138 



SCANDINAVIAN FLSHES. 



that on the voynge of the "Challenger" a specimen be- 

 longing to this family was taken in the Atlantic at a 

 depth of 1,800 fathoms, namely a Melanocetm Johnsonii 

 ?)■*-, in. in length, with a twisted Scopehis TV, in. 

 ion"- and 1 in. deep in its stomach, which was in- 

 credibly distended. 



(3f this family we know about 60 species distri- 

 buted among 14 or 15 genera. Two of these genera. 



one species of each, may be included in the Scandi- 

 navian fauna, the one species, how^ever, only as an 

 occasional visitor. The family belongs chieiiy to the 

 Tropics, but also lives in the temperate seas. Most 

 of the species inhabit the upper regions of the ocean 

 or keep close in shore; but some species (at least 8) 

 belong to the deep-sea fauna,. 



Gknus LOPHIUS. 



Head large, hroad, and like tlie greater part of the lioihj. depressed, with large, horizontal gape, and well armed 

 with spines on the sides of the skidl" and also on the sithopercidum and the claricnlar hone. Bodij naked {with- 

 out scales)^ hut furnished with nmierous fringes. Lower jaw, intermaxiUarics, palatine hones, and the outer corner 

 of the hrond head of the vomer, as well as the upper and lower pharyngeals, strongly armed ivitli teeth. Eyes set 

 ahouf midway in the upper side of the head'. In the frst dorsal fin 6 rays, the first 3 being tentacular and free 

 from each other'. Three gills''. No gill-rakers. The gill-openings are large holes behind the pectoral fins, which 

 have only two basal hones. Two pyloric appendages. No air-bladder. Bays of the caudal fin at most 8; the 

 uppermost and lowest of these rays undivided. Posttemporal bone united to the mastoid hone. 



The genus Lophius, with its two or perhaps four 

 species, is known on the coasts of all pnrts of the 

 world except Australia ;ind South America. These 

 fishes should really be regarded as shore-fishes; and at 

 least during youth they live in shallow water, but when 

 older, they withdraw to greater depths. The Atlantic 



species, if there be more than one, are distinguished 

 from the Pacific species — ^vhich may perhaps be also 

 I'educed to one, to judge by the descriptions — by the 

 greater number of rays in the second dorsal and the 

 anal tin, and liy the lack of colour in the mouth be- 

 hind the hvoid bone. 



THE FISHING FROG OR THE ANGLER (sw. m.vrulken or meeulken). 



LOPHIUS PJSCATORIUS. 



Plate X, fig. 2. 



Rays of the second dorsal fin 11 at least' ; rays of the anal fin at least 9''. Dorsal side chorolafe-coloiired or gray, 



streaked or grained with black or brown, and sometimes with scattered, small, round, irhife sjiots: ventral side white, 



hut the tops of the pectoral, ventral, and anal fins, during youth at least, black or blackish broirn. 



R. br. 6; Z>. 1 + 1 + 1+3 11 1. 12; 4. 9--11; P. 20 1. 27?; 

 V. '/' • C. 1 + 6+1. 



jSijii. Bdiqy.'iO'i uXia^^, Aiustot., celt.; Rana, Ovid., cett.; Rana 

 marina, Cic, cett. ; Rana piscatrix, Belon., cett. : vide 

 Artedi, Lophins ore cirroso, ^Syn., p. 87. 



" On the epiotic (mastoid), pterotic (squamosa), parietal, and frontal bones, and on the upper part of the beginning of the palatine bones. 



'' There is no suborbital ring, as also seems to be the case in the other genera of the family, and as is niost generally the case in 

 the Balrachoids. 



' The first is especially well suited for its purpose as a mobile, attractive bait: it is bifoliate at the top, and can be moved in all 

 possible directions by means of a pivoted articulation with the interspinal bone which lies on the snout. This interspinal bone is common 

 to the two first rays; the interspinal bone of the third lies farther back on the top of the head. 



'^ Still there are, as usual, 4 branchial arches besides the lower pharyngeals. It is the fourth arch that is without branchial lamelhe. 



" According to NiLSSON 9: according to Fabek 8. 



.'' According to Nii.ssoN and Faber 8. 



^ P. 23, according to Vai.rnciennes, Faher, Nir-ssoN, and Moreau. 



