DOLOPICHTHYS ALLECTOR. 81 



CERATIIDJE. 



DoLOPiciiTin's gen. n. 



Degenerate pediculates adapted to a life in the nuid and ooze at 

 great depths in the ocean, having the fins more or less concealed in the 

 skin and imperfectly suited to free progression off the bottom, and cap- 

 turing the prey by means of an illicium, a modification of the anterior 

 dorsal spine. 



Form short, compressed, tapering from the occiput both forward and 

 backward. Head large, subquadrangular in trans-section; skull with spines; 

 forehead a longitudinal trough, concave transversely; snout broad, blunt; 

 mouth large, cleft anterior and lateral; teeth depressible, acicular, unequal, 

 in a single series on intermaxillary and dentary ; no palatine teeth ; tongue 

 well developed ; eyes lateral. Illicium elongate, two jointed. Three gills, 

 none on the first arch ; gill openings moderate, below the pectorals. Six 

 branchiostegal rays. Skin naked, loose, soft. Fins small, more or less 

 hidden in the skin ; no ventrals. No caruncles. No pyloric appendages. 

 No air bladder. 



Some of the features to be relied upon in separating this genus from its 

 nearest now known allies are the presence of cephalic spines and of a two 

 jointed illicium, and the absence of dermal armature and of caruncles. If 

 the illicium is excepted, the rudimentary condition of the fins is such as 

 would place the typical species lower in the scale than any of the others of 

 its nearer allies with which we are at present acquainted. The habits are 

 no doubt similar to those of the related species. The texture of the skin 

 alone is sufficient to fix the type as an inhabitant of muddy areas, and the 

 fins are better adapted for propulsion through soft mud and ooze than for 

 swimming freely through the water. 



Dolopichthys allector sp. n. 

 Plates XIIl, XIV., XV. 



Br. r. 6 ; D. 1 + 6 ; A. 6 ; V. ; P. 20 ; C. 9 ; Vert. 19. 



General shape short and compressed, in depth more than one-third of 

 the entire length, in width less than two-thirds of the depth. Body taper- 

 ing from the head; body cavity three-fifths of the total length; caudal 



c 



