Holt and Calderwood — Report on the Rarer Fishes. 431 



Gadus Esmarkii, Nilsson. The Norway Pout. (Deep-sea.) 



EsMAEK, "' Forh. Nat. Moti i Christ.," 1844, p. 231. 

 Nilsson, " Skand. Fauna," iv., p. 565. 

 GiJNTHER, " Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus.," iv., p. 337. 

 Smitt, " Hist. Skand. Fisk," ed. 2, p. 508. 

 Holt, "Sci. Proc. Roy. Dub. Soc," vii., pp. 122, 

 219, 438. 



Diagnosis op Species.* (Di. 14-16; Dii. 22-26; Diii. 22-27. Ai. 26-30. 

 Aii. 23-28). — Lower jaw projecting beyond the upper; teeth of the outer series 

 of the upper jaw a little larger than the inner ones. The length of tlie head 

 contained about four times in the total length, without the caudal, and greater 

 than the height of the body, which is about two-ninths of the same dimensions. 

 The length of the eye about one-third of the length of the head, and equal, or 

 nearly equal to the length of the snout. The height of the caudal peduncle less 

 than the vertical diameter of the eye, which is about one-third greater than the 

 width of the interorbital space ; the latter with a median groove. Dorsal fins 

 separated by narrow interspaces, the greatest height of the body opposite the 

 first ; the anus at, or near, a vertical line passing between the first and second 

 dorsals. The two outer pelvic rays produced to filaments, of which the longer 

 may extend as far back as the anus. Barbel slender, not more than half the 

 length of the eye. Scales small, imbricating ; lateral line with a gentle curve in 

 its anterior region. 



Colours. — Greyish brown on the dorsum, dull silvery on the sides, pale on the 

 ventral abdominal region. 



The occurrence of this species in British waters was first noted by Griinther in 

 1888.'f' In the descriptive remarks appended to his record, the author notes 

 certain differences which occur between the specimens under his consideration 

 (from the west coast of Scotland), and some larger specimens in the British 

 Museum, communicated by Collett from Norway. Notably he finds that the 

 Scotch specimens are stouter in general form, and that the eye in the Norwegian 

 specimens is considerably larger in proportion to the size of the head. 



The material in the Survey collections comprises twelve examples, which vary 

 considerably, not only in size but in proportion ; and it is important to notice that 

 while some partake of the stout character of the Scottish forms, others agree much 



* An excellent figure is given by Dr. Giinther, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb., xv., 1888, PI. iii. A. 

 t " Proc. R. S. E.," he. cit. 



