blackish about the gills and on the soft anal fin. 



Total length, . . . . . . . 396 mm. 



Length of head, ... •50 



01 • . . . t/-( ,, 



Depth of the body, ...... 32 



Length of the tail, ...... 236 



Habitat. — South of Yedo, Station 237 ; depth, 1875 fathoms. One specimen, 16 

 inches long. 



Mediterranean. 



The teeth are minute, those of the upper jaw scarcely different in size or shape 

 from those of the lower. There are thirty-one on each side of the upper and twenty- 

 three on each side of the lower jaw ; each half of the palatine series contains twenty- 

 one teeth. Each ramus of the mandible with a series of pores which is continued on 

 the prseoperculum. The union of the gill-membranes takes place opposite to the 

 middle of the distance between orbit and occiput. Orbit without circular fold. Gill- 

 cavity and peritoneal sac with a thin layer of black pigment. 



The air-bladder is much smaller than in Notacanthus sexspinis, occupying a small 

 portion of the middle of the abdominal cavity ; anteriorly on the left side it is pro- 

 longed into a narrow cylindi'ical horn about two-thirds of the length of its body ; there 

 is no open communication between it and the intestinal duct. The ovaries are a pair 

 of band -like bodies, transversely plaited and without oviduct. The intestine makes 

 only one convolution ; pyloric appendages are represented by three short diverticula 

 only. Kidneys confluent into one short body which is situated between the muscles of 

 the tail behind the vent. 



The description by Filippi ami Verany is so short as to leave the identification of 

 the Japanese with the Mediterranean fish in some uncertainty ; on the other hand, it 

 applies sufficiently well to our specimen. And as a number of Mediterranean fishes 

 are identical with Japanese, and as at least one other species of Notacanthus {Nota- 

 canthus honapartii) shows a wide geographical range, I should not feel justified in 

 giving a distinct name to the fish described. 



