56 



LVCODIN.E. 



anterior part of tlie back and belly are free of scales, likewise the head and fins. 

 The lateral line is nied iolateral. Pyloric appendages 2. Size 223 mm. 



D. 91— 96. A. 71— 76. P. (17) i<S — ig (20). 



Distribn tion. Spitzbergen, 5 — 75 fathoms; Kara Sea, 46 — 100 fathoms; Pors- 

 anger Fjord (East F'inmark), 30 — 50 fathoms. 



Remarks on the Synonym\'. 



In 1S2S, Ross referred a fish taken b}- the Parrj- North Pole Expedition north of Spitzbergen at a depth of So 

 fathoms, to the Blennhis polaris described by Sabine front arctic .\merica, though Ross at the same time noted some 

 differences between them. From the description, it is quite clear that Ross' specimen was a species of the genus Lycodes. 



In 1 85 1, a Swedish Expedition to Spitzbergen obtained two small Lycodes, which Malnigren took — and probably 

 righth- — to be identical as species with Ross' specimen. But M. rejected the reference of this L3'Codes to Sabine's Blennms 

 Polaris, and after likewise rejecting the possibility' of its identity with either of the L. perspicilhim and L. nebulostis from 

 Greenland established by Kroyer, gave it the name /,. rossi, the diagno,sis of which is based on a single 32 mm. long speci- 

 men (the second specimen seems to have been lostl. 



The next reference to L. rossi is b\' CoUett in i,Syo. After examining Malmgren's type-specimen Collett came 

 to the conclusion that L. rossi was really the same as L. perspici/hitn Kr,, and again that L. gyacilis M. Sars, which was 

 only known from a young specimen from Christiania Fjord, was identical with L. rossi. Further, Collett explains: cit is 

 probable that all these are only voung stages either of L. reliculaius alone, or also of a second nearlv related species, perhaps 

 L. iiiikenii (1. c. p. 105). 



In his great work on Scandinavian Fishes Prof. F. A. .Sniitt likewise expresses the opinion that L. rossi is the 

 young of L.reiiculaius Reinh., but with this he unites not onlv /,. perspicil/mii Kr., Iiut also /,. se»iimidtis Reinh. and 

 L. liltkenii Coll. of the European-Cireenland forms. 



In his monograph on L. gracilis I1S99) Collett again takes up the question of the po.sition of L. rossi. He de- 

 clares that in certain features /. rossi differs from L. gracilis, but he is still inclined to consider them identical; on tlie other 

 hand, he now considers the transference of L. perspicilluni to this species as problematical, and there is no further talk of 

 bringing L. gracilis-rossi under L. rcticnla/zts. 



In my preliminary report on the Lycodes of the Ingolf Expedition I was of the opinion that I had agaiu found 

 L. rossi in two small specimens from the seas south of Jan Mayen, and that these united L. rossi with L. Iiiikenii Coll. In 

 this however, I made an error. Later, in the material of the Kolthoff Expedition. I have seen so many specimens identical 

 with the form from Jan Mayen, that with this increased knowledge, I must refer them to Z. seminudus (cf. this species). 

 And after I had the opportunity, through the favour of Prof. F. A. Smitt, of examining Malmgren's type-specimen of 

 L. rossi, I think it certain that this form is a very young stage of the species L. celaius inihi. 



This specific name I had employed for three small Lycodes from the Kara Sea; the}' were considered by Liitken, 

 though with some doubt, as the young of L. reticnlatiis Reinh. I could not agree with this author on this point and formed 

 the species L. celaius. To this I further referred two small Ljcodes taken by Russian Expeditions in the Stor Fjord at Spitz- 

 bergen. Prof. N. Knipo wit sell had identified these specimens as Liitken's I., rciiculaiiis yavi.t and with right, as I could 

 judge from a direct comparison which Prof. K. kindly enabled me to make; through some differences in the most important 

 proportions however, I felt obliged to distingviish it as a distinct variety: spitsbergensis. 



But, as said, after I had seen the type-specimen of L. rossi Malnigr. , I came to the conclusion that my /,, celaius 

 must be somewhat larger specimens of the same species. 



Later, I got to know Z.. rossi closer through a whole series of specimens, old and young, which Dr. Johan Hjort 

 had taken in 1901 in the Ise Fjord at .Spitzbergen. And for use in this treatise. Prof. R. Collett has lent me a series of spe- 

 cimens, which kindness I appreciate the more as Prof. Collett had intended to work them out. With the help of this 

 excellent material, I discovered that the largest of the specimens, which Liitken in his report on the fishes of the Kara 

 Sea had referred to L. liitlienii CoU., belonged to L. rossi^). Lastly, I became convinced that two Lycodes must also be 

 referred to L. rossi, which were taken at Spitzbergen (Ise Fjord and W. from Cape Mitra) by the Kolthoff Expedition of 

 1900 and ascribed to L. reliciilaius by Prof. Siuitt (1. c). 



Description. 

 Altogether I have had 19 specimens for investigation; the\- are enumerated below with the 

 most important proportions: 



I) The remainiug (27) specimens, on the other hand, form a new .species belonging to the scaleless Lycodes, which 

 I have named Lycodes agiios/iis (cf. p. 79 — 801. 



