246 



ray elongated : the anal aperture is in a line under the mid- 

 dle of the first dorsal fin ; the first anal fin commencing just 

 behind the vent ; the tail elongated ; the end nearly square. 

 The fin-rays are 



D. 13. 19. IP. : P. 19 : V. fc> : A. 31. 20. : C. 30. Vertebra; 55. 



The body of the Whiting, like the bodies of those be- 

 longing to this division, is longer for its depth than that of 

 the Codfish ; the scales small, oval, and deciduous ; the 

 lateral line dark and straight posteriorly, but rising gradually 

 throughout the anterior half; the head elongated ; the mouth 

 and gape large ; the tongue white and smooth ; the upper 

 jaw decidedly the longest, with one row of large and sharp- 

 pointed teeth on the outer edge, and several rows of smaller 

 ones within ; the vomer with a few teeth arranged in a semi- 

 circular line on the anterior part ; the lower jaw with various 

 mucous orifices along the under surface, and a single row of 

 sharp teeth along the upper outer edge, which, when the 

 mouth is closed, range within the outer row of teeth on the 

 upper jaw : the eye in breadth less than one-fourth of the 

 head, and placed more than its breadth from the end of the 

 nose ; the irides silvery ; the pupils blue. The upper part 

 of the head and the back above the lateral line pale reddish 

 ash brown ; sides and belly silvery white ; pectoral, caudal, 

 and dorsal fins, pale brown ; ventral and anal fins almost 

 white ; the pectoral fins each with a decided dark patch at 

 the base. 



