GADID^E. 275 



Branchiostegals seven : pseudobranchice, if present, rudimentary. Teeth in a 

 band in the jaws, present on vomer, none on the palatines or tongue. A barbel present 

 or absent below the chin. Three dorsal and two anal fins : ventral with six or more 

 rays: caudal distinct. Air-bladder present. Coecal appendages numerous. 



The reason why these fishes were termed Asinus by the ancients has by some 

 been considered to have reference to their colour : while others believe it to be 

 due to their having been carried to market on the backs of asses. Yarrell, 

 however, advanced another suggestion that the term was originally intended 

 for the haddock, in which (he says) the shoulder blotch frequently extends over 

 the back uniting with that on the opposite side, and thus reminding the observer 

 of the dark stripe over the withers of an ass. A slight objection might be 

 raised as to how the Greeks and Latins conferred this term on a species which 

 does not exist in their seas. The name has also been supposed to refer to the 

 hake. 



This genus was subdivided by Cuvier into (1) those in which three dorsal 

 fins and a submandibular barbel were present, Gadus : and (2) those in which the 

 barbel was absent, Merlangus. 



A. Upper jaw the longer, its oitter row of teeth enlarged {Gadus). 



a. Barbel present. 



1. Gadus morhua, D. 13-15/16-19/17-21, A. 17-19/1G-18. Greenish or olive: 

 lateral-line white. 



2. Gadus ceglefinus, D. 14-16/20-24/19-21, A. 24-25/20-22. A black shoulder 

 blotch and black lateral-line. 



3. Gadus luscus, D. 12/20-23/19-20, A. 27-32/17-20. Copper-coloured, with 

 broad vertical bands. 



4. Gadus minutus, D. 12-15/19-25/17-22, A. 25-29/17-22. Silvery. 



b. No barbel below chin. 



5. Gadus merlangus, D. 13-16/18-23/19-21, A. 30-35/20-24. Silvery, with a 

 dark axillary spot. 



B. Lower jaw the longer : its outer row of teeth enlarged (Boreogadus). 



6. Gadus poutassou, D. 12-13/12-14/22-24, A. 34-38/20-25. Silvery. 



C. Lower jaw the longer : teeth in upper jaw of equal size (Pollachius). 



a. Barbel present. 



7. Gadus virens, D. 12-14/20-22/20-22, A. 24-27/20-23. Gray along the back, 

 silvery sides. 



b. No barbel belotv chin. 



8. Gadus pollachius, D. 11-13/16-20/15-19, A. 24-31/16-21. Dull greenish 

 along the back. 



A. Upper jaw the longer : its outer row of teeth enlarged (Gadus). 



a. Barbel present. 



1. Gadus morhua, Plate LXXVIII. 



Morhua vulgaris, Bellon. de Aquat. p. 128. Molva, Rondel, ix, c. 14, p. 280 ; 

 Gesner, pp. 88, 102. Morhua s. molva, Aldrov. iii, c. 6, p. 289 ; Jonston, i, tit. 1, 

 c. 1, Art. 2, t. ii, f. 1. Asellus major, Schonev. p. 18 ; Willugh. p. 165, t. L. M. i, 

 f . 4 ; Ray, Syn. p. 53 ; Rutty, i, p. 353. Gadus, sp. Artedi, Syn. p. 35, no. 6. 

 Collar ias, Klein, Pise. Miss, v, p. 6, no. 4, t. i, f. 1 ; Ascan. Icon. t. iv and xxvii. 



18* 



