ANACANTHIXI 649 



4 feet and a weight of 100 Ibs., the Haddock (G. aeglefinus), the 

 Whiting (G. merlangus), the Bib or Pout (G. luscus), the Pollack 

 (G. pollachius), the Coal-Fish (G. virens), the Hake (Merlitccius 

 vulgaris), and the Ling (Molva vulgaris). Species of Merluccius 

 occur also on the coasts of Chili and of New Zealand. The 

 Eocklings (Onus or Motella) are of small size ; several species are 

 of common occurrence in our tide-pools. The Burbot (Lota 

 vulgaris) is a freshwater fish, exceeding a length of 3 feet, of ex- 

 cellent quality, but unfortunately local and rare in this country. 



Fam. 3. Muraenolepididae. Closely related to the Gadidae, 

 from which they differ in not having a separate caudal fin, in 

 the gill-openings being narrow and below the base of the 

 pectorals, in the increased number (ten) of the pectoral pterygials, 1 

 and in the peculiar scales, similar to those of the Anguillidae. 

 Ventrals with 5 rays. A mental barbel. 



A single genus, Muraenolepis, from the coast of Kerguelen 

 Island. 



1 The increased number of pectoral pterygials lias been regarded by Sagemehl 

 (Morphol. Jahrb. x. 1885, p. 17) as indicating generalisation, and has been a great 

 stumbling-block in his discussion of the affinities of Gymnolus with the other 

 Ostariophysi, and especially the Characinidae. The fact that the same feature is 

 repeated in three such distinct families as the Gymnotidae, Anguillidae, and 

 Muraenolepididae, and occurs in genera which are in all other respects more 

 specialised than their neighbours, goes far to prove that Sagemehl was mistaken 

 in his interpretation of this character. 



