284 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Length, 29 '0. Depth, 3'0. 



Fin rays, D. 9.71 ; P. 19 ; V. 7 ; A. 63 ; C. 45. 



The fresh-water species of this genus are usually called Burbot and Eel-pout, while the 

 name of Ling is attached to those living in the ocean. The specimen which furnished the 

 above description was captured in the Hudson river at Lansingburgh, and presented to the 

 Albany Institute by Mr. Jacob C. Lansing. I suspect its original habitat is in Lake Cham- 

 plain, and that it reaches the Hudson river through the canal. Mr. Z. Thompson informs me 

 that he has observed a Burbot in that lake, which agrees neither with the maculosa nor com- 

 pressa of Lesueur, and which in all probability is this species. It bears a general resem- 

 blance to the Gadus coinpressus of Lesueur ; but from this it differs in size, and the compa- 

 rative length of the dorsal and anal fins. 



Nothing is known of its habits. The allied European species is said to resemble the eel 

 in its habits, concealing itself under stones, and feeding chiefly at night. In Switzerland, it 

 is much esteemed as an article of food. 



THE SPOTTED BURBOT. 



Lota maculosa. 



PLATE LII. FIG. 168. 



Gadus lota. Scbcepff, loc. cit. Vol. 8, p. Ill ; Penn. Aret. Zool. Introduction, p. 191. 



Gadus lacuslris. Codfish of the Lakes. Mitchill, Am. Monthly Magazine, Vol. 2, p. 244 



G. maculosus, Lesueur, Ac. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 83. 



Le Molve tachete. Id. Mem. Mus. Vol. 5, p. 159, pi. 16. 



The Methy, Gadus (Lota) maculosus. Richardson, Faun. Bor. Am. Vol. 3, p. 248. 



Eel-pout, L. maculosa. Kirtland, Report on the Zoology of Ohio, p. 190. 



Characteristics. Large, dark brown, with lighter spots. Anterior nostrils with a membranous 

 filament. Length two feet. 



Description. Body oblong, compressed, anguilliform. Head broad, depressed ; jaws nearly 

 equal. Scales minute, rounded and deeply imbedded ; under the lens, concentrically striate. 

 Lateral line in a furrow ; arched slightly at its anterior part, thence going off straight. Eyes 

 small, oval. Teeth in the jaws, small and recurved, distributed in bands ; similar but smaller 

 teeth on the vomer and anterior part of the palatines, also on the pharyngeals. Branchial 

 rays seven. The first dorsal small, subtriangular ; the first ray short. The second com- 

 mences - 3 behind the first ; long, low, and coterminal with the anal. Pectorals long, pointed ; 

 its tips reaching nearly to the base of the first dorsal. Ventrals anterior to the pectorals, long, 

 narrow, and ending in a long thin point. Anal long, subequal. Caudal rounded ; its rays above 

 nearly touching the second dorsal, and not quite so near the base of the anal. 



Color. Deep chesnut brown, marbled with lighter spots ; beneath lighter. Pupils black ; 

 irides while and golden. Ventrals white. 



