BEEYCID^. 423 



near Japan at a depth of 345 fathoms ; it attains a length 

 of 1| feet. 



Melamphaes. — Head large and thick, with very thin bones, 

 nearly all the superficial bones being transformed into wide 

 muciferous channels. Eye small. Palate toothless ; no barbels ; 

 opercles not armed. Scales large, cycloid. One dorsal, with six 

 spiaes ; anal spines very feeble ; caudal forked. Ventrals with 

 seven rays. 



Two species, deep-sea fishes of the Atlantic; they are 

 very scarce, as only three or four specimens have been found 

 hitherto. 



PoLYMixiA. — Snout short, with the cleft of the mouth nearly 

 horizontal ; eye large. Two barbels at the throat. Opercles 

 without armature. Scales of moderate size. One dorsal. Anal 

 with three or four spines ; caudal fork'ed ; ventrals with six or 

 seven soft rays. 



Three species are known : P. nobilia from Madeira and 

 St. Helena, P. lowei from Cuba, and P. japonica from Japan ; 

 the latter species from a depth of 345 fathoms. Average size 

 eighteen inches. 



Mteipeistis. — Snout short, with oblique cleft of the mouth 

 and prominent chin ; eye large or very large. Villiform teeth 

 on the vomer and palatine bones. Opercular bones serrated ; 

 prseoperculum without spine. Scales large, ctenoid. Two dor- 

 sals, the first with ten or eleven spines ; anal with four spines ; 

 caudal forked ; ventrals with seven soft rays. Air-bladder 

 divided by a contraction in two parts, the anterior of which is 

 connected with the organ of hearing. 



Eighteen species from the tropical seas of both hemi- 

 spheres, the majority living near the coast at the surface. 

 The coloration is (principally) red or pink on the back and 

 silvery on the sides. They attain a length of about 15 inches, 

 and are esteemed as food. 



HoLOCENTRUM. — Snout somewhat projecting, with the cleft of 

 the mouth nearly horizontal ; eye large. Villiform teeth on the 



