HAKE. 103 



pectoral; second dorsal and anal more expanded towards their 

 termination, their rays more plainly marked than in others of" 

 the family, the connecting membrane thin; and although in 

 ful]-"-rown examples these rays are divided into branches 

 towards their points, it is not so in early growth, for at this 

 stage they are firm and simple, about half grown when they 

 become bifid, beginning with those nearest the tail; tail and 

 pectorals slightly round; of the ventral fins the fifth and sixth 

 are the longest. Colour generally dull brown on the back, but 

 when in the best condition rich brown with a tint of purple; 

 sides lighter, sometimes pink, didl white, or bright below; 

 yellowish on the cheeks; lateral line yellow or brown. Dorsal 

 and pectoral fins and tail dark; anal fin whitish near the vent, 

 darker behind. The first dorsal fin has ten rays, second 

 thirty-eight, pectoral thirteen, anal thirty-eight, ventral eight, 

 tail twenty- two. 



We have shewn, when treating of the Haddock, that the 

 fish called Onos and Asinus by the Greeks and Komans was 

 the Hake, and not the former species, as many have supposed. 

 It remains to be seen whether Swainson's o))inion is correct, 

 that the Hake of the Mediterranean is a different fish from 

 our own. 



