ANACANTHINI, 375 



cole fish, but the spaces are larger than even in that species. 

 All the back fins are highest in front, at the second or third 

 ray, and gradually lower in an even line to the last ray, which 

 is very short in all. The first dorsal therefore has not the 

 conical form of M. virens, as represented in Yarrell's figure. 

 The second dorsal is the highest of the three, and the third 

 occupies more of the dorsal line than the others. The anals 

 are moderately arched in outline, and the second exceeds the 

 first in the numbers of its rays more than in the other Mer- 

 langi. The pectorals are narrow and pointed, and the ventrals 

 end in a long hair-like tip, the second ray being the longest. 

 Caudal deeply and acutely notched at the end, with acute 

 lobes. The following comparative table is drawn up to ex- 

 hibit the differences in the fin-rays of various Mtrlangi .- 



Dorsal fins. Anal fins. 



. ( Mean of dif- 

 M. polans . 13-15-19 = 47 ; 17-22 = 39 ferent 



M. vulffaris . 13-19-18 = 50; 31-20 = 51 -\ 



M. carbonarins 11-20-20 = 51 ; 24-19 = 43 > Yarrell. 



M.pollacUm . 12-19-15 = 46 ; 24-16 = 40 ) 



M. virens . . 13-20-19 = 52 ; 24-20 = 44 Linnaeus. 



M. virens . . 13-20-19 = 52 ; 26-22 = 48 Reinhardt. 



Sir James Ross took the trouble to count the rays of many 

 examples of polaris, and found considerable variety in the 

 numbers. The quotation from him at the beginning of this 

 article gives the means of his reckoning. 



Dimensions. 



Pale species. Dark species. 



Length from premaxillary to tip of caudal 4'60 in. 4' 90 in. 



Length from premaxillary to anus . . . 2 "00 2'12 



Length from premaxillary to gill-opening . 1'15 1 - 20 



Width at occiput ........ 0'45 0'50 



Height behind the eyes ...... 0'65 - 75 



Diameter of the eye ....... 0'30 0'33 



The Merlangus carbonarius and M. virens are likewise in- 

 habitants of Davis' s Strait, and another species was noticed by 



