64 , " THETIS " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



denticles, much less numerous than those of the lower margin and 

 generally three in number. In sitti, the narrowed portion of the 

 scale, including the denticles both above and below, is visible, but 

 the broadened anterior portion is hidden by adjacent scales. 

 Fig. 6 b shows the exact condition of a scale removed from the 

 middle of the lateral line, greatly enlarged. 



Family TEA.CHICHTHYIDJE. 



TRACHICHTHYS, Shmv. 



TRACHICHTHYS ELONGATUS, Giinther. 



Long Roughy. 



Trachichthys elongatus, Giinth., Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., i., 1859, 

 p. 10. Chall. Report, ZooL, xxii., 1887, p. 22, pi. v. fig. c. 



Station 8. 



In the Deep Sea Fishes of the " Challenger," Giinther wrote: — 

 " The two typical specimens, of which one, 4 inches long, was 

 found near the Great Barrier Island (New Zealand), seem still to 

 be the only ones known." The habitat of the smaller example is 

 vaguely stated as Australia. On Feb. 22nd, we were fortunate in 

 netting two examples off Barranjoey. They were obtained in 

 25-28 fathoms, and the largest specimen measures 130 mm. 

 ( = 5|^ inches), or one- fourth longer than the larger of the British . 

 Museum types. 



The black bands along the caudal lobes mentioned by Giinther, 

 but not shown in his figure, are prominent features of our examples, 

 which, however, do not bear the bands mentioned in the 

 " Challenger " Report as existing in front of the soft dorsal and 

 anal fins. This latter character is not mentioned in the original 

 description. As ascertained by fresh specimens the marks consist 

 of a pale brown dorsal band which extends from the head to the 

 caudal, sharply defined from the lower silvery part at half the 

 distance of the lateral line from the dorsal profile ; the opercles, 

 otherwise silvery, are blotched with brown. The brown bands on 

 the caudal lobes are connected at their bases by a recurved dark 

 line showing through the scales. 



PARATRACHICHTHYS, gen. nov. 



This new genus is formed for the reception of Trachichthys 

 irailli, Hutton, and is characterised by the circumstance of the 

 vent being situated in front of, instead of behind tlie abdominal 

 scutes, as in membei's of the genus Trachichthys^ as now restricted. 



