210 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



Barbel small, slender, half as long as the eye. Nape high, slightly arched, 

 outline from nape to snout almost straight. Suborbital ridge moderately 

 prominent, not sharp, reaching a vertical from the hind border of the orbit. 



Origin of the first dorsal above the axils of the pectorals ; first spine 

 small ; second spine longest, slender, with close-set spinules and a long fila- 

 ment; base not descending very rapidly backward. Origin of second dor- 

 sal twice the length of the base of the first behind the latter ; rays short 

 and feeble anteriorly. Anal well developed, origin forward of the middle of 

 the space between the first and second dorsals, backward from the opercu- 

 lum half the length of the head. Vent nearer to the bases of the ventrals 

 than to the anal. Ventrals small, hardly reaching to the anal, first ray with 

 a filament. Scales medium in size, harsh with series of spinules more or 

 less convergent backward toward the median series which is largest on the 

 scales of the back ; seven scales between the lateral line and the base of the 

 first dorsal. 



Head rusty brown, abdomen black, back and tail brown, possibly tinted 

 with purple in life ; linings of mouth and body cavity black. 



station. Latitude. Longitude. Depth. Temperature. Bottom. 



3436 27° 34' N. 110° 53' 40" W. 905 Itithoms 37.2° F. Br. M. bk. Sp. 



Macrurus convergens sp. n. 

 Plate XL VIII. fig. 1. 



Br. r. 7; D. 11 (10-12) + 135; A. 109; V. 11; P. 21. 



In this species the body and head do not present such a swollen 

 appearance as those of either M. liolepis, M. anguUceps, or 31. canninifer. 

 From the pectorals backward to the end of the tail the decrease in size 

 is very regular. The body is compressed and its greatest depth is about 

 one seventh of the total length. Head compressed, three fourths as wide 

 as high, convex on the sides, flattened on the crown, pointed on the snout. 

 Snout prominent, nearly as long as the eye, the length to the orbit equalling 

 that to the intermaxillary ; median angle prominent, prenarial angles low, 

 each ending in a group of spines. Interorbital space three fifths as long or 

 four fifths as wide as the snout, very little concave transversely. Eye large, 

 as long as the snout, two sevenths as long as the head. Suborbital ridge 

 low, rounded, more distinct forward, not extending backward of the eye, 

 harsh with spiny scales. Mouth small, subtending the anterior two thirds 



