MACRURUS CUSPIDATUS. 209 



form bands, in the outer series on the upper jaws a trifle larger. Barbel 

 small, slender, one half as long as the eye. Origin of first dorsal above the 

 bases of the ventrals, very little backward of that of tlui pectoral ; second 

 spine serrate, filamentary at the end, nearly as long as the head, compressed ; 

 base of the fin three fifths as long as the orbit, descending rapidly backward. 

 Distance from first dorsal to the second nearly or quite twice the length of 

 the base of the former. Second dorsal low, anterior rays .weak. Anal 

 origin little backward of the base of the first dorsal. Vent near the bases of 

 the ventrals. Ventrals small, more than half as long as the head. The 

 spinules on the second spine of the dorsal fin are numerous and closely set. 

 Scales of medium size, firm, strong, harsh, with short, sharp, closely appressed 

 spines in longitudinal series. On the flank as many as twelve series appear 

 on a scale. There are seven scales in a row from the lateral line to the base 

 of the first dorsal. Over the top and sides of the head and snout the scales 

 form an armature quite as rough and heavy as on the body. Lateral line 

 distinct, a narrow sharply defined groove. Specimens of ten inches and one 

 half are sexually mature. 



Black, in some cases shading to reddish brown on the top of the head and 

 on tlie tail. 



station. Latitude. Longitude. 



3409 0° IS' 40" N. 90° 34' W. 



3410 0° 19' N. 90" 34' W. 



Macrurus cuspidatus sp. n. 



Br. r. 8 ; D. 11 + 155 ; A. 142 ; V. 11 ; P. 21. 



Body and head compressed, depth through the abdomen one seventh of 

 the total length, caudal portion long, thin, slender, tapering to a whip-like 

 end. Head rather long, pointed at the snout, subtriangular in transsection, 

 narrow across the top, two elevenths of the total length. Snout long, sharp, 

 hardly as long as the eye, descending in front of the nostrils to the lateral 

 angles which are not mucli pronounced and are situated nearer to the eye 

 than to the end of the rostrum, arched from nostril to nostril. Interoibital 

 space low, in width equal to three fifths of the orbital length. Eye large, a 

 trifle longer than the snout, three tenths as long as the head. Mouth ratlier 

 small, reaching backward of the middle of the eye. From the tip of the 

 snout to the maxillaries about equal to the length of the eye. Teeth fine, 

 in villiform bands, equal in the lower jaws, outer series larger on the upper. 



14 



