of the Arabian Sea . 299 
width of the interorbital space, and ^ greater than the major 
diameter of the eye. 
Eye situated high up, the supraorbital border entering the 
dorsal profile. 
The posterior nostril much larger than the anterior. 
Mouth-cleft extremely wide, the maxilla, which is much 
expanded behind, measuring § of the head- length ; jaws con- 
terminous, with sharp dentary edges and rudimentary labial 
folds. Villiform teeth in narrow bands in the jaws and pala- 
tines, scattered and obsolescent on the wide V-shaped head 
of the vomer. Tongue very small, papilliform. 
Gill-openings very wide, the membranes entirely free ; four 
gills with narrow laminae ; gill-rakers well developed on all 
the arches, those on the outer side of the first arch, to the 
number of twenty, very long and bristle-like. The pseudo- 
branchiae are reduced to two small lamellae on each side. 
Small deciduous scales on the body and at least the poste- 
rior half of the head ; there are apparently twenty rows 
between the vent and the dorsal fin. 
In the fresh state there is a thick subcutaneous layer of 
mucus, as in Bathyonus . Lateral line undistinguishable. 
The dorsal fin begins immediately behind the vertical 
through the gill-opening, the anal immediately behind the 
vent, which is a head-length distant from the gill-opening. 
Pectorals narrow, pointed, as long as the rostrorbital por- 
tion of the head. The ventrals arise close together, just 
behind the pectoral symphysis ; each consists of a simple fila- 
ment as long as the postrostral portion of the head. 
Stomach siphonal ; intestine long (half the total), much 
coiled ; no pyloric caeca. Air-bladder small. 
Colours in the fresh state: — Transparent grey: oro- 
pharyngo-branchial membrane and parietal peritoneum intense 
black. 
A single female specimen 7 inches long, with the end of 
the tail missing. 
Station 104, 1000 fathoms. 
Family Macruridae. 
Macrurus, Bloch. 
Subgenus Macrurus (Bloch). 
5. Macrurus Hextii , sp. n. 
B. 6. D. iVllO circ. A. circ. 110. P. 21-22. V. 7. 
L. lat. circ. 130. L. tr. J 
29 circ. 
The length of the head is half that ot the entire trunk or i- 
