110 • Pi-oceedincfs of the Royal Irish Academy. 



slishtly compressed. In small specimens the width is very slightly less 

 than the height; but in the largest specimen found, tha mdth was only 

 three-fourths of the height. The proportion of the total length to length of 

 head in most specimens measured was 385 : 100. It is not certain, however, 

 that these specimens were uninjured. In one specimen of JJ7'7 cm. it 

 reached 410 : 100, which may, perhaps, be taken as the normal proportion 

 for large uninjured specimens. A small specimen of 14-2 cm. gave the 

 proportion 418 : 100. The proportion of the height of the body to the 

 length of the head (taken as an index of total length; increases slightly 

 with age. In specimens up to 38 cm. in length it is about 4 : 10, but above 

 that size it begins to increase, the maximum found being 54:10 ui a 

 specimen of 46 cm. 



Scales (PI. YII, iig. 6) large, each scale with eight to ten longitudinal rows 

 of stout, sharp, backward-directed spinules, each row with two to four spin ules. 

 One of the central rows is enlarged, and forms a sort of keel to the scale. 

 The rows on each side of the median row are alternately long and short. In 

 small specimens of about 15 cm. long there are only six or seven rows of 

 spinules. 



Fin i-ays: 1st Dorsal, II -i (7-8). Pectoral, 17. Ventral, 7. 



First doi-sal spine very minuto, second normal, but slender, and without 

 serrations. First ventral ray elongate, reaching at least to the commence- 

 ment of the anal fin. Distance between first and second dorsal fins about 

 two-thirds of the interorbital space, the anterior rays of the second dorsal 

 being very minute. 



Colour, body uniform grey, first dorsal and ventral fins dark, mouth and 

 gUl-openings and opercular membrane deep blackish -blue, posterior nasal 

 opening bordered with black anteriorly. 



The following measurements have been taken from specimens captured 

 by the s.s. Hdga : — 





cm. 



CUl. 



cm. 



cm. 



cm. 



Total length, 



14-2 



18-5 



19-0 + X 



37-7 



460 



LeJigtli of head. 



3-4 



4-8 



59 



9-2 



12-0 



Length of snout. 



1-00 



2-25 



30 



41 



5-4 



Length of eve, ... 



■9 



13 



1-6 



2-5 



3-1 



Inter-orbital space, ... 



•7 



-9 



12 



20 • 



2-5 



Snout to 1st dorsal. 



3-8 



51 



6o 



110 



13-6 



Snout to vent. 



4-6 



6-7 



81 



140 



ISO 



Height of body, 



1-8 



1-9 



2-4 



4o 



6-6 



Space between 1st and 2nd dorsal, 



■5 



— 



■S 



1-7 







The distribution of this species cannot be given with any exactness, as its 

 synonymy is stiU uncertain. Several closely allied species of long-snouted 



