68 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
That this species coincides with Beryx borealis of v. Duben and 
Koren, was evident when Lowe** and Steindachner * 6 described fresh 
specimens of the former species. A comparison drawn between the 
classical description of v. Duben and Koren and the diagnosis of 
the species given by Steindachner, leaves no room for further doubt as 
to the identity of the species, least of all if we observe the significance 
of the changes due to age (the reduction of the spines etc.), which 
we see in other species of the family. Anyone who will reduce the 
measurements of different parts of the body given by V. Duben and 
Koren to the corresponding percentage of the greatest depth of the body, 
will find the same proportions in Steindachner’ s figure, in some re- 
spects corresponding in the minutest details. The identity of species 
was also clearly shown by the well-founded remarks of Lilljeborg 
and the later comparison between specimens of B. decaclactylus 
and the type specimen of B. borealis , a comparison which was 
executed by Collett. However, one question connected herewith is 
still unsolved. If one examines the characters for Beryx splendens 
given by Lowe and Steindachner — the lower form of body, the 
comparatively straight back, the short base of the dorsal fin, the long 
we are considering this point, an examination should also be made in 
the same way of the relations between Beryx affinis and B. lineatus. 
The most remarkable points in the form of the 
body in Beryx decadactylus are given above. There 
seems to be a very important change in form due to 
age, which starts from the rhomboidal form described 
by v. Duben and Koren, with “the forehead and the 
anterior part of the back parallel to the base of the 
anal tin, and the posterior part of the back parallel 
to the lower jaw and the anterior part of the ventral 
line.’’ The peduncle of the caudal tin is narrow, its 
least depth being less than the diameter of the eye, 
which is perfectly circular, and both in v. Duben’s and 
Koren’s measurements and in Steindachner’s figure 
pectoral fins, the large eyes, the smaller number of soft rays in the 
dorsal fin c and the occasional increase in the number of rays in the 
ventral fins, if one pays attention to the complete similarity of colour- 
ing in the two “species,” remarked by Steindachner, to the fact that 
B. splendens was assumed to be of smaller size d , and lastly to the 
fact that both species are said to occur with complete identity in two 
regions so distant as the Atlantic and Japan, then it is evident that 
there are sufficient reasons for the surmise that a still further reduc- 
tion of the number of species within the genus is at hand. While 
“ Trans. Zool. Soc., vol. Ill, p. 1. 
6 Stzber., 1. c. 
c According to Gunther the variation is between 15 and 16. 
d Though Steindachner mentions a specimen of B. splendens 
known specimen of B. decadactylus , this proves no more than that hi 
times be retained excessively long. 
it is exactly V 4 of the greatest depth of the body. 
The upper margin of the dorsal fin, like the lower of 
the anal, is concave, and the hind margin of the caudal 
fin is still more deeply forked. The pectoral fins are 
pointed and directed obliquely upwards; in the older 
specimens they seem comparatively shorter and more 
obtuse than in the younger ones. To the reduction of 
397 ram. in length and thus about 1 decim. longer than the smallest 
re, as in many divisions of the system, juvenile characters may some- 
