324 LYCODID^. 



Var. a. With one to three pairs of dorsal spots. 

 a~b, c, d. Adult and half-grown. Greenland. 



e. Adult. Purchased of Mr. Brandt. 



f. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 



Var. fi. Without black spots. 



g. Young. Greenland. 



h. Young. 72° lat. Presented by Capt. Sir J. Ross. 



Description. — The head, body and fins are enveloped in a thick lax 

 skin : the head is rather low, and in individuals with very fleshy 

 cheeks it is as broad as high ; its height is one-half of its length, and 

 the latter one-seventh or one-sixth of the total. Snout subcorneal, 

 longer than the eye, the diameter of which is one-seventh of the 

 length of the head ; jaws equal anteriorly. Cleft of the mouth 

 oblique, of moderate width, the maxillary extending behind the 

 vertical from the hinder edge of the orbit. Teeth rather small, 

 conical, in a single series on the sides of the jaws, whilst they are 

 crowded anteriorly, forming a patch. Vomer and palatines with a 

 series of similar teeth. The bony part of the interorbital space is 

 narrow and slightly convex. The operculum terminates in a soft 

 and short iiap. Gill-opening narrow, not extending downwards to 

 the lower part of the root of the pectoral. GiUs four, a slit behind 

 the fourth ; pseudobranchiae composed of short lamellae. 



The height of the body is equal to, or more than, one-half of the 

 length of the head. The distance of the vent from the extremity of 

 the snout is twice and a third the length of the head. The pectoral 

 is inserted near the lower profile ; it is rounded, and its length is 

 rather less than one-half of that of the head. The dorsal commences 

 above the posterior third of the pectoral ; its margin is even, and its 

 rays of moderate length : the anal commences immediately behind 

 the vent. 



Brown (in spirits) ; generally with one to four round black spots 

 on each side of the membrane covering the anterior part of the dorsal 

 fin ; anal sometimes with a black edge. 



Ten to twelve inches long. 



2. Gymnelis pictus. 



D. 85. A. 66. 



The dorsal fin commences somewhat before the middle of the pec- 

 toral. Dorsal without round black spots. 



Hah. ? 



a-h. Half-grown and young. From the Haslar Collection. 



This species is similar to G. viridis, but diff'ers in the following 

 points, besides those mentioned : — 



1 . The maxillary extends to the posterior margin of the eye in the 

 older specimen, but not in the young individual. The diameter of the 

 eye is one-sixth of the length of the head, which is one-seventh of 

 the total. 



