1894.] A. Alcock — Recent Collection of Bathylial Fishes. 125 



Subgen. Macrurus, Bl. 



14. Macrurus pimiiliceps,\\. sp. 



Closely allied to M. smiliophorus, Vaillaiifc, from wLich it differs 

 conspicuously in the structure of the scales. 



B 7. D. 2/11. V. 12. P. 18. 



The length of the head, which is a little more than the greatest 

 height of the body, is only just over one-eighth of the total, the tail 

 forming a long lash. 



Snout trihedral, with strong median and lateral tubercles, its length 

 is just exceeded by the major diameter of the eye, — the latter being not 

 quite one-third the length of the head, and exceeding the width of the 

 interorbital space by about one-fourth. 



Mouth small and quite iufenoi*, the maxilla only just passing the 

 level of the front borJer of the orbit. Barbel about three-quarters the 

 length of the eye. Villiform teeth in bauds in both jaws. 



Head and body covered with small scales, those on the head with 

 rough radiating ridges, those on the body having usually six (sometimes, 

 eight) nearly parallel rows of long slender spinelets — not more than 

 five in the longest row. [In the specimens taken no lateral line is 

 distinguishable.] 



The first dorsal spine is rudimentary, the second is slightly elon- 

 gate (not so long as the short head), and very closely and sharply 

 seriated (about 35 serrations) except at extreme base and tip. The 

 rays of the second dorsal fin are remarkably short, slender, and inconspi- 

 cuous, those of the anal are remarkably long and stout. The outermost 

 ventral ray is moderately prolonged, being as long as the upper pectoral 

 rays, or equal in length to the postrostral portion of the head. [In the 

 two immature specimens taken the ventral reaches to the sixth anal 

 raj^, and the pectoral to the ninth ; the vent being not half an eye-length 

 behind the base of the pectoral fin]. 



Nine or ten villiform (rudimentary) pyloric cteca. 



Colour: silvery grey; throat, gill-membranes, belly, and paired 

 fins black ; vertical fins blackish. 



Length 11 inches. 



Loc. Laccadive Sea, Station 150, 719 fma. 



