No. 6. 



LYCODES GRACILIS. 



13 



At the commencement of the dorsal most specimens exhibit i or 2 

 brownish-black spots. 



Size. Capable of procreation when of a total length of 125 — 

 150 mm. The greatest length hitherto observed in Scandinavian spe- 

 cimens is 178 mm. (in Greenland specimens 244 mm.). 



Scale Covering. Small young ones naked; at a total length of 

 about 60 mm. the scales begin to appear. When full grown the scales 

 cover the entire body with the belly up to the head, as well as the 

 base of the dorsal and anal. 



Lateral Line ventral (incomplete). 



Teeth normal; present in the jaws, on the palatine bones, and 

 vomer. 



M. B. 6. 



Pectoral Rays 17 to 18, rarely 19. 



Habitat: Cattegat, Skagerak, Norway, Iceland, Greenland. 



Description. 



Size. The largest Norwegian specimens were of a length of 170 mm. 

 to 178 mm., but it is probable that the species can be not inconsiderably 

 larger. A specimen from Greenland has a length of 244 mm. 1. 



The power of propagation exists long before this size is attained. 

 The youngest pregnant female I have examined was of a total length 

 of 120 mm. The male, most probably, arrives at puberty somewhat 

 later. I have seen swollen testicles in males of a total length of 153 mm. 



Measurements in millimètres. 



i Provided L. loarchus, Goode & Bean. 1895, from the sea off the coast of the North 

 American States (Nova Scotia), is identical with this species, the species attains «t least 

 a length of between 300 and 400 millimètres. 



