392 
ACTINOPTERYGII. 
of the pectorals. Dorsal fin considerably extended, occupying 
nearly half the length of the back, with from 5 to 8 stout spines, 
gradually increasing in length, and closely pressed together ; anal 
fin also much extended and more or less completely opposed to the 
dorsal, with 3 or 4 stout spines, gradually increasing in length, and 
closely pressed together ; caudal fin deeply cleft. Scales small and 
thick, feebly ctenoid, extending over the cheek and ithe bases of 
the dorsal and anal fins ; no ridge-scales, and none modified along 
the course of the lateral line. 
This genus is provisionally placed in the Berycidw, the number 
of the pelvic fin-rays not yet having been exactly ascertained. 
Pycnosterinx russeggeri, Heckcl. 
1849. Pycnosterinx russeggeri, J. J. Heckel, in Russegger’s Reisen, 
vol. ii. pt. iii. p. 388, pi. xxiii. fig. 1. 
1850. Pycnosterinx dorsalis, F. J. I’ietet, Poiss. Foss. Mt. Liban, 
p. 17, pi. ii. fig. 8. [Imperfect fish ; Geneva Museum.] .. 
1857. Beryx niger, O. G. Costa, Mem. It. Accad. Sci, Napoli, vol. ». 
p. 100, pi. ii. fig. 1 (named Beryx ater in expl. of plate, p. 1 1-d' 
[Imperfect fish ; Geological Museum, University of Naples.] 
1806. Pycnosterinx dorsalis, Pictet & Humbert, Nonv. Rech. 1 111 
Foss. Mt. Lilian, p. 41. 
I860. Pycnosterinx russeggerii, Pictet & Humbert, ibid. p. 41. 
1866. Pycnosterinx -niger, I’ietet & Humbert, ibid. p. 43. 
1887 . Pycnosterinx russeggerii , J. W. Davis, Trans. Roy. Dublin Soc. 
[2] vol. iii. p. 633. 
1887. Pycnosterinx dorsalis, J. W. Davis, ibid. p. 533, pi- xrv111 ' 
fig. 2 a (non fig. 2). 
1887, Pycnosterinx niger, J. W. Davis, ibid. p. 534. 
1887. Hommotus pulcher, J. W. Davis, ibid. p. 519, pi. xxv. fig- 
[Distorted fish ; Edinburgh Museum.] 
1898. Pycnosterinx dorsalis, A. S. Woodward, Ann. Mag. Nat. H ln • 
[7] vol. ii. p. 489. 
1899. Pycnosterinx russeggeri, A. S. Woodward, loc.cit. vol. iv. p- 
Type. Imperfect fish. 
The typo species, attaining a length of about O'l. Length o 
head with opercular apparatus somewhat exceeding the maximum 
depth of the trunk, which is contained two and a half times in the 
total length of the fish to the base of tho caudal fin ; caudal pcdic e 
very slender, its width scarcely exceeding one quarter of the 
maximum depth. Dorsal fin with 5 longitudinally ribbed spines 
and about 18 divided rays, arising approximately at the midd e 
point between the end of the snout and the base of the caudal tin , 
anal fin much less extended, with a rudimentary spine at the 
