STOMIATID^. 629 



This genus, of which one species only {Ch. sloanii) is 

 known, is generally distributed over the great depths of the 

 oceans, and does not appear to be scarce;' it attains to a 

 length of 12 inches, and must be one of the most formidable 

 fishes of prey of the deep-sea. 



Allied genera are Gonostoma, Fhotichthys, and JDiplophos, 

 all of which have the teeth of much smaller size. 



FOUETEENTH FAMILY — STOMIATID^. 



Shin naked, or with exceedingly delicate scales; a hyoid 

 barbel. Margin of the upper jaw formed by the intermaxillary 

 and inaxillary which are both toothed; operoidar apparatus 

 but little developed. Gill-opening very wide; pseudobranchice 

 none. The eggs are enclosed in the sacs of the ovarium, and 

 excluded by oviducts. 



Deep-sea fishes, descending to the greatest depths, charac- 

 terised by their barbel and their formidable dentition. 



Fig. 286. — Astronesthes niger. The white spots in front of the eye are 

 phosphorescent organs. 



Some have two dorsal fins, the posterior of which is adi- 

 pose ; they belong to the genus Astronesthes, are the smallest 

 of the family, and frequently met with in the Atlantic. 



The others — viz. Siomias, Echiostoma, Malacosteus, and 

 Bathyophis, lack the adipose fin, the rayed dorsal being 

 opposite to the anal. Of these the one longest known is 



Stomias. — Body elongate, compressed, covered with exceed- 



