DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 311 



LYCENCIIELYS PAXILLTTS, (Goodf, and Bean) Jonlan. (Figures 279; 282.) 



Lycodes paxiUus, GoODE and Bean, Froc. U. S. Nat. Miis., ii, 1879, 41; Cat. Fish. Essex Co. and Mass. Bay, 



1879, 9.— GoonE, Proe. U. S. Nat. Mus. lii, 477 (a kipper male). 

 Lycenchelys paxilUis, Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Anier., 188.5, 124. 

 LycodesjxmUohles, (ioouE and Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 1883, x, No. 5, 207-8 (a normal, not sexually 



distorted, individu.al). 



Body atteuuate, its g-retitcst liciglit 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 3.J times in length of head. The tubular nostril is much nearer to the tip of the 

 snout than to the eye. 



Origin of dor.sal over eud of the extended pectoral; its distance from the tip of the 

 snout is contained 4 to V^ times in the total length ; tliat of the anal from the snout .3^ 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 i)ectorals, extending 

 almost out to the margin of the vertical fins. 



Radial formula: D. 110; A. 1(10. 



Color, light brown, the head somewhat darker. 



The form of L. paxillux 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 stivmgj'aw, and by the enormous development of the muscles of the cheek. 

 In the small number of pectoral rays it resembles L. polaris, Sabine, L. murocna, Collett, 

 and L. VerriUii, Goode and Beau. 



The type of L. lyaxillus is a male in breeding form, such as is shown in figure 270. 



L. paxilloidcs was based upon a nrn-mal individual, as shown in figure U82. 



The first examj)le of this form was obtained by Oapt. Joseph W. (JoUins and the crew 

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

 Banks, in lat. -120 48' N., Ion. 03° 07' W., and presented to the U. S. Fish Counnission for 

 the National Museum. The specimen, which is 14.3 iiK-]ies in length, is in a dilai>idated 

 condition, and was apparently taken from the stomach of a fi.sh, 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 Blake secured specimens from station occix, in 40° 11' 40" X. lat., 08° 22' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 304 fathoms; from station cccxii, in 39° 50' 4."." N. lat., 70o 11' W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 400 fathoms; and from station oocsxxii. in 35° 45' 30" K lat., 74° 48' W. Ion., at 

 a depth of 2()3 fathoms; the Alhatro.ss from station 2501, in 39° 38' N. lat., 71° 42' W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 500 fathoms; from station 2540, in 39° 53' 30" N. lat., 70° 17' 30" W. h)n., at 

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

 710 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., 00° 12' 20" W. Ion., at a, depth of 499 fathoms; Cat. No. 35544, 

 U. S. N. M., from station 2202, in 3!)o 38' N. lat., 71^ 39' 45" W. Ion., at a depth of 515 fathoms; 

 Cat. No. 3500;!, U. S. N. M., from station 2238, in 39° 06' N. lat., 72° 10' A\'. Ion., at a dei>th 

 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. 35029, IT. S. N. M., from station 223.3, in 38° 

 30' 30" N. lat., 73° 00' W. Ion., at a. depth of 030 lathoms; and Cat. No. 3.-.(;i2, ir. S. N. M., 

 from station 2201, in 39° 39' 45" N. lat., 71° 35' 15" W. Ion., at a deptli of 5.38 fathoms. 

 Examples were also obtained by the Fish Hnirk as follows: Cat. No. 20181, IT. S. X. M., 

 from station 891, in 39° 40' N. lat., 11° 10' W. Ion., at a de])th of 480(1) fathoms, and station 

 894, in 390 53' N. lat., 7()'J 5S' .!0" \V^ Ion., at a depth of 305 fathoms; Cat. Xo. 31700, U. S. 



