1899. N°- ^- LYCODES GRACILIS. 



and the type specimen of L. gracilis. As the two specimens were 

 of unequal size, and there only as yet exists the one infantile specimen 

 of L. rossi (total length 32 mm ), no fully decisive satisfactory results 

 could be drawn from this comparison. 



L. rossi has 8 broad dark transverse bands on its yellowish white 

 ground colouring. Its skin was (still) naked. 



The foremost of these transverse bands was separated from the 

 forehead by an inconsiderable lighter band (nuchal band), the adjoining 

 position of the forehead being darkly tinged. All the transverse bands 

 cross the median line of the body, but it is the 6* that first extends 

 quite down to the anal. 



The transverse bands were, besides, more of the nature of rings, 

 being dark at the edge, lighter in the middle. These edges also con- 

 tinued their course up the dorsal (in its foremost portion). 



Amongst its other characteristics, it was noticeable that the angles 

 of the mouth extended to the front margin of the lens ; a lateral line 

 was not developed. M. B. 6. The total length was 32 mm., that of 

 the head 8 mm. The distance from the end of the snout to the anus 

 was 15 mm., the vent itself being situated below the front margin of 

 the 3rd transverse band^. 



It will thus be seen that the anus lies ^^tâi?"^.»«»«^^^^ 



somewhat in front of the centre of the 

 body (the ante-anal portion being con- Z. «..v/, Maimer. .S64. 



Type specimen, Spitsbergen 1861. 



tained 2.13 times in the total length). 



The number of rays is stated by Malmgren to have been: D. 87, 

 A. 68. P. 19. 



The two specimens of L. rossi and L. gracilis unquestionable 

 agree in all their main features. 



That the number of transverse bands in L. rossi were two less 

 than in L. gracilis, is of no importance, as other young specimens of 

 L. gracilis own only 8, like L. rossi. 



Traces of a light nuchal band are observable in both specimens, 

 somewhat more defined in the infantile L. rossi than in the other. 



Whilst the type specimen of L. gracilis had 2 black spots on the 

 fore part of the dorsal, such were not to be seen on the little L. rossi; 

 but it has subsequently appeared that a number of L. gracilis from the 

 Christiania Fjord were also without such spots. 



1 A drawing of L. rossi (twice its size) was published by Professor Smitt, in 1.S95, in 

 Scandin, Fiskar. 2 Uppl. p. 612 (Stockholm, 1895). 



