86 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



paddle-shaped, the fin being placed on the upper edge of the end of the 

 lower bone, and reaching to the middle of the entire length of the anal. 

 Ventrals small, narrower toward their bases, apparently four-rayed, but 

 actually possessing two rays in rudimentary condition, bound to the outer 

 pair. 



Color of the fresh specimen a deep rose, tinted with blue to blackish 

 around the angles of the mouth and on the orbit around the eye (Plate C). 

 Color of alcoholic specimens uniform whitish externally and in the mouth ; 

 abdominal cavity lined with black. 



Total length of the described individual ten and one-half inches. 



station. Latitude. Longitude. Depth. Temperature. Bottom, 



3363 5° 43' N. 85° 50' W. 978 fathoms 37.5° F. Wb. glob. oz. 



ONCOCEPIIALID.E. 

 Oncocephalus porrectus sp. n. 



Br. r. 6 ; D. 3-4 ; A. 4 ; Y. 6 ; P. 14 ; C. 9. 



Similar in shape to 0. vcspertilio Linn., but with longer rostrum and 

 different coloration. The blotch at each side of the forward end of the 

 vertebral column on the back is dark and commonly has a lighter centre, 

 whereas on Linne's species the blotcli is made up of a number of rounded 

 liglit edged closely placed blackish spots. The rostral prolongation is much 

 shorter than that of 0. longlrostrk C. V. ; in fact it forms an intermediate 

 between that species and 0. vespertilio, in this respect. 



Disk subtriangnlar, in width equal to the length of the head or three 

 times the depth ; sides inclined, deepest at the head ; caudal region sub- 

 triangular in cross section, flattened on the lower surface, with a blunt 

 dermal keel at each edge, rounded across the top, tapering from the disk 

 but narrowing more abruptly a short distance forward of the caudal fin. 

 Skull from end of snout to nape half as long as the disk; forehead flattened, 

 or slightly concave between the orbits. Rostrum acute, strong, round in a 

 transverse section, in length equal to the width of the skull, deeply ex- 

 cavated on the lower side for the lodgment of the protractile illicium, 

 Illicial bulbs higher than wide, the two lateral rounded, the median 

 (upper) triangular and pointed at the top, all moved forward and downward 

 when in function. Possibly the bulbs in this species, and in most other 

 Halieutoids, are invisible when withdrawn to the niche and presenting their 



