FISHES — WAri'K. 55 



1 1 may he pointed out that few of the northern stations indicate 

 depths greater than 40 fatlionis, whili- none of the southern ones 

 (r)0-r)5) exceeded 20 fathoms. Chlordpthahms was, therefore, 

 trawled at nearly all Stations registering a depth inhabited by it, 

 as ascertained by our observations, and it is pretty certain that 

 it is extremely common all along our coast line to the 7ioi'thei-n 

 limit of its range. 



As to its vertical range, Giintlier remai'ks : — "This fisli shows 

 nothing to indicate its bathybial life beyond the excessively lai-g(^ 

 eye ; and it is not likely that it descends to anymore considerabh^ 

 depth than that from which it was obtained" (loc. cit., p. 194). 

 This deduction receives considerable support from our own experi- 

 ences which would suggest that the range of the species is from 

 40 to 150, rather than from 120 to 500 fathoms. 



Giinther's description was made from rather small examples 

 which, judging from the figure, were imperfect. The following is 

 drawn up from a specimen measuring to the end of the central 

 caudal rays 210 mm. ( = 8^- inches). 



B. vii. D. 11. A. 9. V. 9. P. 16. C. 9 + 8. L. lat. 48. 

 L. tr. 4 + 6. 



Length of head 3-66, height of body 4'75, in total length 

 (caudal excluded). Diameter of eye 2-6 in the length of the head. 

 Interorbital space flat, but bounded by two supraorbital keels, and 

 one-third the diameter of the eye. Snout shorter than the eye 

 contained 1*66 times in its diameter. Head low, triangular, with 

 obtuse snout and three enamel-like keels above, one median, from 

 the snout to between the orbits, and one above each eye, not, 

 however, as long as their diameter ; there is a scale-like process in 

 front of the eye immediately behind the nostril, and directed 

 upwards and backwards. Anterior portion of snout slightly tumid. 

 Nostrils close together, a little nearer the eye than the end of the 

 snout, the anterior small, protected by a valvular flap which 

 covers it from behind, posterior nostril larger and simple. Cleft 

 of mouth slightly oblique, lower jaw the longer, the maxillary 

 reaches nearly to beneath the centre of the eye, its distal extremity 

 equal to the interorbital space. Opercles entire. 



Teeth. — Bands of villiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer, 

 palatines and tongue, and a patch within the symphysis of the 

 lower jaw. 



The first dorsal ray is slender, little moi"e than half the 

 length of the second, which is stouter ; both are undivided. 

 The second ray is the longest of the fin, and equals the head in 

 length ; the remainder are regularly reduced so that when the fin 

 is raised its hind margin is straight ; the last ray is inserted 

 exactly midway between the end of the snout and the base of the 

 caudal rays, and the whole base is rather more than half the 



