136 A. Alcock — Recent Collection of Bathyhial FisJies. [No. 2, 



Group Nemiclithyina. 



Nemichthts, Richardson. 



24. Nemichthys acanthonotus, n. sp. 



The posterior third or so of the long slender body is rather abrupt- 

 ly constricted to form a lash- like tail. 



The head, rather more than four-sevenths of which is formed by 

 the long tapering snout, is between one-seventh and one-eighth of the 

 total. The diameter of the subcutaneous eye is between one-third and 

 one-fourth the length of the post-orbital portion of the head, and be- 

 tween one-sixth and one-seventh the length of the snout. The nostrils 

 have the usual position, and the jaws are curved at tip as in N. infans. 

 Small recurved asperities in crowded bands form the dentition of the 

 jaws and vomer. 



The vent is situated immediately behind the gill-opening and the 

 root of the pectoral fin. 



The gill-openings, which are wide, are separated from one another 

 only by a thin fold of skin. 



No scales. The lateral line is marked by a series of small glist- 

 ening pores which are arranged with beautiful regularity in " fives " 

 (quincunces). The head is studded with similar pores. 



The dorsal fin commences on the occiput, and is continued to the 

 tip of the tail : in a part of its extent somewhat less than the middle 

 third the long slender rays are replaced by strong short spines — like 

 those of Notacanthus — interconnected by a low membrane. The anal 

 fin, which commences immediately behind the vent, has its rays well- 

 developed throughout, — the longest rays being considerably more than 

 half the length of the post-rostral portion of the head. 



The pectoials are large, and are half as long as the post-orbital 

 portion of the head. 



Colours : uniform dark sepia becoming black ventrally : gill-covers 

 and fins black. 



A single well-preserved specimen 22 inches long. 



Loc. Bay of Bengal, Station 165 ; 475 fathoms. 



This species is distinguished from its congeners by the long series 

 of stout sharp close-set spines in the middle of the dorsal fin. 



Family Halosauridae. 



Halosaurus, Johnson. 

 25. Halosatirtis inediorostris, Gthr. 



Halosaurus mediorostris, Gthr. ' Challenger ' Deep Sea Fishes, p. 239, pi. 

 LIX, fig C. 



A single specimen was dredged in the Laccadive Sea, at Station 



