1894.] A. Alcock — Recent Collection of Bathyhial Fishes. 131 



tliird of the total without the caudal : the length of the snout is only 

 about one-third the major diameter of the eye, which is one-third the 

 length of the head : the eyes are in the closest contact : the maxilla is 

 one-third the head in length : the teeth are in a narrow but distinct 

 band in. either jaw : the dorsal fin begins above the hinder limit of the 

 upper eye, and its longest rays are over one-third the greatest body- 

 height in length : the caudal fin is narrow elongate and pointed. 



Colours : right side hyaline grey, all the fins black ; a series of 

 black blotches round the circumference of the body, and two series 

 along the middle of the body : the left side is coloured very much as in 

 the preceding species. 



The largest specimen measures 3*75 inches. 



Loc. Off Colombo, Station 151 ; 142-400 fms. 



SoLBA, Gfchr. 

 19. Solea nmbralitis, n. sp., PL VII., fig. 3. 

 D. 70. A. 50. C. 18. P. 0. V. 5. L. lat. circ. 80.* 



The height of the body is 2J in the total without the caudal. The 

 length of the head is sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less 

 than a third of the total without the caudal (in adults). The snout 

 is but slightly hooked: its length is twice that of the eye and from 

 two-sevenths to a quarter that of the head. The eyes are nearly or 

 quite a diameter apart. The nostril of both sides is a slender tube. 

 The mouth-cleft reaches to the posterior limit of the lower eye. 



No pectoral fins whatever. 



Ventral fins symmetrical, separated from the anal by more than 

 an eye-length. 



Colours in spirit : warm olive brown with numerous large black 

 blotches which form four or five irregular transverse series and three 

 irregular longitudinal series : dorsal and anal fins bluish-black or black : 

 underside smoky in rather more than the posterior half. The black 

 blotches are sometimes circumscribed by a light areola. 



Length of a nearly mature female, 4*25 inches. 



Log. Bay of Bengal, Stations 169 and 170 ; 91-107 fms. 



In form and colour this species at first sight resembles Solea 

 ci/anea (Ann. Mag. N'at. Hist., Dec. 1890, p. 439), from which it is 

 distinguished — specimens of equal size being compared — by the much 

 larger head and mouth, by the larger and more widely sepai'ated eyes. 

 and by the fewer rays in the dorsal and anal fins. It is however closely 

 allied to Solea cyanea, and also to Solea melanosticta, Peters (MB. Ak. 



* To its termination behind the upper eye. 



