LYCODIN.S;. 



The pectoral fins often give good specific characters. The number of raj-s in the present 

 species varies from 15 to 23, but the variation within the individual species is sometimes very limited. 

 The length of the pectoral fin also is sometimes a good determining character between nearly allied 

 .species. The posterior margin of the pectoral fin is in general rounded, but the condition in L. 

 eudipleiirostichis (Tab. Ill, fig. 1) is characteristic in that the lower rays are somewhat longer than the 

 middle ones, so that an indentation occurs (the same may also occur in iudividuals of L. frigidus, 

 see Tab. V, fig. i a). 



Other characters which might be taken into consideration, though not to so great an extent, 

 are the relative height of the body (the dimension choseu in this work for the greater or less 

 elongation is always the height over the anus, which is to some extent independent of distension caused 

 bv food or sexual products), the relative length of the head (which is nevertheless rather variable 

 within the individual species, tlie males as a rule having longer heads than the females or young), 

 size of the eyes, condition of the teeth etc. 



A gap in the present work is the almost entire absence of the structural anatomy; I 

 must leave this aspect of the diagnosis of the Lycodinse to others who can afford the necessary time. 

 I have only been able to examine the appendices pyloriccu, which in tlie present species of the genus 

 Lycodes are always two and very small, with e.xception of L. esniarkii Coll., where they are wanting 

 altogether. 



Geographical Distribution. A not unimportant factor to be taken into account in deter- 

 mining a specimen, is where it was found, each species hawing its characteristic, horizontal and vertical 

 distribution, as will be mentioned in detail in the special part. A sunnnary is given on p. 9—10 for 

 orientating the species which inhabit the various seas within the entire area; but though this 

 summary is based on a large amount of material, the possibility is of course not excluded that future 

 investisrations mav still find new forms within these seas. 



Lycenchelys Gill and Lycodonus Goode & Bean. 



To the genus Lyceiicke/ys I have referred 4 European and Greenland species: L. miirceiia Coll., 

 L. sarsii Coll., L. kolthofji Jensen and L. ingolfianus Jensen, the determination of which does not 

 cause great difficultv. A good specific character is formed seemingly by the large pits of the lateral 

 line along the upper jaw aud under the eye. In L. mgolfiamis their number is 8, in the others only 

 7 Other o-ood characters are to be found in the distance of the dorsal fin from the snout, the relative 

 length of the head and the number of ra)s in the pectoral fin.s. The colouration in L. murcena is 

 uniform, and this species also is restricted to great depths (340—620 f.); what the condition is in L. 

 ingolfianus is not known, as only one adult specimen (uniformly coloured) has been found; L. koltho/fi 

 has a strongly spotted (marbled) colouration; L. sarsii has dark markings in the young becoming 

 indistinct in the older stages. Each of these four species has its own separate area of the sea, so 

 that one can conclude from the region alone which species is to hand. — Cf. for the rest, the synoptical 

 table which is given later. 



