26 



LYCODIN.E. 



The length of the head amounts to 2 2,6 " of the total length, the distance 

 between the snout and the anus 37,6%, the height over the anus 11,4",,. Colour 

 uniformly brown, without bands or spots. The scales, which are of the usual size, 

 extend forward to the head as well as out on to the unpaired fins and base of the 

 pectorals. Lateral line ventral. P. 23. 



Distribution: Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of North America, 516 — 1423 

 fathoms. 



In the work mentioned above, Goode & Bean have identified a Lycodes taken in large 

 numbers in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of North America (35° 12' 10" — 41 

 53' N.L. 65 35' 74 34'45"W.L.), at 516 — 1423 fathoms depth, with L. frigidus Collett from the ice-cold 

 depths of the Northern Ocean. 



Unfortunately, the authors have contented themselves with copying Collett's diagnosis, and 

 impart no information whatsoever on their material apart from a recital of the separate localities. 

 And if one consults the most recent and principal work on the North American fishes by Jordan & 

 K verm ami, one also finds nothing concerning the American form, as these authors have contented 

 themselves with studying a type-specimen from the Northern Ocean sent by Prof. Collett. 



Thanks to the generosity of the Smithsonian Institution our Zoological Museum has meantime 

 come into the possession of a specimen of the American L. frigidus . 



( hi comparing this individual with specimens from the Polar Depths I find that they belong 

 to two distinct species. In the uniform brown colouration, the ventral lateral line and other, though 

 more general, features the two forms present a certain resemblance to one another, but on closer 

 examination they are seen to be quite different in important characters. 



Measurements of the American specimen are as follows: 



Total length 338 mm. 



Length of the head 76,5 — 



Distance from snout to anus. 

 Height over the anus 



12; 



3 S >5 



Put into percentages, the length of the head is therefore 22,6 %, the distance between the 

 snout and the anus 37,6%, the height over the anus 11,4% of the total length. The sex cannot be 

 determined as the internal organs of the fish have been destroved. 



Comparing this individual now with specimens from the Polar Depths, of the same length and 

 of both sexes, we find a ver\ distinct difference with regard to the most important measurements. 



Total length in mm 



Length of the head 

 Distance from snout to anus 



of the total length 



L. frigidus Coll. 



327 

 25.1 

 44.6 



345 

 23,8 

 43.4 



I ■ L. frigidus 

 G. & B. 



338 



22,6 



37,6 



The tail in the American form has therefore a much greater proportion of the length in rela- 

 tion to the rest of the bodv; in agreement with this its head is relatively somewhat smaller. 



