604 



SCA.\DI.NA\1A.V KISllES. 



Nii,ss. (Zoaraeus), Sk;ind. F//., Fislc, p. 20:!: Sr.sn., SlotUli. 

 L. Husli. Sallsk. Hamll., H. <; (1855) p. 80; Gniii (Zoarces), 

 Cat. Brit. Mus., Fish., vol. Ill, p. 295; Morn, Finl. Fisk-fn. 

 (disp. Helsingf. 18(i3), p. 21; Lindstr. (Zoarc(Fiis), Gotl. 

 Fisk., Gotl. L. Hush. Sallsk. Arsber. 18G6, p. 15 (sep.); 

 Steinii.. Slzber. Aknd. Wiss. Wien. Nalurw. Math. CI. LVII, i 

 (1808) p. 676; Coi.i,. {Zoarce.-<), Forli. Vid. Selsk. Christ. 

 1874, Tilla>g.?h., p. 78; M.alm, Ghgs, Boh. Fn., p. 473; 

 WiNTH., Naturh. Tidskr. Kbhvn, ser. .-!, vol. XII. p. 23; 

 Bnoke, Fiscli., Fischer.. Fischz. ().. \V. Pretiss., p. 80; 

 Day, Fish. Gt. Brit.. Irel., vol. I. p. 211, tub. LXI, fig. 2; 

 MoR., Hist. Nat. Poi.%s. Fr., vol. II, p. 156; Mela, Vert. 

 Feni>., p. 292, tab. IX; MOn., Hcke, Fisch. Osts., p. 61; 

 Lii.L.r., Ac, Nor;/. Fifk., vol. I, p. 552; Hansen, Zool. Dan., 

 Fiske, p. 49. tab VllI, lig. 2; B.scke, HaiiiUi. Fisch:., 

 Fischer. (M. v. ii. Borne) p. 92. 

 Bleiiniiis Luiniterin.f. Lix., .Si/.'^t. Nat., 1. c, — e.i AuT. el 



Wn,H!GIIB. 



Obs. The only constant character \vc liavc been able to discover, 

 to distinguish between tlie European and American Eelpouts, lies in 



the number of flie fin-raj's. Tliis cliaracter is evidently connected with 

 a greater elongation of the hind part of the body in the American 

 form {Enchelyojms anguillaris), especially as this form appears in a 

 specimen 40 cm. long which the Koyal Museum lias received through 

 the Smithsonian Institution. Todd's figure in Brown-Goode {The Fishe- 

 ries and Fishery Industries of the United >S,'ales, Section I, Plate 67) 

 shows, however, that in this respect the variations may be great in 

 both forms. Even among our Scandinavian Eelpouts it seems to be 

 possible to distinguish between two forms. The first of tliese forms 

 by the more slender form of the body represents the most advanced 

 development of tlie male characters, like the American species, has the 

 beginning of the dorsal fin situated further forward (its distance from 

 the tip of the snout less than 16 '« of the length of the body), and 

 in several other respects shows traces of the persistency of llie juve- 

 nile characters. This form occurs, according to the collections of the 

 Royal Museum, on tlie coast of Finmark and off Kola Peninsula. In the 

 second form, a southern one, which the Museum possesses both from 

 Bohuslan and the Baltic, the region of the anal fin is generally shor- 

 ter, the head larger, and the beginning of the dorsal fin situated 

 further back. For the sake of brevity we refer the reader to the 

 following table of averages. 



The (irdinary lenutli of our coniiiioii Eclpniit is l)eing aljout IS or lil % of that of the both". Uuder- 

 iibout o() cm., l)ut we liave received specimens from the | neath it is flat, above rounded, with tumid cheeks and 

 island-belt of Stockholm that were nearly 40 cm. long. with forehead somewhat compressed laterally and slop- 

 Further south the Eelpout seems to attain a greater j ing in a steep curve towards the snout. The mouth is 

 size; Paknell mentions specimens taken off lk'r\vick of moderate size, witii rounded jaws and very tumid 

 (at tlie moutli of the Tweed) that were nearly 2 ft. lips, which are wrapped round the jaw-bones and entirely 

 (()1 em.) in length". The females attain a greater size ' cover them. Tlie upper jaw is protnisile to some ex- 

 than tlie mitles. I tent, though only slightly. Both the jaws are of the 



In tlie form of the liody tiie Eelpout is mo.st like | same length and furnished with conical, small Init strong 



the common Burbot. The de|)th of the body at the 

 beginning of the anal tin in young specimens (less than 

 1 dm. long) measures about 8V2 — Q'/a '* of the length 

 of the bod}-, in older specimens about 9V2 — 11\^2 ^ 

 thereof. The head is small, its length in adult Eelpouts 



teeth, with rather blunt tiji''. In the ujiper ja\v tiiese 

 teeth are set in t\\'o rows, the anterior (outer) fairlv 

 regular and containing about 12 teeth on each of the 

 interma.xiilary bones, the posterior (inner) less regidar, 

 with shorter teeth, and ending usually at the root of 



" The American form sometimes attains a length of 3',o ft. (107 cm.) and a weight of 12 ]bs. (5 kgm.), according to Si'ORER (Mem. 

 Amcr. Aead. Arts, Sc, N. Ser., vol. V, p. 264). 



'' 'J'lie teetii of the .American Eiicheli/opus are gieeu, coarser, and still blunter, reminding us strongly of those of tlie Sea-cat. 



