no. 2075. FISHES FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA— GILBERT. 313 



off Santa Catalina Island. The anal photophores are 8 + 5 on one 

 side, 8 4- 6 on the other. The species is generally distributed through- 

 out the warmer parts of the Pacific Ocean, the nearest record to the 

 California coast having been lat. 27°50 , N.; long., 145° 45'30"W. (type 

 of M. nitidulum Garman), and lat. 28° 13' 42" N.; long., 145° 44' W. 

 (M. margaritatum Gilbert). 



The Pacific form has been compared with one of Lutken's types 

 from lat. 8° 44' N., long. 21° W., and with numerous specimens 

 from the Atlantic coast of the United States. The alleged differ- 

 ences seem to be due wholly to inaccuracies in current figures and 

 descriptions of the Atlantic form. 



The type of R. oceanicus is described as having 7 antero-anals. 

 Doctor Evermann informs me that the cotype taken at the same 

 station has the anal photophores 10 + 5. 



TARLETONBEANIA CRENULARIS (Jordan and Gilbert). 



Two young specimens 28 and 30 mm. long were taken at the surface 

 at station 4386, midway between San Diego and San Clemente 

 Island. 



Direct comparison has been made between the types of T. crenu- 

 laris and T. tenua, with the result of establishing the identity of the 

 two forms. The alleged difference in form is due to the distortion 

 of the type-specimens, neither of which is in perfect condition. 

 The alleged discrepancy in number of anal photophores is due to 

 inaccuracy in the description of T. crenularis, the type having 

 10 + 4 anals and 1 precaudal, while the type of T. tenua has 11+4 

 anals and 1 precaudal. The statement of the describers of T. 

 crenularis that there are 21 pairs of phosphorescent spots between 

 front of anal and base of caudal can be accounted for only on the 

 assumption that the authors supplied spots to fill the gaps between 

 the two anal series and between the posteroanals and the precaudal. 



The species has been correctly assigned to the vicinity of Mycto- 

 phum. It differs from all species of that genus in the absence of 

 pores on all but the first 2 or 3 of the lateral line scales, in the con- 

 stant presence of a single precaudal, 6 thoracics and 6 ventrals, 

 instead of 2 precaudals, 5 thoracics and 4 ventrals. In addition, 

 luminous areas on caudal peduncle are wholly wanting, the dorsal 

 is posterior in position and the scales are crenulate. 



As current accounts of the species are more or less conflicting and 

 misleading, the following description is offered : 



Dorsal, 13; anal, 18; pectoral, 13; ventral, 8 (an outer rudimentary 

 concealed ray can be made out in the young); scales in midlateral 

 series, 48 or 49. 



With much the appearance of Rhinoscopelus, the caudal peduncle 

 long and slender, the snout slightly protruding beyond the mouth 

 in the young, apparently not protruding in adults. Mouth large, 



