1871. J IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 669 



Two specimen, 5 inches long, formed part of a collection from 

 Port Elizabeth (Port Natal). Purchased. 



PSEUDOPHYCIS PEREGRINUS. 



D. 7|62(ca.). A. 66 (ca.). V. 3. 



The height of the body is less than the length of the head, which 

 is two ninths of the total (without caudal). Vent at only a short 

 distance behind the base of the pectoral ; tail tapering into a very 

 narrow band, the extremity of which is surrounded by the caudal 

 fin ; however, the vertical fins remain separate from one another. 

 Head rather broader than deep, its greatest width being two thirds 

 of its length. Interorbital space concave, its width being less than 

 the diameter of the eye, which is one fourth of the length of the 

 head, and equals that of the snout. Snout broad, obtuse, rounded, 

 with the upper jaw overlapping the lower ; the maxillary extends to 

 below the middle of the eye. Barbel shorter than the eye. Vertical 

 fins of moderate depth, with very fine fin-rays ; the first dorsal com- 

 mences opposite to the base of the pectoral. Pectoral as long as the 

 head without snout. The ventral filament is jugular, extending 

 beyond the origin of the anal, and composed of one longer and two 

 shorter rays. Scales minute and deciduous. Reddish olive (in 

 spirits), abdomen black. 



Dr. A. B. Meyer has sent several examples from Manado ; but they 

 were so soft and decomposed that only one could be saved for de- 

 scription and preservation. It is 5 inches long. These fishes live 

 evidently at great depths, which accounts also for the bad state in 

 which they arrived, as it is most difficult to preserve deep-sea fishes 

 after they have been removed from the condition of atmospheric 

 pressure to which they were exposed. Also the stomach is pro- 

 truding into the mouth, a common occurrence in fishes taken from 

 great depths, and provided with an air-bladder. 



The discovery of this fish is of the greatest interest, inasmuch as 

 it is the first instance of a true Gadoid being found in the East- 

 Indian archipelago, Bregmaceros being a much less typical form of 

 this family. The distribution of ichthyic types at great depths is 

 very different from that on the surface of the oceans ; and in eluci- 

 dating the facts of the geographical distribution of marine fishes, it 

 is as important to distinguish between the vertical faunae as between 

 the horizontal. 



The two other species of Pseudophycis known inhabit the coasts 

 of New Zealand and South Australia. 



NannjEthiops (g. n. Tetragonopterin.). 



Dorsal fin placed in the middle of the length of the body, above 

 the ventrals ; anal short. Adipose fin small. Body of moderate 

 depth, covered with scales of moderate size. Belly rounded. Late- 

 ral line present. Cleft of the mouth narrow ; teeth small, in a single 

 series in both jaws, with a simple notch. Maxillary and palate 

 toothless. 



