20 Dr. A. Giinther on Deep-sea Fishes 



rate size, one sixth of the length of the head, its diameter 

 being two thirds of the length of the snout, and less than the 

 width of the flat interorbital space. The maxillary extends 

 behind the eye ; prEeoperculum without spines. Scales minute, 

 leaving the snout naked. Vertical fins rather low, the dorsal 

 beginning above the extremity of the pectoral. The distance 

 between the vent and root of the ventrals is much more than 

 the length of the head ; the ventrals are inserted behind the 

 angle of the prseoperculum, very close together, and do not 

 extend so far backwards as the pectorals. Uniform brown, 

 with black fins. 



Off" Middle Island, Messier Strait (Station 306), 345 fa- 

 thoms. 



Bathynectes, g. n. Ophidiid. 



Anterior part of the body rather compressed, posterior pro- 

 duced into the long tapering tail, without caudal. Snout not 

 swollen, with the jaws equal or nearly equal in front. Mouth 

 very wide, with the teeth in villiform bands in the jaws, on 

 the vomer and palatine bones. Barbel none. Ventrals re- 

 duced to simple or bifid filaments, placed close together and 

 near to the humeral symphysis. Gill-membranes not united. 

 The gill-laminte are remarkably short ; the middle pieces of 

 the first branchial arch have the gill-rakers of the outer series 

 much elongate, stiflf. Bones of the head soft and cavernous. 

 Operculum with a very feeble spine above. 



A true deep-sea form allied to 8iremho. 



Bathynectes laticeps. 



Head slightly, body and tail more strongly compressed, 

 low; the latter produced into a moderately long filament. 

 Eye rather small, its diameter being one seventh of the length 

 of the head, two thirds of that of snout, and two fifths of the 

 interorbital space, which is convex. The posterior nostrils 

 are wide; the muciferous channel of the infraorbital ring 

 shows in its course five or six wide sinuses, and opens in front 

 by a wide aperture. Mouth very wide, extending far behind 

 the eye, with the extremity of the maxillary much dilated. 

 Vomerine band of teeth V-shaped, with the two arms of the 

 figure straight ; palatine band narrow. 



Mid-Atlantic (Station 104), 2500 fathoms. 



Bathynectes compressus. 



Head and the entire body and tail strongly compressed. 

 Snout somewhat swollen. Eye very small, on the border 



