66 LYCODIN^. 



The colouration (cf. Tab. II, fig. 3, representing Kroyer's type-specimen) consists of 9— 11 

 dark saddle-shaped cross-bands on the trunk and tail, the most posterior on the outermost point of 

 the tail; each of these bands is bordered by a very dark, sharph- outlined margin; the most anterior 

 band is separated from the dark upper surface of the head by a light cross-stripe (neck-band); the head 

 is encircled by a dark-brown O-shaped stripe, extending from the snout to the front margin of the eye, 

 from the posterior margin of the eye to the gill-cover's edge and from there on to the neck in front of 

 the light neck-baud; further an oval spot, light-coloured but surrounded by a brown ring is observed 

 behind the eye towards the upper edge of the head. — This regular banded marking seemed to me 

 previously to tell against these individuals being considered the young of the network-marked L. 

 retJciilatns ; but after I had seen in a series of specimens of the nearly allied L. retia/iatiis var. 

 macrocephaliis^ just such a similar change in colouration, occuring with age (cf. p. 68 — 69 and Tab. VIII), 

 I think it very probable that L. perspicilluin can change in a similar manner to L. veticulatits. 



The scales in the largest specimen show on the middle third of the body, namely on the 

 portion from a point under the anterior end of the dorsal fin, to the middle of the tail; in the smallest 

 specimen of L. reticitlatHS the scales also cease at some distance from the end of the tail. 



Taking all in all, it seems to me extremely probable, that L. perspicilluni Kroyer is the young 

 stage of L. reticulattis Reinhardt, as C o 1 1 e 1 1 was the first to remark. Complete certainty, of course, 

 will not be arrived at until the transition stages are found. 



I ma>- just add, that according to Goode & Bean (Oceanic Ichthyology, 1895, p. 307), the 

 Albatross has taken specimens of L. perspicillunt Kr. off the east coast of North America (45'^ '^^^jz 

 — 47" 29' N.L.), at 59 — 86 fathoms depth; the figures given (PI. 80, fig. 278 & 278 a) suggest that these 

 author's L. perspicilliim^ which they consider a separate species, is identical with Kroyer's; it agrees 

 well therefore, that there should be a form on the east coast of North America which is probabh- the 

 same as L. reticiilatus Reinhardt (cf. p. 64). 



var. macrocephalus m. 



Tab. VIII, Fig. i a, b, c, d, e, f. 



1886. Lycodes reticulatus Steindachner, Die Osterr. Polarst. Jan Mayen (Internat. Polarforsch. 1882—83), 



3. Bd., p. 107. 

 1901. L. reticulatus forma reticulata Smitt, Bih. K. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl. Bd. 27, Afd. IV, No. 4, p. 33 



(partim). No. 26 & 28—36, Fig. 4 — 5. 

 1901. L.reticulatJis forma seminuda Smitt, ibid. p. 31 (partim). No. 13. 



In proportions of the total length, the height over the anus is 10— 12, 2%, the 

 length of the head in males 26,2 — 28, 6 "/o, in females and young 25 — 26,6%, the 

 longitudinal diameter of the eye 4,3—4,8%, the distance between the snout and the 

 anus 46,2 — 50,6%, the length of the pectorals 13 — 14,4%. The young have 7 — 9 dark 

 and dark-bordered cross-bands on a light ground, and in addition a dark spot on 

 the end of the caudal fin; a light band across over the neck, and often a dark longi- 

 tudinal streak on the sides of the head. In older specimens a more or less distinct 



