Ayres's Description of a New Genus of Fishes. — 53 
*have been fed by bushels to the hogs." This is by no 
means the case at the present day. 
Arr. VI. — Description of a New Genus of Fishes, Mala- 
cosleus. By W. O. Ayres, Boston Mass. 
Tue specimen from which the following description is 
drawn, was picked up at sea, in N. Lat. 42° and W. Long. 
50°, by Capt. Joseph R. Porter, of St. Stephens, N. B., ina 
voyage from Liverpool to Boston, during the month of June, 
1848. It was alive when taken, and was floating in a vertical 
position, with the snout a little above the surface of the water. 
It is in excellent preservation, and is now in the possession of 
Miss L. Felt, of Boston. To her kindness I am indebted for 
the opportunity of describing it, and making known a species 
Which is certainly one of the most remarkable ever found 
near our coast. 
It differs so widely from every established genus, that even 
its place in the system becomes a matter of question. It is, 
therefore, necessary to form for its reception, a new genus, for 
which I propose the name Malacosteus, and which may be 
thus characterized. 
Mouth extremely deep-cleft; border of the upper jaw 
formed principally by the maxillary, the intermaxillary being 
short. Teeth in the upper jaw small, separate, and sharp- 
pointed, on both maxillary and intermaxillary. "Teeth in the 
lower jaw very long, separate, somewhat hooked, followed by 
others much smaller and closer together. No teeth on the 
palatines, vomer, or branchial arches. A double row on the 
tongue; a cluster on each superior pharyngeal, similar to those 
on the tongue. A single dorsal fin near the tail, opposite 
the.anal. Whole fish entirely destitute of scales. All-of the | 
bones remarkably soft. Opercular pieces consisting of a 
