276 Mr. C. T. Regan on the 



wliich Lycodes frigidas differs chiefly in tlie greater length 

 of the narrow orbital^ portion of the frontals. Tlie jaws, 

 suspensorium, and opercles (fig. 2, C) are much as in the 

 Stichajidge, as is the pectoral arch except for the separation 

 of tlie coracoids by cartilage (fig. 3, 3). The vertebra are 

 numerous, 112 (24 + 88) in Zoarces and 102 (22 + 80) in 

 Lycodes ; strong transverse processes are present on the 

 prsecaudals from the first to the last ; the ribs are slender. 



A variety of forms, chiefly from Arctic and northern seas, 

 but with Antarctic representatives olso. 



The principal genera are : Zoarces, Lycodes, Emhryx, Lyco^ 

 dopsis, Aprodon, Lycenchelys, Lycodonus, Lyconema, Melano^ 

 stigma, Gymnelis, Bothrocara, Lycodapus^ Phucocoetes^ lluo- 

 cetes, Platea, Maynea. 



Lycodapus, Gilbert, includes small deep-sea fishes of the 

 North Pacific, and has been made the type of a distinct 

 family and placed near the Fierasferidse. But the head and 

 mouth recall those of Lycodopsis or Bothrocara, the gill- 

 membianes join the isthmus between the rami of the lower 

 jaw (at least in L . Jierasfer) , and the dorsal and anal rays 

 correspond in number to tlie myotomes. 



Two other aberrant genera, Scytalina and Rhodichthys, are 

 closely related to the Zoarcidae, but may for the present be 

 regarded as the types of separate families. 



Family 10. Scytalinidae. 



Scytalina cerdale is a small eel-like fish known only from 

 specimens obtained on the shores of Waadda Island, in the 

 Straits of Juan de Fuca, where it lives in the wet shingle. 

 The very small eyes placed far forward and the tumid cheeks 

 give it a physiognomy unlike that of the Zoarcidse ; the gill- 

 membranes are united, but not joined to the isthmus j the 

 pectoral fins are small and the privies absent. The skull 

 is much more depressed than that of Zoarces or Lycodes, the 

 frontals gradually increase in breadth backwards, and the 

 union of the parasphenoid and frontals is very elongate, 

 almost as in the Symbianchidse. The parietals, occipital and 

 otic bones are much as in Zoarces ; the suspensorium, opercles, 

 and pectoral arch are also as in Zoarces, except that the very 

 small coracoidi are in contact ; the vertebrae number 69 

 (22 + 47); strong transverse processes are present on the 

 prsecaudals from the third to the last. 



