222 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



SUBBRACHIAL 

 MALACOPTERYGII. 



GADID^. 



THE COD. 



Mnrrhua Vulgaris. 



This is the common Cod of Newfoundland, Trcll-known as an 

 article of food the wide world over. There is an American variety, 

 Morrhua Americana, which is slightly thou2;h permanently distinct. 



The fishes of this class are distinguished from the other soft-rayed 

 fishes by having the ventrals situate nearly vertical under the pec- 

 torals, and having two or three dorsal and anal fins. 



The color of this well-known species, which attains to a vast weight, 

 sometimes seventy or eighty pounds, varies much in individuals. It 

 is generally greenish brown, fading into ash-color when the fish is 

 dead, with many reddish yellow spots. The belly silvery opaque 

 white, the fins pale green, the lateral line dead white. 



The body is long and cylindrical, the head sloping in an arched 

 line, the eyes large, the scales small and adhesive. It has a cirrus 

 or barbel at the extremity of the lower jaw. It has four rows of teeth 

 on the upper, and one on the lower jaw. 



It has three dorsal fins, respectively of fifteen, twenty-two, and 

 nineteen rays ; pectorals nineteen rays ; ventrals six rays. Two anal 

 fins respectively of twenty-two and nineteen rays ; caudal forty raj's. 



It is a bold and voracious fish, ranging from New York northwardly 

 aloni all the coasts of America. 



