58 



Pi of. F. A. Smitt on the Genus Lycode.?. 



However, I may remark that I have only seen one specimen 

 of each of the hist two species, whicli Professor Collett once 

 kindly lent me. From my own observations I thus cannot 

 extend the knowledge of their relation to each other; but, to 

 judge from the latest observations of Prof. Collett, it seems 

 very probable that here also far too great a weight is given 

 to the colour-diiferonces, while too little heed has been 

 paid to the significance of the evolutional changes of form ; 

 for if we compare the measurements given by Collett* for 

 Lycodes Sarsii we shall find : — 



All these changes from fry to mature stage (with the 

 exception of the last one, which, however, is much too small 

 to permit of any trustworthy conclusion) thus point in the 

 direction from the characteristics of Sarsii to those of 

 murcena, and make it not improbable that, with a fuller 

 knowledge of the latter species, it will be found preferable 

 to regard the two " species " as local or evolutional forms 

 originating from the same source. 



Stockholm, 

 October, 1899. 



* L. c. i. (1898), p. 11. 



t According to Collett [1. c. p. 18) these figures should be 66-7 for 

 Lycodes murcBna and 5oo for L. Sarsii. 



Ill 



