STOMIATID^. 629 



This genus, of which one species only {Ch. sloanii) is 

 known, is generally distributed over the great depths of the 

 oceans, and does not appear to be scarce ; it attains to a 

 length of 12 inches, and must be one of the most formidable 

 fishes of prey of the deep-sea. 



Allied genera are Gonostoina, niotichthys, and Dii^lojplios, 

 all of which have the teeth of much smaller size. 



FOUETEENTH FAMILY — StOMIATID^. 



Skin naked, or with exceedingly delicate scales; a hyoid 

 harhel. Margin of the wpinr jaw formed ly the intermaxillary 

 and maxillary which are hoth toothed; opercular apparatus 

 hut little developed. Gill-opening very ivide ; iDseudohranchice 

 none. The eggs are enclosed in the sacs of the ovarium, and 

 excluded hy oviducts. 



Deep-sea fishes, descending to the greatest depths, charac- 

 terised by their barbel and their formidable dentition. 



Fig. 286. — Astronesthes niger. Tlie white spots in front of tlie eye are 

 pliosjAorescent organs. 



Some have two dorsal fins, the posterior of which is adi- 

 pose ; they belong to the genus Astroncsthcs, are the smallest 

 of the family, and frequently met with in the Atlantic. 



The others — viz. Sfomias, Echiostoma, Malacosteus, and 

 Batliyophis, lack the adipose fin, the rayed dorsal being 

 opposite to the anal. Of these the one longest known is 



Stomias. — Body elongate, compressed, covered with exceed- 



