584 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Family LEPTOCEPHALID^. 
Leptocephalus sequoreus (Gilbert & Cramer). 
It seems at present impossible to recognize Gongrellus as distinct from Leptocephalus. The position 
of the front of the dorsal, whether over the basal portion or the distal portion of the pectoral fin, can 
not be considered a useful generic character. The species which have been included in Congrellus are 
supposed to live in somewhat deeper water and to have the system of sensory canals more largely 
-developed, but the species differ widely in this respect also. It is best to unite these genera until a 
review of all the species has discovered some basis for separation. 
In the original description of L. xquorea, the snout is said to be contained 3 to 3.25 times in the 
head. This should read 3.5 in adults, 3.7 or 3.8 in young. The projection of the soft tip bf the snout 
is variable; it usually extends beyond the mandible for a distance less than two-thirds diameter of 
eye; the longitudinal diameter of eye is contained 6.3 times in the head; the teeth on the head of the 
vomer form a broad transverse patch, the outer posterior tooth on each side sometimes a little enlarged; 
those on the shaft of the vomer are separated from the anterior teeth by a short interspace, and are 
in a short narrow patch, the central tooth enlarged, canine-like, and sometimes preceded or followed 
by 1 or 2 smaller canines on the median line; the maxillary and mandibular teeth are similar, all 
slender and sharp, arranged in bands, within which no rows are visible; at the angle of the mouth 
the teeth are very small, those in the outer portion of the band becoming larger anteriorly. A 
single short and thick pyloric caecum. 
The species was taken at the following stations: Nos. 3813, off the south coast of Oahu, 183 to 264 
fathoms; 3984, vicinity of Kauai, 164 to 237 fathoms; 3988, vicinity of Kauai, 165 to 469 fathoms; 4122, 
off the southwest coast of Oahu, 192 to 352 fathoms; 4123, off the southwest coast of Oahu, 352 to 357 
fathoms; 4136, vicinity of Kauai, 294 to 352 fathoms. 
Congermurxna xquorea Gilbert & Cramer, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIX, 1897, 405, pi. xxxvil. 
Promyllantor alcocki Gilbert & Cramer. 
Not abundant; taken at 7 stations, ranging in depth from 238 to 334 fathoms. This range 
embraces that of the type specimens, collected in 1891 at a depth of 295 fathoms. 
The genus Promyllantor differs from Leptocephalus in the position of the nostrils, and in the denti- 
tion. The posterior nostril is above the anterior ]5art of the eye; the anterior is on the inferior surface 
of the projecting snout. The teeth are all villiform, in very broad bands. In P. purpureus Alcock, 
the type and only other species of the genus, the teeth are described as occurring “in broad bands in 
the jaws, and in a broad confluent triangular patch covering the palate.” From this description, 
Goode and Bean (Oceanic Ichthyology 1896, p. 138) have inferred that the genus lacks. vomerine 
teeth. In P. alcocki, the roof of the mouth is largely covered by a broad patch of villiform teeth, 
which are placed on the shaft of the vomer and are continuous with the narrower band on the head 
of the vomer. The latter does not project beyond the broad maxillary bands, which are continuous 
with it laterally. It is very probable that Alcock’s description of P. purpureus, quoted above, refers 
to a condition similar to that found in P. alcocki. The teeth are narrowly conical, but not acutely 
pointed, those on the posterior portion of the vomer blunter than the others. There is no pyloric 
caecum. The soft tip of the snout is much longer in some specimens than in others, sometimes 
scarcely protruding beyond the jaws. Congrosoma Garman (Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., XXIV, 1899, 
p. 308), seems to differ from Promyllantor only in the position of the posterior nostril, which is in 
advance of the eye. 
Examples were taken at the following stations: Nos. 3836, off the south coast of Molokai, 238 to 255 
fathoms; 3867, Pailolo Channel, 284 to 290 fathoms; 3883, Pailolo Channel, 277 to 284 fathoms; 3900, 
Pailolo Channel, 280 to 283 fathoms; 3912, off the south coast of Oahu, 310 to 334 fathoms; 4090, 
Pailolo Channel, 304 to 308 fathoms. 
Promyllantor alcocki Gilbert & Cramer, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIX, 1897, 405, pi. xxxvi, fig. 1. 
