206 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



tlie barbel is shorter, the caudal region more slender, the rostral angles are 

 much more prominent, and the rostrum hardly extends beyond tlie mouth. 



Macrurus gracillicauda sp. n. 



Plate H, fifj. 1. 



Br. r. 7 ; D. 10-11 + ?; A. 143 ; V. 10-11 ; P. 25 ; Ltr. 5 + 24. 



The shape is somewhat lilve that of M. uspcr, but there is rather more 

 distinction between body and tail. Body and head massive ; head convex 

 on all sides, bluntly pointed or rounded off in front with a low promi- 

 nence and the common rosette of small spines, curvature .slight from nape to 

 end of snout, crown nearly flattened transversely. The ridge below the eye 

 is a trifle swollen, but not angular. Depth of body nearly one sixth and 

 length of head about one fifth of the total length. Snout short, blunt, 

 rounded, three fourths as long as the eye, length from intermaxillary one 

 half the orbital length, prenarial angles scarcely noticeable. Suborbital 

 ridge low, rounded, marked by rough scales along its lower edge, vanishing 

 before reaching a vertical from the hind border of the orbit. Interorbital 

 space very little arched, width four fifths of the length of the eye. Eye 

 large, two sevenths of the head, three fourths of the snout. Mouth large, 

 length one and one fourth times that of the eye ; maxillary extending below 

 four fifths of the orbit. Teeth small, in villiform bands, outer series on the 

 upper jaws larger. Barbel as long as the eye, slender. Preopercular ridge 

 bent backward to form a rounded loop at the lower angle. Gill rakers 

 short, rounded, rough with small spines, anterior series small, seven to eight 

 on the first arch. Second dorsal spine above the opercular angle, including 

 the filament three fifths as long as the head. First ray of dorsal above tlie 

 base of the pectoral, second i^ay beset witli sharp prickles on the forward 

 edge ; base less than the length of the eye, distant from tlie second dorsal 

 less than twice this length. Rays of second dorsal short, feeble. Origin of 

 anal below the third scale behind the base of the first dorsal. Yentrals 

 small, first ray with a filament, length equal the distance from tip of snout 

 to hind edge of orbit. Caudal small, slender. Vent distant from the anal 



