THE COD FAMILY. 299 



and extends in the same way almost to the caudal. The 

 pectorals have a large free fleshy base, and apparently form con- 

 siderable fans, but as only one had a portion of its rays present, 

 the actual condition is uncertain. The ventral fins spring from 

 the lower surface considerably anterior to the pectorals, and 

 have evidently been of great length. Thus in regard to their 

 position at this stage they differ from certain gadoids in which 

 a change forwards takes place during the growth of the fish. 

 The six filmy rays, all of which, however, are imperfect, extend 

 considerably beyond the vent, whereas in the adult the longest 

 ray falls considerably short of it. Like the ling, rock I ing and 

 other gadoids, the tadpole-fish has very long ventrals in its 

 pelagic stage, and, as Malm states, the colour of these would 

 also appear to be characteristic, viz. deep black. No trace of 

 colour on these fins remained in the present example, which 

 had been much damaged before preparation. 



In all probability such a specimen, if the date be correct, 

 would issue from an egg spawned in July or August, and its 

 capture in the region mentioned would show that the young 

 are found on the same ground as their parents, which are often 

 caught in crab-pots inshore, or thrown on the beach after 

 storms. 



Of the other sizes known, one of 8-^ inches was got at Port- 

 rush on the oth of March, while at St Andrews those procured 

 in February were respectively 9, 10, and 10^ inches, and that 

 already referred to on the 21st November, 10 inches. 



THE TORSK OR TUSK. (Brosmius brosme, Ascan.) 



No visitor to Shetland can say that he has had experience 

 of all the novelties that come before him unless he has eaten 

 the excellent torsk, a gadoid fish so frequently met with at 

 table in these interesting islands. While it is occasionally 

 found all along the eastern and western parts of the coast of 

 Scotland, it is in greatest abundance in the north, where it is 

 highly esteemed as a food-fish. Like others it was supposed to 

 come from deep water to the coast at the time of spawning, 

 but nothing definite was known of its eggs until Dr Fulton 



