584 FISHES. 



very wide, and a pair of pores corresponds to each scale of the 

 lateral line, one being above, the other below the scale. Cleft 

 of the mouth very wide ; intermaxillary very long, styliform, 

 tapering ; maxiUary absent. Teeth card-like, recurved, unequal 

 in size ; the largest are in the lower jaw, and provided with a 

 single barb at the posterior margin of the point. Eye small. 

 Ventral fins long, nine-rayed, inserted below the anterior dorsal ' 

 rays ; dorsal fin in the middle of the length of the body ; adi- 

 pose fin small ; anal of moderate length ; caudal fin three-lobed, 

 the lateral line being continued along the central lobe. Centre 

 of the vertebrae open in the middle. 



Two species only are known of this singular genus ; both 

 are evidently inhabitants of considerable depths, and periodi- 

 cally come nearer to the surface. One (S. nehereus) is well 

 known in the East Indies, being of excellent flavour. Wlien 

 newly taken its body is brilliantly phosphorescent. When 

 salted and dry it is known under the names of " Bombay- 

 ducks" or "Bummaloh," and exported in large quantities 

 from Bombay and the coast of Malabar. The second species 

 (S. microchir) exceeds the other in length, and has been 

 found in the sea off Japan. 



ScoPELUS. — Body oblong, more or less compressed, covered 

 with large scales. Series of phosphorescent spots run along the 

 lower side of the body, and a similar glandular substance some- 

 times occupies the front of the snout and the back of the tail. 



Fig. 269. — Soopelus boops. 



Cleft of the mouth very wide. Intermaxillary very long, styli- 

 form, tapering ; maxillary well developed. Teeth villiform. Eye 

 large. Ventrals eight-rayed, inserted immediately in front of or 



