May 23, 1884.] 
little hexagonal cells, much resembling the retina: 
it is connected with the nerves. These phospho- 
rescent plates are placed either below the eyes, or on 
the sides of the body. In the Talisman exhibition- 
rooms, Malacosteus niger (fig. 4) may be seen, caught 
1,500 and 2,000 metres below the surface, with enor- 
mous plates below the eyes, and Stomias, found at 
the same depth, with side-plates. Several zodlogists 
have considered the last-mentioned organs as second- 
ary eyes, in consequence of the retina-like membrane 
which covers them, and on account of its connection 
with the nerves. This view is difficult to admit, 
when the normal development of the eyes is taken 
into account; and it seems much more reasonable to 
Suppose that they serve simply to produce light, 
which, owing to the lens in front, may be brought 
to a focus at a certain point. 
SCIENCE. 
627 
The tentacle, which is in continual motion, serves as 
bait to attract fishes on which it springs. Other very 
peculiar transformations of the rays of the fins into 
organs of touch may be seen in various fishes taken on 
board the Talisman. Bathypterois is especially worthy 
of mention. Among the most singular tactile organs 
we noticed in these fishes, that of Eustomias obscu- 
rus, immediately below the mouth, is to be mentioned. 
This new genus is shown in fig. 3. One of the most 
remarkable peculiarities of fishes living in very deep 
water is the great development of the mouth and the 
stomach. In Melanocetus and Chiasmodus, the capa- 
city of the latter organ is such that it can contain 
prey whose size is double that of the body of the fish. 
As to the proportions assumed by the mouth, the 
greatest development is shown by Eurypharynx pele- 
canoides (see figure, p. 620). 
Fig. 4. —MALACOSTEUS NIGER. 
Fishes at a great depth seem to move very little. 
They evidently live buried in the ooze, for one in- 
variably notices bits of lime on their bodies. Often 
several fin-rays, instead of performing their usual 
duty, become organs of touch. One of the most re- 
markable examples of this is shown by a fish caught 
on the coast of Africa, the Melanocetus Johnsoni (see 
figure, p. 621). In this animal, which was known 
only by a single specimen found dead on the surface 
near Madeira, the first ray of the dorsal fin was devel- 
oped, and formed a forward projecting true organ of 
touch, serving the same purpose as that of the goose- 
fish. In the latter fish there also exists a tentacle at 
the extremity of the first ray of the dorsal fin. The 
goose-fish lives in the sand, or ooze, where, by means 
of its fins, it makes a cavity in which it entombs it- 
self, thrusting out only the upper part of its body. 
One of the most interesting questions concerning 
the distribution of fish relates to the maximum depth 
at which these animals are met. On the Talisman, 
the fish caught at the greatest depth was Bythites 
crassus: it was brought up from a depth of 4,255 
metres. The Challenger obtained a fish, Bathyophis 
ferox, at 5,019 metres. 
[Mr. T. H. Bean, curator of fishes in the U.S. 
national museum, has furnished the following notes 
on the fishes obtained at the greatest depth by the 
Albatross, in a letter addressed to Professor Baird, 
and kindly placed by him at oursdisposal.— Ep. | 
The greatest depth explored by the Albatross was 
2,949 fathoms (5,394 metres), which was found Oct. 
2, 1883, in north latitude 37° 12’ 20’, and west lon- 
gitude 69° 39’. Five species of fishes, representing 
