116 " THETIS " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



the length of the longest spine ; regular but rapid diminution 

 takes place, so that the seventh ray is no longer than the last spine; 

 the last ray equals the second spine in length. The first anal spine 

 is small, equal to the second dorsal ; the second is the longest, 

 and by far the strongest, intermediate in length between the 

 fourth and fifth dorsal, and 2-2 in the length of the head. 



The soft anal is similar to the hinder part of the dorsal ; none 

 of the rays are elongate, and the first is about two-thirds the 

 length of the head. 



The ventral spine is somewhat shorter, but much stronger than 

 the last dorsal ; the three anterior rays are nearly as long as the 

 head and reach the origin of the anal rays, and the pectoral, 

 which is of similar length, attains the same point. The caudal 

 lobes are equal, the tail is slightly emarginate, and the height of 

 the pedicel is 2 '6 in the length of the head. The thickest part 

 of the fish is immediately behind the orbit ; this does not exceed 

 2 5 in the length of the head. 



Scales cycloid, of moderate size ; scales on the cheeks, and on 

 a small patch above and another behind the eye ; also a somewhat 

 larger one on the upper part of the opercle ; other portions of the 

 head sculptured, chiefly in lines radiating from a centre. The 

 lateral line rises abruptly from the opercle, and when beneath the 

 fifth or sixth dorsal spines assumes the curvature of the profile 

 to beneath the last ray, whence it passes horizontally to the base 

 of the caudal rays. 



Colour. — -The general colour is silvery -grey, with three indistinct 

 vertical bands, the first including the frontal boss, the second 

 embi^acing the centre of the body, and the third passing obliquely 

 from the posterior dorsal rays, crossing the base of the caudal 

 peduncle, and terminating behind the anal. None of the spines 

 are coloured ; a black blotch occurs between the twelfth and 

 eighteenth dorsal rays, and the membranes of the ventrals are 

 black. 



HISTIOPTERUS FARNELLI, Waite. 



(Plate xxvii.) 



HififAopteruf; farnelli, Waite, "Thetis" Prelim. Report, 1898, 

 p. 3.3, pi. iv. 



Station .50. 



B. vi. D. vii. 17. A. ii. 10. V. i. 5. P. 17. C. 17. 

 L. lat. 135. 



Longth of head 2-85, height of body 2 in tlio length (caudal 

 excluded). Diameter of cyt^ 3-85, length of snout 2-25, and intcr- 

 orVjital spac(! 3 in the k^ngtli of the head. 



