IO 
EINAR LÖNNBERG, 
(Schwed. Südpolar-Exp. 
strongest so that the continuous longitudinal lines formed by them are especially 
there prominent. Upper and lateral parts of head covered by irregular keeled and 
rough scales. The infraorbital ridge, which is continuous to the posterior corner of 
the preopercle, fringed with spinelets as the tip of snout. Lower side of head naked. 
Four scales anteriorly between the dorsal spine and the lateral line otherwise only 
three between the latter and the dorsal fin. Teeth of the mandible in a narrow band 
formed by a few series. Distance between isthmus and vent equal to length of head 
without snout. Barbel a little shorter than diameter of pupil. Distance between 
both dorsals shorter than base of first dorsal. Second dorsal spine with five well 
developed barbs on its dorsal half, on the proximal there are only two very minute 
and inconspicuous spinelets. Outer ventral ray produced. Tail very slender with some 
long rays at the tip. About 7 — 8 dusky and not sharply defined transverse bands, 
darker than the ground-colour. Peritoneum black shining through the body-wall. 
Total length including caudal 88 mm. 
Length of head nearly iS » 
Longitudinal diameter of eye 7 » 
Vertical » » > 6 » 
Length of snout 5,5 » 
Interorbital width 5 5 
This fish is evidently nearly allied to Macrurus holotrachys * GÜNTHER and it 
might perhaps be a young specimen of the same, although there are several dis- 
crepancies. Some of these may be attributed to the difference in size and age be- 
tween this specimen and GüNTHER’s type from the Challenger-Expedition. The 
former measures in total length, including the caudal, only 88 mm., the latter (9 inches 
or) about 228 mm. In the present specimen the snout is shorter than the eye, in- 
stead of equal to the same, but this is readily interpreted as a juvenile characteristic. 
It is more difficult to explain the differences in the armature of the scales which in 
M. holotrachys are said to have only “two or more isolated spinelets” in addition 
to the median series. The latter has also 5 scales in a transverse series between 
the dorsal spine and the lateral line and perhaps a somewhat greater distance be- 
tween both dorsal fins. The presence of darker transverse bands may be understood 
as a juvenile characteristic disappearing with age. 
The great likeness in the shape and armature of the snout and the infraorbital 
ridge, the small number of scales between the dorsal fin and the lateral line, the 
characteristic resemblance with regard to the distance of the vent from the isthmus 
compared with the length of head without snout appear to be most convincing con- 
cerning the identity' of this specimen with M. holotrachys. Ido not wish, however 
Scientific Results of the Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger. Zoology XXII, Deep-Sea Fishes, p. 136. 
