DISCUSSION OP SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 355 



Caudal separate; three cloi'sal aucl two anal fins; ventralsof seven rays. Brancliiostegals, 

 seven. No barbel. 



This genus has the general appearance of Gadus, but is distinguished by the absence of 

 teeth ou the vomer. 



GADICULUS ARGENTEUS, Guichenot. 



Gttdicidus argenteus, GuiciiENOf, Exploration Soientifiqiie de I'Algerie, Poissons, 1851, 102, pi. vi, fig. 2. — GiJN- 



THER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., IV, 18ti2, 341. 

 Gttdns argentcm, Guntiier, Aim. and Mag. Nat. Hist., xiil, 1874, 138; Challenger Report, xxil, 1887, 83. 

 Merlnnrjus argenteus, Vaillant, Exp. Sci., TravaiUeur et Talisman, 1888, 302, pi. xxv, fig. 7; pi. xxvi, fig. 5 

 (tail). 



A Gadoid, having a body similar in form to that of Gadus; its height one-fourth of its 

 length, and its thickness one-seventh. 



Length of head one-third of total length; snout short, its length less than one-fourth 

 that of the head. Mouth moderate, oblique; the maxillary exteuding a little beyond the 

 vertical from the anterior limb of the eye. The lower jaw is longest. Teeth in jaws in vil- 

 liform bands; jjalatiues and tongue without teeth. Vomer unarmed, except occasionally in 

 individuals which have two or three minute asperities upon its angles. Diameter of the 

 eye one-third that of the head; width of interorbital space one-seventh. 



This species was taken by IT. M. S. rorcupine off the west coast of Ireland (lat. SJr'^lO 

 K, Ion. 10° 59' W.), at the depth of 183 fathoms. It had previously been found in tbe Med- 

 iterranean, but the TravaiUeur obtained it again in 1882 in the Gulf of Gascony (station 

 Viii^ at 411 meters in great abundance, 50 specimens being brought in at one haul. The 

 Talisman got it oif Morocco at 510-5.50 meters (stations viii and xvii) and off Soudan iu 

 410 meters (station lxix). It is yet to bo found in the Western Atlantic. 



iVIICROMESISTIUS, Gill. 



Mieromesistius, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 18G3, 248. 



Gadoid fishes with three dorsal and two anal fins, the dorsal fin separated by consid- 

 erable interspaces. Second dorsal short, anal long. Head much as in Gadus, but with 

 lower jaw longest and projecting beyond the upper. Teeth in outer scries strongest. 

 Vomerine teeth. No barbel. Vent in or near the vertical from the anterior margin of 

 dorsal. 



MICEOMESISTIUS POUTASSOU, (Risso), Gill. 



Gadtis merlangns, Eisso, Ichth. Nice, 115. 



Merlangm pontassou, Risso, Hist, Nat. Eur. M^ric., 1826, iii, 287. — Collett, Norges Fiske, 1875, 111. — 



Gunther, Challenger Report, xxu, 1887, 82. 

 Gadus 2}outassoii, DiiBEN and Koren, Vet. Akad. Handl., 1844, 88. 

 Gadus melanostomus, Njlsson, Skand. Fauna, iv, 1855, 556. 

 Mieroiiiesisti us poutassou, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, 248. 



A Gadoid with body rather slender. Lower jaw longest and teeth in the outer series 

 strongest. The vent in vertical from origin of first dorsal. Dorsal fins separated by great 

 interspaces, the two anterior short. Anal fins Aery long. No barbel. A black spot iu 

 axil of pectoral. 



Radial formula: D. 12-13+13-11+21; A. 36-38+24-25. 



This codfish occurs on the west coast of Norway up to the Polar Circle and beyond, 

 and as deep as 100 fathoms. It is numerous in October and November in the Christiania 

 Fiord (lat. 00°), according to Collett. It has been found as far north as Bodoe (67°). 

 Strangely enough, itbas not yet been distinguished on the New England coast. It is more 

 than probable that it will yet be found among the captuies of the cod schooners of the ofl'- 

 shore banks. 



