Classificatlm of the Order laiomi. 127 



more slender and less distinctly flattened ; pectoral of two well- 

 separated portions, the upper of a very long bifid ray, usually 

 with 1 or 2 short rays in its axil, the lower of from 8 to 14 

 simple filamentous rays ; lowest caudal ray not excessively 



prolonged ; eyes present, small 6. Bathypterois. 



III. Body more or less compressed ; snout more or less produced ; 

 maxillary not reaching the eye. 



A. Body moderately elongate, somewhat compressed; dorsal and 



pelvic fins placed well forward 7. Parasudis. 



B. Body elongate, strongly compressed ; dorsal and pelvic fins placed 



posteriorly. 



No strong canines.' 8. Paralepis *. 



Several long canine teeth on each side of the lower 



jaw 9. Sudis. 



The new genus Bathysauropsis i-5 here established for 

 Chlorophtlialmus gracilis, Giinth. It differs from Chloro- 

 phthalmus in the more slender body, depressed head, somewhat 

 smaller eyes, broader interorbital region, broader and more 

 depressed snout, larger mouth, pelvic fins further apart and 

 more advanced, pectorals placed higher, &c. In fact, it is in 

 every way intermediate between Chlorophthalmus on the one 

 hand and Ipnops and Benthosaurus on the other. Ipnops 

 resembles it in form, scaling, structure, and position of the 

 fins, mouth, dentition, &c., and it is open to question whether 

 anything is gained by placing it in a different family on 

 account of the characters of specialization indicated in the 

 synopsis. Benthosaurus and Hemipterois (a new genus with 

 Bathypterois guentheri, Alcock, as the type) lead from 

 Bathysauropsis to Bathypterois f. 



* M. Dollo (Proc. R. Soc. Edinb. xxviii. 1908, p. 59) recognizes a 

 family Paralepidse to include Paralepis, Sudis, and five other genera. Of 

 these, Notolepis, Dollo, seems to difler from Paralepis only in having a 

 longer adipose fin, and Lestidium, Gilb., is doubtfully distinct from Sudis. 

 Neosudis, Casteln., and Plagyodus (Alepidosaurus) are not, in my opinion, 

 members of this group, and Prymnothotms hookeri is h larval form of 

 uncertain relationships. 



t The species of Bathypterois may be provisionally arranged thus : — 



I. Lowest pectoral r&y very long quadrijilis, Giinth. 



II. Lowest pectoral ray not greatly prolonged. 



A. Lower part of pectoral 8 or 9 rayed. 



Outermost pelvic rays sUghtly produced | f£,%rauer. 



Outermost pelvic rays moderately produced . , . . < ^^bi^^^^Y "n" ' 

 Outermost pelvic rays considerably produced .... longicauda, Giinth. 



B. Lower part of pectoral 10 or 11 rayed. 



Outermost pelvic ray scarcely produced antennatus, Gilb. 



Outermost pelvic ray moderately produced )ScT/o;-*'ll^^"k 



