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



exceedingly elongate, band-shaped, and tapering into a point. Snout very short, 

 pointed, flexible ; one nostril in front of the small lateral eye. 



Maxillary and mandible slender, armed with feeble teeth, in one or two more or less 

 complete series ; palate toothless. Gill-openings at some distance behind the head, 

 close together, at the lower part of the side ; branchial arches five ; very short gUls, 

 extremely small. Dorsal and anal fins low, more or less rudimentary ; pectorals very 

 small. 



The specimens observed are few in number, and to judge from the descriptions, 

 referable to three species. 



Saccopharynx amptiUaceus (PI. LXVI.). 



Saecopliarynx sp., Mitchill, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. i., 1824, p. 82. 

 Ophiognath us ampullar eus, Harwood, Phil. Trans., 1827, p. 52, pi. vii. 

 Saccopharynx flagellum, Cuv.,' R. an., 1829, vol. ii. p. 355. 



„ „ Giinth., Fish., vol. viii. p. 22. 



„ ampullaceus, Johnson, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1862, vol. x. p. 277. 



Both jaws are armed with slender, curved, widely-set teeth, irregularly uni- or 

 bi-serial, their points being directed inwards. The length of the jaws is from one-third 

 to one-seventh of the length of the body, that is, the distance from the vent to the 

 extremity of the snout. The dorsal fin commences a long way behind the head, and a 

 short distance in front of the vent ; like the anal it may or may not reach the end of 

 the tail, which terminates into an extremely delicate and thin filament. The small 

 pectoral fin with some thirty very thin rays. Gill-opening an elongate slit. A bluish- 

 white line runs on the back along each side of the base of the dorsal fin, and a similar 

 line is sometimes distinct along the anal fin. 



Of this species four specimens are known to have been captured : — 



1. The fish described by Mitchill in 1824, which was taken in lat. 52° N. and 

 long. 30° W.; it was discovered afloat in a helpless condition, having swallowed a fish 

 10 inches long. The body of this specimen was 14 and the tail 58 inches long. It 

 does not seem to have been preserved. 



2. The fish described by Harwood in 1827, which was taken in lat. 62° N. and 

 long. 57° W.; it was discovered afloat in a helpless condition, "almost worn out by 

 unavailing eff"orts to gorge a fish of about 7 inches in circumference." This is the 

 largest of the specimens known, its body having been about 20 and the tail 34 inches 

 long. It does not seem to have been preserved. 



3. The fish described by Johnson in 1862, which was taken ofi" Madeira, under 

 what circumstances Johnson could not learn, but probably also floating on the surface ; 



' Cuvier ascribes this specific name to Mitchill, as he speaks of the " Saccopluxrynx flagellwn de Mitchill," or of the 

 " Ophiognathus ampullaceus de Harwood." 



