MACRURUS LEUCOPH^EUS. 201 



Dark brownish, possibly recklish in life, the skin showing silver tints 

 below the scales. 



The specimens from Station 3417 are hardly identical in variety with 

 those from Station 3384 ; they are closely allied but difl'er in that the 

 former [21. vayraus) is darker in color, and has less of the silver tint. 



Macrurus leucophseus sp. n. 



Br. r. 6 ; D. 10 +?; A. 85; V. 8 ; P. 19. 



Closely allied to M. hoops, but distinguished by a wider snout, a wider 

 interorbital space, and by the forward position of the ventrals. Form 

 moderately elongate, body much compressed, and, as seen from the side, 

 tapering rapidly but regularly to the slender whip-like caudal extremity ; 

 depth near one sixth of the total length. Head about two ninths of the 

 total, in length equal to twice its width or one and three fifths times its 

 depth ; crown slightly convex; suborbital ridge distinct but not very promi- 

 nent, hardly reaching to a vertical from the hind border of the orbit. Snout 

 as broad as long, length little more than the width of the interorbital space, 

 about three fourths as long as the e^ye, very blunt at the end, as viewed 

 from above, with a median and two lateral prominences, angle formed at 

 the edges moderately pronounced, ascent from the mouth steep, distance 

 of tip from maxillary or from the lateral angles hardly loss than one half the 

 orbital length. Orbit large, about one and one third times the length of 

 the snout, one and two thirds times the interorbital width, or three tenths 

 of the length of the head. Mouth comparatively small, maxillaiy extendino- 

 below the eye not more thnn one fourth of the latter's diameter. Teeth 

 small, in villiform bands. Barbel small, one fourth as long as the eye. 

 Origin of first dorsal above ihe axil of the pectoral; base descending rapidly 

 backward ; first ray short ; second ray with sharp close-set spinelels on the 

 narrow forward edge, excavated or concave on the sides, prolonged in a 

 slender filament to three fourths of the length of the head ; basal length 

 two thirds of the length of the eye. Second dorsal rudimentaiy toward 

 its origin, weak and feebly developed backward. Anal better developed 

 than the dor.sal, originating immediately below the end of the base of the 

 first dorsal, below the middle of the pectoral fin. Ventrals small, below the 



