LYCODIN.S;. 



45 



to near the root of tlie pectorals, but a portion of the end of the tail is still more or less free from 

 scales; at a total length of 137 nnn. and over, the tail is completely covered with scales, so that these 

 extend from the tip of the tail almost to the root of the pectorals, but the head, belly and fins 

 continue to be naked even in the largest specimens. On the trunk and tail, there are 7 — 11 dark 

 cross-bands (frequently also a dark spot at the end of the tail), which may become indistinct in the older 

 (seldom in the relatively small individuals), especially on the foremost part of the body; they remain as 

 a rule, however, on the dorsal fin; the anal fin is usually light in front, posteriorly on the other hand, 

 it is more or less blackish (from the fusing together, entirely or in part, of the most posterior cross-bands) 

 not rarely with a narrow, light strip along the lower margin; more rarel\- the anal fin is uniformly 

 dark the whole way. Sometimes a light spot is present over the edges of the gill-cover or a light 

 stripe across the neck. The ventral lateral line is distinct, especially on the part descending towards 

 the antis; a distinct mediolateral lateral line is seldom seen; sometimes there is a short series of pores 

 forwards under the dorsal fin'). 



Lycodes palh'diis from the cruise of the «]\Iichael Sars~> 1902. 



Six specimens of a Ljcodes, which I think L. pal/idus, were taken off the Shetland-Norway 

 Slope > at ca. 420 fathoms depth. 



The most important measurements are as follows: 



Total length in mm 



Length of the head in " o of the total length 



Distance between snout and anus. ... — — 



Height over the anus — — 



In addition, the longitudinal diameter of the eye is 4,1— 3,8° o, the length of the snout (to the 

 eye) 7,6— 8,5 '^^o, the distance of the dorsal fin from the snout 28,7—30,470 of the total length. The 

 pectoral fins contain 19—20 rays. The scaly covering is almost equally developed in all specimens 

 and extends towards the root of the pectoral fins; the anterior part of the back and the fins are 

 naked, likewise almost all that part of the belly which Hes under the branch of the lateral line 

 descending towards the anus. The ground-colour is brownish, but darkened on the belly by the 

 peritoneum shining through; on the body itself no cross-bands appear; in the three smallest specimens 

 on the other hand, rather distinct black markings appear on the dorsal fin, especially on the most 

 posterior part, and weak traces of these can be detected also in the three larger individuals; the anal 

 fin is grayish in front, dark posteriorly. The ventral lateral line is distinct, frequently even a good 

 bit beyond the anus; a mediolateral lateral line is rather apparent in a single individual (that of 142 mm.), 

 in others only scattered elements of it are to be seen. 



I) I have also observed such dorsal pores sometimes, in L. fallidiis from other regions. 



