VALENCIENNELLUS STELLATUS. 230 



the abdomen, four in the ventral series, eleven in the row at the side of the 

 anal, four in the subcaudal group, three above the base of the pectoral — 

 the anterior nearest the fin, the second close by and the uppermost higher 

 on the side behind the middle of the operculum, one near the middle of the 

 flank, three above and near tlie hinder ones of the abdominal series, one 

 above and near the foremost of the ventral series, and three above the 

 space between the ventral and the anal series. 



Flanks and sides of head silvery ; snout white, freckled with black ; a 

 transverse blotch of white behind the interorbital space ; dorsum black, the 

 pigment descending farther upon the side below the dorsal blade ; lanterns 

 edged with black ; sides of body and base of the caudal with irregular 

 specks of black ; lower fourth of iris silveiy. remainder black. 



The specimen described was secured by the U. S. steamer " Blake," 

 dredge number 280, off Barbados in 221 fathoms. Through some error it 

 was returned with the identification Arrjuropdecus Olfcrm. The specimens 

 identified as Argi/ropelccus henilgi/innus do not belong to that species, so 

 that its occurrence in the w^estern Atlantic is still doubtful. Oiie of the 

 "Blake" individuals, marked as having been figured, apparently is the 

 original of number 148a of Plate XXXIX. in the Oceanic Ichthyology. 



Valenciennellus stellatus sp. n. 

 Plate LIII. fig. 2. 



Br. r. 9 ; D. 12 ; A. 23 ; V. 8 (9) ; P. 12. 



In a general way the outlines given by LUtken, 1892, in his work on 

 the Scopelini for MaiiroUcits tn'punctii/atns Esm., Plate I. fig. 6, resemble 

 those of the present species ; the latter differs in possessing a shorter dorsal 

 that ends much farther forward, and in having only four groups of the small 

 circular light facets below the caudal section, while Esmark's species has a, 

 long dorsal and five of the subcaudal groups. A further peculiarity of the 

 species V. s/ellaJiis consists in a lateral silver}^ area on each of the black 

 organs or blotches in the lower edges of which, surrounded by the black and 

 facing downward, the very small, round facets of the groups are situated. 

 Seen from the side the facets of the groups are hardly visible, but viewed 

 from below it is the lateral silvered area that is unnoticeable while the 

 short group or series below it is very distinct. 



Moderately elongate, much compressed, in greatest depth of body or in 



