REPORT ON THE DEEP-SEA FISHES. 321 



the phosphorescent organs situated below to be visible from the outside. The 

 anterior perforation corresponds to the smaller anterior phosphorescent organ. This 

 membrane extends over the phosphorescent organ for some distance (PI. LXXI. fig. 

 27, e), the margin of the perforation being drawn out to form a kind of iris which is 

 probably a movable sphincter membrane as in Opostomias micripnus. The whole organ 

 lies pretty loose in a sac, which is divided about halfway down by a constriction into a 

 proximal and a distal portion. Below the surface of the distal portion a pigment layer 

 is observed, which is not continued downwards below the constriction as a continuous 

 layer, but exists there only in the shape of scattered patches of pigment. The phos- 

 phorescent organ is situated in the sac, and consists essentially of three layers. There is 

 firstly the innermost gland with reticulate structure (PI. LXXI. fig. 27, b), forming a 

 superficial layer of considerable thickness ; it has the shape of a pouch, and is in 

 contact with the inner surface of the proximal pouch-shaped portion of the cavity 

 in which the phosphorescent organ is situated. The margin of this reticulate layer 

 reaches up to the constriction. There is, secondly, a thick layer of light-reflecting 

 spicules, perforated at regular intervals ; and thirdly, the radial glandular contents of the 

 pouch-shaped spicule-layer, which expands above to form the tangential or superficial 

 portion of the organ (PI. LXXI. fig. 27, d). 



The basal reticulate structure is very peculiar, and nothing similar has been observed 

 in any other fish. The reticulation is produced by a very regular network of pigment- 

 threads (PL LXXI. fig. 30) which are associated with fibrous tissue, bloodvessels and 

 nerves. The meshes are occupied by very irregular gland-tubes, which consist of a thin 

 membrana limitans and one layer of ordinary gland-ceUs, which are about as high as broad. 

 The lumina of these tubes were empty in the specimen examined by me. The thickness 

 of this reticulate layer is greatest below in the fundus of the pouch, where it measures 

 nearly 1 mm., and from this point its thickness decreases uniformly towards the margiu. 

 A stout nerve enters this structure from behind. 



The spicule-layer (PI. LXXI. fig. 29) presents a very curious appearance when seen 

 from the surface, being perforated by oval holes of uniform shape and size, which are 

 distributed over the surface in a perfectly regular manner. This layer is O'l mm. thick in 

 the fundus of the pouch and thins out towards the margiu, which coincides with the 

 margin of the reticular layer and the constriction of the cavity in which the phosphor- 

 escent organ lies embedded. Through the perforations, which are 0'07 mm. long, 0'04 

 mm. broad, and 0"2 mm. apart, the secretion prepared in the reticular layer is poured 

 into the upper portion of the organ, and also nerves and bloodvessels pass through 

 them. The third layer, which forms the central and upper part of the organ, possesses 

 a radial structure, particularly in its proximal part, which occupies the spicule-layer 

 pouch (PI. LXXI. fig. 27, d). The superficial portion shows vertical striations, the 

 outermost layer appearing more granular than the rest. The state of preservation 



(ZOOL. CHALL. ESP. PART LVII. — 1887.) Lll 41 



