1894.] 



TMIEOSTEAN MOEPHOIOGT, 



417 



The fin-ray formula is enumerated by Lilljeborg as follows : — 

 Di. 13-14. Dii. 78-85. A. 75-80. Pely. 5-6. 



The examples before me give 



Di. 12-15. Dii. 69-75. A. 70-74. Pelv. 6-7.^ 



The difference in the number of rays in the second dorsal and 

 anal is considerable, but the small number of my specimens and 

 the absence of any information as to the number represented in 

 Lilljeborg's formula render it impossible to say whether sucli 

 difference is indicative of local variation, or depends on nothing 

 more important than chance. 



Description of the Specimens. 



I append a table of dimensions, since such facts are often of 

 more importance in the eyes of an ichthyologist than an author's 

 deductions therefrom. The specimens A to E are those from 

 Faroe, and the measurements were taken from the fresh condition ; 

 the Iceland examples, x and y, were measured after preservation 

 in alcohol. 



The anterior extremity as here denoted is the extremity of the 

 lower jaw when the mouth is closed. The measurements are 

 given in inches. 



Specimen A 



Total length 



Total length without caudal. . . 



Lengtli of head 



Preorbital length 



Horizontal diameter of eye ... 



Vertical diameter of eye 



Width of interorbital space... 



Greatest height of body 



Greatest girth of body 



Height of caudal peduncle . . . 

 Ant. extremity to 1st dorsal... 

 Ant. extremity to 2nd dorsal. 

 Ant. extremity to anus 



Length of pectoral 



Length of pelvic 



Length of barbel 



The lower jaw projects from g to | inch beyond the upper, and 

 the angle of the gape reaches to about a vertical from the centre 

 of the eye. The teeth are not distinguishable either in structure 



^ For purposes of comparison I append the fin-ray and vertebral formula 

 of M. vulgaris, taken from Lilljeborg {op. cit. pp. 131 and 137), as dealing 

 with the most Northern examples as to which information is available : — 

 Di. 13-16. Dii. 62-70. A. 57-66. Vert. 64-65. 



^ The eversion of the stomach in this specimen renders the value of these 

 measurements uncertain. 



