™i89o'"] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 113 



deep notch between these two processes, ami forming the greater i)or- 

 tion of the gill-flap, is the thin niembranons subopercle. Branchiostegal 

 rays seven. Gill-rakers long and slender, the longest three-fourths 

 diameter of orbit, seven above angle, thirteen and about five rudi- 

 ments below. 



Nape midway between front of dorsal and front of eye. Dorsal and 

 anal similar, uniform, low, joined to base of caudal ; the latter truncate, 

 projecting well beyond them. Ventrals inserted under angle of pre- 

 opercle, each of a single ray forked to the very base, the two branches 

 united by membrane for a distance equaling two-thirds orbit. The 

 inner filaments are the longest, one-third longer than head, and extend 

 well beyond front of anal. Pectorals long and narrow, Ih in head ; a 

 narrow membranous tia[) connects base of pectorals with upper angle 

 of opercular flap. 



Scales small, well imbricated, entirely investing body and head, 

 including gular membrane and part of gill membranes. Lateral line 

 nearly complete, lacking for about one-seventh length of body, running 

 high, parallel with dorsal outline. 



Color: Silvery gray, dusted with coarse black specks, darker along 

 dorsal outline. Dorsal and anal with a narrow light streak at base, 

 otherwise dusky, becoming black posteriorly, and with a narrow white 

 margin. Caudal black, with a broad white terminal bar. Pectorals 

 and ventrals white, with few black specks. Peritoneum silvery white. 

 ]Mouth white anteriorly; its posterior portion and gill cavity jet-black. 



Many specimens from Station 2996, in 112 fathoms. Length 7 inches. 



79. Physiculus rastrelliger sp. uov. 



Head 3i in length ; depth if. Length of caudal peduncle to base of 

 median caudal rays, three-sevenths head. Snout short and broadly 

 rounded, 4^ in head; eye 3f; iuterorbital width 4^ to 4f ; maxillary 

 2J, extending to vertical from posterior margin of pupil. 



Teeth in rather broad bands, none of them enlarged; width of i atch 

 on premaxillaries half pupil; vomer and palatines toothless. Branch- 

 iostegal membranes broadly united, joined to the isthmus anteriorly, 

 the width of the free fold more than half pupil. Gill-rakers numerous, 

 slender, moderately long, the longest one-third diameter of orbit, about 

 seven above angle, seventeen to nineteen below, the anterior ones short 

 but movable. 



Origin of first dorsal slightly in advance of base of pectorals, its dis- 

 tance from tip of snout 34 in length. Base of first dorsal equaling 

 length of snout, its longest ray 2f in head. Free portion of caudal pe- 

 duncle equals diameter of eye. 



Second dorsal notched, the median rays three-quarters the height of 

 the highest anterior rays, the posterior highest, equaling first dorsal 

 and longest caudal rays. Anal similar to soft dorsal, but lower. Ven- 

 trals under middle of opercle, the distance between their bases little 

 Proc. X. M. 90 -S 



