Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 587 



snout than root of caudal ; length of its base contained nearly 4 times in 

 the total without caudal, its longest ray & length of head. Ventral 

 origin directly under dorsal origin; length of ventral 5 times in body, 

 not reaching nearly to vent ; distance of anal origin from root of the 

 caudal a little more than \ of total length without caudal. Eye longer 

 than snout. Pectoral nearly | as long as body without caudal. 



The type of this species, about 7-i- inches in length, was taken from a 

 halibut's stomach, January 26, 1890, by the schooner Polar Wave, in 

 44 25' N. latitude, 53 VI' W. longitude, in about 300 fathoms. This 

 species may possibly prove identical withal, niyer. The limits of variation 

 of the fin rays in this genus have not been determined for lack of sufficient 

 material. The specimen has 17 anal rays and numerous gem-like dots on 

 the lower part of the body, there being about 30 in the series from the 

 symphysis of the mandible to the ventral. (Goode & Bean.) (gemma, bud 

 or gem; fero, I bear.) 



Astronesthes gemmifer, GOODE & BEAN, Oceanic Ichthyology, 105, fig. 124, 1895, Grand Banks. 

 (Type, No. 24645. Coll. Schr Polar Wave.) 



, 881. ASTROXESTHES RICHARDSONI (Poey). 



Head 4| ; depth 6f ; eye 7. D. 12 or 13 ; A. 13 or 14. Body more elon- 

 gate than in A. niger, less rapidly tapering backward ; barbel much longer 

 than head, reaching beyond tip of pectorals ; dorsal beginning over axil 

 of ventrals, its last ray in advance of vent and far in advance of first 

 of anal; pectorals almost reaching ventrals; lower jaw prominent ; eye 

 small, shorter than snout, the luminous organ below it as long as pupil. 

 Black, with the usual many luminous spots. Deep waters of West Indies, 

 Indian and Pacific oceans. (Liitken.) (Named for Sir John Richardson 

 the discoverer of the genus Astronesthes.) 



Chauliodus richardsmii, POEY, Memorias, 1,176, 1855, Cuba. (Coll. Poey.) 



Astronesthes richardsoni, GtNTHER, Cat., v, 425, 1864; LUTKEN, Spolia Atlantica, n, 55, 1892. 



Family LXXIX. STOMIATID^E. 



Body elongate, tapering, naked or covered with very thin and decidu- 

 ous scales. Head oblong ; snout short and rounded. Eyes large and far 

 forward. Opercular apparatus imperfectly developed. Mouth enormous, 

 with deep lateral cleft; lateral margin of upper jaw formed by maxil- 

 lary and provided with teeth along the edges ; teeth usually strong, 

 unequal, some of them often fang-like or barbed. Gill membranes not 

 joined, free from the isthmus. Branchiostegals numerous (12 to 17); a 

 long barbel at throat. No pseudobranchiaj. Dorsal fin short, median or 

 posterior, without spines; anal free, far behind and small; caudal dis- 

 tinct; pectorals low down on the scapular arch and narrow; ventrals 

 inserted far backward. Stomach caecal, and pyloric appendages absent. 

 Sides with phosphorescent spots. Skeleton feebly ossified. Eggs excluded 

 through oviducts. (Goode &. Bean.) Deep sea-fishes of extremely vora- 

 cious habits; 8 genera and about 20 species known. (Stomiatidce, part, 

 Giinther, Cat., v, 424, 1864.) 

 STOMIATIN.I: : 



a. Pectorals present. 



b. Body covered with fine scales; ventrals very far back. STOMIAB, 279. 



