132 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



operculum, some distance beneath it ; their length to their 

 height, as 2 to 12 ; the color of the dorsal fins. 



The Ventrals are very small, in front of the pectorals ; the 

 second and third rays longest ; fins white. 



The Anal fin at its base, the color of the abdomen ; above, 

 bluish ; arises upon the same plane, and terminates with the 

 second dorsal. The second anal about half the height of the 

 first anal ; a narrow white margin at its base, and, like the first, 

 whitish at the tip. 



The Caudal fin large, strong, forked ; length of the outer 

 rays equal to the distance between the extremities of the fin 

 when expanded. 



In smaller specimens, the color above is deeper ; the abdo- 

 men, reddish. 



In two specimens, the rays were as follows : 



D. 14-22-21 ; P. 20 ; V. 6 ; A. 22-21 ; C. 40. 



D. 14-19-18 ; P. 16 ; V. 6 ; A. 24-16 ; C. 36. 



Merltjcius. Cliv. 



Generic characters. The head fattened ; the body elon- 

 gated ; the back furnished with two dorsal fins ; the first short, 

 the second long ; but one anal fin, also very long ; no barbule 

 at the chin. 



M. vulgaris. Cuv. The Hake. 



Pennant's British Zoology, vol. iii. p. 1G8. 

 Trans. Lit. et Philosoph. fe'oc. N. Y. vol. i. p. 371. 

 JMc Murtrie's Cuv. vol. ii. p. 245. 

 Yarrell's Iiritish Fishes, vol. ii. p. 177. 

 Strack's plates, 28. 1. 



This fish is generally known by the fishermen of Massachu- 

 setts as the ' ; Whiting." It is not a little singular, that while 

 our species is really the ''European Hake" the '•• Phycis 

 Americanus" "Codling." is called with us " old English 

 Hake;" and the " Hake" itself is called the " Whiting," 

 which is a " Merlangus." This species is taken, not however. 



