352 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.48. 



Measurements in hundredths of length to base of caudal: 



Length of head 24. 5 



Length of snout 6. 5 



Diameter of orbit 7. 5 



Interorbital width 2. 7 



Width of head 15 



Depth at occiput 11. 5 



Distance from tip of snout to end of maxillary 7. 5 



Width of mouth 7. 5 



Greatest depth of body 13 



Length of caudal peduncle 40 



Distance from tip of snout to front of dorsal 32. 5 



Distance from tip of snout to second dorsal 49. 5 



Distance from tip of snout to anal 49 



Length of second pectoral ray 16. 5 



Length of ninth pectoral ray 14 



Length of twelfth pectoral ray 17 



Length of sixteenth pectoral ray 6 



Length of ventral fin 9 



Length of caudal fin 13 



Length of first ray of second dorsal 12. 5 



Total length to base of caudal, in millimeters 122 



Four paratopes were obtained from the same station and one from 

 station 4322, near San Diego, depth 227 to 193 fathoms. These 

 specimens vary as follows: Dorsal, V to VII, 6 to 7; anal, 6 to 7; 

 pectoral, 16 (17 on one side of one specimen), 6 or 7 of the lower rays 

 thickened and exserted. 



The species is named in honor of Dr. W. E. Hitter, director of 

 the Scripps Institution for Biological Research. 



XENERETMUS TRIACANTHUS (Gilbert). 



In addition to the characters given in the preceding key to species 

 the following may be presented: Prepectoral region, except that part 

 opposite the upper two pectoral rays, covered with large plates, those 

 in latifrons thinner and concealed. Breast wholly covered, the plates 

 all overlapping. The normal arrangement of the breastplates is the 

 following: The median series consists of two pairs in front of ventrals, 

 with a minute plate lying posteriorly between the bases of the two 

 ventral fins; in front of the paired plates are three median unpaired. 

 At the side of the median series 4 plates form an anterior continua- 

 tion of the ventro-lateral series, each plate with a slightly raised 

 center. Between these and the series at base of pectoral fin is an 

 irregular series of 4 crowded plates. There are also 4 at the base of 

 the pectoral fin, the uppermost concealed beneath the integument. 

 The minute plate between bases of ventral fins does not become en- 

 larged and interpose between the plates of the posterior pair, as some- 

 times in latifrons. The commonest irregularity is in the coalescence of 

 the anterior pair of median plates, or in the division of the median 



