NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 231 



Merlucius vulgaris Storer, Rep., p. 132. 



Merlucius albidus Dekay, Rep., p. 280, pi. 46, f. 148. 



Merlucius bilinearis Gill, Cat. 



Hah. Eastern coast from Virginia northwards. 



This species appears to differ from the European hake by the more numer- 

 ous rays of the first dorsal, the more depressed second dorsal and anal, and in 

 its proportions. The number of rays given to the European species by some 

 of the best zoologists is exhibited in comparison with that presented by the 

 American species. 



M. vulgaris. 



D. 9 10 | 39 40 A. 3739 Linnceus. 



D. 9 | 40 A. 39 Pennant. 



D. 10 11 | 3739 A. 3738 Sundevall. 



D. 10 | 39 A. 37 Parnell. 



D. 9-10 | 39^0 A. 3940 Kroyer. 



D. 10 | A. 3940 Nilsson. 



D. 10 | 3637 A. 3940 Giinther. 



M. bilinearis. 



D. 12 | 39 A. 39 Mitch. Rep. 



D. 12 | 38 A. 41 " Trans. N. Y. 



D. 12 | 3841 A. 40 Storer R. & Syn. 



D. 11 | 39 A. 40 Dekay. 



D. 13 | 41 A. 40 Storer Mem. Ac. vi. 



D. 12 | 39 (d. 19) A. 39 Gill. 



D. 13 j 38 (d. 17) A. 39 Gill. 



D. 12 | 41 (d. 20) A. 41 Gill. 



From the above enumeration, it is evident that the difference in the num- 

 ber of the rays of the first dorsal does not come within the limits of specific 

 variation. The depression of the second dorsal occurs at the seventeenth to 

 twentieth rays. The number of rays of the first dorsal has been verified in 

 eight other individuals. 



Subfamily GADINsE (Bon.) Gill. 



Genus POLLACHIUS (Nilsson.) 



This genus does not appear to include more than one American species, 

 which one has been considered to be identical with the European Pollachius 

 carbonarius by those who have compared the two. The Merlangus poutassoti 

 of Risso, referred to this genus by Nilsson and Bonaparte, is quite distinct from it 

 and the type of one which, having received no special name, may now be desig- 

 nated Micromesistius ; it is distinguished by its dentition, the very short abdo- 

 men, very long first anal and short second dorsal, which is widely separated 

 from the first and third. 



Pollachius cakbonarids Bon. 



Synonymy of American fish. 

 Gadus purpureus Mitch. 



Gadus (Merlangus) carbonarius Rich., F. B. A., iii. p. 247. 

 Merlangus carbonarius Storer, Rep., 129. 



" purpureus Storer, Rep., 130. 



Pollachius carbonarius Gill, Cat., p. 48. 

 Merlangus purpureus Gill, Cat., p. 48. 

 Gadus virens Giinther, iv. 339. 



Doubtful synonyviy. 

 Merlangus leptocephalus Dekay, Rep., p. 288, pi. 45, f. 146, (rectius 147 f) 

 1863.] 



