LYCODIX.H. 



79 



whose lengths are from 129 — 497 111111., it does not once extend so far, but ceases a little in front of 

 the anns, over the anus or a little behind this. 



Lastly, as regards colouration, none of the present specimens of L. senniiudus, not even 

 the distinctly banded, show signs of assuming the network markings so characteristic of L. reticulatus. 



Taking all together, the differentiating characters seem to me so important, that the reference 

 of these two forms to one species would be quite unnatural. 



If we take L. reticiilatus var. niacrocepkaliis into the comparison, the boundaries between the 

 two species are certainly reduced, so far as the relative sizes of the head and eyes are concerned, but 

 the other distinguishing characters (length of the pectorals, distribution of the scales etc.) still hold good. 



Lycodes agnostus Jen.sen. 



Tab. VI, Fig. i a, b. 



1886. Lycodes Liltkeini Liitken, Kara-Havets Fiske; Dijmphna-Togtets zoologisk-botaniske Udbytte, 



p. 128 (partim), Tab. XVI, Fig. 2— 6. 

 1895. L. reticulatits Smitt, Skandinaviens Fiskar, II, p. 611 (partim). Fig. 147. 

 1901. L. reticulatus forma seminuda Smitt, P>ih. K. Sv. \'et.-Akad. Handl. Bd. 27, Afd. IV, Xo. 4, p. 32 



(partim), Xo. 19. 

 1901. L. agnostus Jensen, \'idensk. ;\Iedd. Xaturh. Foren. Kbhvn., p. 209. 



Ill proportions of the total length, the height over the anus is 9,3 — 12%, the 

 length of the head 22 — 24,8',,, the distance from the snout to the anus 46— 52"o, the 

 longitudinal diameter of the eye in larger individuals 3,4-2,7 'o, the length of the 

 pectorals 10—12,5',,. 9—12 cross-bands, dark with lighter central part; a light 

 stripe across the neck above. vScales wanting. Lateral line mediolateral'). Pvloric 

 appendages 2. Size 233 mm. 



D. 90 — 93. A. 70—75. P. 16—17. 



Distribution. Kara vSea, 46—100 fathoms; Arctic Sea of Siberia (Chatanga 

 B a >' ) , 15 fathoms. 



In the report on the fishes of the Kara Sea, Liitken referred 28 specimens of a Lycodes to 

 the L. liitkeiiii described by Collett from the deep water at Spitzbergen. From an e.vamination of 

 these .specimens however, I di.scovered that Liitken had mixed two .species together under his «Z,. 

 Hitkenii ^ as I shall now explain. 



The largest specimen, which is 223 mm. long 2), has scales on the tail and a great part of the 

 trunk, whereas the remaining 27 specimens are completely wanting in scales, although amongst them 

 there are specimens up to 186 mm. in length. This alone at the beginning would counsel great caution 

 in bringing these individuals together under one species; certainly one may find in the present treatise 

 many examples to show that variation ma\- occur within one and the same species of the genus 



') In well-preserved specimens further, a whole series of dorsal pores can be seen. 

 ^) Liitken give.s the length to 225 mm. 



