LOPHIDIA. 75 



orbit in advance of the middle of tlie total length, fin liigher in the middle, 

 rajs extending beyond the membrane.*, not reaching the base of the caudal ; 

 anal not quite as large as the dorsal, originating and ending one or more 

 rays fartlier backward, ends of rays reaching the bases of those of the 

 candal; pectorals short, two thirds as broad as long, truncate in the npper 

 eight or ten rays, with long fringes, and with rays shortening rapidly 

 forward, in the lower half; ventrals two thirds as long as the caudal, of six 

 rays, posterior two rays longest, anterior ra^' rudimentary; caudal medium, 

 subtruncate on the end, as long as the skull to the nape. 



Brownish more or less spotted, blotched, clouded, or freckled with lighter, 

 darker on the top of the head, blackish on the chin, shading on the flanks 

 to the white of the lower surface ; in most cases with a black ring around 

 the base of the humeral spine and white margins on the fins ; dorsal with 

 an irregular longitudinal band in the middle ; caudal most often with a 

 V-shaped transverse band of white on the middle and another across the 

 peduncle at the base; anal nearly white, blackish posteriorly; pectorals 

 brownish with white spots and brown ones of variable sizes more or less 

 irregularly arranged in transverse bands, varying to uniform brown with 

 white margins. On some individuals there are rounded spots of white, as 

 large as the eye, on the sides of the tail. 



The group of Lophidia is one of the best adapted to the evolution of 

 deep sea species. Nearly all of the members rest and feed on the bottom, 

 are sluggish and but poorly fitted for swimming. Having slid down toward 

 the depths no great exertion could be expected toward the recovery of the 

 upper level. From such conditions great variety of species and limited 

 horizontal distribution of each follow as matter of course. That such is the 

 fact is tolerably well supported by the material secured by this expedition. 



Dividing the group into two, the Lophioids, in which the illicium (the 

 bait and rod) is raised vertically and turned back on the top of the head, 

 and the Halieutoids, in which the illicium is protruded horizontally in front 

 of the head, it is seen that the collection includes four species of three 



