322 LYCODID.*. 



narrow, the gill-membranes being attached to the isthmus ; branchio- 

 steg&ls six ; gills four, a slit behind the fourth ; pseudobranchiae 

 small ; tubercles on the concave side of the first branchial arch very- 

 small. 



The height of the trunk is one-ninth or one-tenth of the total 

 length. Tail prolonged and compressed. The distance of the vent 

 from the ventral fins is twice the length of the head. The dorsal 

 commences immediately behind the root of the pectoral ; its upper 

 margin is even : caudal very short. Length of the pectoral about 

 two-thirds of that of the head. Ventrals thin, rather close together, 

 their length being one-third of that of the pectoral. 



Length of the largest specimen 7 inches. 



8. Lycodes vaxiegatns. 



D. 73. C. ca la. A. 65. V. 2. 



Jaws not fringed. Yellowish, variegated with brown or brownish - 

 violet. 



Falkland Islands. 



a-b. Fine specimens. Presented by W, Wright, Esq. 



Description. — Head depressed, broader than high, its greatest 

 width being contained once and two-thirds in its length, which is 

 two-ninths of the total. Snout obtusely rounded, longer than the 

 eye, which is elongate-ovate, its horizontal diameter being one-fifth 

 of the length of the head. Eyes directed obliquely upwards, rather 

 close together, the width of the interorbital space being less than the 

 horizontal diameter of the orbit. The upper jaw overlaps the lower; 

 both are provided with a series of pores, which, however, are not situ- 

 ated on tubes, as is the case in the following species. Cleft of the 

 mouth horizontal, of moderate width, the maxillary extending nearly 

 to below the posterior margin of the eye. Teeth in the jaws and on 

 the palatines in a single series, on the vomer in a narrow patch : the 

 two front teeth of the upper jaw and a lateral pair in the lower are 

 enlarged, canine-like ; they are more distinct in the larger individual 

 than in the smaller. A short cutaneous tube, situated anteriorly on 

 the extremity of the snout, is pierced by the nostril. 



The skin of the body and tail shows numerous small round pig- 

 montless impressions, which might be taken for rudimentary scales. 

 The height of the trunk is one-tenth of the total length ; the distance 

 of the vent from the ventrals equals the length of the head. The 

 dorsal fin commences immediately behind the root of the pectoral ; it 

 is rather elevated, the height of its anterior portion being equal to, or 

 even more than, the depth of the body underneath. Caudal fin very 

 short. The length of the pectoral is three-fifths of that of the head. 

 Ventrals thin, rather close together, one-third as long as the pec- 

 torals. 



Yellowish : head, body and fins with irregiilar larger and smaller 

 brownish-violet spots, forming irregular oblique bands posteriorly ; 



