CODS. 



249 



The Cods have the body but little compressed, 

 generally rounded, sometimes nearly of equal 

 thickness, at others thickest towards the head, and 

 tapering towards the tail, rather long in propor- 

 tion to the thickness. The head is naked, but 

 the body is covered with small scales, which, how^- 

 ever, are in general nearly concealed by a thick 

 mucous skin, which also invests the fins, and gives 

 them a peculiarly fleshy texture. The eyes are 

 large; the mouth wide, furnished on the jaws and 

 front of the vomer with small unequal teeth, set 

 in rows like those of a card ; the gill-openings are 

 large, and there are seven gill rays. 



The fins present some peculiarities ; their thick- 

 ened substance, sometimes almost concealing the 

 rays, has been already alluded to ; the ventrals are 

 very small, pointed, and often produced into a 

 fleshy filament; three of the five rays of which 

 each of these fins is usually composed, are some- 

 times wanting, leaving only two thread-like rays 

 destitute of membrane. On the other hand, the 

 dorsal and anal are greatly developed in length ; 

 some, as the Cod and Haddock, appear to have 

 three dorsals and two anals, but we incline to 

 think these reducible to one lengthened fin of 

 each kind, variously cleft or interrupted, ^accord- 

 ing to the species. The pectorals and the caudal 

 are of moderate size. 



The muzzle and lips are often furnished with 

 fleshy beards (cirri), varying in length, yet never 

 long, and in number from one to five. The 

 stomach is capacious and strong, as is also the air- 

 bladder; the intestine is long, with many csecal 

 appendages. 



The flesh of these fishes is generally white, firm. 



