of the Bay of Bengal &c. 461 
the gill-opening. No scales. Vertical fins confluent; the 
dorsal begins about a snout-length behind the occiput. No 
pectorals. 
Colours in life :—“ Silvery ; iris black” (Wood-Mason). 
Maximum length 104 inches. 
Four specimens. 
Hab. Bay of Bengal, lat. 19° 35’ N., long. 92° 24’ E., in 
272 fathoms ; Andaman Sea, 7 miles south-east by south of 
Ross Island, in 265 fathoms. 
Gavialiceps microps, sp. nov. 
Body cylindrical ; tail long and pointed, but not tapering. 
Vent situated about a snout-length behind the gill-opening. 
Snout in the form of a long, rigid, needle-pointed beak, with 
a stout pyramidal base, formed by the jaws and vomer; the 
upper segment slightly projecting. Upper jaw serrated; a 
row of slightly recurved teeth in the lower jaw ; on the vomer, 
which forms the anterior third of the upper segment of the 
beak, a single prolonged row of long teeth posteriorly and a 
cluster of minute asperities anteriorly. Eyes minute, situated 
before the angle of the mouth. Two minute nostrils in a 
triangular depression in front of the eye. Noscales. Vertical 
fins confluent ; the dorsal beginning about two snout-lengths 
behind the gill-opening. No pectorals. 
Colours in spirit :—Grey-brown, belly yellowish ; branchio- 
stegal region and base of beak superiorly black. 
One specimen, 103 inches long, very much injured. 
Hab. Bay of Bengal, west of the Ten Degree Channel 
(between the Andamans and Nicobars), in 1045 fathoms. 
In conclusion, I have to record my deep obligations to 
Professor Wood- Mason, of the Indian Museum, who himself 
collected the larger number of these fishes. In field-work 
Professor Wood-Mason has, with the most unceasing kindness, 
aided me with his unrivalled Indian experience; while in the 
museum and library his advice has been more to me than I 
can express. 
I must also acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. Giinther’s 
work on the ‘Challenger’ deep-sea fishes, without which L 
could have made no progress. 
