DORSE. 69 



bright golden yellow, paler on the sides and belly. Lateral 

 line at first of the colour of the skin, but more golden nearer 

 the tail. The connecting membrane of the fins, uniting the 

 rays, diaphanous from the roots, so that the rays themselves 

 could be easily traced. 



Mr. Thompson mentions TV'hat was supposed to be a Haddock, 

 obtained by Dr. Ball, at Dublin, of a canary colour; and 

 another where the upper surface — the head and back — were of 

 a pale golden yellow, which extended to the dorsal, caudal, 

 and pectoral fins, without the mark on the sides common in 

 the Haddock. Other examples, much like these, but more 

 varied are mentioned, and one of them twenty-seven inches in 

 length; and scarcely a doubt can remain that these fishes were 

 examples of the Dorse. Willoughby mentions one caught by a 

 fisherman which measured four feet, which, he justly observes, 

 was an uncommon circumstance, and the rather so as it has 

 hitherto remained the only authentic instance of the capture 

 of this species in Britain. 



Dr. Gunther represents this as only a variety, or the young 

 condition of the Common Cod; but I have seen an example 

 of the Dorse, as described above, as large as an ordinary Cod, 

 and easily to be distinguished from it; as also I have examined 

 Codfishes, even of minute size, (down to the fourth of an inch 

 in length,) but the general shape of which was decidedly 

 different from the fish I have here represented. 



