128 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



inent above the vomer, bluntly rounded at the end. Mouth wide, with 

 the inaxillai-y subtending the anterior third of the orbit. Cleft to a vertical 

 from the front margin of the eye. Teeth small, in villiform bands on jaws, 

 vomer, and palatines. Eye large, one sixth of the head, more than the 

 iuterorbital space, one and one half to one and three fourths times in the 

 snout. Nostrils small, tubular, near the end of the snout. A low median 

 longitudinal crest on the top of the back of the head. Opercle long, with 

 a flexible point on the upper angle. Dorsal and anal confluent with the 

 caudal fin. Origin of dorsal above the axil of the pectoral ; longest rays 

 as long as the snout ; fin rising gradually both from origin and from caudal. 

 Anal similar to dorsal, originating below the seventeenth ray of the latter. 

 Caudal not distinct from D. and A., forming a short point. No ventrals. 

 Distance to vent from pectoral bases two thirds of the length of the head. 

 Pectorals one and one third times as long as the head, peculiar in being 

 narrow at the base and greatly elongated in the rays of tlie upper half or 

 two thirds of the fin. These prolongations are very flexible, and in some 

 features resemble nuptial growths on certain other vertebrates. The rajs 

 project beyond the membranes on the edges of the fins. On a smaller 

 specimen, of nine and one half inches, the pectorals have the same shapes 

 but are proportionally shorter, being only as long as the head. Bones of 

 the head not particularly firm, with extensive chambei's or cavities. Skin 

 thick on body and fins, soft. Scales very small, absent from head, shoul- 

 ders and fins. Lateral line invisible. 



Brownish, possibly tinted with red in life ; dorsal and anal posteriorly 

 and caudal blackish ; pectorals whitish ; lower surface of head whitish. 



The specimen described and figured had an entire length of seventeen 

 and one half inches. 



Bothrocaropsis rictolata sp. n. 

 Plate XXXIII. fig. 1. 



Br. r. 6 ; D. 105 ; A. Dl ; V. ; P. 13 ; C. 10. 



In common with the others of the genus this species has a much com- 

 pressed body, in which the depth equals two thirds of the length of the 

 bead, and tapers rapidly to narrow slender and pointed in the tail. Head 



