115. LYCODID^, 783 
ings forming reticulations around the spots; head paler, with the retic- 
ulations in much finer pattern ; anal pale-edged. Tectoi als broad, more 
than half length of head. Longest spines of dorsal half length of head. 
Head 11; depth 15. D. CCL; A. 233; P. 19. L. 5-8 feet. Pacific 
coast, from Monterey north to Puget Sound. Leeds largely on Edi- 
inoids. 
(Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. i, 31, 1855: AnarrUclillujs felis Girard, U. S. Pac. 
E. K. Surv. Fish. 1858, 125: Anarrhicldhys felis Giiuther, iii, 211.) 
Family CXV.— LYCODIDiE.* 
{The EeJpouis.) 
Body elongate, more or less eel-shaped, uahed or covered with very 
small, imbedded, cycloid scales; head large; month large, with conical 
teeth in jaws, and sometimes on vomer and palatines; bones of head 
unarmed. Gill-membranes broadly united to the isthmus; pseudo- 
branchim present ; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth. Dorsal and anal 
fins very long, of soft rays only, or the former with a few posterior 
spines; vertical fins confluent around the tail; pectorals small; veu- 
trals jugular, very small or wanting. Lateral line obsolete or nearly so. 
Gill-rakers small ; pyloric coeca rudimentary; vent not near the head. 
Genera about C ; species 30. Bottom fishes, chiefly of the Arctic and 
Antarctic seas; some of them, and perhaps all, are viviparous. 
{Lycodiclw Giiuther, iv, 319-32G: geuus Zoarees Giiuther, iii, 295: ZoarcMdw Swaiu- 
8011 .) 
a. Dorsal tiu low behind, some of its posterior rays short aud spiue-like; veutrals 
small. {Zoarcince.) 
h. Scales present; teeth strong, conic, in jaws only Zoarces, 42.5. 
aa. Dorsal fin continuous. {Lyvoditiw.) 
c. Ventral fins present. 
d. Vomer and palatines toothless; scales present Lycodopsis, 426. 
dd. Vomer aud palatines with teeth. 
e. Scales present Lycodes, 427. 
ee. Scales obsolete Lycodalepis, 428. 
cc. Ventral fins wanting. 
/. Jaws equal; body .scaleless Gymnelis, 429. 
ff. .Jaws unequal, the lower projecting" Uroxectes, 4.30. 
*The six families following (Xycoiiidoc, Congrogadidw, Ficrasferidce, Ophidiida;, Gadidce, 
Macrnridw) constitute the group or suborder of Anacanthini or Jugulares, distinguished 
from the other Acanfhopteri by the long dorsal and anal fins, which are composed of 
soft rays only. The ventral fins, if iireseut, are jugular. The present family is called 
Zoarcidce in the key, on page 79. 
