130 On the Affinilies of the Genus Draconetta. 



Such an examination of the pharyngeals as is possible 

 without injury to the specimen shows that they are appa- 

 rently similar to those of Scombresox, whilst the middle and 

 posterior dorsal and anal rays are of the same type as the ray 

 immediately preceding the first finlet in the dorsal and anal 

 fins of S. saurus. 



XVII. — On the Affinities of the Genus Draconetta, with 

 Description of a new Species. By C. Tate Regan, B.A. 



In 1903 Jordan and Fowler (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxv. 



p. 939) instituted a new genus, Draconetta, for a single 



species, D. xenica, known only from one example of 2^ inches, 



taken at a depth of 100 fathoms in Suruga Bay, Japan. 



This genus was made the type of a distinct family, regarded 



as allied to the Callionymidae. 



In the British Museum collection there is a Draconetta^ 



received from the Smithsonian Institution as Callionymus 

 himantojyhorus, Goode and Bean, and stated to have been 



dredged in the North Atlantic, and which is described below 



under the name D. acanthopoma. 



An examination of this example seems to leave no room 

 for doubt that Draconetta is closely allied to Harpagifr, 

 •which genus it resembles in the naked body, the position of 

 the fins, the restricted gill-openings, &c., and in having the 

 operculum and suboperculum reduced and each represented 

 by a strong spine. In Draconetta^ as in Ilarpagifer, there is 

 a single nostril on each side situated at the apex of a tubular 

 papilla ; other apertures which have the appearance of 

 nostrils are the pores of the sensory canal system, which is 

 well developed on the head. 



Draconetta differs from Harpagifer in the more slender 

 body, the complete absence of a lateral line, the large con- 

 tiguous eyes, and the more pungent dorsal spines. 



Harpagifer has been placed by Boulenger in the Noto- 

 theniidse, and after re-examination of the skeletons it appears 

 to me beyond doubt that it is closely related to Notothenia ; 

 consequently the family Draconettidse should be given up. 



Draconetta acanthopoma, sp. n. 



Depth of body 5| times in the length, length of head 3^ 

 times. Eyes large, contiguous, their diameter § the length 



