176 Dr. C. Liitken on the Vaagmcer and 



This new genus is related to Phelsuma, Gray, and Lygo* 

 dactylus, Gray (= Scalabotes, Peters), both of which occur 

 also in Madagascar, and have likewise the very unequal-sized 

 digits with rudimentary thumbs, the completely exposed cir- 

 cular eyelid, the circular pupil, &c. From the former it is 

 easily distinguished by the presence of claws and the divided 

 infradigital lamellae; from the latter, to which it stands 

 nearer, it is distinguished by the distal clawed phalanges, 

 which are free, as in Lepidodactylus , Fitz., and not curved 

 and retractile between the anterior infradigital lamellae ; the 

 claw of the inner digit is very strong and always exposed, and 

 not sheathed and frequently hidden as in Lygodactylus. 



XXV. — Some Remarks on the Vaagmcer (Trachypterus 

 arcticus) and the Herring-king (Regalecus Banksii). By 



Dr. C. Lutken*. 



I HAVE elsewhere t published in full detail the investigations 

 that I have had the opportunity of making upon the two 

 northern Bandfishes mentioned in the title ; and that I desire 

 here to give a brief report upon the results at which I think 

 I have arrived is due to my wish . to preserve a certain histo- 

 rical continuity. They have both been the subjects of de- 

 scriptions and investigations in the memoirs of our Society in 

 former years : — the Vaagmasr, by M. T. Briinnich in the 

 third volume (1788), and by the older Bernhardt in the seventh 

 volume (1838.) ; the King of the Herrings, by Ascanius and 

 Briinnich in the tirst-mentioned volume and year. Of the 

 smaller and less fragile of these two remarkable deep-sea 

 fishes, the Vaagmser, there had accumulated in course of time, 

 and especially of late years, in our Museum, partly, no doubt, 

 in consequence of the greater development of collecting-voy- 

 ages, a material of no less than thirteen Danish, Icelandic, 

 and F^eroic individuals, varying in size from 0*830 to 2*200 

 metres. This material demanded a comparative investigation 

 before it should be in part divided and dispersed among foreign 

 collections, so far as we could spare it from our own. The 

 materials of the second, larger, scarcer, and more fragile 



* Translated by W. S. Dallas, F.L.S., from the ' Oversigt over 



det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1882. 

 dd. 206-216. 



190 



►rem ng 



