384 Mr. A. Alcock on the Baihybial Fishes 



cheeks a little larger. There are thirty rows between the 

 gill-opening and the caudal base and twelve between the first 

 dorsal fin and the median abdominal line. The lateral line 

 follows the dorsal profile, at two rows of scales distance, 

 uninterruptedly from the shoulder to the caudal base. Two 

 normally situated dorsal fins, separated by a snout-length, 

 the second much the higher ; the first has five stout sharp 

 spines, the three anterior a little longer than the snout ; the 

 second has one short spine and ten branched rays, and is 

 invested at its base with scales. Anal with one spine and 

 nine branched rays, situated opposite the second dorsal, and 

 similar to it in every respect. Caudal short, forked ; its 

 proximal half scaly. Pectorals well developed, as long as the 

 head without the snout. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine 

 and five rays with scaly bases. 



Colour : — Head, body, fins, and iris uniform black. 



No air-bladder. Long pyloric cajca in moderate number. 

 No prominent anal papilla. 



One specimen, measuring 4 inches from the tip of the snout 

 to the base of the caudal. 



Hah. Bay of Bengal, summit of Carpenter's Ridge, lat. 6° 

 18' to 16' N., long. 90° 40' to 44' E., 1370 to 1520 fathoms. 



The probability that this fish came actually from the bottom 

 is increased by the fact that it was imbedded in the head of 

 one of tlie swabs. Such a position, in the case of an active 

 animal like a fish, would result from the swab settling over 

 the fish as it lay on the bottom, and can hardly be accounted 

 for otherwise. 



Anacanthini. 



The Indian deep-sea representatives of this suborder hitherto 

 obtained are remarkable for their small size. The largest 

 Ophidiid measures IH inches and the largest Macrurid 11 

 inches, while most of our specimens of both these families are 

 much smaller. That this is not due to immaturity is proved 

 by the fact that a majority of the specimens are females with 

 enlarged ovaries full of apparently ripe ova. 



Family Ophidiidae. 



SiEEMBO, Bleeker. 



Sirenibo nigripinnis^ sp. nov. 



B. 8. D. circ. 95. A. circ. 85. C. ? P. 28. V. 1. 



Head small, scaly, a good deal lower than the body, which 



