118 NEW FISHES FROM PACIFIC COAST — GILBERT. 



Teeth iu rather uarrow cardiforiu bauds iu both jaws, not howevc-r 

 forming single series laterally; the outer series iu upper jaw only is 

 enlarged. Augle of preopercle little produced, uot coucealiug the in- 

 teropercle ; the infraorbital ridge uot coutiuued on to it. Gill mem- 

 branes formiug posteriorly a rather wide free fold across isthmus. 

 Outer gill arch joined to gill cover as usual in this genus. 



Scales small, everywhere cycloid, very deciduous, lost in most speci 

 mens. No spines are developed, but occasionally can be seen traces of 

 a median ridge and a pair of lateral ridges. About six or seven series 

 of scales between lateral Hue and base of first dorsal. 



Origin of first dorsal over or in advance of the base of the pectorals. 

 Base of first dorsal 1^ to If in interval between dorsals. Second dor- 

 sal spine usually smooth, occasionally with Iroui one to three weak 

 prickles near the middle. Length of spine If iu head. 



Origin of anal slightly behind first dorsal, the vent midway between 

 base of ventrals and anal. Ventrals snort, the outer ray slightly pro- 

 duced, with froai ten to twelve rays. Pectorals with twenty or twenty- 

 one rays. 



Color : Very dark brown ; snout, opercles, lower side of head, and 

 abdominal region, black or blue-black. Mouth and gill cavity black ; 

 peritoneum dusky silvery. 



Station 2980, iu 603 fathoms. Many specimens. 



84. Piatophrys taeniopterus sp. nov. 



Differing from all known species in the ribbon shaped prolongations 

 of second dorsal ray and first and second ventral rays of eyed side, 

 and in the obsolete lateral line of bliud side. 



Body elongate, the depth 2^ in length, in specimens 3i inches long. 

 Caudal fin subsessile, the last dorsal and anal rays inserted near rudi- 

 mentary caudal rays ; height of caudal peduncle one-quarter height of 

 body. Upper profile descending very obliquely anteriorly, a slight re- 

 entrant angle in front of lower eye; in ujales, the profile slightly' angu- 

 lated iu front of upper orbit, below which it descends more stee])ly. 



Lower eye much iu advance of upper; in females, with eyes close 

 together, the vertical from middle of lower eye i)asses through front of 

 upper orbit. Diameter of upper orbit 3 J iu head. In males the hjwer 

 eye may be entirely in advance of upper. 



In females 3 inches long, and in very young males the iuterorbital 

 space is a narrow, concave, scaleless groove, less than diameter of pupil, 

 running into a deep pit behind lower eye. In males 2 inches long, the 

 iuterorbital space has already widened, and iu specimens 3i inches 

 long is as wide as longitudinal diameter of orbit. It is traversed by 

 an oblique ridge running upwards and backwards from front of lower 

 eye, separating the anterior scaleless portion from the deep scaly pit 

 behind. Supraorbital ridge of lower eye serrated, forming a strong 



