THE COD FAMILY. 251 



together with the sides have a silvery sheen. The barbel is 

 small in contrast with that of the cod. The ventral fins are 

 now proportionally shorter, a clear space existing between them 

 and the vent. The lower jaw is underhung, as in the a,du.\t. 



The view of Sars that the young haddock seeks shelter 

 under medusae until about 50 mm. long is, as a general rule, 

 not more tenable in our waters than in the case of the cod. 



There is no need to describe minutely the various points of 

 difference between this species, the whiting and the cod, but 

 a few remarks may be made on certain evident modifications 

 occurring during the growth of the three forms at this stage. 

 Thus, whereas the pale ventrals of the whiting fell short of the 

 vent in the former stages, they now extend beyond it, the 

 second ray, with its sensitive tip, so carefully described in 

 various fishes by Mr H. C. Williamson, being proportionally 

 longer than in the haddock. On the other hand, the second 

 ray of the somewhat short ventrals of the cod far exceed both, 

 such being probably of great service in its haunts inshore 

 amongst the tangle- forests, and tidal runlets at low water. 

 The large mouth of the cod, its long barbel and characteristic 

 head are noteworthy, as also are the prominent teeth of the 

 whiting. 



Up to this stage not a single young haddock has ever been 

 captured by the various nets so constantly in use during inshore 

 observations. It is a deep-water fish, of whose existence fisher- 

 men as a rule are not cognizant, unless when casually dropped 

 on deck from the mouth of a larger form captured by the hook, 

 or by the trawl. 



At 80 mm. (about three inches and a quarter) the blackish 

 mark behind the shoulder is very evident, both in life and when 

 preserved. It is due, as formerly, to a dense aggregation of 

 minute black chromatophores. The cupreous sheen of the 

 little fish is well-marked. The black pigment on the pectorals, 

 ventrals and first anal is also characteristic. The tip of the 

 second ray of the ventrals is proportionally more elongated 

 than in the previous stage, perhaps in connection with a 

 change of habit either towards the bottom or the shore. This 

 sensitive ray is fully as long as in a whiting of the same size, 



