Fishes taken at Madeira. 



171 



ventral fins there is a depression, the middle part of which is 

 scaleless. 



The anal fin commences under the space separating the two 

 dorsal fins, and is higher and more distinct than the second 

 dorsal ; it is highest at the middle. There are about 82 rays in 

 it, counting all to the tip of the tail. 



The lateral line^ in the anterior part of its course, is nearly 

 parallel with the outline of the back ; it descends a little under 

 the anterior part of the second dorsal, and is then straight along 

 the middle of the tail. 



The following are the dimensions in inches of the two longest 

 specimens that have occurred : — 



Total length 10 



Height under first dorsal 1^ 



Thickness at pectorals -^ 



Head, length 2^ 



„ thickness behind eyes 1^ 



Eye, longer diameter -^ 



,, shorter diameter 



First dorsal, height l^jy 



„ distance from snout 2^ 



Second dorsal, distance from snout .... 3^ 



Pectorals, length l^ 



„ distance from snout 2j\ 



Ventrals, length of first ray 1^ 



" T% 



10 



Vent, distance from tip of mandible 

 Anal, distance from vent 

 „ height at middle . . 

 Barbel, length 



13i 



H 

 H 



If 



"g" 





iiV 



Macrourus lavis, Lowe, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. i. 

 vol. xiii. p. 400. 



1st D. 9. 2nd D. A. & C. 00. P. 15. V. 8. M.B. 7. 



The body is coloured a light grey, and has a sleek appearance, 

 from the smallness of the scales ; those on the head and cheeks 

 are rougher. The head is rather less than one- sixth of the total 

 length of the body, the height of which (under the first dorsal) 

 is contained rather more than seven times in the length. The 

 body attenuates rapidly behind the first dorsal fin. The head is 

 subcubical, the snout short and blunt. On the vertex is a ridge 

 rising from depressions between the eyes, which are oval. The 

 cheeks are flat ; the mouth is on the under side of the snout, 

 which projects one-fifth the length of the head beyond the 

 mouth. The upper border of the mouth is formed entirely of 

 the premaxillary. The teeth are small and acute, forming two 

 rows in the upper jaw, those of the outer row being conical, 

 curved, and larger, but fewer and more irregularly disposed than 



