BATHYPTEROiS PECTORALIS. 257 



to tlie body reaching a little farther backward than the hindmost. Adipose 

 dorsal half way from the middle of the dorsal fin to the caudal base. Bases 

 of the ventrnls immediately in front of a vertical from the origin of the 

 dorsal ; outer two rays much produced, bound together in the greater 

 portion of their length, second a little the longer. Individuals vary much 

 in the length of the ventrals ; on some they reach but little if' any behind 

 the anal, on others considerably behind the base of the caudal. Pectoral 

 with three rays in the upper portion, two of them reaching bejond the 

 tail, first a little the shorter, free for a short distance from the ends; third 

 ray very short ; lower portion of the fin with thirteen to twelve rays (in 

 one case with fourteen on each side), the longest of which reach only about 

 as far backward as the posterior end of the dorsal base. Four fifths of the 

 specimens have thirteen rays in the lower portion of each pectoral. On all 

 of the specimens of greater length than four and one half inches the ventrals 

 reach backward of the anal ; on several three and one half inch individu.ils 

 the ventrals do not reach to the end of the anal. In a female of six inches 

 the eggs are about ready for extrusion ; in this case the ventrals reach a 

 little more than half way across the space between the anal and the base 

 of the caudal and the ends of the outer pair of rays are thickened and 

 fleshy as if in special function with the egg laying. The ventrals of a 

 male of six and one half inches in length reach almost to the caudal notch. 

 Caudal wide, deepl}" forked, lower lobe longer, with a notch below the bases 

 of the lower rays. The difference between the upper and the lower lobes 

 of the tail is hardly perceptible on small specimens, but increases with age. 

 Blackish, lighter on the fins, the margins of the scales, and the lateral 

 line. 



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



3418 16° 33' N. 99° 52' 3(i'MV. 660 fathoms 39° F. Br. S. lik. Sp. 



3425 21° 19' N. 106° 24' W. 680 " 39° F. Gu. M. aud S. 



Bathypterois pectoralis sp. n. 



Plate K,fy. 1. 



Br. r. 13 ; D. 13-14 ; A. 9 ; (rarely 10) ; V. 9; P. 3 + 11 (rarely 10) ; LI. 

 59-e2; Ltr. 6 + 9-10. 



In form and proportions this species approaches Bathi/ptero'is quadrlfilh of 

 Giinther. It is closely allied to Z>. ventralis described above, but has one or 

 two more ravs in the dorsal and one or two fewer in the pectoral, and the 



