Bd. V: 6) THE FISHES OF THE SWEDISH SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION. 59 
distance from the origin of the dorsal fin to the root of the caudal. Diameter of 
eye 5 1 / 5 times in length of head and 2 times in the interorbital breadth. Length of 
snout fully 372 times in length of head. Bones of head thin, excavated and fragile. 
On either side of the parietal region a lamellar crest and above either orbit an ob- 
lique crest converging in a forward direction with the continuation of the parietal 
crest. On the steep anterior surface of the snout a pair of lower lamellar ridges on 
the median side of either nostril; short similar but longitudinal ridges behind the 
orbit and in the interspace between the parietal and orbital crests, and also in front 
and below the orbit, and in the middle of the snout. Some of the ridges seem to 
be finely crenulated. Opening of the mouth moderate, extending to the vertical 
through the middle of the eye. Length of the pectoral contained 174 times in length 
of head. Ventrals short, not reaching vent. Anal spine short and weak. Origin of 
anal below the last ray of dorsal. 
The exact dimensions of the single specimen obtained are as follows: 
Total length without caudal 
Length of head 
Greatest depth at the occiput 
Depth of body at the origin of the dorsal . . . 
Least depth of caudal peduncle 
Length » » » 
Distance from snout to origin of dorsal . . . . 
» origin of dorsal to root of caudal 
Length of pectoral 
Diameter of eye 
Interorbital space 
Length of snout 
76 mm. 
26 •> 
20 » 
18 » 
7 » 
24.5 » 
33 1 
44 » 
21 » 
5 1 
10 » 
7 » 
The colour in spirit is brownish black with lighter centres to the scales. Branchios- 
tegal membrane deep black. 
This new species appears to have a smaller number of dorsal rays than any 
other of the same genus with which the present author has become acquainted 
through the, to him, available littérature. From the species with comparatively few 
dorsal rays it may be distinguished in the following way. M. robustus Gthr 
(D. II, 1 1), obtained by the “Challenger” in the Mid-Atlantic SW. from Sierra 
Leone, has much smaller eyes, I /s of the length of head, a larger mouth and the 
origin of the dorsal midway between the snout and the root of the caudal etc 
M. beanii Gthr (D. II, 11) found in the Atlantic off the coast of the United States 
has, in addition to the different dorsal, a larger mouth, reaching beyond the eye which 
also is larger, and the pectoral as long as the head, lat. lin. 25. M. misolepis (Gthr) 
(D. Ill, 10), which appears to have a wide distribution as specimens referred to this 
species have been caught S. of New Guinea off the Arrou Islands by the “Challen- 
