32 THREE CRUISES OF THE " BLAKE." 



Antennarius (Fig. 211), has become adapted to life on the 

 bottom, and is found nearly down to the hundred-fathom line. 

 Chaunax pictus, a closely related genus, was taken by the 

 66 Blake "in 288 fathoms. The Ceratiidse are the only pedicu- 

 lates which are exclusively and characteristically abyssal. Me- 

 lanocetus, a deep-sea Lophius in appearance, ranges from 360 

 to 1,850 fathoms ; the " Blake " took it in 992 fathoms. 



The Alepocephalidse, the Halosauridse (Fig. 213), and Chau- 

 liontidse (Fig. 214), are families which have become perma- 



Fig. 215. Ipnops Murray i. 



nent residents on the bottom. To the former belongs Alepo- 

 cephalus Agassizii (Fig. 212), a magnificent fish which attains 

 a length of at least three feet, is covered with silvery scales, and 

 is noted for its large eyes ; while allied to the scopelids, but 

 inhabitants of deep water, belong certain genera, as Ipnops (Fig. 



Fig. 217. Bathypterois qnadrifilis. About 



215), Bathysaurus (Fig. 216), with its huge dorsal fin and fine 

 teeth set in many rows, Bathypterois (Fig. 217), and Bentho- 

 saurus (Fig. 218), a small-eyed fish, with large ventral. 



The pectoral rays of Bathypterois are strangely modified ; the 

 anterior ray is independent of the others, and so articulated that 



