of the Arabian Sea. 299 



width of the interorbital space, and ^ greater than the major 

 diameter of the eye. 



Eye situated high up, the supraorbital border entering the 

 dorsal profile. 



The posterior nostril much larger than the anterior. 



Mouth-cleft extremely wide, the maxilla, which is much 

 expanded behind, measuring § of the head-length ; jaws con- 

 terminous, with sharp dentary edges and rudimentary labial 

 folds. Villiforra teeth in narrow bands in the jaws and pala- 

 tines, scattered and obsolescent on the wide V-shaped head 

 of the vomer. Tongue very small, papilliform. 



Gill-openings very wide, the membranes entirely fi'ee ; four 

 gills with narrow laminse ; gill-rakers well developed on all 

 the arches, those on the outer side of the first arch, to the 

 number of twenty, very long and bristle-like. The pseudo- 

 branchiffi are reduced to two small lamellae on each side. 



Small deciduous scales on the body and at least the poste- 

 rior half of the head ; there are apparently twenty rows 

 between the vent and the dorsal fin. 



In the fresh state there is a thick subcutaneous layer of 

 mucus, as in Bathyonus. Lateral line undistinguishable. 



The dorsal fin begins immediately behind the vertical 

 through the gill-opening, the anal immediately behind the 

 vent, which is a head-length distant from the gill-opening. 

 Pectorals narrow, pointed, as long as the rostrorbital por- 

 tion of the head. The ventrals arise close together, just 

 behind the pectoral symphysis ; each consists of a simple fila- 

 ment as long as the postrostral portion of the head. 



Stomach siphonal ; intestine long (half the total), much 

 coiled ; no pyloric cajca. Air-bladder small. 



Colours in the fresh state: — Transparent grey: oro- 

 pharyngo-branchial membrane and parietal peritoneum intense 

 black. 



A single female specimen 7 inches long, with the end of 

 the tail missing. 



Station 104, 1000 fathoms. 



Family Macruridse. 



Macrurus, Bloch. 



Subgenus Macrurus (Bloch). 



5. Macrurus Ilextiij sp. n. 



B. 6. D. T^o/llO circ. A. circ. 110. P. 21-22. V. 7. 



L. lat. circ. 130. L. tr. J . 



29 circ. 



The length of the head is half that ot the entire trunk or ^ 



