DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 311 



LYCENCHELYS PAXILLUS, (Goode and Bean) Jordan. (Figures 279; 282.) 



Lycodes paxiUus, GooDE and Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., ii, 1879, 44; Cat. Fish. Essex Co. and Mass. Bay, 



1879, 9.— Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii, 477 (a kipper male). 

 Lycenrhehjs paxiUiis, Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Amer., 188.5, 124. 

 Lycodes paxiUoides, Goude and Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 1883, X, No. 5, 207-8 (a normal, not sexually 



distorted, individual). 



Body attenuate, its greatest height about half the length of the head, which is broad 

 flat above, with declivous profile; its length contained about eight times in that of body. 

 Upper jaw extending far beyond the lower; cheeks very full and protuberant. Teeth stout, 

 recurved, and sharply pointed, in a single series on both jaws, except at the symphysis; a 

 few teeth clustered at the head of the vomer; palatines with a single series; interorbital 

 space about one- fourth length of snout, which is about equal to that of eye, which is con- 

 tained 3J times in length of head. The tubular nostril is much nearer to the tip of the 

 snout than to the eye. 



Origin of dorsal over end of the extended pectoral; its distance from the tip of the 

 snout is contained 4 to ^ times in the total length ; that of the anal from the snout 3J times 

 or less. Vent immediately in front of anal. The length of the pectoral equals one-half that 

 of the head, or a little more. The distance of the ventral from the snout is contained 8J 

 times in the total length. The length of the ventral is scarcely more than that of the 

 pupil. Scales very small, present everywhere except on the head and pectorals, extending 

 almost out to the margin of the vertical fins. 



Eadial fornnila: D. 116; A. 100. 



Color, light brown, the head somewhat darker. 



The form of L. imxiUuH is rounder and more terete than that of almost any other 

 described species. It is also easily distinguished by its very short head, by the peculiar 

 curvature of the stnmg jaw, and by the enormous development of the muscles of the cheek. 

 In the small number of pe(;toral rays it resembles L. polaris, Sabine, L. murcena, Collett, 

 and L. Verrillii, Goode and Bean. 



The type of L. paxlllus is a male in breeding form, such as is shown in figure 279. 



L. paxilloiden was based upon a normal individual, as sliown in figure L'S2. 



The first example of this form was obtained by Oapt. Joseph W. Collins and the crew 

 of the schooner Marion of Gloucester, from the gully between Le Have and Sable Island 

 Banks, in lat. 42° 48' N., Ion. 63° 07' W., and presented to the U. S. Fish Commission for 

 the National Museum. The specimen, which is llj inches in length, is in a dilapidated 

 condition, and was apparently taken from the stomach of a fish, probably a halibut. Fish- 

 ing in this locality is carried on exclusively with trawls or long-lines at a depth of 1,200 to 

 2,400 feet. 



The Blalce secured .specimens from station cccix, in 40° 11' 40" N. lat., 68° 22' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 304 fathoms; from station cccxii, in 39° 50' 4.5" N. lat., 70° 11' W. hm., at a 

 depth of 400 fathoms; and from station CCCXSXii. in 35° 4.5' 30" K lat., 74° 48' W. Ion., at 

 a depth of 2(i3 fathoms; the Albatrosn from station 2561, in 39° 38' N. lat., 71° 42' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 500 fathoms; from station 2546, in 39° 53' 30" K lat., 70° 17' 30" W. Ion., at 

 a depth of 538 fathoms; Cat. No. 35400, U. S. N. M., from station 2180, in 39° 29' 50" N. lat., 

 71° 49' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 523 fathoms; Cat. No. 33372, U. S. N. M., from station 

 2078, in 41° 11' 30" N. lat., 66° 12' 20" W. Ion., at a depth of 499 fathoms; Cat. No. 35544, 

 U. S. N. M., from station 2202, in 39° 38' N. lat., 71° 39' 45" W. Ion., at a depth of 515 fathoms; 

 Cat. No. 35G03, U. S. N. M., from station 2238, in 39° 06' N. hit., 72"^ 10' W. Ion., at a depth 

 of 904 fathoms; Cat. No. 35545, U. S. N. M., from station 2202, in 39° 38' N. lat., 71° 39' 45" 

 W. Ion., at a depth of 515 fathoms; Cat. No. 35629, U. S. N. M., from .station 2233, in 38° 

 36' 30" N. lat., 73° 0(!' W. Ion., at a depth of C30 ftithoms; and Cat. No. ;r)(il2, U. S. N. M., 

 from station 2201, in 39° 39' 45" N. lat., 71° 35' 15" W. Ion., at a depth of .53S fathoms. 

 Examples were also obtained by the Fish Hawk as follows: Cat. No. 20181, U. S. N. M., 

 from station 891, in 39o 46' N. lat., 71° 10' W. Ion., at a depth of 480( ?) fiithoms, and station 

 894, in 390 53' N. lat., 70o 58' 30" W. Ion., at a depth of 365 fiithoms; Cat. No. 31766, U. S. 



