new Stomiatid Fish from South-ioest of Ireland. 295 



moreover, a slender simple hyoid barbel about six times as 

 long as its body. 



Both G. dentatus and the species below described are 

 known from single specimens only, and under these circum- 

 stances we think it better not to create a new genus for the 

 reception of the Irish fish, but to so modify the existing 

 definition of the genus Grammatostomias as to include both 

 the latter and G. dentatus. 



The great liability to injury of a long and slender barbel 

 makes the presence of such an organ an unsatisfactory cha- 

 racter for use in generic definition ; the structure of the 

 pectoral fins in G. flagellibarba, while apparently unique, 

 cannot be accurately described, and the very singular, probably 

 luminous, looped band of the last-named species may possibly 

 be present in one sex only, like certain luminous organs in 

 some Scopelids. Apart from the pectoral and the band there 

 seems to be very little difference between G. dentatus and 

 G. flagellibarba. 



The genus Grammatostomias may be redefined as follows: — 



Grammatostomias. 



Form compressed and moderately elongate. Dorsal and 

 anal with numerous rays opposite each other and near the 

 caudal. Pectorals present, set very low. Ventrals set at 

 about the middle of the total length without the caudal, but 

 nearer to the head than to the caudal. Caudal with the dorsal 

 lobe shorter than the ventral. Eye not longer than the 

 snout. Teeth in the jaws widely separate and fang-like, an 

 anterior fixed pair in each jaw followed by several smaller 

 fixed teeth and by a few depressible teeth situate a little 

 internally to the fixed teeth. Vomer toothless. Hyoid barbel 

 very long and simple. Skin without scales. Two rows of 

 small photophores on the sides below the middle line. 



Grammatostomias flagellibarba, sp. n. 



Length of head about 5^ in total length without caudal fin 

 and a little greater than greatest height of body, which is 

 about twice its greatest width. Eyes shorter than snout, 

 about 8 in length of head and 2f in width of interorbital 

 space. 



Teeth * slender and very sharp, their bases closely sur- 

 rounded by the black epidermis. Those in upper jaw almost 



* Some individual variation in the dentition may be reasonably 

 assumed. 



