260 THE COD FAMILY. 



fan-shaped, and the eyes are large and bluish silvery. Gener- 

 ally speaking, the whiting has much black pigment on the 

 postero-lateral region. 



One about 12 mm. shows in spirit the dorsal and the anal 

 fins outlined though not yet separated from each other, and the 

 permanent rays are more distinct in them and in the caudal ; 

 minute ventrals are present, while the breast-fins form large 

 mobile fans. Groups of black pigment-corpuscles are distributed 

 along the base of the dorsal and the anal fins as well as over 

 the brain, and a similar series occurs along the ventral median 

 line of the abdomen. No barbel is noticeable. When a little 

 longer (15 mm.), the species is distinguished from the young 

 cod by a more abundant distribution of black pigment-specks 

 along the sides of the body and on the fins, and by the greater 

 length and diminished depth of the first anal fin. The median 

 line of pigment still runs along the ventral surface of the 

 abdomen. At 20 mm. the characters that separate it from 

 the cod of the same size are better marked, e.g., the distribution 

 of dense blackish pigment along the base of the dorsal fins, 

 and it soon spreads downward over the sides. The first anal 

 fin assumes the character of the adult, and a minute papilla 

 on the chin indicates a barbel. Between the stage just 

 mentioned and a length of 28 mm. a decided change in the 

 dense dorsal pigment takes place, viz., a tendency to form 

 separate groups or touches (fig. 35). This feature is also 

 seen to a slight extent in the young cod, and besides the 

 dorsal series a few bars occur at the base of the tail. The 

 fish is also now minutely flecked, all over the head, sides, snout, 



FIG. 35. Young Whiting with serrated dorsal pigment-band, and parasitic 



young C aligns. 



and fins with black pigment, and its general outline approaches 

 that of the adult. It is at once distinguished from the young 



