of the Bay of Bengal i&c. 461 



the gill-opening. No scales. Vertical fins confluent ; the 

 dorsal begins about a snout-length behind the occiput. No 

 pectorals. 



Colours in life : — " Silvery ; iris black " {Wood-Mason). 



JMaximum length 10.| inches. 



Four specimens. 



Hab. Bay of Bengal, lat. 19° 35' N., long. 92" 24' E., in 

 272 fathoms ; Andaman Sea, 7 miles south-east by south of 

 Ross Island, in 265 fathoms. 



Gavialiceps microps^ sp. no v. 



Body cylindrical ; tail long and pointed, but not tapering. 

 Vent situated about a snout-length behind the gill-opening. 

 Snout in the form of a long, rigid, needle-pointed beak, with 

 a stout ])yramidal base, formed by the jaws and vomer; the 

 upper segment slightly projecting. U[)per jaw serrated ; a 

 row of slightly recurved teeth in the lower jaw ; on the vomer, 

 which forms the anterior third of the upper segment of the 

 beak, a single prolonged row of long teeth posteriorly and a 

 cluster of minute asperities anteriorly. Eyes minute, situated 

 before the angle of the mouth. Two minute nostrils in a 

 triangular depression in front of the eye. No scales. Vertical 

 fins confluent ; the dorsal begiiniing about two snout-lengths 

 behind the gill-opening. No pectorals. 



Colours in spirit : — Grey- brown, belly yellowisli ; branchio- 

 stegal region and base of beak superiorly black. 



One specimen, 10^ inches long, very much injured. 



Hah. Bay of Bengal, west of the Ten Degree Channel 

 (between the Andamans and Nicobars), in 1045 fathoms. 



In conclusion, I have to record my deep obligations to 

 Professor Wood- Mason, of the Indian Museum, who himself 

 collected the larger number of these fishes. In field-work 

 Professor Wood-Mason has, with the most unceasing kindness, 

 aided me with his unrivalled Indian experience; while in the 

 museum and library his advice has been more to me than I 

 can express. 



I must also acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. Gtinther's 

 work on the ' Challenger ' deep-sea fishes, without which I 

 could have made no progress. 



