LYCODIN^. 



jMeasurements of L.lttgiibris Liitk.: 



Total length in mm. 



Length of the head — 



Distance from snout to anus — 



Height over the anus — 



330 ' 



75 

 135 

 29.5 



355 



80 

 147 



The length of the head is thus 18,9 "o in the females, 22,5 — 23,3 " o in the males, of the total 

 length; the distance between the snout and the anus is 40 — 42,3 °/o of the total length. These num- 

 bers thus agree very closely with those of adult L.vahlii. 



Remarks on the \-ariation of the species. 



From the e.Kamination just completed it will be evident that L. vahlu-lugnbris-gracilis cannot 

 be regarded as sejjarate species. At the same time, it must be put forward that the members of this 

 chain represent 3 races, each possessing its own geographical and separate region, namely Greenland 

 (L.vahlii typica), Iceland (L.vahlii liigubris), and Scandinavia (L.vahlii gracilis). 



First of all, there is a remarkable variation in regard to size. The species reaches its 

 maximum size at Greenland to over "2 m. (ca. 52 cm.) long; at Iceland the maximum is 35,5 cm., and from 

 Scandinavia no greater specimen than 19,6 cm.') is known. Since these measurements are based on a 

 large number of specimens they can scarcel\- be regarded as resting on chance, but one may believe 

 that the species decreases in size as it approaches the more easterly (and southerly) regions. 



Parallel with this decrease in size there is a diminution in the number of fin- 

 ra\-s and vertebrfe, as will be seen in the following tabular review. 



Maximum length in nini. ..... 



Number of rays in pectoral fin 



— — dorsal 



— — anal 

 Numljer of vertebrae 



Greenland 



L. vahlii 



iypica 



Iceland 

 L,. vahlii 

 lugviris 



Scandinavia 

 L. vahlii 

 gracilis 



520 

 20— 19 



98 — 90 

 116 — 112 



355 1 196 



19 — iS(i7)i (19) 1S-17 



105—103 97—95-) 



90 86— 84 



105 100—98 



It seems therefore as if the species taken as a whole, reaches its greatest development at 

 Greenland; at Iceland there is already a recognisable decline, and at Scandinavia we meet with the 

 species in its most reduced conditions). 



Differences between the sexes. 

 Prof. Collett has observed on specimens from Scandinavia that it is easy as a rule to disting- 

 uish males from females b\- their relativeh" longer head. The same is the case in Greenland and 



') Cf. Appendix however, p. 2i. 



=) Collett gives the number as ca. 120, but this must be due to an error in counting. 



3) Cf. Appendix however, p. 21. 



