102 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



on the first arch ; rakers six on each of the first two arches, short, thick, 

 rounded; gill openings smaller than the pupil, little forward of the vent, 

 placed superiorly in the axilla). Branchiostegal rays six, all resting 

 against the ceratohyal, outer one much larger and stronger, firmly joined 

 to the lower side of the outer edge of the suboperculum. Operculum nar- 

 row anteriorly, much broadened backward ; suboperculum broad, with a 

 feebly developed four to six spined tubercle at the angle of the disk. 

 Skin of the upper surface covered with unequal, closely set, sharp cusped, 

 broad based tubercles, with radiating ridges on the bases, larger and 

 bearing two or more cusps along the edge of the disk, yet larger along 

 the middle of the back and in somewhat regular series on the tail, else- 

 where more closely set and surrounded by smaller narrow based slender 

 spines. The radiating ridges of many scales bear very small cusps. Scales 

 of the ventral surface fine and sharp. The lateral line is easily traced 

 by the rounded sensory 2:)apilloe, of which there are about a dozen in the 

 series from the snout over the eye and the back to the side of the tail. 

 At each side of each papilla there is a spine and a fleshy lobe, more or less 

 fringed, by which it is protected and hidden; on the lower side of the 

 disk the line forms a deep channel crossed by bridges over the papillse. 

 The second papilla at each side of the chin is in front of the space 

 between the first and third. 



Dorsal origin about midway from snout to end of caudal, base hardly 

 as long as the orbit, greatest length nearly the width of the mouth ; 

 anal narrow, shorter than the dorsal and originating little backward of 

 its hindmost ray; caudal as long as the skull, slightly convex on the hind 

 margin ; pectorals as long as the caudal, fringed ; ventrals narrow, fringed, 

 length equal to width of moutli. 



Fresh specimens brownish, more or less gray, with rather faint and 

 ill defined spots of light brown somewhat closely placed over the disk ; or 

 in cases with white vermiculations in the brown, or in others Avith whitish 

 spots over a brownish surfixce ; ventral surface uniform light ; orbits 

 darker. 



