214 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



ORDER.— JUGULARES. 

 GENUS.— GADUS. 



SPECIES I. 



GADUS MORRHUA, 



OR 



THE COMMON COD-FISH. 



The common Cod-fish* is a genus of the order Jugulares. 

 The generic character is, pectoral fins slender and tapering 

 to a point. The body is long, thick, laterally compressed, 

 and covered with small smooth scales, which easily rub off*. 

 The head is smooth, wedge-shaped, with a broad front. 

 The mouth large, the jaws armed with little sharp teeth 

 bending inwards ; some species have barbies hanging from 

 the lower jaw. The tongue is broad and smooth; but the 

 palate is rough, being armed with small teeth ; and there 

 are several rugged bones about the throat. The eyes are 

 near the top of the head, round, large, and covered with a 

 membrane. The nostrils are double and near the eyes. 

 The coverts and opening of the gills are large ; the covert 

 consists of three lamina?, the under one edged with a skin. 

 The membranes of the gills are strong, with seven or eight 

 rays. The fins are from seven to ten, two pectorals, the 



* Synony mes.— Ash-coloured Cod. Common Cod Fish, Willoughby, 

 Ray, Pennant, Shaw, and Donovan. Gadus Morhua, Linnaeus. Mor- 

 hua, Bellon. Molva vel Morhua, Rondelet. Cahlia, Strom. Gadus 

 Squamus Majoribus, Bloch. 



