JoHS. Schmidt: Gadiadus argenteus and Gadteiilus Thori. 9 



In addition to the pelagic Gadiculus material collected by myseif, I have also been 

 able to. investigate the following point of interest in connection with the distribution 

 of the 2 species. 



In 3 specimens (adult) from Cadiz Bay (Holt and Byrne 1909), kindly sent me 

 by Mr. E. VV. L. Holt, Dublin, the following number of vertebrae was found: 13 -r 27, 

 13 -f- 27, 13 + 28, which proves, that they belonged to the Mediterranean Gadiculus 

 argenteus Guich. 



I have also received from the Museum of Paris a few of the specimens mentioned 

 by Vaillant (1888). One specimen from the Atlantic coast of Morocco had 13 4- 27 

 vertebrae and another from the Bay of Biscay (Golfe de Gascogne) 13 -f 27. Thus, 

 both specimens proved to belong to Gadic. argenteus Guich. I have unfortunately not 

 had the opportunity of examining any of the specimens taken on the coast of Sudan. 



From the foregoing the regions of distribution of the two species seem to meet off 

 the west coast of France, where, however, the "Thor" has only taken specimens of Gadic. 

 Thori, whereas specimens of the southern species have also been taken by the French 

 expeditions^). North of this region Gadic. argenteus Guich. has not been found"), whilst 

 on the other band Gadic. Thori has not been taken f urther south. 



Just as the two species proved to be well separated in their structure, we thus see, 

 that they also are well characterised by their regions of distribution. 



The counting of the vertebrae in the postlarval stages has been carried out by myseif, 

 in the adult specimens by Stud. mag. Vilh. Ege. 



Prof. E. Ehrenbaum, Hamburg, has kindly aided me to obtain hterature which 

 was not obtainable here. 



^) In this connection I subjected my specimens taken in 1905 and 06 in the southern part of 

 Gadic. Thori't region of occurrence to a new examination, but found nothing to indicate any con- 

 fusion With Gadic. argenteus. In 7 specimens from 8t. 70, •/• 1906 at 47°20' N. 12*23' W., the ver- 

 tebrae numbered 13 f- 29, 13 f 29, 13 -j- 29, 13 -f 29, 18 -f 28, 13 -f 28, 13 - 29, and in 6 othen 

 from St. 61, »V, 06 at 61''04' N, ir39' W. 4 had 13-f 29, 1 had 13 4-30 and 1 had 13-^ 28. 



*) I have not been able to examine specimens from the north-eastern part of the Gadieuha 

 region, i. e. from the Norwegian coast and fjords, but Da mas (1909, 209), who has examined 

 pelagic stages from there, states, that they agree well In pigment with my description of post- 

 larv'ae from west of the British Isles, i. e. of Oadie. Thori. From the Skagerak I have myseif 

 examined specimens of Gadic. Thori. 



