106 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



fit each side of the symphysis of the lower jaws is immediately forward of 

 the space between the first and the third. 

 Uniform dark brown; fins black. 



Malthopsis spinulosa sp. n. 

 Plate XXL, XXVI. 



Br. r. 6; D. 5-6; A. 4; V. 5; P. 12-13; C. 9. 



Any idea of a close relationship with 31. sparsa, Plate XVIII., that 

 might be suggested by similarity in the outlines of the present type is 

 dissipated on comparison of the coloration, the spines and the subopercular 

 tubercle; the tubercle is obsolescent, the spines are very fine, and give the 

 surface more of a velvety appearance, and the colors have more of the 

 characteristics of those of great depths. Though taken from depths of 200 

 to 300 fathoms, the colors of 31. sparsa were in great degree suggestive of 

 the influence of sunlight. Body and head much depressed, together form- 

 ing a subcircular di.sk, with blunted corners at each side of the snout and 

 opposite each subopercle ; length of body from snout to vent about one 

 length of the eye more than that of the head. Length of skull nearly half 

 and depth of head one third of the width of the disk; crown slightly convex 

 from the internarial region to the nape ; interorbital region little concave 

 transversely. Snout short, shorter at the top, excavated between the nasal 

 sacs for the trilobed, protractile illicium; chin longer. Median lobe of esca 

 larger, foliaceous toward the upjjcr edge, with a slender prolongation at the 

 top and a median groove on the back, movable forward and down when in 

 function ; recess apparently lined with luminous tissue ; lateral lobes 

 smaller, rounder, in some of the specimens at hand highly tinted with a 

 different color from that of the median lobe. Nasal sacs prominent; pos- 

 terior nostril large, transverse ; anterior much smaller, round, Avith a short, 

 bell-shaped tube. Anterior edge of rostrum in most cases slightly turned 

 upward. Mouth of moderate width, oblique, wider than the interorbital 

 space ; lower jaws longer. Teeth in villiform bands on the jaws, in large 

 closely placed groups on the vomer and the palatines, and in a broad band 

 twice as long as wide on the tongue; pharyngeal groups small, rounded, see 

 Plate XXVI., Fig. 4 to 7. Eye one third of the length from snout to nape, 



