256 dep:p sea fishes. 



Bathypterois ventralis sp. n. 



Plate LV. fig. 1. 



Br. r. 13 (rarely 12 or 14); D. 13-12 ; A. 9 (sometimes 10) ; V. 9 (rarely 

 10) ; P. 3 + 13-12 or 14 ; LI. 56-59; Ltr. 6 + 9-10. 



Though closely allied to B. iicctoralis, this form appears to represent a 

 smaller species, one that commonly has one or two fewer rays in the dorsal 

 and one to three more in the pectoral, and that has longer rays in the latter. 

 Body long, compressed, depth about one seventh of the entire length. 

 Head one fourth of the total length without the caudal, as wide as deep, 

 with a low arch across the crown, moderately depressed and pointed at the 

 snout. Snout half as long as the maxillary, nearly one tliird as long as the 

 head, less than the width of the interorbital space, curved at the sides, 

 blunted at the end, very prominent in the lower jaw. Mandibular sym- 

 physis slightly produced in front, with a pronounced angle directed back- 

 ward between the intermaxillaries. Mouth wide, horizontal, reaching back- 

 ward three fifths to two thirds of the length of the head. IntermaxiUaries 

 slender, subtending the maxillaries throughout the cleft of the mouth. 

 Maxillaries slender forward, broadened behind the eye, lower border, behind 

 the intermaxillary, rising in a wide curve to meet the upper edge. Teeth 

 very small, in villiform bands on the jaws, in a group of a few at each side 

 of the vomer and of several on the forward part of each palatine. Eye 

 small, one fifth as long as the snout, one fifteenth of the length of the head, 

 situated at the end of the anterior third of the head. Opercles thin, mem- 

 branous, covered with scales. Branchiostegal rays thirteen ; in one of nine 

 cases there are twelve and in another fourteen on each side. Gill rakers 

 on the first arcli 12 -f- 30 ca., slender, sharp, two thirds as long as the 

 snout. No pyloric cteca. Vent a little more than half way from ventrals 

 to anal. 



Seventh ray of the dorsal above the vent, in the middle of the distance 

 from the snout to the base of the caudal ; all rays of the fin, when applied 

 to the back, reaching as far back as the hindmcst ray. Origin of the anal 

 below the hindmost ray of the dorsal, several of the anterior raj-s if applied 



