212 Mr. A. Alcock on the Bathybial Fishes 
Eyes situated in the uppermost part of the anterior third of 
the head, deep-set, without orbital folds, their major diameter 
being one tenth to one eleventh of the head-length and one 
third the width of the convex interocular space. Nostrils 
large, one at the antero-superior limit of the orbit, the other 
midway between the first and the tip of the snout. Mouth 
wide, oblique ; the maxilla, which is half as long us the 
head, completely encloses the mandible in repose ; villiform 
teeth in narrowdsh bands in the jaws, palatines, and vomer, 
the last arranged in a V with incurved limbs ; oro-branchial 
cavity jet-black throughout. 
Gill-covers large ; the preoperculum overlaps large portions 
of all the other opercular bones, extending almost to the 
hinder edge of the operculum ; the operculum with a feeble 
flat spur at the postero-superior angle, and another below 
concealed by the overlying preoperculum ; gill-openings very 
wide, the membranes separate throughout ; gill-laminae 
narrow ; seventeen long scabrous gill-rakers on the first 
branchial arch, besides some rudimentary ones above; no 
pseudobranchiae. 
Small, thin, deciduous scales cover the entire head and 
body behind the snout ; there are twenty-five rows between 
the dorsal fin and the vent. Lateral line indistinguishable. 
All the fin-rays delicate. The dorsal and anal fins are 
thick and fleshy; the highest rays of the dorsal — near the 
middle of the fin — are higher than the corresponding anal 
rays, and measure nearly half the maximum body-height ; 
the dorsal begins well in advance of the gill-opening. Caudal 
very narrow, its length nearly one twelfth of the total ; it is 
confluent with the other vertical fins only at its base. Pec- 
torals entire, pointed, half as long as the head. Ventrals 
arising at the pectoral symphysis, close together ; their single 
ray is as long as the postorbital portion of the head. 
Stomach siphonal ; intestine wide, much coiled ; no pyloric 
caeca ; liver large ; an air-bladder. 
The stomach of the dissected specimen contained aPenaeid. 
Colours in the fresh state : transparent grey ; head, belly, 
and pectorals black. 
Length 7 to 8 inches. 
Hab . Vide Station 97. Five specimens. 
Tauredophidium, gen. nov. 
Allied to Acanthonus ) Gthr. 
Head large and thick, armed on the opercles with strong 
spines ; body compressed. Snout broad, not overhanging 
