72 BULLETIN 150, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



the lower and higher members of the genus. It still retains in 

 reduced form the primitive notch in the dorsal fin. The short con- 

 nection between the dorsal and caudal fins also is primitive. It 

 differs from all other species in the family in having more rays in the 

 pectoral than in the dorsal fin. The teeth also appear to have dis- 

 tinctive characteristics, rather short and stout; the lateral lobes 

 not in the same plane as the central lobe; the lobes flattened and 

 thin near the margins. 



Synopsis. — Dorsal 33-35; anal 27-29; pectoral 38-43; pyloric 

 coeca 26?-55. Disk 2.5-2.8 in the head. Gill slit extending down 

 in front of 13-16 pectoral rays. Dorsal fin unnotched or with a shal- 

 low notch which becomes evident upon dissection. More rays 

 in the pectoral than in the dorsal fin. Dorsal connection wdth the 

 caudal very short, little if any extending beyond the skin-covered 

 base of the latter. No prickles. Color olive brown to brownish. 

 A small-sized species reaching a length of 110 mm. 



Remar-ks. — The dorsal fin in this species is usually if not always 

 notched. In all the specimens examined, with the exception of a 

 mutilated individual, the notch in the dorsal fin could be detected by 

 dissection. In the mutilated indivdual the anterior dorsal raj^s were 

 broken and some of them absent, so that the presence or absence of a 

 notch could not be ascertained. In the type or Neoliparis Jissuratus 

 Starks, the first seven dorsal rays are unsegmented. , N . fissuratus , as 

 has been pointed out by Gilbert and Thompson, 1905, is identical 

 with L. Jucensis. 



A notch is usually present between the caudal and anal fins. The 

 lower lobe of the pectoral in some specimens reaches halfway between 

 disk and vent, while in others it reaches to the vent. The coloration 

 varies from that described for the tj^pe to a plain olive brown dusted 

 with dark dots. 



LIPARIS BMSTOLENSE (Burke) 



Cyclogaster brisiolense Burke, 1912a, p. 568. 



Tijpe.— Female, No. 53790, U.S.N.M.; vicinity of Bristol Bay„ 

 Bering Sea; Albatross Station 3514. 



Distribution. — Southeastern Bering Sea, Albatross Stations 3247^ 

 3301, 3514, 3518; depth 17 to 36 fathoms. Twelve specimens 

 examined. 



RelationsMp. — The distribution, shape of body and the presence of 

 prickles suggest a close relationship between Liparis bristolense and 

 Liparis megacepJialus . The latter species appears to be distinct in. 

 having a larger number of dorsal rays, a larger gill slit, and the 

 dorsal notch absent. Liparis bristolense differs from Liparis tunicatus- 

 and Liparis Jierschelinus in the smaller number of dorsal rays and the 

 coloration. It differs from Liparis agassizii in the smaller number of 

 dorsal rays and pyloric coeca, the coloration, and the smaller gill slit. 



