138 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
that on the voyage of the “Challenger” a specimen be- 
longing to this family was taken in the Atlantic at a 
depth of 1,800 fathoms, namely a Melanocetus Johnsonii 
3 4 / 5 in. in length, with a twisted Scopelus 7V 2 hi. 
long and 1 in. deep in its stomach, which was in- 
credibly distended. 
Of this family we know about 60 species distri- 
buted among 14 or 15 genera. Two of these genera, 
one species of each, may be included in the Scandi- 
navian fauna, the one species, however, only as an 
occasional visitor. The family belongs chiefly to the 
Tropics, but also lives in the temperate seas. Most 
of the species inhabit the upper regions of the ocean 
or keep close in shore; but some species (at least 8) 
belong to the deep-sea fauna. 
Genus LQPHIUS. 
Head large , broad, and , like the greater part of the body, depressed, 'with large, horizontal gape, and well armed 
with spines on the sides of the skull a and also on the suboperculum and the clavicular bone. Body naked ( with- 
out scales ), but furnished with numerous fringes. Lower jaw, inter maxillaries, palatine bones, and the outer corner 
of the broad head of the vomer, as well as the upper and lower pharyngeals, strongly armed with teeth. Eyes set 
about midway in the upper side of the headf In the first dorsal fin 6 rays, the first 3 being tentacular and free 
from each other". Three gills d . No gill-rakers. The gill-openings are large holes behind the pectoral fins, which 
have only two basal bones. Two pyloric appendages. No air-bladder. Bays of the caudal fin at most 8; the 
■uppermost and lowest of these rays undivided. Posttemporal bone united to the mastoid bone. 
The genus Lopliius, with its two or perhaps four 
species, is known on the coasts of all parts of the 
world except Australia and South America. These 
fishes should really be regarded as shore-fishes; and at 
least during youth they live in shallow water, but when 
older, they withdraw to greater depths. The Atlantic 
species, if there be more than one, are distinguished 
from the Pacific species — which may perhaps be also 
reduced to one, to judge by the descriptions — by the 
greater number of rays in the second dorsal and the 
anal tin, and by the lack of colour in the mouth be- 
hind the hvoid bone. 
THE FISHING FROG OR THE ANGLER (sw. makulicen or mekulken). 
LOPHIUS PISCATORIUS. 
Plate X, fig. 2. 
Bays of the second dorsal fin 11 at least * 6 ; rays of the anal fin at least 9 f . Dorsal side chocolate-coloured or gray, 
streaked or grained with black or brown, and sometimes ivith scattered, small, round, white spots; ventral side white, 
but the tops of the pectoral, ventral, and anal fins, during youth at least, black or blackish brown. 
R. hr. 6; D. 1 + 1 + 1+3/11 1. 12; A. 9 — 11; P. 26 1. 27?; Syn. BdvQ'X.yoq aliag, Aristot., cett.; Rana, Ovid., cett.; Rana 
V. l f a ; C. 1 + 6 + 1. marina, Cic., cett.; Rana piscatrix, Belon., cett.: vide 
Artedi, Lopliius ore cirroso, > Syn ., p. 87. 
° On the epiotic (mastoid), pterotic (squamosa), parietal, and frontal bones, and on the upper part of the beginning of the palatine bones. 
6 There is no suborbital ring, as also seems to be the case in the other genera of the family, and as is most generally the case in 
the Batrachoids. 
c The first is especially well suited for its purpose as a mobile, attractive bait: it is bifoliate at the top, and can be moved in all 
possible directions by means of a pivoted articulation with the interspinal bone which lies on the snout. This iuterspinal bone is common 
to the two first rays; the interspinal bone of the third lies farther back on the top of the head. 
d Still there are, as usual, 4 branchial arches besides the lower pharyngeals. It is the fourth arch that is without branchial lamellae. 
e According to Nilsson 9 : according to Faber 8. 
f According to Nilsson and Faber 8. 
? P. 23, according to Valenciennes, Faber, Nilsson, and Moreau. 
