13 
be in Xenodermichthys, the principal dependence for recognition of others of 
the same species at a distance, probably lies in ability to recognize simil¬ 
arities and differences in form, outlines, positions of fins, and the like, 
and these are made visible by the luminosity of the integuments of the object 
» 
or by the light in the water around it, presumptively by both of them. The 
surfaces of these fishes are more or less phosphorescent, but aside from 
this it would appear that the large eye, with the lack of special light organs 
and of special developments of the organs of touch, should be taken as evidence 
that the Alepocephalidae, and similar fishes, dwell in water that is lighted, 
perhaps by chemical changes taking place in the ooze on the ocean floor, 
changes that may at once cause the phosphorescence, retard the waste of 
tissues, and possibly-add something to the supply of oxygen, (Garman.) 
Esunculus Kaup, called by Jordan "a larva, allied to ALEPOCEPHALTJS" 
surely approaches the early larval stage of Albula. 
Tauredophidium Alcock, placed with this family by Jordan, seems more 
correctly related to the ophidiids, with which it was associated by its 
describer. 
