194 FISHES. MALACOPTERYGIOUS. Raniceps. 



Gen. XLII. RANICEPS. — The first dorsal fin obscure. 

 Head depressed and very broad. Mouth wide, with regu- 

 lar incurvated teeth. Rays of the ventrals produced. 



88. R. trif'urcatus. Lateral line tuberculated above the pec- 

 toral fins. 



Trifurcated Hake, Davies, Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 196, and edition 1812, 

 iii. 272 South coast of England. 



Length about 12 inches. Colour deep brown, the lips white. Eyes large, 

 irides yellow. Body compressed, especially towards the tail. The first dor- 

 sal fin consists of three slender minute rays placed in a furrow. 2d D. 62, 

 P. 23, V. 6. (the three last short), A. 59, C 36. Tubercles 9 or 10 on each side, 

 from the last of which the lateral line commences, is curved in the middle, 

 and then straight to the tail ; caudal and pectoral fins rounded. Mr Donovon, 

 in the preface to his work on British Fishes, declares that Pennant was mis- 

 led when he instituted the trifurcated hake as a distinct species, as the de- 

 scription was taken from a damaged skin of the forked hake ; and he adduces 

 the authority of the Rev. Hugh Davies in support of his opinion. In the last 

 edition of the British Zoology, the trifurcated hake is continued as a distinct 

 species, and several additional facts illustrative of its history given, likewise 

 on the authority of the Rev. Hugh Davies ! We cannot unravel such mys- 

 terious contradictions. 



89. R. Jago. Lateral line smooth. 



Barbus minus, Jago, Ray, Syn. Pise. 164. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 195— 

 Couch, Linn. Trans, xiv. 75 — Coast of Cornwall. 

 This species was first noticed by the Rev. Mr Jago, whose name we have 

 adopted as its trivial appellation. It has since been observed by Mr Couch, 

 who has given the following description of its peculiarities: — " Length 10 

 inches. Head wide and flat. Eyes forward and prominent. Under jaw 

 shortest. Teeth in the jaws and palate, sharp and incurved, and some in the 

 throat. Small barb at the under jaw. Body compressed, smooth. First dor- 

 sal fin triangular, and extremely small ; second dorsal fin and the anal fin 

 long, ending in a point ; tail round ; ventral fins have several rays, of which 

 the two outmost are much elongated, the longest measuring two inches ; the 

 fins all covered with the common skin. A furrow passes above the eyes to 

 the back. Stomach firm, with longitudinal folds ; no appendix to the intes- 

 tines. Air-bladder large, and of unusual form. In the intestines were the 

 remains of an echinus." 



Gen. XLIII. BROSMUS. Tusk.— The small dorsal and 

 anal fins lengthened ; ventrals fleshy, with five rays. 



90. B. vulgaris. Common Tusk. — Fins edged with white ; 



tail and pectorals rounded. 



Brismack, Lump, Tusk, Sibb. Desc. Orkney and Zetland, p. 8.— Torsk, 

 Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 203. Low, Ork. 200. — Gadus Brosme, Don. Brit. 

 Fishes, t. 70. — On the sea-banks, especially off the coast of Zetland. 



Length about 2 feet. Above dusky ; sides yellowish ; belly white. Late- 

 ral line a little incurvated. Body compressed behind the vent. A furrow on 

 the neck. D. 49, P. 21, V. 5, A. 37, C. 35 — This fish is caught along with ling 

 and cod. When salted it is deservedly esteemed. Pennant originally con- 

 founded this species with the torsk or dorse, Morhua callarias. 



