PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 213 



extends farther back than the latter. The length of the palatine series 

 is to that of the vomerine as 16 to 27. 



The distance from the snout to the orbit (.05 -.055) is contained, 

 nearly or quite 4 times in that from the snout to the origin of the dorsaL 

 The long diameter of the eye (.035) equals one-seventh, or slightly more 

 than one-seventh, of the length of the head, and not quite one-fourth of 

 the length of the lower jaw. 



The distance between the end of the snout and the origin of the dorsal 

 (.20) is contained 5 times in the unit of length, and equals twice the 

 length of the longest dorsal ray (.10). 



The distance of the anal from the snout (.52) equals 3 times the 

 height of the body at the pectorals. The length of the first anal ray 

 (.035) equals the long diameter of tlie eye (.035). The longest anal ray 

 (.05 -.055) equals a little less than half of the width of the body, and 

 less than one-fourth of the length of the head. The vent is about mid- 

 way between the end of the snout and that of the dorsal, and under the 

 25th to the 27th dorsal rays. 



The length of the middle caudal rays (.085) is contained twice in the 

 height of the body at the pectorals, and equals twice the least height of 

 the tail. The caudal is rounded. 



The distance of the pectoral from the snout (.23) is contained 4=^ times 

 in the unit of length, and the length of the pectoral (.15) is contained 

 6| times. The extended pectoral reaches to the perpendicular through 

 the origin of the ICvh dorsal ray. 



Badial formula: D. 81; A. 50-53; C. 20-21; P. 21. 



Scales : Head and fins scaleless. The median line of the body and the 

 whole of the tail are covered with small widely-separated scales, resem- 

 bling those of Lota, but not depressed. 



Color: The prevailing color of the alcoholic specimens is dark brown, 

 without bands and spots. The belly is light brown or gray, clouded 

 with very dark brown. 



Anarrhichas lepturus needs to be contrasted only with. A. or ientalis 

 and A. lupus. It seems to me improbable that any species of Anarrhi- 

 chas can be safely identified with orientalis. The description of that 

 species is certainly insufficient, and may be erroneous. The total length, 

 for example, is stated to be 2 feet 2 inches, English measure ; the length 

 of the head, 1 L inches — a proportion whi(;h is without a parallel in the 

 other species of the genus. Assuming that the length of the head is not 

 correctly given, and that it bears the same proportion to the total length 

 as that of A. lepturus, it still differs from the latter in (1) the absence of 

 scales, (2) the situation of the nostril midway between the eye and the 

 mouth, (3) its radial formula — D. 84; C. 17 — (4) the presence of 6 ca- 

 nines in the upper jaw. We must, however, accept the descrii)tion as 

 it stands, for the measurements are evidently those intended by the 

 author, in which event the length of the head alone will serve to dis- 

 tinguish orientalis from all other species. 



