32 



THREE CRUISES OF THE " BLAKE. 



Antennarius (Fig. 211), has become adapted to life on the 

 bottom, and is found nearly down to the hundred-fathom line. 

 Chaunax pictus, a closely related genus, was taken by the 

 " Blake " in 288 fathoms. The Ceratiidse are the only pedicu- 

 lates which are exclusively and characteristically abyssal. Me- 

 lanocetus, a deep-sea Lophius in appearance, ranges from 360 

 to 1,850 fathoms ; the " Blake " took it in 992 fathoms. 



The Alepocephalidae, the Halosauridae (Fig. 213), and Chau- 

 liontidae (Fig. 214), are families which have become perma- 



Fig. 215. — Ipnops Murrayi. About \. 



nent residents on the bottom. To the former belongs Alepo- 

 cephahts Agassizii (Fig. 212), a magnificent fish which attains 

 a length of at least three feet, is covered with silvery scales, and 

 is noted for its large eyes ; while allied to the scopelids, but 

 inhabitants of deep water, belong certain genera, as Ipnops (Fig. 



Fig. 217. — Bathypterois quadrifilis. About §. 



215), Bathysaurus (Fig. 216), with its huge dorsal fin and fine 

 teeth set in many rows, Bathypterois (Fig. 217), and Bentho- 

 saurus (Fig. 218), a small-eyed fish, with large ventral. 



The pectoral rays of Bathypterois are strangely modified ; the 

 anterior ray is independent of the others, and so articulated that 



