GONOSTOMATIDAE 299 



equidistant from base of caudal and middle of eye. Anal 23-27; origin just behind last 

 dorsal ray. Pectoral with 17 or 18 rays. Pelvic 7; origin much nearer to base of caudal 

 than tip of lower jaw. Lower series of photophores consisting of 6 on the isthmus, 12 

 from isthmus to pelvic, 6 (2 + 4) from pelvic to origin of anal, and i + 15-18 + 8-9 

 from anal to base of caudal ; there are 9 photophores in the upper row, which ends above 

 the root of the pelvic fin. 



Described from many specimens, 20 to 52 mm. in length. 



Hab. Atlantic; Mediterranean; Red Sea; Indian Ocean; New Zealand; Japan. 



I have carefully tabulated and compared a number of examples from the Mediter- 

 ranean, Atlantic and New Zealand, but am unable to detect any differences of sufficient 

 importance to warrant the recognition of more than one species. Jespersen and Taning 

 have noted certain differences in postlarvae from the Mediterranean and Atlantic 

 respectively, but are unable to separate the adults. 



Maurolicus oculatus, Garman. 



Garman, 1899, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. xxiv, p. 241, pi. liii, fig. 3. 



Perhaps not distinct from the preceding species, but the dorsal fin is said to have only 



6 rays, and the number and arrangement of some of the photophores seems to be some- 

 what different. 



Hab. Coast of California. 



The length of the type is not stated. 



Genus Argyripnus, Gilbert and Cramer 

 Gilbert and Cramer, 1896, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xix, p. 414. 



Closely related to Maurolicus . Praemaxillary , maxillary and mandible with a single series 

 of sharp , needle-like teeth ; one or two small teeth on each side of the vomer and some very 

 small ones on each palatine. Less than 20 gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. 

 Series of photophores between pelvic fin and origin of anal continuous with that above 

 the anterior part of the anal . Origin of dorsal nearer to end of snout than base of caudal . 



One or two species. 



Argyripnus iridescens, McCulloch. 



McCulIoch, 1926, Biol. Res. 'Endeavour', v, p. 169, pi. xlv, fig. 2. 



Depth of body nearly 3I in the length, length of head 3i to 3^. Snout shorter than 

 eye, diameter of which is about 3 1 in length of head and much greater than interorbital 

 width. About 16 gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. Dorsal 12 (12-14). Anal 

 24-25 ; origin below last rays of dorsal. Pectoral with 16 rays. Pelvic 7 ; origin nearer to 

 tip of lower jaw than base of caudal. Lower series of photophores consisting of 6 on the 

 isthmus, 10 from isthmus to pelvic, 20-21 from pelvic to above anterior part of anal, 

 5 above middle of anal, and 13 from above last anal rays to base of caudal; there are 



7 photophores in the upper series. 



