64 LYCODIN^. 



irregular network of brown bands and lines of various breadth, which separate spots more or less 

 large of a lighter ground-colour; but it is clear as a rule — and noticeable in all cases, if one seeks 

 for it, in \ounger specimens — that the foundation for this network lies or has been in a system of 

 7^9 dark and especial!)- dark-margined cross-bands, which extend from the trunk and tail out on to 

 the dorsal fin where the\- are usually very distinct; between these bands, which extend down almost 

 to the median line, are light parts or spots (often with a darker spot again in the light). Especially 

 constant is such a dark margined light spot or cross-band across over the neck from the one gill- 

 opening to the other, and also some light dark -bordered spots or sinuous markings posterior to and 

 over the e\es, as well as on the sides of the head under the eyes as far the nostrils . And of the 

 females it is said at the same place: The two larger specimens have plainly the reticulate markings 

 characteristic of the species in general; these extend out on to the dorsal fin and the posterior part 

 of the anal fin as more or less distinct bands, and on the head like the markings already described 

 above for the males; the smallest has also these on the whole, specific and ver}" characteristic markings 

 on the head, but on the trunk and tail on the other hand there are only 8 dark-margined cross-bauds 

 on the back and dorsal fin . 



D i s t r i Ij u t i o n. 



L. retictilatus is distributed along the southern parts of West Greenland. During the last 

 century 7 specimens are known to have been taken there, at Julianeliaab, Fiskenses, Godthaab and 

 Umanak. Onl\' of one of these specimens is there the further information (by Dr. Vanhoff en) that 

 it was taken in the innermost parts of Umanak Fjord (Karajak Fjord) in a trap at 190 metres depth. 



According to Cioode & Bean') the species has been taken at several places on the east 

 coast of the United States at 17 — 140 fathoms depth, but one cannot tell with certainty if these 

 authors have had the true Z.. ;r/'/c///^///i- before them; their figures (PL 78, fig. 273 and PI. 81, fig. 281 a b) 

 indicate so however. 



Relation to allied forms. 



L. retic7ilat7is stands very close to the form from East (rreenland I have called L. refici/latKs 

 var. )iiacrocephahts\ on p. 70 I give the reasons for holding them jDartly separate for the time. 

 Concerning the relation of this species to L. semiiindiis see p. 78 and to L. rossi p. 59. 



Young forms of L. reticiilatus ( L. perspicillnni Krover , Tab. II, fig. 3). 



The specimens certainly L- reticiilatus sent here from Greenland are medium-sized to large 

 (225 — 380 mm.). Concerning the appearance of the young we have onh- conjectures, Prof. Collett in 

 1878 expressing the supposition that the small Eycodes described long ago by Kro\er under the 

 name L. perspictllmn was the young of L. reticulatiis^). With this view Liitken agreed. In \\\\ 

 preliminar\- report on the European-Greenland Lycodes I differed from this opinion and made ' L. 

 perspicillzwt a distinct species without giving particular reasons for tliis step howe\-er; certain know- 



■) Goode&Bean; Oceanic Ichthyology, p-jOS; Mem. of theMu.seuin af Couip. Zoology at Harvard College, vol. XXII, 1S96. 

 2| Videusk. Selsk. Forh. Chria. 187S, No. 14, p. 61. 



