108 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



yet through their activity and abundance of fin surface they appear to have 

 maintained their places on the upper levels. Though nearly coincident with 

 the Discoboles in horizontal distribution, compared with them Very few 

 indeed belong to the deep sea. The seasonal migrations of the Cottoids 

 have a considerable range vertically; many species descend a hundred and 

 fifty fathoms or more and thus intrude themselves into the list of fishes 

 habitually dwelling below the hundred fathom level. The greatest depth 

 given for a member of tlie group is that of Cottunculus inermis, taken by the 

 Steamer " Ingolf " at nine hundred and fifty-seven fathoms, off" the north- 

 eastern coasts of Iceland, and Cottunculus Thomsoni is close upon this with 

 a depth of nine hundred and twelve. An approach toward these is that of 

 Cottiis kith//hii(s, secured by the " Challenger," south of Yedo, Japan, in five 

 hundred and sixty-five fathoms. A fiiir idea of the representation below a 

 hundred fathoms may be obtained from the list of species. 



TMGLOIDS. 



Several species belonging to this group appear in the collection. One or 

 two of the new ones, Peristedium barbiger and P. cnistosum are somewhat 

 questionable additions to the number of deep sea species, though taken at 

 various depths between fifty-six and a hundred and eighty-two fathoms. 

 Agomis decagomis, as taken in the " Ingolf" collections, is from the greatest 

 depth as yet noted for the group, seven hundred and twenty nine fath- 

 oms, off the northern coasts of Iceland. Peristedium Pivers-Andersom 

 Ale, was obtained by the " Investigator" off Colombo, Ceylon, in depths of 

 one hundred and forty two to four hundred fathoms. 



TRIGLID.E. 

 Prionotus frontalis sp. n. 



Br. r. 7; D. XI, 11 ; A. 11 ; V. 6 ; P. 12 + 3 ; LI. 103, scales; Ltr. 



8 + 20. 



Form less elongate, head more prominent in the orbital region, groove 

 between the orbits narrower and deeper, and the lateral bones of the snout 

 less produced than in Prionofus miles Jen. Body comparatively short and 

 stout, tapering rapidly from the skull, depth nearly one fourth of the entire 

 length ; vent midway from the front of the orbit to the base of the caudal. 



