BIHANG TILL K. SV. VET.-AKAD. HANDL. BAND 24. AFD. IV. N:0 9. 19 
originates a little higher up on the side which may be a 
correlation to the closing of the lower part of the gill-opening 
in this species, the correspondence between the arrangement 
of the spines in both Cyclopteri is complete, except for some 
scattered spines and tubercles. By this the affinity between 
both forms seems to be made more close and it seems rather 
apparent that the C. spinosus is derived from a form similar 
to the C. lumpus. 
To return to our smooth specimen, it is evident that it 
has only retained a juvenile character a little longer than 
usual when it has not yet developed any spines although 
specimens of much less size are already provided with full 
armature. A similar observation that the spines do not de- 
velop simultaneously in specimens of the same size is also 
made by GÖNTHER.! The same author says also with regard 
to the rays of the first dorsal fin that they »are sometimes 
quite distinct, sometimes enveloped in loose skin». 'The ma- 
terial belonging to the State-Museum in Stockholm shows 
that the latter is the case with some of the small and smooth 
specimens, as it also is with the smooth specimen from this 
expedition. But on the other hand there are to be seen spe- 
cimens, not measuring more than 14—17 mm., in which all 
the rays of the first dorsal are plainly visible. This charac- 
teristic too, is thus subjected to variation, as it sometimes is 
retained longer, and then in correspondence with a smooth 
skin. After this comparison I do not find any reason to re- 
gard the smooth specimen brought home this summer as any- 
thing else than a variety of C. spinosus. The smoothness 
and looseness of the skin makes the resemblance to the Li- 
parids, which has been pointed out by several authors more 
prominent, but the shape of the body is quite the globular 
one characteristic for OC. spinosus, and there is no tendency 
in this variety to shorten the distance between the fins, still 
less to have them connected. 
CoLLETT (1. ce. p. 40) says about the distribution of this 
species: »Unlike Cyclopterus lumpus this would appear to be 
a deep-sea species, occurring at a depth of from 60 to. 200 
fathoms (or still deeper) — — — The specimens from this 
expedition do not prove this, as is seen above, and that, at 
Y Proc. Zool; Soc. 1871, Part IL: p. 293; 
