ALEPOCEPHALUS FUNDULUS. 293 



Total length of the largest specimen twelve inches. 



Deep black over the surface and on the linings of the interior. 



Further differences between this form and A. fimduliis are seen in tlio 

 shorter head, shorter snout, obsolescent ridges along the top of the head, 

 smaller number of branchiostegal rays, and larger number of ventral rays. 



StatioD. LatituJe. Longituile. Depth. Temperature. Bottom. 



3418 1C° 33' N. 99° 52' 3U" W. 660 lathoms 39° F. Br. S. Lk. Sp. 



Alepocephalus fiindulus sp. n. 

 Plate L VII. fig. 2. 



Br. r. 7 ; D. 16-17 ; A. 17 ; V. C ; P. 11 ; LI. 90 ; Ltr. 10 + 1 + 18. 



Elongate and compressed in body and head, greatest depth one half the 

 length of the latter. Head length one third of tlie distance from the snout 

 to the base of the caudal, width seven tenths of the depth; lower profile 

 nearly horizontal, upper in a very low arch above the orbits ; crown of 

 moderate width, somewhat concave transversely. Snout one and one third 

 times as long as the e3-e, narrow between the nostrils, concave from the eye 

 forward, broadened at the mouth, blunt at the end, with a sharp projection 

 below the mandibular symphysis. Ej'e large, one and one half times the 

 interorbital space, shorter than the snout, nearly one fourth as long as the 

 head. Moutli large, rising but little forward, cleft to the suborbital region ; 

 maxillar}' broadened and rounded posteriorly, sharp edged and toothless 

 below, edging nearly half of the mouth, extending below the anterior third 

 of the eye ; edges of premaxillaj turned downward. Teeth small, sub- 

 conical, on premaxillfe, palatines, and dentaries ; absent from maxillae, 

 vomer and hyoid. Opercles broad, thin, membranous toward the edges, 

 longer below the middle. Gills four : lamellaj short, narrow ; membranes 

 not imited, free from the isthmus ; openings very wide ; rakers seven plus 

 lourteen, broad, thin, less than half as long as the ej^e. Pseudobranchia3 

 well developed. Pyloric ca^ca fifteen. Lateral line very distinct. 



Scales small, strong, ratlier firm, slightly roof-shaped, edged with mem- 

 brane ; tho.se of the lateral line narrower. Head scaleless. 



Dorsal origin near five eighths of the distance from the snout to the end 

 of the caudal, little backward of a vertical from the vent ; base shorter than 

 that of the anal. Vent midway from the bases of the pectorals to the bases 

 of the median caudal ravs. Origin of the anal slightly backward of that 



