260 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
the diameter exceeding a third of the head’s length; the interorbital 
space is little more than a quarter of the same length, and the snout is 
considerably less than a third; the latter, viewed from above, is sub- 
quadrate, but with an anterior median projection and its bounding ridges 
emarginated ; the rostro-suborbital is well defined and continues back- 
ward toward the interior limb ofthe preopercle, while the lower surface of 
the snout and below the suborbital ridge are well developed ; the mouth 
is rather small; the opercle is also comparatively small and triangular, 
the posterior margin being nearly rectilinear; the dorsal spine is about 
as long as the head from the front of mouth to the tip of opercle, and 
isarmed with strong spines appressed upwards; the pectorals reach 
backward to the vertical of the fourth or fifth anal ray, and the fila- 
mentary ventrals to about the third ray. 
1D. (1). 11. 10, (2) 198s, Astie. Peto Nin 
The scales are quite small, there being about 27 longitudinal rows in 
front (6 + 1 4 20), and are characteristic in their armature, there being 
generally 15 or 16 (13-20) rows of alternating subequal spines on the 
surface and no approach to union of any into keels. 
The color, in alcohol, is yellowish-brown, merging into bluish on the 
abdomen. 
N. M. Nos. | Station. | Latitude. Longitude, | Fathoms.  sipociupdesen 
| | oO ‘ uw) o / ” 
3 BT NO CORSE ents Soaps Sone nO ao eis sake | 2062 | 42 17 00) 66 32 00 150 15 
SOLU Dee sae cle a olwies ears em eleteinta mn isaieln te | PANE ee ee [2 = ateloieie emai, 9) mimmn ore 3 
DIAGNOSES OF NEW GENERA OF NEMICHTHYOID EELS. 
By THEODORE GILL and JOHN A. RYDER. 
Hitherto only three species have been recognized among the Nemich- 
thyoid eels—three species of Nemichthys (NV. scolopaceus, N. avocetta, and 
N. infans) and one representing an isolated type that possibly repre- 
sents another family—the genus Cyema of Dr. Giinther. But the trawl- 
ing operations of the United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross 
were rewarded in 1883 by the finding of not less than four species rep- 
resenting three hitherto unknown modifications of structure necessi- 
tating generic distinction. One of these forms was in most respects 
closely allied to the ordinary long known type, but the other two were 
very different. Diagnoses of the new types are here offered in advance 
of the publication of more detailed descriptions and illustrations at 
some other time. 
SERRIVOMER. 
Nemichthyids with the head behina eyes of an elongated parallelo- 
eramic form, with moderately attenuated jaws, branchiostegal mem- 
brane confluent at posterior margin, but with the branchial apertures 
limited by an isthmus except at the margin, and with lancet-shaped 
vomerine teeth in a crowded (sometimes doubled) row. 
