DISCUSSION OF SPECIKS AND THKIK J)ISTLaiil,'TlnN. 431 



in the Trondhjera Fiord at 200 fathoms, and l)y the Norwegian Expedition at 12.5-250 fathoms 

 ort' Finniark and the Lofoten Ishinds. 



It occurs also iu the North Sea and around the British Ishaiids, and France wliere, 

 however, it is rare, especially on the west (loast, thoivgh it has b<'en t'oiiiid as far south as 

 Arcachon. 



On our own coast, though never found near tlic shore, it is otic of the most aljiindaut 

 of the deep-water pleuroncctoids. 



The following statistics are the result of a careful stiuly of numerous specimens 

 trawled in the deep water off Salem, Mass., on La, Have Bank, and on the coast of Nova 

 Scotia, off Halifax, iu Halifax Harl)or, and in Bedford Basin, Halifax. They are the 

 result of detailed measiu-ements of 22 individuals, including authentically named European 

 specimens from the LTniversity of Christiania, and the Bonaparte ('ollectioTi, the type of 

 U. tica(lianii.s, 3 specimens from Massachusetts Bay, .5 from La Have Bank, and 11 from the 

 vicinity of Halifax. 



(1) Height of body. — This is stated to he about 2* of length exclusive of caudal, and 3^ 

 in total length. In the seiies studied, the piopm'tionsof this element varied, stated in units 

 of hundredths of total length (including caudal), from 0.24.5 to 0.375, No. 12(i,S5 having it 

 30. An equally wide variation in the European flsh is recorded Ity Parnell.' 



The I'h'uronecU's eloiu/atiifi of Yari'cll is not nearly so elongated as No. 210(ilrt (the 

 figm'e of Couch has height about 0.27.5) ; and since no other diagnostic charactei-s have been 

 described, we place it without hesitation iu the .synonymy of <i. cyno(jl()n.si(s. 



(2) Height of camlal pcduiiclf. — This element is subject to very slight variation, meas- 

 uring usually 0.07 of total in both European and American specimens. The most <-longate 

 slender forms have it slightly narrower. In No. 12685 it measures O.Of!, and 0.005 in No. 

 21001ft. 



(3) ie«</</i o/ /(««?.— This varies from 0.15 to 0.17.5. In No. 120S5 tlie length is 0.15, 

 and in the European specimens 0.15 and 0.1575 (('liristiania specimen). The smallest pro- 

 portion is represented by specimens from Massachusetts Bay and Halifax. 



(1) Tedh. — In number these are extremely variable. No. 120.8.5, according to Gill had 

 on the blind side 17 above and 20 below, on the eyed side 6 above and 7 below. A Salem 

 specimen, larger and older, had on the blind side above 20, below 2.'^, on the eyed side above 

 13, below 11. In young individuals the teeth present the characters described by Gill, hav- 

 ing the teeth on the eyed side conical and separated. Thispeculiaaity disappears witii age, 

 all large specimens showing closely set incisorial teeth upon both sides of each Jaw. 



(5) Length of pectoral— Th'iA is extremely variable within limits of 0.09 and 0.11. This 

 measurement refers to the lin upon the colored side. Its shape is also variable; it is some- 

 times pointed, sometimes obtuse, owing to difference in comparative length of the upper 

 rays. It is usually black, with a narrow whitish tip. The number of rays varies from t) 

 to 11, 



(6) Length of ventrals.— This is also extremely variable on both shies. The range on 

 the blind side is 0.0475 to 0.07, and on the eyed side 0.056 to 0.0775. The difference be- 

 tween the length of the two tins upon the same individual varies from 0.0025 to 0.0155. 



(7) Co«if*«*-o//«^emn/H('.— In some individuals this is essentially straight, in others 

 considerably arcuated alK)ve the pectoral. This appears to be an individual variation. 

 The two European specimens show a percei)tible difference in this respect. In his diag- 

 nosis of Pkuroiiectcs ci/rto;/?o.v.v".s-, Dr. Giinther states that the lateral line is straight with- 

 out curve. 



(8) Position, of the ri/rs.—Ui: (inntinn- states that in P. elongatm the upper eye is in 

 advance of the lower. Tliis is doubtless quoted from Yarrell. Neither the ligure of Yar- 

 rell nor that of Couch indicates any such character. 



(9) ScaUs in lateral line.— The number on the blind shle ranges from 109 t.. loO, on the 

 eyed side from 110 to 140, there being no relation between the different sides of the same tish. 



'Fishes of the FirtU ol' Forth, v 210, pl. xxxui, and ia Memoirs of the Wernerian Society, Vil, p. 370. 



