hYCOBlNJB. 



23 



The length of the head therefore, amounts to 23,6 — 27,6 % of the total length in the males, 

 22,4 — 25,2 % in the females (23 — 24,6% in the young); the distance from the snout to the anus is 

 43,7 — 47*^0 of the total length in the males, 38,2 — 45,6% in the females (38,8— 43,1 °o in the young); 

 the height over the anus 9,5 — 14,2% (8—9,670 in the young) of the same dimension. 



Collett (Norw. North- Atlantic Expedition, Fishes, p. 100) states that the scales begin to develop 

 in the young when they are about 50 mm. long, as in one specimen (from St. 124) of 62 mm. total length, 

 the scales had begun to appear on the anterior part of the body. This statement does not agree with 

 m}- experience. Thus 10 specimens (Ingolf Exijedition), whose lengths lay between 49,5 and 105 mm. 

 are quite devoid of scales. The smallest specimen on which scales can be observed, is loi mm. long; 

 in it scales appear about the median line of the side, on the posterior half of the trunk, and on the 

 anterior two-thirds of the tail. This seems therefore to point to the conclusion, that the scaly covering 

 begins to form at the earliest at a total length of ca. 100 mm., aLso that Collett's specimen, which 

 was already furnished with scales at 62 mm., hardly belonged to the present species. For the 

 rest, there is some variation in the place of appearance and distribution of the scaly covering. 

 Four .specimens, whose lengths are 108,5, ^^^i ^20 and 138 mm. have it relatively less developed than 

 the one just mentioned of loi mm., as only on a small part over the anus, round the median line, do 

 the scales make their appearance. Five individuals of 120, 125, 137, 148 and 162 mm. are quite different 

 from these, as no scales appear on the trunk, but they are present on the other hand on the middle 

 third of the tail. Consequently, the scales may first appear either on the middle of the body, or on the 

 middle of the tail. At a total length of ca. 170 mm., the scaly covering extends in general from a little 

 behind the gill-covers to the neighbourhood of the end of the tail, also below on to the underside of 

 the belly, but the anterior part of the back (with a small strip under the front part of the dorsal fin) 

 together with the fins are bare. At a total length of ca. 180 mm., the scales also appear on the part 

 in front of the dorsal fin, and at ca. 200mm. they show on the base of the dorsal fin. In the adults, 

 the scales extend over the body right to the head as also out on the unpaired fins, but in t^vo of the 

 largest specimens I cannot detect scales on the front part of the back (in front of the dorsal fin), nor 

 partly either on a strip under the front part of the dorsal fin. 



Although L. frigidus is a well characterised species, and from its small scales and uni- 

 formly coloured body at all ages is the most readily recognised of all the Lycodes here dealt 

 with, }et a doubt has been expressed lately from two sides as to whether it is a good species. 



F. A. Smitt thus states in his great work on the fishes of Scandinavia, that the possibility is 

 not excluded that under Collett's L. fyigidus is concealed sa number of sterile perhaps hybrid 

 individuals J ; the species, to which he refers, being L.vahlii q\\A L.reticulatus. And from a note') which 



M Smitt: On the Genus Lycodes. Ann. Mag. Nat. History (7), 5, 1900, p. 56. 



