1874.] 3fi9 [Putnam. 



XIPHASIA. 



Xipliasia Swainson, 1839. Nemophis Kaup, 1858. Xiphogadus 

 Giinther, 1862. 



Body greatly elongated, slightly compressed, scaleless. Fin rays 

 simple. Dorsal commences over the eye, and is continuous to the 

 caudal, with which it is united. Anal commences just back of the 

 vent, and is continuous to the caudal with which it is united. Caudal 

 of few rays. Ventrals reduced to three simple rays. Branchiostegal 

 rays six; the inner ones small. Gill-opening small, and placed 

 principally above the base of the pectoral fin. No pseudobranchia. 

 Gills four, with an opening behind the last; gill-rakers not developed; 

 lower pharyngeals small, narrow and separate, with very few, small, 

 pointed teeth. Border of the mouth above formed by the intermax- 

 illaries, maxillaries, and a fleshy portion behind. Intermaxillaries 

 broad, short, and closely united to the wide and short maxillaries. A 

 single row of distinct, pointed, flattened movable teeth on the inter- 

 maxillaries and in front of the under jaw. A firmly imbedded curved 

 canine tooth in each maxillary. (On one side of one specimen there 

 were two of these teeth, as represented in the figure of the bone.) A 

 large fixed canine tooth on each side of the under jaw, which, when 

 the mouth is closed, passes into a cavity under the line of union of 

 the intermaxillary and maxillary. Vomer and palatines without 

 teeth. Anterior nostril slightly tubular; posterior one near the 

 upper margin of the eye. Four mucous pores on the head between 

 the eyes. Bones of the head thin and membranous. Opercular 

 bones very thin and closely united. 



The dissection of the internal organs was not satisfactory, owing to 

 the condition of the specimen, but showed a large liver extending 

 over the intestines to about the centre of the abdominal cavity. The 

 stomach was not distinguishable from the intestine, and formed with 

 it three loops, followed by a short straight course to the anal opening. 

 No pyloric appendages. Air-bladder? (if present very small and 

 delicate). The peritoneal membrane silvery, and seen through the 

 abdominal walls. 



Xipliasia setifer. 



Xipliasia setifer Swainson, Nat. Hist. Fish, u, p. 259, 1839. OpM- 

 donidce. (Based on the figure given in Russell's Fishes of Coro- 

 mandel, 1803. Plate 39.) 



PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. — VOL. XVI. 24 SEPTEMBER, 1874. 



