1C2 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



length of tlie head. Crown very convex ti-ansversely and slightly so 

 longitudinally. Snout short, less than two thirds as long as the eye, blunt, 

 rather prominent above the midlength. Eye large, lateral, nearly twice 

 as long a.s the snout, length equal to two thirds of the interorbital width. 

 Nostrils at the side of the snout, rather close together, a short groove 

 forward of the anterior at the lip. Moutji wide ; maxillary extending 

 backwaid of the eye about one third of the ocular diameter ; lower jaw 

 little longer. Teeth equal, in villiform bands on jaws, vomer and pala- 

 tines. Vomerine band resembling a V, open backward and curved in 

 arms and apex so that the latter is convex and the former are concave 

 outwards. The strong opercular spine is the only spine on the head. 

 Gills four, a slit behind the fourth. Gill rakers slender, longest three 

 fourths as long as the eye, upper section of first arch with five and two 

 rudiments and lower with thirteen and five rudiments. Gill membranes 

 scarcely united, free from the isthmus. Pf-eudobranchite small. Vertical 

 fins united. Dorsal origin above the base of the j^ectoral. Anal origin 

 below the nineteenth ray of the dorsal. Caudal extending farther back 

 than donsal and anal, narrow, pointed. Pectorals simple, short, four fifths 

 as long as the head. Ventrals filamentary, one fifth longer than the 

 head, bases close together below the humeral sj'mphysis ; ray bifid, parts 

 separate nearly to the base, outer reaching to the anal origin, inner longer 

 and reaching to the tenth or twelfth ray of the anal. Snout to vent 

 about one third of the total length. Pyloric cieca sixteen, of which there 

 are several pairs below the intestine near the stomach. Scales very small, 

 covering body and head. Lateral line distinct, near the dorsal fin, about 

 eight scales distant, disnppeariug near the end of the tail. 



Browr.ish ; margins of fins darker or, with the greater portion of the 

 caudal, blackish, the bases of dorsal and anal and the tip of the caudal 

 being light. Belly and lower portions of head more or less silvery. 



Leno-th six inches and a half 



HoLcoMYCTERONUS gen. n. 



Closely allied to Neobythites, but differing in absence of preopercular 

 spines, in ventrals and in pectorals. The body is compressed, liigh at the 



