324 DEEP SEA FISHES. 



of tlie dorsal, fin deeper than the latter. Caudal small, of six rays, con- 

 tinuous with dorsal and anal, median rays longest. It is quite possible the 

 tail is not quite of its normal length, in which case dorsal and anal will on 

 others be found to contain more rays. Pectorals short, moderately broad, of 

 fifteen rays, upper ray shorter, stouter, and compressed into a thin keel- 

 like upper (forward) edge; bases ver}' obliquely situated, so that the fin is 

 carried almost on a horizontal plane with the upper edge forward. 



Uniform black, bands of teeth showing light to white, younger individ- 

 uals closely puncticulate with dark. 



The specific name is given in honor of the Hon. George M. Bowers, the 

 present head of the United States Fish Commission. 



Nemichthys fronto sp. n. 



Flate LXV. fig. 1. 



Br. r. 14 (15) ; D. 365 ca. ; A. 369 ca. ; P. 11. 



Greatly elongated, very slender, compressed, filiform in the tail ; snout 

 to gill opening nearly one tenth of the total length. Head narrow, with the 

 rostrum on a level with the lower part, outline rising over the nostrils and 

 orbit, high at the nape, somewhat concave between the eyes, rounded 

 toward the sides, narrower at the throat. Snout two thirds as long as the 

 head, jaws slender and curving from one another near the end. Eye large, 

 about one seventh of the length of the snout or one twelfth of that of the 

 head ; pupil round. Mouth very wide, cleft to a vertical from the hind 

 border of the orbit. Teeth small, flattened or depressed and sharp edged 

 on the crown, hooking back toward the gullet, in pavement or bands that 

 are more or less exposed at the sides of the mouth, maxillary band reaching 

 as far backward as the hinder edge of the eye ; vomerine band ending in 

 a sharp point below the middle of the eye. Nostrils close together, near 

 the eye ; anterior with a short tube, in front of the middle of the eye ; 

 posterior tubeless, in front of the upper portion of the orbit. Corner of 

 the angular sharp, but not very prominent. Opercles thin, flexible, hind 

 border rounded. Gills four, a slit behind the fourth. Gill openings little 

 wider than the eye ; membranes united, joined to the isthinu.s, attached to 



