tieio Decp-sed Fish. 311 



Tlie sides of llic tail are apiiiy. 



Tlie lower surface of both disk and tail is smo(;tlt and 

 devoid of spines. 



The two dorsal fins are equal in length and are in contact 

 at their bases ; the caudal fin is a minute fold. 



The tnoutli is transverse in its outer part and curved in 

 the middle ; its breadth is exactly half the length of the 

 snout. 



There are forty-two rows of teeth across both upper and 

 lower jaw. 



The teeth in tlie middle of the series are loui; and curved ; 

 their bases are heart-sha|)ed. 



Colours in the fresh state : — The upper surface of the disk is 

 pure white, passing into dark grey at the margin of the 

 pectoral tins. The upper surface of the pelvic fins and 

 claspers is grey. The iris is black, but tlie pupil has a white 

 milky appearance : the anatomical cause of this was unfor- 

 tunately not made out in the fresh state. The entire lower 

 surface is purplish black. In consistency the whole body is 

 soft and flabby ; when taken from the trawl it was rolled up 

 in a cylindrical posture. 



The single specimen (a male), measuring 60 cm. in its 

 greatest length and 33 cm. in its greatest breadth, was taken 

 trom 820 fathoms in the Arabian Sea off the Baluchistan 

 coast. 



In the same trawl was obtained a black pillow-shaped eg^ 

 with four hollow horns at the corners; this measures 2^ hy 

 1^ inches. The horns are not equal in length : those of one 

 pair are 2^ inches long and are separated by a straight border ; 

 those of the other pair are 1^ inch long and are separated by 

 a tongue-shaped projection of the border, which constitutes a 

 smaller fiith horn. 



The most characteristic features of this species are the soft 

 flabby consistency in the fresh state and tlie remarkable 

 coloration, which suggested the name R. reversa. 



In concluding these notes I must acknowledge my 

 indebtedness to Lt.-Col. A. Alcock, I. M.S., F.R.S., who has 

 kindly given me much help and advice in their production. 



Figures of these four species will be subsequently published 

 in the " ' Investigator ' Illustrations.'^ 



