LYCODIN.^. 37 



Tlie miinber of rays in the pectoral fin varies from 20 — 22; there are 20 ra\-,s in 6 specimens, 

 21 in 8, 22 in 2; in all, the posterior edge of the fin is distinctly indented. In one of the 

 largest specimens I have counted 103 rays in the dorsal fin, 88 rays in the anal and 106 vertebrfe in 

 all (20 in the trunk, 86 in the tail); the number of the vertebrce is thus less than in L. esi/iarkii (23 -r 

 92 — 95) and has to be reckoned amongst the distinguishing characters from that species. 



In the smallest specimen (total length, 75 mm.) figured in fig. i b on Tab. Ill, the hindmost 

 portion of the tail is naked, whereas scales have begun to appear on the anterior part of the tail as 

 well as on the trunk. In all the remaining specimens the scaly covering extends from the end of 

 the tail to the head. The scales extend more or less out on to the unpaired fins, least on the anterior 

 part of the dorsal and anal. 



The lateral line is distinct (except in the young specimen), both the mediolateral and the 

 ventral branch. 



The colour is dark brown, with 5 — 7 whitish yellow, as a rule very narrow cross-bands; some- 

 times indeed single light bands show transition stages to a ring-form, or (only in a single individual) 

 the\' may be relatively broad, and the dark ground-colour between them appears light in the middle, 

 so that we obtain a colouration recalling somewhat that in L. rossi; there is one specimen also 

 where one or other of the vertical stripes shows signs of bifurcation below. The upper part of gill- 

 covers have a light border; sometimes the light colour extends a little also on to the neck above, 

 over the gill-openings. 



All the specimens have two small appendages behind the pylorus. 



Two of the females have large eggs in the ovary. In the one, 315 mm. long, caught on the 

 19th of July, the diameter of the eggs is 4 — 4,5 mm., and their number ca. 250 (apart from many 

 very small eggs in the ovary); in the other, 302 mm. long, taken on the 25th of .\ugust, the diameter 

 of the eggs is 5 mm. 



If we now, with this extended knowledge of L. cudipleitrostictiis^ wish to sum up the characters 

 in which this species differs from L. esniarkii, these would be chiefly: 



(i) the indentation in the posterior margin of the pectoral fin, 



(2) the smaller number of rays in the dorsal and anal fins, 



(3) the smaller number of vertebrae, 



(4) presence of two small pyloric appendages, 

 and in the second place: 



the always distinct, double lateral line, 

 the (as a rule) simple banded markings. 

 In biological regards also the two forms are markedly different: L. eudipleurostictiis is pre- 

 eminently a cold water, L. esinarkii on the other hand mainly a warm water form; L. es^narkti lives 

 almost exclusiveh' on echinoderms (especially ophiuroids), L. etidipleurostictits on worms and Crustacea. 

 Nor does L. eudipleitrostictus become nearh- so large as L. esinarkii. 



