Aphoristia nebulosa Goode & Bean, 1883, new species

1. Aphoristia nebulosa, new species.

The extreme length of the type is 85 millimeters. The body is rather slenderer than in other species of the genus; its greatest height (18 mm.) is contained 4§ times in the extreme length. The scales are small, rough, about 120 in a longitudinal series; about 50 in a transverse series. Jaws and snout scaleless. The length of the head (15 mm.) is contained 5j times in total length. The length of the snout (3 mm.) is i that of the head. The eyes are small and close together, being separated by only a single row of scales; the upper eye is very slightly in advance of the lower. The tubular nostril is directly in front of the lower eye, and a little nearer to it than to the tip of snout. The length of the eye (2 mm.) is contained times in length of head. The angle of the mouth is about in a vertical through the anterior margin of the lower pupil. Teeth feeble, very slender, and rather closely placed, apparently equally developed on the two sides.

The dorsal fin begins at a point slightly behind the eyes; it is connate with the caudal, and contains 11!) rays to the middle of the base of the caudal; the rays about the middle of the fin are the longest, their height being a little more than one third that of the body.

The distance of the anal from the snout (20 mm.) is contained 4] times in extreme length; the longest rays are about the middle of the tin, their length (6mm.) equalling twice that of the snout. The anal is connate with the caudal, and contains 107 rays, counting to the middle of the base of the latter fin.

The median caudal rays are longest, their length (6 mm.) equalling twice that of the snout.

Pectorals none.

The distance of the ventral from the snout (15 mm.) is contained 5§ times in extreme length. The ventral is separated from the anal by an interspace twice as long as the eye. The number of ventral rays is five, the longest of them being one third as long as the head.

The vent is near the origin of the anal.

Color grayish, everywhere mottled with brown. The median keel on the scales dark and prominent.

Radial formula: 1). 119; A. 107; V. 5; P. none.

Station. N. Lat. W. Long. Fathoms. Specimens.

316 32° 7' 78° 37' 30" 229 1