1 899. No. 6. LYCODES GRACILIS. 1 7 



size. The old males are often somewhat dark in colour, several being 

 of one uniform greyish-brown tint over all; others had lighter bellies, 

 and the rows of the characteristic patches along the median line run 

 right to the end of the tail. Stripes, or other markings, are more 

 rarely present. 



The black spots at the commencement of the dorsal are often 

 indistinct, and occasionally quite wanting. Nuchal patches are absent. 



A special pairing dress has not been observed (in the Scandinavian 

 specimens that have been obtained). Males have been taken with swollen 

 testicles, and females with roe, which are almost entirely of an unspotted 

 greyish-brown colour; other pregnant females possessed lighter, and 

 more typical colours, with faint patches on and above the median line' 



DiflFerence between the Sexes. 



There is no distinct difference in the colouration of the sexes. 

 Strongly coloured females, with very distinct side spots, are often met 

 with, presenting an exactly similar appearance to many of the males. 



Almost unspotted individuals (of a uniform greyish-brown colour) 

 are to be found as often amongst the males as amongst the females. 



The old males are, however, possibly, as a rule, more uniformly 

 coloured than females of the same stage usually are. 



On the other hand, the head, as before mentioned, is comparatively 

 longer in adult males, and the height of the body (measured over the 

 belly) somewhat less than in the females. The cheeks are also broader 

 and bigger in the males than in the females. In both, the mouth runs 

 back to the centre, or hind margin of the lens. 



As a rule, it is thus easy to distinguish the males from the females 

 by the comparatively longer and broader head; but this difference is 

 not always present, and there are males with small heads like the 

 females (see p. 14, foot-note). 



The Teeth. 



The dentition is similar to that of most Lycodes. In the inter- 

 maxillaries, the foremost form a double row, the others a single row. 

 Those in the lower jaw are similar to those in the intermaxillaries. 



They likewise form a single row in the palatine bone (its length 

 being somewhat less than that in the intermaxillary). The Vomer has 

 2 to 4 single, long, teeth (the longest of all). 



Vid.-Sel.sk. Skrifter. M.-N . Kl. 1899. No. (i. 2 



