NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 217 



found along other continental shores. Here they were red, due, apparently, to the large 

 quantities of ochreous matter carried into the sea by the Brazilian rivers. Usually the 

 colour of deposits along continental shores is blue, with a surface layer of a red or brownish 

 colour. The carbonate of lime in the soundings off this coast varied from GO to 6 per cent, 

 according to depth, distance from the coast, and whether or not opposite the embouchures 

 of rivers. The mineral particles consisted of fragments of quartz, plagioclase, felspars, 

 sometimes kaolinized, epidote, mica, augite, hornblende, fragments of rocks and vitreous 

 particles, the size varying from # 05 to 1 and 2 mm. in diameter. Radiolarians and 

 Diatoms were nearly, if not quite, absent from these deposits, and when present they, 

 along with siliceous Sponge spicules, did not appear to make up over 0'5 per cent, of 

 the whole deposit. The apparently complete absence of glauconite along this coast was 

 also remarkable. 



The various dredgings and trawlings along the coast were very successful, and yielded 

 a large number of new species belonging to nearly all the invertebrate groups. Here the 

 first specimens of a new genus of fish, Bathypterois, were procured, of which Dr. A. 

 Giinther. F.R.S., remarks : — 



Fig. 88.— Bathypterois longipes, Giintli. 



Bathypterois. — " The fishes of this singular Scopeloid genus have retained much of the 

 outward appearance of surface fishes, and without knowing their origin, we might take 

 them as equally well organised for life in some quiet dark water near to the surface. 

 They resemble somewhat a smelt in general contour of the body, which is covered 

 with cycloid scales, more or less firmly adherent and of moderate size. The head is scale- 

 less, ending in a depressed snout, with wide mouth, the lower jaw projecting beyond the 

 upper. The teeth are very small, in villiform beads ; the eyes rudimentary. 



" Very curious is the modification of the pectoral rays, which are much elongated, 

 some of the upper even being separated from the remainder of the fin, and forming a 

 distinct division. These rays are evidently tactile organs, by means of which the fish can 

 examine and discriminate objects which are hidden in the ooze, and which it could not 



(narr oh all. exp. — vol, i.— 1884.) 28 



