CATAETYX. 167 



vomer, and pal.'itines. Yonierino band V-shaped, witli the branches curv- 

 ing out and backward toward the pahitines and the apex doscendhig forward 

 and expanded into a rather broad patch. Eye very small, two (if'lhs as long 

 as the snout, two sevenths of the interorbital space, one eleventh of the 

 length of the head. Nostrils prominent ; posterior higher than the eye, its 

 distance from the orbit equal that from one another or that from the ante- 

 rior to the intermaxillary ; a groove from the anterior to the lip. Opercu- 

 lar spine weak, flexibKj ; preopercle not armed. No barbels. Gill openings 

 wide ; membranes not united, free from the isthmus. Pseud obranchiae 

 small. Genital papilla small. Vertical fins united ; dorsal origin forward of 

 the bases of the pectorals ; anal origin less than the length of the head be- 

 hind the latter; caudal narrow, elongate, acute, united at the base with 

 dorsal and anal. Pectoral base wide, about one third of the length of the 

 fin ; lower section of the fin longest, flexible, pointed. Ventrals close to- 

 gether, at the humeral symphysis, each a single, segmented filamentary ray, 

 two thirds as long as the head. 



About fifteen inches in total length. 



Fins, mouth, throat, gill membranes, and linings of mouth and body cav- 

 ity black. Body over the muscular portions brownish, possibly reddish or 

 purplish in life. Top and sides of head, over the very extensive mucous 

 cavities whitish, possibly light producing in the living animal. 



Cataetyx Giint., 1887, "Challenger" Report, Deep Sea Fishes, 104. 



Form somewhat resembling that of Diplacanthopoma. Body elongate 

 compressed ; scales small ; lateral line distinct. Head elongate; depressed ; 

 cheeks scaly. Eye small, superior. Mouth wide, anterior, intermaxillary 

 alone forming the upper margin. Teeth small, equal, in villiform bands on 

 jaws, vomer, and palatines. Snout broad, blunt, lower jaw longer. No 

 barbels. A long opercular spine. Gills four, a slit behind the fourth ; lami- 

 nae short; membranes not united, free from the isthmus; apertures wide ; 

 rakers few. Branchiostegal rays nine to eight. Pseudobranchia3 small, 

 said to be absent in the typical species. Vertical fins united. Ventrals 

 close together, behind the humeral symphysis, forward of the pectorals, of a 



