REPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA FISHES. 265 



like those of the dorsal fin. Pectoral fin well developed, with broad base, as long as 

 the body is high, its point being directed upwards. The lateral line runs along the 

 middle of the side and is composed of conspicuous and rather widely -set pores. It can 

 be traced to the extremity of the tail. 



Coloration black; jaws, pectoral fin, and lower part of the abdomen of a lighter colour. 



One of the specimens had in its stomach the remains of two large yhrimps. 



The figure of the entire specimen is of the natural size, that of the head twice the 

 natural size. B' is an enlarged view of a portion of the dentition of the upper jaw ; 

 B" the end of the upper jaw of one of the small specimens, much magnified ; B'" end 

 of tail of the same specimen, slightly enlarged. 



Cyema. 



Cyema, Giintli., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, vol. ii. p. 251. 



This genus combines the form of the snout of a Nemichthys with the soft .short 

 body of a Leptoccphalus ; but the gill-openings are very narrow, and close together on 

 the abdominal surface. Vent in about the middle of the length of the body ; vertical 

 fin well developed, confined to and interrupted at the extremity of the tail. Pectoral 

 fins well developed. Eye very small. 



Cyema atrum (PI. LIV. fig. D). 



Cyema atrum, Giinth., Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1878, vol ii. p. 251. 

 The cleft of the mouth extends backwards to the end of the head. Black. 

 Habitat. — South Pacific, Station 295 ; depth, 1500 fathoms. One specimen, 

 4^ inches long. 



Antarctic Ocean, Station 158; depth, 1800 fathoms. One specimen, 4§ inches long. 



The body is compressed, band-shaped, soft like that of a Leptoccphalus, but, for an 

 eel, short, its depth being one-twelfth of its length, the head not included ; it is nearly 

 of uniform depth throughout its length, except close to the end where it gradually 

 becomes narrower, the end itself being rounded. The postorbital part of the head is 

 compressed like the body ; in front of the eye, which is minute, the snout tapers into 

 the very long and slender beak, both jaws being armed \Wth a broad band of asperities 

 or teeth. The upper jaw shows at about half its length a distinct swelling, in front of 

 which the jaws coalesce into the tapering simple extremity of the beak; the dentiferous 

 parts of the jaw diverge behind the swelling, leaving a depression between them in 

 which a narrow band of asperities runs well backwards along the median line (fig. d). 

 The asperities are subimbricate and arranged in transverse series (fig. d') ; those of the 

 median band being rather lanceolate in shape. Cleft of the mouth extending to the 

 end of the head, the jaws being toothed to their posterior extremity. 



(ZOOL. CHALL. EXr. — PART LVII. — 1887.) I^" 3* 



