522 



SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 



any especial significance; and in the coloration in particular, in the 

 distribution of the black colour on the vertical fins, we find an emin- 

 ently characteristic resemblance between the two forms. Thus, whether 

 we choose to regard these forms as distinct species or merely as 

 local varieties, we have here, as for example in the case of 6'corpcena 

 dacti/loptera (see above, p. 155), an evident connexion between the 

 deep-sea faunaj of the Mediterranean and of Scandinavia. 



The Lesser Ling seldom attains a length of more 

 than 1 metre, though, according to NiLSSON, specimens 

 at least 5 feet (15 dm.) long are sometimes met with. 

 Its external form and external characters liave already 

 Iieen compared by Stro^i to those of the Hake, with 

 which genus it is closely connected in sevei"al respects. 

 The body is, however, still more elongated, the greatest 

 depth being at most about Vs (sometimes only slightly 

 more than W^) of the length, and the least depth less 

 than 3 % (2"7 — 2'5 %) of the latter. In front the body 

 is terete, the breadth being about ^/-^ — "/jo of the depth; 

 behind the lateral compression becomes more and more 

 pronounced, the breadth (thickness) of the body at the 

 point where the depth is least, being not even V2 of 

 the depth. The curves of tlie dorsal and ventral pro- 

 hies are equal and much more elongated behind than 

 in front. At the point \vliich corresponds to the inci- 

 sion in the margins of the dorsal and anal tins in the 

 Hake (here almost imperceptible), at the base of about 

 the fiftieth ray of the second dorsal fin, we find a 

 slight trace of a break, the dorsal profile sinking and 

 tlie ventral rising rather more sharply back towards 

 the ba.se of the caudal tin. 



The form of the head is a uniform transition from 

 tliat of the terete forepart of the bo(h-. The snout is 

 horizontally elliptical, vertically slightly depressed, with 

 large, only slightly ascending mouth. The top of the 

 head is smooth or furnished with oidy slightly distinct 

 carina' (longitudinal osseous ridges), and a little con- 

 cave l)etween the eyes. The length of the head is 

 distinctly less than \'.^ (about 19 %) of that of the 

 body, or than *,'„ (at most about 42 %) of that of the 

 base of tlie anal fin. The eyes are large. Their longi- 

 tudinal diameter measures in adult sjjecimens 24 — 22'/2 % 

 of the length of the head or about twice the breadth 

 of the interorbital space, and is more than ^/^ of the 

 length of the snout, which occupies about ^/\^ — Va of 

 that of the head. Their upper margin lies on the same 

 plane as the forehead; but as the fish is generally caught 

 in very deep water, they project considerably in most 



cases. The nostrils are situated in the hindmost third 

 of the length of the snout and fairly high, somewhat 

 above the middle of the eyes. The anterior nostril is 

 round, with the margin raised into a lobate projection 

 behind, the posterior larger, obliquely-set, oblong or 

 crescent-shaped, with the posterior (upper) pai't ex- 

 tended. The gape is comj^aratively large, and the jaws 

 are thus fairly long, the distance between the hind 

 extremity of the maxillary bones and the tip of the 

 snout being about 46 or 47 % of the length of the 

 head, and the length of the lower jaw, wliich in adult 

 specimens measures 58 — 52 % of the total length of 

 the head, greater than the postorbital length of the 

 same. In all our specimens the tip of the snout pro- 

 jects distinctly in front of that of the lower jaw", 

 which is furnished underneath with a comparatively 

 small barbel, measuring less than half the longitudinal 

 diameter of the eyes. The intermaxillary bones are 

 terete, tapering gradually to a point behind, and ex- 

 ternally passing im|)erceptiljly into the ligamentous 

 membrane that forms the labial margin between these 

 bones and the hind extremity of the maxillaries, which 

 is flat and somewhat extended, but arched downwards, 

 and from which a similar membrane runs forward to 

 the anterior part of the lower jaAV, forming an under- 

 lip, more fleshy in front than behind. The inter- 

 maxillary 1)ones are furnished throughout their length 

 with a card of rather small teeth of uniform size. The 

 card is of fairh" uniform lireadth, but as usual some- 

 what broader in front and growing narrower behind. 

 The lower jaw, on the other hand, contains two kinds 

 of teeth, an outer row of small teeth, which is some- 

 times double, corresponding to the intermaxillary teeth, 

 and an inner row of scattered, but large, straight, and 

 pointed canines, about 15 in number on each branch 

 of the lower jaw, and just at their tips more or less 

 distinctlv barbed. The head of the vomer is also fur- 

 nished with similar canine teeth, set in a horse-shoe 

 or semi-elliptical row, al)out 6 in number on each side. 

 Only a trace of the transverse palatine folds is present. 

 The tongue is toothless, flesliy, and free, flat and tri- 

 angular at the tip. The gill-rakers are short and den- 

 ticulated. The pharyngeal teeth are like the inter- 

 maxillary teeth. On each of the lower pharyngeals 

 they form an oblong card, while the upper pharyngeals 

 are united on each side into a round, convex projec- 



" The case may also be the contrary, according to NiLSSON and Lili.jeborg. 



