JoHS. Schmidt: Gadieuhts argetiteus and Oadieulus Thori. 7 



1910. For this reason I have restricted the comparison to those charactere, which are 

 comparable in both the cider and younger stages, especially the number of vertebrae, 

 and this all the more, because such a character is more precise and exact than the mea- 

 sureraent of the outer characteristics. 



In 6 specimens of Gadiculus (adult) from Irish watere, taken by Mr. E. W. L. Holt 

 and kindly lent me by the Dublin Museum, the following number of vertebrae was found: 



13 + 29, 13 -h 29, 13 + 29, 13 + 29, 13 + 29, 13 f 30. 



In a specimen from the Skagerak, kindly given me by Dr. A. C. Johansen, the 

 number was 13 f 29, and in 5 postlarval stages (15—20 mm. long) taken by the "Thor" 

 in 1905 west of Scotland: 



13 + 29, 13 + 29, 13 + 29, 13 + 29, 13 f 29. 



A comparison of the number of vertebrae in the northern and southern Gadiculus 

 (20 chance specimens of each) gave the following result: 



northem species (G. Thori) southern species (G. argenteus) 



(west of Scotland) (Mediterranean) 



No. of vert. No. of spec. No. of vert. No. of spec. 



43 3 41 3 



42 16 40 14 



41 1 39 3 



We see, therefore, that there is on an average over 2 vertebrae more in the northem 

 than in the southem species, a very considerable difference on such a low number of 

 vertebrae as is here in queslion. The number of fin-rays in D" and A* was also on an 

 average several rays higher in the northem than in the southem species, but in this spe- 

 cies the rays are difficult to count with absolute accuracy, for which reason I shall not 

 give the detailed numbers at present. 



The conclusion from the above is, that such great differences exist between speci- 

 mens of Gadiculus from the Mediterranean and tho Atlantic west of the British Isles 

 (and tho Skagcrak), that they must be regarded as belonging to 2 diffcrent sp<>cies, dis- 

 tinguishable by exact and reliabie characters. 



The species living in the Mediterranean, which was describcd tirst by Gutchenot 

 under the name Gadiculus argenteus, must retuin that name. For the North Atlantic 

 species I propose the name Gadiculus Thori nov. nora. in memory of the Danish research- 

 vessel "Thor", on the cruises of which the postlarval developmonlnl history of both 

 species has been cleared up. 



