522 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
any especial signi Seance; and in the coloration in particular, in the 
distribution of the black colour on the vertical fins, we find an emin- 
ently characteristic resemblance between the two forms. Thus, whether 
we choose to regard these forms as distinct species or merely as 
local varieties, we have here, as for example in the case of Scorpcena 
dactylopterci (see above, p. 155), an evident connexion between the 
deep-sea faunae of the Mediterranean and of Scandinavia. 
The Lesser Ling seldom attains a length of more 
than 1 metre, though, according to Nilsson, specimens 
at least 5 feet (15 dm.) long are sometimes met with. 
Its external form and external characters have already 
been compared by Strom to those of the Hake, with 
which genus it is closely connected in several respects. 
The body is, however, still more elongated, the greatest 
depth being at most about 1 / 9 (sometimes only slightly 
more than l / 12 ) of the length, and the least depth less 
than 3 % (2'7 — 2'5 96) of the latter. In front the body 
is terete, the breadth being about 4 / 5 — 9 /io °f the depth; 
behind the lateral compression becomes more and more 
pronounced, the breadth (thickness) of the body at the 
point where the depth is least, being not even 1 / 3 of 
the depth. The curves of the dorsal and ventral pro- 
tiles are equal and much more elongated behind than 
in front. At the point which corresponds to the inci- 
sion in the margins of the dorsal and anal tins in the 
Hake (here almost imperceptible), at the base of about 
the fiftieth ray of the second dorsal fin, we find a 
slight trace of a break, the dorsal profile sinking and 
the ventral rising rather more sharply back towards 
the base of the caudal fin. 
The form of the head is a uniform transition from 
that of the terete forepart of the body. The snout is 
horizontally elliptical, vertically slightly depressed, with 
large, only slightly ascending mouth. The top of the 
head is smooth or furnished with only slightly distinct 
cai'ince (longitudinal osseous ridges), and a little con- 
cave between the eyes. The length of the head is 
distinctly less than 1 / 5 (about 19 96) of that of the 
body, or than V 2 (at most about 42 %) of that of the 
base of the anal fin. The eves are large. Their longi- 
tudinal diameter measures in adult specimens 24 — 22 1 / 2 % 
of the length of the head or about twice the breadth 
of the interorbital space, and is more than 2 / 3 of the 
length of the snout, which occupies about 3 /io~~ 7s of 
that of the head. Their upper margin lies on the same 
plane as the forehead; but as the fish is generally caught 
in very deep water, they project considerably in most 
cases. The nostrils are situated in the hindmost third 
of the length of the snout and fairly high, somewhat 
above the middle of the eyes. The anterior nostril is 
round, with the margin raised into a lobate projection 
behind, the posterior larger, obliquely-set, oblong or 
crescent-shaped, with the posterior (upper) part ex- 
tended. The gape is comparatively large, and the jaAvs 
are thus fairly long, the distance betAveen the hind 
extremity of the maxillary bones and the tip of the 
snout being about 46 or 47 % of the length of the 
head, and the length of the loAver jaAv, Avhich in adult 
specimens measures 58 — 52 % of the total length of 
the head, greater than the postorbital length of flhe 
same. In all our specimens the tip of the snout pro- 
jects distinctly in front of that of the loAver jaAv“, 
Avhich is furnished underneath Avith a comparatively 
small barbel, measuring less than half the longitudinal 
diameter of the eyes. The intermaxillary bones are 
terete, tapering gradually to a point behind, and ex- 
ternally passing imperceptibly into the ligamentous 
membrane that forms the labial margin between these 
bones and the hind extremity of the maxillaries, Avhich 
is flat and someAvhat extended, but arched doAvirwards, 
and from Avhich a similar membrane runs forAvard to 
the anterior part of the loAver jaAv, forming an under- 
lip, more fleshy in front than behind. The inter- 
maxillary bones are furnished throughout their length 
Avith a card of rather small teeth of uniform size. The 
card is of fairly uniform breadth, but as usual some- 
Avhat broader in front and growing narroAver behind. 
The loAver jaw, on the other hand, contains two kinds 
of teeth, an outer i’oav of small teeth, Avhich is some- 
times double, corresponding to the intermaxillary teeth, 
and an inner i’oav of scattered, but large, straight, and 
pointed canines, about 15 in number on each branch 
of the loAver jaw', and just at their tips more or less 
distinctly barbed. The head of the vomer is also fur- 
nished with similar canine teeth, set in a horse-shoe 
or semi-elliptical toav, about 6 in number on each side. 
Only a trace of the transverse palatine folds is present. 
The tongue is toothless, fleshy, and free, flat and tri- 
angular at the tip. The gill-rakers are short and den- 
ticulated. The pharyngeal teeth are like the inter- 
maxillary teeth. On each of the loAver pharyngeals 
they form an oblong card, Avhile the upper pharyngeals 
are united on each side into a round, convex projec- 
The case may also be the contrary, according to Nilsson and Lilljeboeg. 
