| OCR Text |
Show 1886.] NEW PEDICULATE FISH. 139 millim. Breadth of the head across the jaws 16 ,, „ across the base of the orbital spine .. 10 Length of the body to the commencement of the second dorsal 26 Base line of the second dorsal 6 Depth of the root of the tail 4-5 Diameter of the eye 2*5 Length of the cephalic tentacle (first dorsal) 9 Length of the guttural tentacle 23 Length of the caudal fin 14*5 Length of the pectorals (with the pseudobrachium) ...... 5 Length from the snout to the pectorals (to the root of pseudo-brachia) 16 The structure of the body in its natural state can hardly be correctly described from this specimen, in which the whole of the belly exhibits an abnormal distension in consequence of the fish having swallowed a Scopeloid fish, the total length of which is one half longer than itself. The head is very large, with an enormous mouth and long teeth. The body itself is short and slender, compressed, and with the heavy dependent abdominal cavity, of which the hindermost part extends far beyond the end of the vertebral column. The greatest depth of the body is at the back of the head, and is precisely the same as the length of the head. The body itself is apparently much lower, and the root of the tail narrow and low. A thick cephalic spine is to be found on the snout; and under the throat a long tentacle divided at the end, which undoubtedly is phosphorescent, as well as the end of the cephalic spine. The gill-openings are so narrow that they can only be distinguished with difficulty ; their openings are not much larger than the head of a pin. The head.-Its appearance when viewed from the front is nearly tetrahedral, somewhat compressed, and broadest downwards. Its greatest width is across the angle of the mouth, and is about equal to the length of the intermaxillary bones. The upper profile of the head exhibits a somewhat projecting and slightly outwardly inclined spine above each eye. The breadth of the head across the base of these spines (which form the upper corners of the square when the head is seen from the front) is one third less than the breadth across the angles of the mouth (or the lower corners of the square). The forehead in front of the orbital spines is concave, with a deep furrow leading to the end of the snout, bounded on each side by a ridge, on which also the orbital spines are projecting; the concavity is somewhat broader downwards than it is above. There are altogether three spines on each side of the head. One orbital spine is directed upwards and slightly forwards. One spine at the back of the operculum is directed backwards; also a small spine at the back of the lower jaw sloping inwards and downwards ; 10* |
