228 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



one sixth of that of the head. The upper eye is a little forward of the 

 lower, but this no doubt changes with age so as to bring the lower eye in 

 advance in larger specimens. Mouth small, asymmetrical, strongly curved. 

 Interorbital ridge low. 



Anteriorly the height of the curve in the lateral line equals the length 

 of the eye ; superiorly the curve forms a nearly straight line, the length of 

 which, from end to end of the curve, is about twice the height in front; pos- 

 teriorly the height is greater, and the descent more oblique. 



Dorsal origin on the blind side, behind the nostril. Anal origin below 

 the base of the pectoral. Pectoral small, one third as long as the head. 

 Ventrals small, of six rays, below the opercle. Caudal deep, two thirds as 

 long as the head, median rays longest, base narrowly separated from the 

 bases of doi'sal and anal. 



The specimen is a young one, measuring but two and three fourths 

 inches in length, which will probably account for the regular curvature in 

 the profile and for the situation of the vent on the edge of the body. 



Brownish; edges of scales darker; dorsal and anal brown with lighter 

 to whitish macute ; caudal light with puncticulations of blackish ; pectoral 

 black in the posterior half of its length. 



Symphurus varius sp. n. 



D. 95 ; A. 79 ; V. 4 ; C. 12 ; LI. 120-124 ; Ltr. 56. 



Rather closely allied to Syviplmnts atramentutus and to S. microlepis. 

 Body elongate, compressed, depth three elevenths and length of head four 

 nineteenths of the total length. Snout short, one and one third times as 

 long as the eye. Mouth small, curved, asymmetrical ; maxillary reaching 

 to below the middle of the eye. Teeth very small, in villiform bands on 

 the right side of the mouth and in a single series on the left. Eyes small, 

 shorter than the snout, two elevenths of the length of the head, lower 

 slightly in advance of the upper. Operculum deeply notched on the hinder 

 margin. 



Scales minute, ctenoid. 



Dorsal and anal fringed in the greater portion of the length; anal rays 

 lon'i-er ; dorsal origin above the forward portion of the eye ; anal origin 



