72 
RECORDS OR THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 
which are behind the middle of the fin, not erectile into a vertical 
position ; the rays are slender and fragile : the anal commences 
a little behind* the middle of the length of the fish, and beneath 
the twenty third dorsal ray, and ends a little nearer to the base 
of the caudal than does the dorsal ; there is no distinct spinuous 
portion to either the dorsal or the anal fin : ventral rather small 
and close together, inserted in advance of the base of the pectoral, 
its length (in the figure) two fifths of that of the head; pectoral 
with a broad base, the upper rays longer than the lower, its 
length (in the figure) two thirds of that of the head : caudal fin 
rounded, rather shorter than the head ; the least height of the 
caudal peduncle about equal to its length. Scales minute, eyelid ; 
on the head apparently present on the cheeks only. Lateral line 
curved to beneath the anterior third of the dorsal fin, thence 
straight. 
Colors . — Pale greenish olive marbled with darker, the markings 
being in the form of spots on the upper and of irregular longitudinal 
bands on the lower half of the body : vertical fins spotted with 
blackish. Irides nearly white ; a ring of small white pores en- 
circling the eye. 
This species has been obtained in the Mediterranean, the Mid- 
Atlantic, the Pacific near Samoa, on the east coast of Spain, and 
on the north-east coast of Ireland, the writer having the good 
fortune to secure the last-mentioned example immediately after 
its capture. 
Length to nine inches and a half. 
In Dr. Steindaclmer’s description, the dorsal rays are said to 
vary between thirty five and forty seven, which, unless the smaller 
number should prove to be a printer’s error for forty five, is a 
most unusual variation in such a species, and, taken in conjunction 
with the fact that some examples were found to have six, others 
seven, branchiostegal rays, would go far towards suggesting the 
possibility that two species have been confounded together under 
the name Schedophilus medusophagus . 
SCHEDOPHILUS ENIGMATICUS. 
Icoeteusj eenigmaticus , Lockingt. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxii. p. 
63, 1881 ; Jordan & Gilbert, Synops. Pish. N. Am. p. 620, 
1882; Steindachn. SB. Ak. Wien, lxxxvi. p. 82, 1882; Gnth. 
Voy. Challenger, xxii. p. 46, pi. xliv. 1887. 
* A little before in Gunther's figure in the Transactions ( q.v .) 
+ Derived from et/cco, to yield, and oerreov , a bone; alluding to the 
soft and flexible nature of the bones. 
