200 Fishes 



The differences stated to exist between H. grcenlandicus and 

 H. Rkeinliarclti are briefly as follows : 



1. The considerably deeper body in the latter species. To this 

 Ave can attach but little importance, as the degree of distension of the 

 loose skin of the belly is a very material factor, and Rheinhardt's 

 specimen was half decomposed. 



2. The dorsal fin rays, stated by Rheinhardt to have been nine, and 

 five in all other examples. Girard points out that the four posterior 

 bifid rays might well have been reckoned as two each by Rheinhardt in 

 a damaged specimen. 



3. The pectoral ra}'s, stated by Rheinhardt to have been twelve in 

 his example, and by Liitken and Girard to be seventeen in theirs ; in 

 Dr. Wolfenden's specimen the number is thirteen. Even apart from 

 this recorded range and the bad state of Rheinhardt's specimen, we are 

 not inclined to attach much importance to this difference. 



4. The number of tentacular appendages — eleven in Rheinhardt's 

 specimen, and eight and seven respectively in Liitken's. Girard's 

 example had lost its tentacle ; Dr. Wolfenden's has nine such appen- 

 dages. It seems to us that the exact number of these appendages 

 cannot under the circumstances be regarded as a specific character. 



It must be remembered that the reference of all known specimens 

 to a single species, however probably correct, rests upon inference 

 alone ; and it seems better to us to retain Liitken's name for the 

 specimens with five rays in the soft dorsal, and with a body whose 

 depth is contained one and a half times or less in its length (with- 

 out caudal fin or mandible), while confining Rheinhardt's H. grcen- 

 landicus to specimens (should any be found) with nine rays in the soft 

 dorsal, and with a body whose depth is contained more than twice in 



its length. 



References. 



Brauer (1902), Zool. Anzeig., xxv., No. 668. 



Brauer (1906), ' Valdivia Deep-Sea Fishes.' 



Gill (1878), Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1878, 219. 



Girard (1893), Boulet. Soc'wd. Geogr. Lisboa, Ser. 11, No. 9. 



Liitken (1878), K. D. Vid. SeM. Ski:, 5th Ser., xi. 320. 



Liitken (1887), K. D. Vid. SeM. Sir., 6th Ser., iv. 325. 



Rheinhardt (1837), K. D. Vid. SeM. A/hand, 74. 



