DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 311 



DYCENCHELYS PAXILLUS, (Goopf. and Bean) Jordan. (Figures 279; 282.) 



Lycodes paxillue, Goode and Bean, Proo. U. S. Nat. Mns.. a, 1879, 11; Cat. Fish. Essex Co. and Mass. Ray, 



1879, 9. — Goode, Proo. U.S. Nat. Mns. m, 477 (a kipper male). 

 l/ycenchelys paxillue, Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Amer., 1885, 124. 

 Ly codes paxilloides, Goode and Bean, Bull. Mns. Comp. Zool., 1883, x, No. 5, 207-8 (a normal, not sexually 



distiii led. individual). 



Body attenuate, its greatest height about half the length of the head, which is broad 

 flat above, with declivous profile; its length contained about eight times in that of body. 

 Upper jaw extending far beyond thelower; cheeks very full and protuberant. Teeth stout, 

 recurved, and sharply pointed, in a single series on both jaws, except at the symphysis; a 

 few teeth clustered at the head of the vomer; palatines with a single series; interorbital 

 space about one-fourth length of snout, which is about equal to that of eye, which is con- 

 tained 34 times in length of head. The tubular nostril is much nearer to the tip of the 

 snout than to the eye. 



Origin of dorsal over end of the extended pectoral; its distance from the tip of the 

 snout is contained 4 to if times in the total length ; that of the anal from the snout .'i*. times 

 or less. Vent immediately in front of anal. The length of the pectoral equals one-half that 

 of the head, or a little more. The distance of the. ventral from the snout is contained 84 

 times in the total length. The length of the ventral is scarcely more than that of the 

 pupil. Scales very small, present everywhere except on the head and pectorals, extending 

 almost out t<> the margin of the vertical tins. 



Eadial formula: I). 11G; A. 100. 



Color, light brown, the head somewhat darker. 



The form of L. paxillus is rounder and more terete than that of almost any other 

 described species. It is also easily distinguished by its very short head, by the peculiar 

 curvature of the strong jaw. and by the enormous development of the muscles of the cheek, 

 in the small number of pectoral rays it resembles L. polaris, Sabine, L. murcena, Collett, 

 and L. Verrillii, Goode and Bean. 



The type of L. paxillus is a male in breeding form, such as is shown in figure 279. 



L. paxilloides was based upon a normal individual, as shown in figure 282. 



The first example of this form was obtained by ('apt. Joseph W. Collins and the crew 

 of the schooner Marion of Gloucester, from the gully between Le ITave and Sable Island 

 Banks, in lat. 42° 48' N., Ion. 63° 07' W., and presented to the U. S. Fish Commission for 

 the National Museum. The specimen, which is 143 inches in length, is in a dilapidated 

 condition, and was apparently taken from the stomach of a fish, probably a halibut. Fish- 

 ing in this locality is carried on exclusively with trawls or long-lines at a depth of 1,200 to 

 2,400 feet. 



The Blake secured specimens from station cccix, in 40° 11' 40" N. lat., 68° 22' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 304 fathoms; from station CCCXII, in 39° 50' 4.5" N. lat., 70° 11' W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 4lili fathoms; and from station CCCXXxrr. in 35° 45' 30" N. lat., 74° 48' W. Ion., at 

 a depth of 263 fathoms; the Albatross from station 25G1, in 39° 38' N. lat., 71° 42' YV. Ion., 

 at a depth of 500 fathoms; from station 254G, in 39° 53' 30" N. lat., 70° 17' 30" W. Ion., at 

 a depth of 538 fathoms; Cat, No. 35400, IT. S. N. M., from station 2180, in 39° 29' 50" N. lat., 

 71° 49' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 523 fathoms; Cat, No. 33372, U. S. N. M., from station 

 2078, in 41° 11' 30" N. lat., 00° 12' 20" W. Ion., at a depth of 499 fathoms; Cat. No. 35544, 

 U.S. \. M., from station 2202, in 39°38'N. lat,. 71° 39' 45" W.lon., at a depth of 515 fathoms; 

 (ai. .NO. 35663, U. S. N. M., from station 2238, in 39° 06' N. lat,, 72° 10' \V. Ion., at a depth 

 of 904 fathoms; Cat. No. 35515, IT. S. N. M., from station 2202, in 39° 38' N.lat.,71 39' 15" 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 515 fathoms; < 'at. Xo. 35G29, IT. S. N. M., from station 2233, in 38 

 36' 30" X. lat.. 73 Oil' W. Ion., at a depth of 630 fathoms; and Cat. Xo. 35612, U. 8. X. M.. 

 from station 22ol, in 39° 39' 45" N. lat,, 71 • 35' 15" YV. Ion., at a depth of 5: is fathoms. 

 Examples were also obtained by the Fish Hawk as follows: Cat. No. 26181, U. S. X. M., 

 from station 891, in 39° 4G' N. lat.. 71 10' YV. Ion., at a depth of 180( J) fathoms, and station 

 894, in 39° 53' N. lat., 70 :,<,' 30" YV. Ion., at a depth of 365 fathoms; Cat, No. 317G6, IT. S. 



